Victoria has come such a long way in her fibre art journey in a real short amount of time, embracing her passion for fibre only this year. I have really enjoyed watching her experiment with new designs and techniques as she explores her own direction and finds her style and I am excited to learn that she is eager to spin her own yarn too.
I loved seeing on Victoria's social media how "it all started" with shell and driftwood chimes. This has blossomed into some absolutely divine pieces of tapestry weaving and it shows that you can take inspiration from anywhere, and if you let it lead you by the heart you will discover something wonderful. I am adoring her additions of embroidered flowers to her wall hangings, the spring vibe makes me smile. Lets go meet Victoria.
Tell us in a few sentences a little bit about yourself:
Hiya I am Victoria! I have been married to the same amazing supportive man for 20 years this year. We met in Queensland and relocated to the Northern Territory shortly after we married and raised our two beautiful children there. We have since relocated back to Queensland and have recently welcomed a gorgeous granddaughter to our family. We all live together on a spectacular North Queensland beach.
Please share one random/ interesting fact about you.
I learnt to paddle board in the NT, nothing like the fear of crocodiles to keep you standing up and on a board 😊
Which fibre art/s has sent you down the rabbit hole?
Every single medium I have tried this year has sent me down a rabbit hole.. 😊But I do seem to have fallen in love with loom weaving and most recently dyeing and spinning my own art yarn.
How long have you been creating?
I started my fibre art journey in January of this year, but I guess I have always been ‘creating”. I am a mad DIYer and would rather renovate, rejuvenate or repurpose a house, furniture or clothing over purchasing new.
How/Why did you get into it?
Oh gosh.. My husband and I are both Police Officers and I am forever mindful of ensuring my husband and I are proactive in maintaining and nurturing our mental and physical health. I love paddle boarding and all things active, but with shift work, family commitments and inclement weather this is not always possible. I had been collecting shells and driftwood from my walks on the beach and I raided my husband’s fishing line and made some shell and driftwood wind chimes. From there it seemed to be a natural progression to macrame, which led me down a rabbit hole to macra-weaving and now I am obsessed with frame loom weaving.
What are your future fibre goals?
I am not sure if I have a future fibre goal, I am content for the time being exploring different weaving techniques and fibres. I have set myself a short-term goal of experimenting with dyeing and spinning my own art yarn and ribbons.
What is it about fibre art that makes you love it the way you do?
I just love creating, I love the colours and textures and the feelings these can evoke. I love the feel of the fibres through my fingers as I am weaving and get a lot of joy from the process as much as the finished product.
What is your most challenging piece to date? Pics would be amazing.
My most challenging piece was a large neutral macra-weave commissioned by a work colleague. The most challenging part was the size and self-doubt… what if the client doesn’t like it?? She loved it 😊
How have you learnt your craft - self-taught, workshops, books, online tutorials?
I am a kinaesthetic learner and am largely self-taught, I discovered YouTube tutorials very early on and now have a lovely collection of artists’ channels that I subscribe to. I have also connected to other artists through social media platforms who share tips, tricks and techniques.
Do you have a favourite book or tutorial you would recommend?
Over and Under - Instagram; Spruce and Linen – Instagram and Youtube and Rainie Owen from The Unusual Pear has a fantastic book - The Woven Home which is a great place to start.
Is there a fibre artist that inspires you the most?
At the moment I am a bit obsessed with by Jamie @thebarefootdyer. Jamie creates the most beautiful colours with natural dyes and her eco printing on fabric with botanical's is just gorgeous…. I can feel my next obsession building!
What would you say to someone who is thinking about getting into the craft but isn’t sure?
Go for it, art is all about creating and experimenting it is an expression of yourself and only limited by your imagination. There are so many wonderful YouTube tutorials, books and artists on social media platforms that are happy to share their knowledge.
Best Tip or Trick?
Buy quality products!!
What is your favourite knot/technique to do? Why
Oh I only have small repertoire at the moment but I do love combining tabby weave with twining and soumak to create patterns in my weaves. Also Rya knots – that is my go to in every weave. My next goal is learning geometric and overshot patterns.
Neutrals or colour?
Colour!
Are you drawn to pattern or texture?
Texture!
What would you say is your style? Geometric, boho etc
Definitely Boho style for me but I do want to learn geometric.
What is your favourite VADA BLUE fibre to use and why?
I have absolutely loved the Khadi ribbon that came in the April BeWeave Box. I want some in every colour!
Where can you find your work? Ie: online, markets, website, shop?
I have a small Instagram account @beachgenieart and followers generally contact on me on there if they like a piece and want to buy it. I also get contacted personally from friends or work colleagues for commission pieces. I haven’t really put a lot of effort into selling my work at the moment I am still working on my craft and finding my aesthetic.
If you have a social media account – let us know.
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