I am a fiber artist who has been gifted and inspired by a heritage of African American women who loved fashion, and crafted their own garments to reflect their unique, elegant style. Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, I learned to knit, crochet and sew. A college semester spent in Mexico exposed me to the talented & colorful weavers of Oaxaca, and I eventually pursued training in that craft as well. The colors & textures of fibers and cloth are an integral part of the one of a kind wearable art I create with knitting, needle felting, and sewing. The topography of land, fashion trends and ethnic cultures also inspire my work. As a psychotherapist (M.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of Denver), I also embrace the mindfulness that the creative arts afford.

My mask was created using a fiber overlay that I created by needle felting hand dyed wool roving. This textured base was then embellished using felted fiber cut-outs, hand embroidery stitches, and glass beads. It is intended to reflect the primitive, ethnic heritage from which we are all descended.

Karyn Loving Schiele
The Loving Ewe