Roan Farnum

Eco-print pillows

Stream: Embracing

Fronts: Merino wool - Black Sheep Farm Backs: Jacob wool - Solitude Wool Stuffing wool - Flying Goat Farm Cotton fabric for pillow insert - Cestari Ltd (cotton grown in VA, fabric milled in South Carolina)

Inspired by the glorious colors of autumn, these pillows started as simple squares of handmade felt fabric - using natural white Merino for the fronts, and natural grey Jacob for the backs.. The pillow fronts were then eco-printed using a “dirty pot” method learned from an online class with Nicola Brown, an Irish artist. Locally gathered leaves, along with plant material left over from floral bouquets, gave a variety of warm subtle hues. To make the prints, the felt was dampened with vinegar water, folded over the plant materials to give a mirrored image, bundled tightly with string, and cooked in a bath of water, vinegar, onion skins and a rusty horseshoe. Once printed, the pillows were machine stitched.

Marian Bruno

Felt maker and fiber artist living and creating in Arlington, VA.