Merry Havens~ Fabric Collage Art

My love for nature and telling the stories of creatures in their environments inspires many of my fabric creations. Several of my most loved pieces have mermaids, and other wonderful underwater inspirations or themes from the cosmos. I currently have a series focusing on Colorado endangered species and other animal-themed projects in the works. I also have several other “non-nature” pieces, including some abstract works that I have entered into shows.

I began fabric collage artwork about 6 years ago as a “hobby”, and have been diligent about learning new techniques and ways of expressing creativity through class and book instruction. It is a blessing to have found that there are so many brilliantly creative fabric (and other medium) artists as mentors. I belong to several fabric work groups, including the “Front Range Contemporary Quilters” and have had exhibits in the International Quilt Exhibits in Houston, TX and Chicago, IL, the Dairy Center, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, the Boulder Outlook Hotel, Greenwood Wildlife Gift Shop, among others.

Fabric is my “foundation” and I don’t hesitate to incorporate beads, shells, art threads and yarns, buttons, jewelry, and other treasures in my work to give them a 3-dimensional and sometimes a “can’t resist touching” appeal.

As a high school science teacher, I am constantly tempted to incorporate themes in science, such a “string theory” and the gaseous planets.