TAFA TOUR: Linda Miller Designs

Rachel Biel, the founder and creative energy behind TAFA; The Textile and Fiber Art List has come up with another great idea. The "TAFA Tour" which is a day when members of TAFA share something about the member who's profile appears after theirs on the website. I was lucky enough to have Linda Miller be the profile next to mine. I am a huge fan of your work and you are about to see why!

Linda Miller Designs

Linda Miller is an artist with a love of cloth, color and movement. Creative expression has been a lifelong passion of Linda’s, she is inspired by natural forces and says, “For me there is beauty in the delicate balance between dynamic movement and meditative stillness. My challenge is to describe visually, through surface texture, fabric and color, the playful quality of these varied energies. I work intuitively, and thrive on the unpredictability of the art making process. That process nourishes my journey of discovery and appreciation of the world around me.”

Linda came to quilt making in the 90’s with a varied background in fine arts and textiles. After seeing a California exhibit of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) artists, Linda, was inspired by the possibilities of the quilt as an art form. Choosing to work in fiber was simple once she realized that drawing, painting and printmaking could be combined with the fabric.  Her work is held in private and public collections, and has been well received in exhibitions nationally. She also has an ongoing community work, The Bhavana Project, based on Tibetan prayer flags. The third set of flags is currently in progress and you can learn more at this link: Bhavana Prayer Flag Project

Linda has some beautiful pieces that you can buy online in her Etsy Shop by clicking this link: 

Linda Miller Designs Etsy Shop

This small abstract quilt is inspired by the flow of water through the landscape. This piece has a unique textural surface achieved by shrinking the working fabric, then overlaying with oil sticks, foil and stitching. Materials include cotton wool felt, hand couched silk sari yarn, machine appliqued, hand embroidered and machine quilted. It is 12" square (30.5cm). The colors are purple, turquoise, lavender, silver metallic, and black. It is hand embroidered in turquoise, maroon and purple. It is ready for hanging on your wall with a hanging sleeve on the back, and included dowel. It would also work well framed. Click here to view this quilt in Linda's shop

Wonderful delicate small fiber bowl with ruffled edges about 2" ( 5cm) high by 6" (16cm) overall top diameter. Inner bowl area diameter is about 3" (7.5cm). Has free form circular shape. Perfect for any small treasured collections or jewelry. Multicolored threads and yarns with main in peach, lavender, gold, on mid gray background with purple and lavender yarn squiggle motifs. Created using colorful threads, recycled lint, and yarn that is machine sewn together between soluble stabilizer. It is molded to shape and sprayed with acrylic sealer. The bowl is water resistant, but not waterproof - for decorative use only. It is light and has a paper like texture. Will sit flat. Click here to view this bowl in Linda's Etsy Shop

 Fluid Fissure 4   -  14" x 24.5" © 2012 Linda A. Miller 
Cotton- commercial & hand dye, paint, oil sticks, appliqué, machine quilted, hand embroidered

You can also follow Linda and keep abreast of her latest creations on her Facebook Page, Website and  Blog: 

Linda Miller Designs Facebook Page

Linda's Website

Following the Thread; Reflections on Creativity and Life (Linda's Blog)

Comfort Zone  - 21.5" x 27.5"
© 2008 Linda A. Miller 
Cotton, applique, pieced, 
threadpainted, machine quilted

Contentment - 15" x 26.5"
© 2011 Linda A. Miller 
Private Collection
Cotton pieced, acrylic paint, applique, thread painted, machine quilted

TAFA: The Textile and Fiber Art List is a membership organization of fiber artists and textile businesses on the web. Visit us at  www.tafalist.com.

Lastly, here is a link to my TAFA profile. I hope you will take a moment to check it out: 

TAFA: Linda Marcille Art on Silk

My Silk Paintings on Magazine Covers

Every once in a while Natural Awakenings magazine contacts me about using one of my silk paintings on the cover of their magazine. Here is the November 2012 issue with my "Heading South" painting on the cover and my bio inside. I think the layout is stunning. Love the colors they used. 

Here are some cover they have done in the past with my artwork

Here are some covers from other magazines my silk paintings have appeared on

This one isn't a magazine cover but it is a photo of me painting silk 

on the Surface Design Assoc (SDA) flyer. 

Some other publications that have used my silk paintings below

Eco Dyeing on Silk

I did some testing on silk with various mordants. I am in a bit of a rush right now so will post the photos and more info later.

Reflections on Eco Dyeing & Moving Back to the Woods

There has been this incredible shift in my life over the last couple of years. I attribute much of it to the intensely spiritual work I have done with the Brazilian healer John of God and to switching to an all organic whole foods diet. I am finding that so much of what I used to consider important in my life no longer matters as much to me and as I prepare myself to move into the house we have built in the woods I find that my work has taken a soulful turn as well. 

I have so longed to be back in the woods. Moving to town was just not the right thing for me. I have never lived on less than 10 acres and for many years was on 25 acres surrounded by thousands of acres of forest land owned by paper companies in the Northeast Kingdom of VT. Town life was so toxic to me and my autoimmune disease grew worse while I lived here. After spending the summer and Fall building our own house on 36 acres in Westminster, VT Don and I will be moving back to the woods this winter and we are so excited! I have been spending a lot of time on the land while we have been building and on my walks in the woods I have been gathering bits of bark, leaves and other natural gifts. I found my self suddenly drawn to Eco dyeing and Eco printing on cloth. Now that I have started I am hooked. I will post photos below and share more of what I am working on next time. 

Discharging Procion Mx Dyes with deColourant

The other day I decided to do some screen printing with deColourant discharge paste onto clothing I had dyed with Procion Mx dyes. The orange stencils I cerated to use in combination with a silk screen. They were created by painting latex paint onto interfacing. I applied the deColourant and allowed it to dry overnight. The next day I ironed it off and washed the shirt and jacket in the washer. The deColourant worked beautifully and it was the perfect texture to silk screen with!