Debbie Siniska

 

I am a rag rug artist and feltmaker, working with recycled and sustainable fibres. I also make bead jewellery using glass seed beads.

The rag rugs are made with  recycled woollen and cotton clothing, and some vintage materials. I work with traditional hand tools, to produce banners, wall hangings, rugs and cushions, mainly to commission. I produced a range of Bloomsbury rugs, which sell in the Gallery at the Charleston Farmhouse, home of the Bloomsbury painters in the 20's.  The house is open to the public, and in the year 2000 I was commissioned to produce a replica of an old rag rug that lay in Maynard Keynes bedroom. The Tate Gallery in London, held an exhibition of Bloomsbury art, and to accompany this exhibition, I supplied the gallery with several Bloomsbury style rag rugs for sale in their shop. The Green Man, the hare and natural forms are also inspiration for my rugs and banners, I create memory mats, wedding mats, story telling mats and pictorial banners.  

I make felted clothing and bags from dyed merino fleece, and also use fleece from East Sussex sheep where I live. My feltwork includes jackets,  hats,  nuno scarves with silk chiffon, wired felt bangles and small purses. I make a range of wedding wraps and work ribbon beads and mirrors into the felt. I blend coloured fleece to create unique colourways, and the pieces I make are seamless and totally unique, as no two pieces of felt are the same.

I weave, string and thread delicate bead jewellery using monofilament and glass seed beads. I also work with Swarovski crystals threaded onto fine wire to make tiras for weddings and special occasions.  The woven chokers, belts and bangles are made on a beadloom, with a strong warp and a beaded weft.  I use beads,  shells and mother of pearl buttons to make jewellery and to decorate my textiles.

I teach all of these subjects to adults and children, and sell through art shows and exhibitions, I also work to commission. My work has been published in several books, I have written my own book 'Decorative Beadwork' published by New Holland.