Shibori, the ancient Japanese art of resist dyeing, loosely translated means "twisted cloth." While many cultures throughout the world have developed tie and dye methods of creating patterns on fabric, it is a Japanese who produced the most intricate designs. By stitching and binding the fabric in complicated patterns, pulling the bindings tightly, then immersing the cloth in a dyebath, the exposed areas receive the dye while the bound areas remain undyed. Shibori patterns were often combined with other surface treatments to create complex designs destined for the exquisite kimonos of the Imperial Court.

As is true of many folk art traditions, Shibori dyed fabrics are becoming extinct. It is the goal of a few textile artists, both in Japan and the United States, to rescue this resist dyeing process from obscurity and continue to develop the art form in a contemporary context.
My textile designs use traditional stitching and binding types of Shibori as well as more contemporary pole-wrapping techniques called Arashi Shibori. These Shibori patterns are combined with handpainted and handprinted images resulting in a rich and inviting surface. My hand dyed textiles become the inspiration of creating my one-of-a-kind art wearables.