"It's almost like art"

I am a textile artist, an embroiderer.

My passion for textiles has been lifelong. I am grateful to have had people in my life that instilled in me their love of handmade and homemade goods. My Mum and Nana both sewed, knitted, crocheted, darned and mended. Sewing clothes and home furnishings, often out of necessity, was a way of life. The tactile nature of sewing and working with fabric felt natural to me.

In high school I sewed my own clothes, repurposed old/vintage clothes, made kids clothes and soft toys for craft shows. As much as I would have loved to pursue a fine arts degree, I completed a degree in Chemistry. I joined the Canadian Conservation Institute as an analytical chemist.

I particularly enjoyed following the work in the textile lab. I was especially fascinated by the variety of textiles that came into the lab, from household textiles to magnificent historic costumes and ancient textile relics.

I continued to sew, embroider, paint and sketch. Inspired by a family friend, I finally discovered that the stitch, sewing was my medium. I chose to use a needle, hand stitching as well as free motion machine embroidery as my tool, just as a painter would choose a paint brush. I love to sew.

I have practiced and continue to explore new ways to stitch. There are so many ways to create using thread.

I no longer evaluate myself in terms of other artists using more traditional media. I let my chosen medium and my experience take me on my own journey.

‘It’s almost like art’ is something I have heard numerous times from visitors at art shows. My motivation and inspiration is the same of most artists. I observe the power of the natural landscape. I endeavour to create work that honours those observations.

I use stitch to challenge the viewer with the old perceptions that the textile arts are just as valid as any traditional media.

Embroidery is an excellent medium to interpret the beauty of nature. I aim to create landscapes, rich in colour and texture to evoke emotion and capture a moment in time.

Now when a visitor, perhaps unfamiliar with textile art says ‘it’s almost like art’, I say ‘it’s exactly like art’ and enjoy the opportunity to have a conversation.

Judi Miller
@jmillertextileartist on Instagram
@judimillerartist on Facebook
www.judimiller.ca

Judi & Chris in textile conservation lab

View this artist's gallery page.