Franki Kohler

When I was very young, my grandmother lived with my family. She was always making her mark. Whether she was tatting an edge for a handkerchief, finishing a pillow case with a fine crochet lace or embroidering a design for a pillow, she was creating a legacy of fine hand work that her children and grandchildren would cherish. Her mantra was “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” Naturally, she shared her skills with me and, in turn, I acquired a true appreciation for working with needle and thread.

Today, I’m making my own mark, though I prefer a partnership with a sewing machine to the single needle in hand. I’m enchanted by the simple shapes of nature — a single ginkgo or dusty miller leaf or the drama of a Woodwardia fern can be the starting point for my art. I use sun print, cyanotype print, photography and/or fused appliqué to start. My challenge then is to apply threadpainting and quilting lines that enhance the image. I often use beads.

My particular focus has been on the inter-play of the shape I’ve borrowed from nature and the line that I create with thread. I want the two statements to speak to each other in bold and in gentle tones. If their conversation is harmonious, I believe the viewer will hear one thing at a distance and something quite new when drawn near.