AmyH

BentEdgeAlchemy

1,218 Sales 5 out of 5 stars

Des Moines, IA

533

3 Following 533 Followers

Hello! So glad that you stopped by!

What's in this name......BentEdgeAlchemy? After much serious consideration I arrived at this name in some magical way. My son's name is in the word bent and my husband's name is in the word edge. I am inspired and encouraged by these 2 loved ones everyday! I love the suggestive quality of a bent edge....not perfect and having a history of what caused the bend. And finally, my name is in the word alchemy. I am enamored with the concept of alchemy. One definition of alchemy is......the power or process of transforming something common into something special. Another definition is....an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting. To me this is very much akin to the act of creating.

I am so fortunate to have realized my calling and to have been able to pursue this through my education. As a child I was a bit of a daydreamer...loved making things. This is still the case. It wasn't a straight path but I eventually earned my MFA (with a focus in drawing and painting), which has allowed me to teach college level studio courses. Currently I teach full time during the academic year and work in my studio to produce my creative expressions. It is so rewarding to work with the students and see them develop artistically.

My own work involves a wide variety of media, techniques and processes. I love to learn and so the things that I produce reflect my curiosity and growth. Even though the form may change from painting to collage, collage to assemblage, drawing to fiber art, and recently upcycled clothing, there is continuity in my thought process. My personal aesthetic is formal based, I am inspired by the formal elements of design: color, shape, line and texture. However, as I immerse myself in the arranging and combining of these elements, relationships emerge between the subjects chosen. I rely on and enjoy the intuitive part of creating. My favorite subject matter includes: botanical subjects particularly flowers, birds, butterflies and moths.

Drawing is the foundation of everything I do. I work in my handmade sketchbook on a daily basis......sketching out ideas, making notes about process and musing on what exciting things I want to try. Sadly, I feel that I will only actualize about 5% of my ideas at the most in my lifetime....but I'll take it!

With regard to my upcycled garments.....I have loved to sew for many years. I will never forget the first clothes that I made in a junior high school sewing class: a matching sage green vest and skirt! I have continued to sew from time to time but it wasn't until the last 5 years that I had any momentum. I now enjoy (an understatement) drafting my own patterns and upcycling garments. It is my goal to eventually make nearly everything I wear. In my etsy shop, it is my aim to create unique, one-of-a-kind, garments that are thoughtfully considered as creative expressions.....art to wear!

I welcome custom order requests so don't hesitate to send me a convo...

Thank you! I really appreciate that you took the time to read my profile!