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BIOGRAPHY / ART STATEMENT
Mary
Shemeta is the youngest of six children. Her mother earned
a degree in fine art and was an art teacher for most of
Mary's adolescence. Mary's mother exposed all her children to
drawing, painting and practical arts of may kinds including
sewing and fabric dyeing. Mary learned to sew her own
clothes by the time she was eight years old.
Mary
earned a degree in Geography from Humboldt State University, CA
and spent seven years in the software industry before finding
her true calling as a fabric artist.
Encouraged by a college girl friend who sold hats, Mary started
her clothing business in 1997, selling fleece hats at the
Fremont Market in Seattle. She enjoyed the public's
enthusiastic reaction to her creative hats. She continued
sewing and selling and soon expanded into unique woven fleece
coats and vests. After three years she was ready to work
with a new fiber. Tencel attracted her because of it's
eco-friendly characteristics.
Today,
the joy of Mary's work is not the sewing but dying of the
fabric. Mary is constantly experimenting with new dye
techniques. The dye work is an exercise in being open to
whatever end product happens. Mary's dye techniques are constantly
evolving and include Shibori, over-dying and color blending.
Inspiration for the color and style of her clothing comes from a
combination of music and her country living environment.
Mary lives with her husband, daughter and well loved animals on Vashon Island WA.
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