This user has not added any information to their profile yet.
I create textiles that honor heritage— from the local traditions of Appalachia to historical craft throughout the world. My handwoven pieces carry on the rich craft legacy of this region, while my screen printed depictions of local flora and fauna celebrate Appalachia’s unique natural history. Stretching beyond the local craft history, one of my prints harkens to the stained glass traditions of the American Art Deco movement, while others highlight Turkish rug making and Zulu basketry. I utilize these textiles in functional, wearable works that can be tiny displays of our local and global heritages in day to day life.
Like many sewists, I learned the craft from my mother, who learned it from her mother. I took these sewing skills with me to the University of North Texas, where I graduated with a BFA in Studio Art - Fibers in 2010. While in school, I established the Rachel Elise brand, sewing and selling handmade bags at local coffee shops and markets. Upon graduation, I made this practice my full-time employment by growing my online presence and traveling to fairs throughout the state of Texas. In 2010, I also co-founded a local maker collective in Denton, Texas that went on to organize over a dozen craft fairs and open a brick and store that still carries work from 50+ local artists.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to relocate to my dream destination: the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southern Appalachia. I established a home studio in Hendersonville, Weaverville, and then finally Mars Hill. In 2022, the business outgrew its space and I opened Rachel Elise Studio on Main Street in downtown Mars Hill. This space is a sewing, weaving, and printmaking production studio and also has a retail shop at the front, highlighting my work as well as the work of other artists.
Update city to Mars Hill
Update email to [email protected]
Update studio hours to 11-3 Wednesday-Saturday