Charleston Crafts Artist Biography
Artist:
Medium:
City:
Internet address:
Business name
or trademark:
Birthdate:
Nancy Badgley
Fiber - hand-dyed silk
Summerville, SC
Art to Wear and Enjoy
5-9-54
Please describe your craft:
I handdye silk. Various techniques are used such as discharging, overdyeing, origian block printing with thickened dyes, etc. When I feel that the fabric is done, I sew it into a one-of-a-kind creation.
How did you get started in your craft?
As an artist, I enjoy working with design and color. Playing with different media, I encountered silk painting and became hooked. Through this, I can combine a 3-dimensional aspect to an idea with the added textural benefit (for me and you) of silk.
What inspires your work?
A lot of ideas literally start as doodles while I'm on the phone. Go figure... For the garments, the idea of using the silk as a living canvas I find fascinating.
What would you like customers to know about you and your background?
Born in upstate NY, raised in Montclair, Nj. Went to school in PA. received a BS in biology, got fed up with the winters and moved down here just prior to the advent of pizza delivery. Worked for the state, worked for the FDA, ended up operating a porcelain doll shop for many years, teach dollmaking and doing restorations of antiques. Got back into painting (award winning acrylics primarily) but producing tourist art didn't appeal to me so I searched for another creative outlet and ta-da "Art to Wear"! Before I forget, I wish to thank my one eyed cat Maggie who serves as my design assistant or at least she thinks so.
Please list any selling tips that might encourage a customer to purchase your craft (such as function, ease of care, cleaning, safety, etc.):
My garments can be worn year round. They are machine washable, along with the scarves and wraps. Purses are scotchguarded. They are meant to be enjoyed. They are for real one-of-a-kind items. No one will have a duplicate, each is truly an original. I do custom orders also.