Ina Stess
Fiber Artist
My roots in the fiber arts began when I was about 6 or 7 years old and my mother taught me how to sew. Initially, I was helping her with her projects, but as I became more proficient, I began to concept and design my own. Shortly thereafter, I started branching out beyond sewing into needlepoint, knitting, quilting, bargello, crewel, and macrame.
From the beginning, the use of bright, interesting colors became very important in my creations. Shortly thereafter, I started branching out beyond sewing into needlepoint, knitting, quilting, bargello, crewel, and macrame.
In 1972, when my husband and I and our two sons moved to Miami, I became an instructor at a nearby fiber arts store teaching the various forms of fiber arts. A new dimension was added when I turned 50 and my husband gave me a loom and lessons from a local weaver for my birthday. For some time I had been thinking about weaving but only upon the arrival of the loom did it become a reality. Weaving opened up a wonderful new spectrum of creative opportunities. I now have three looms and I am constantly designing ruanas, scarves, shawls, pocketbooks, and fabric for apparel.
 |
 |
 |
|---|
When we were informed that our son and daughter-in-law were going to have our first grandchild, one of the ways I expressed my joy was by starting to knit very bright, colorful and adorable baby hats with matching pompoms. I call them my wearable cupcakes.
In 2003, I developed bladder cancer and subsequently, in 2004, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. During all the surgeries and chemotherapy treatments one of my greatest tonics was to be able to express my zest for life through the use of bright, happy, and upbeat color combinations in my knitting and weaving. I am extremely fortunate to be cancer-free at this time, and I believe that my positive attitude throughout my ordeals can be credited in large measure to being able to continue to immerse myself in producing my colorful fiber arts.
