Hand Dyed Quilts

Nina Blake from Herne Bay in Kent has years of art and textile experience. She has a HND in Art textiles which she gained at the age of 50! Ever since she was a young girl she was encouraged to pursue her love for arts and crafts. Nina has agreed to answer a few questions and here are her answers!



What art form do you practice?

Creative textile craft

How long have you been self proclaimed creative textile craft worker?

Several years, always interested in craft and fabrics since I was a school girl

Are there any artists that have influenced you?

Georgia O’Keeffe, Pauline Berwick, Nancy crow, Kevin Sharkey – I love his work and Monet

Monet?

The Water lilies, the colours, of course his theories in light, he would paint the same scene a number of times throughout the day to get the effect of the change in light.

What are you most proud of?

My quilts – traditional patterns and methods but I like to wing it where I make it up as I go along. I like to harmonies and connect my colours.

What craft took you the longest amount of time to produce?

Some of my quilts because 1.Done by hand 2.Lack of fabric. There has never been lack of motivation but sometimes I have so many ideas that i start other projects and temp abandon the first project but go back to it with new ideas. While doing one project it can give birth and inspiration to other ideas.

What are you working on at the moment?

A wall hanging made from hand dyed silks and beaded embellishments

Dyed by you?

Yes

What type of dyes do you use?

Procion MX dyes

Do you work certain hours each day or only when you are inspired to work?

I fit my work in around domestic necessity and personal enjoyment

Where do you do your work?

In a bedroom that has been adapted with shelves and a work table by my partner

Does any of your work have a deeper meaning?

All of it

Can you tell me the meaning of one of you pieces?

My work takes on the mood that I have at the time. I’m very aware of shape and form as well as colour where I try not to use sharp edges and acid colours because they make me feel slightly uncomfortable, I like things to be soft, rounded edges and subtle in colour. I do not like working with the colour brown as you discovered in one of your latest pieces. I tend to work more emotionally.

Favourite colour?

Anything but brown

Favourite Music?

Varied mixture from Enya to Handles Messiah

Favourite celebrity?

Harrison ford and Gary Barlow

As well as Handmade quilts Nina has worked on many projects including making bags, furniture and upholstery.