Take a Look! Studio Tour with Textile Designer Amber Kane

Today I have the pleasure of sharing the creative space of Amber Kane, a textile designer and high school art teacher hailing from Pennsylvania. If memory serves, this is the first ever studio tour here on the blog complete with a loom. Yeah!

Amber opened a shop called Fabricated Ends where she sells her handmade scarves and jewelry and she was kind enough to share some photos of her studio and answer a few questions I had for her. Let’s get to it with a little Q and A…

How would you describe your work?

My work is deeply rooted in process and discovery. My goal is connect to each piece, learn through the process of creating. My designs are inspired by a combination of nature and pure imagination.

Where is your studio located?

My studio is located in our Mechanicsburg home. Mechanicsburg, is small town, with a few local galleries and art stores. It was important for my studio to be in our home, as when I come home from my job as a high school art teacher, I want to put on my pjs and head into the studio to work until I go to bed.

How long have you been pursuing work as an artist and shop owner?

I would say that I have always been in love with process of creating, but did not start working towards selling my work until three years ago. I had never considered selling my work, until people began asking to buy things from me, I then started to realize that I could make money from doing what I love and began selling online, joined the Pennsylvania Craft Guild, and started doing craft shows.

I have long admired artists that work in fibers, but I don’t know much about it myself. Can you tell me about your process?

I learned how to weave while in college, and liked it but didnt love it. I really fell in love with the process when I started to learn how to make it my own, and stopped following the rules. While the piece is on the loom I often push around the weft strings to create movement in the piece. Once the piece is finished being woven I do a variety of techniques, I sew into it, for added surface design, I braid sections and add metal to the piece, to play with the idea of a scarf and necklace in one, or I crochet into the woven the piece. There is not an exact rhyme or reason as to which techniques are done to which piece, I normally decide along the way, as I get to the know the piece, I begin to understand what it needs and wants in order to be finished.

In what ways do your promote yourself and your work online?

I use a variety of methods, blog, twitter, facebook, and etsy. I love doing the blog, and use it both share my work and share work with others. When I have time I create a lot of blog posts and schedule them. This way Im not stressed if I dont have time one morning to get one finished. I have my blog connected to my facebook and twitter account, which helps a lot. I try to spend time each day interacting with people on facebook, and have begun to try to do the same on twitter.

Visit Amber’s shop, Fabricated Ends, and her blog for updates and more. Thanks so much for sharing your space with us today Amber!