Marilyn Gillis has been making fiber art since she was a child. For the past twelve years she has focused exclusively on creating studio art quilts. She dyes, prints, and paints fabric and makes felt and silk paper for use in her quilts. Art provides a way for her to make a statement about ideas and issues she considers important and meaningful. Her inspiration comes from the beauty of the natural world, the art and teachings of native cultures around the world, and from the circle of women, past through present that she is a part of.

Distant Spirits
$350

Handmade wool felt, synthetic felt backing, porcupine quills, bleached bone, beads
Resist dyed, hand pieced, machine quilted

Distant Spirits was inspired by Native American culture. I made the felt for this piece and then resist dyed it. It is embellished with porcupine quills and shell. These materials were frequently used by Native Americans for the same purpose – to embellish their clothing and their art.