Artist: Ze daLuz

Craft Medium:  Fiber Artist's Statement: Entranced by color and texture since early childhood, and believing variety is the spice of life, I have been crafting one-of-a-kind accessories since 2003 using the techniques of hand-knitting and wheel-spinning. I spin and ply yarn using wool, mohair, alpaca, cotton, linen, soysilk, ecospun, and silk, purchased mostly from small American producers who own the animals. Sometimes I use commercial yarns to ply with the handspun, which creates unique, less bulky yarn more suitable for our climate. This yarn is usually hand knit into one of a kind accessories – I do not use a pattern, and I do not repeat a color combination, although I do produce the same style in different colorways. I often use 2-5 yarns in one piece, and sometimes as many as 15. Some items are embellished with vintage buttons, beads and handmade ceramic closures. Items include hats, “jazzies” (skinny scarves), fingerless gloves, cowls, baskets, and wall hangings.