The Stars Above
handwoven Tencel, cotton, and lurex
9x7
 
About the Illuminated Series:
This small batch series of handwoven textile art directly correlates to pages in a soft sculpture book inspired by illuminated manuscripts. The fiber book tells the story of a girl who falls asleep into an underworld dimension, where she uses craft to defeat a river demon and its spawn. The Illuminated Series represents the spirit of craft giving instructions to Honey Eye, the tale’s protagonist. 
 
Each piece is handwoven on an 8-shaft loom with Tencel, cotton, and lurex using the same advancing twill structure. All eight pieces in the series use unique, traditional overshot treadling patterns that honor Appalachian weaving heritage. 
 
The use of lurex in the weft offers a metallic sparkle that changes depending on the light and angle its viewed. 
 
The cloth fragments are hand stitched onto heavy watercolor paper with golden yellow thread. The paper is mounted on a foam core, which is secured to its handmade elm frame. The frame is wired on the back and ready to hang.
 
Handwoven by Emelie Weber Wade in Asheville, NC.