Joan Belden, Fiber
As the granddaughter of a tailor/furrier, I seemed to have a genetic leaning toward textiles and fibers. After taking 7th grade sewing, I was hooked for life. It wasn’t until my children were grown that I had time to take the interest in clothing and textiles to the level of weaving. Now I enjoy producing fabrics that can be worn as clothing or accessories. I also weave blankets, throws, and window trims.
I love the interplay of color and structure in a fabric, always with a concern for the drapability when producing fabric to be worn as clothing. Playing on a warp with different fibers and colors as a painter would with paint is a real pleasure for me
Since moving to North Carolina in 1998, I had to rethink the use of wool fibers and am enjoying working with more cotton, silk, and rayon.
