A Vision in Wool As the first in a new series of natural fiber creations, this great sweater-jacket makes a soft but striking statement. This is one-of-a-kind personified! Pieced together from three different colors of wool, the hip-length garment flows in a gently A-line over the body, delicately held together at the waist by a single button at the center of a graceful wool flower. The hems are all scalloped, as is the tiny bustle-like feature at the back. Applique vines spread out from the flower in the front and climb the back like a soft vine. Heads will certainly turn when the wearer of this art piece passes! SOLD - $900
About the Clothing
ONE OF A KIND Each item of wearable art is a unique, one-of-a-kind product hand made by Cynthia Emerlye in her home studio in Pomfret, Vermont.
FABRIC Cynthia's work is crafted from the finest materials. Garments of natural fiber are of wool, silk, linen, hemp, or silk velvet. Many of her winter wear pieces are built from polarfleece bought exclusively from Malden Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She has found that polarfleece is by far the preferred fabric of her customers. It is warm light, comfortable, washable, and surprisingly durable.
DESIGNS Each item has a decoration which is machine-appliqued onto both the front and the back. Additional decorative pieces of fabric may also be used, such as silk, brocade, linen, velvet…. Machine embroidered stitching completes the design, giving it a look of unusual elegance.
STYLE: All of Cynthia's garments are designed to accomodate women of various sizes and shapes. The polarfleece garments have a "give" which assures comfort for many body types. Each style is cut wide under the arm to accommodate multiple bust sizes. Free-flowing comfort is the aim.
Gallery
Click on thumbnail images for a larger view and more information.
This
hip-length jacket and matching flower hat are made from a double -sided
sherpa fleece from Malden Mills. The color is a happy teal with lime
green and multicolored ornaments on the front and back. Dual pockets
and delicate lettuce edges finish the piece. Jacket is $395. Hat is
$120. $450 for the set. Shown at Harbor Gallery in Lake Sunapee, NH.
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Light Brown Jacket & Hat with pink & teal ornamentation
This lightweight jacket and matching hat are made from genuine Malden Mills fleece in a light, dusty brown with pink, tan, and teal accents. The lush design flows from front to back, suggessting a sheaf of watery weeds flung over the shoulder. This one of a kind jacket is priced at $400. The hat is $120. $450 for the set. You may find this set at Harbor Gallery in Lake Sunapee, NH. (See info page.)
Close-up View
Flower Cloche Hat
Back View
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Soft navy kimono vest with velvet trim
Vest $295
Soft blue butterfly jacket
SOLD
Olive green kimono vest with grey velvet trim
Vest $295
Soft navy pullover tunic & hat
$395 tunic, $120 hat, $450 set.
Cinnamon swing jacket & hat
$395 jacket, $450 the set
Soft white & greys light jacket
$395 the jacket
Other Work
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About the Artist
Cynthia began sewing early in life. With a mother who taught for the Singer company, and a grandmother whose hands were always busy, she learned sewing, fiber arts, and handwork from an early age. She began her own clothing designs at age ten when she hand-fashioned out of red corduroy a two-piece bathing suit as a Mother’s Day gift. (Needless to say, the bathing suit seemed to fit her better than her mother and she wore it with pride to the neighborhood beach . It fell apart as she stepped out of the water!) Although she had been sewing fanciful items for herself and her children for years, in Vermont she began experimenting with the Polarfleece fabric made by Malden Mills. As she loathes doing anything simple, she soon embellished her items with complex applique and top-stitching.. After several people offered her children money for the clothing they were wearing, she decided in 1997 to offer her designs for sale. Thus began a modest wearable art business. Cynthia’s clothing ( all one-of-a-kind) has been sold at local craft shows and in boutiques and galleries in Northern New England . In 2001 her work was included in the DeCordova Museum Wearable Art show in Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has had clients from Paris, London, New York, Denver, and California as well.
