The tactile nature of textiles inspires Erica’s creative process. She begins every project with a hand-drawn sketch or hand-dyed textile. Her techniques are multi-disciplinary and utilize drawings, hand-dyeing techniques, cyanotypes, paintings and CAD, all of which are combined to produce decorative pillows, wall coverings, fabric, print artwork and fashion accessories.

Using her own drawings, sketches and paintings as a starting point, Erica creates patterns that can be scanned, digitized and put into repeats (or layouts) for printing. Her work is inspired by the natural world, fashion and historical textiles.

While studying textile design at East Carolina University, Erica was introduced to traditional Japanese dyeing techniques that she incorporates in new and innovative ways into her current designs. Shibori dyeing techniques treat cloth as a three-dimensional form instead of a flat, two-dimensional surface. Folding, crumpling, stitching, plaiting, plucking and twisting—all of these methods and more can be used to create stunning designs that are spontaneous and painterly, mysterious and ephemeral. Although many different shibori techniques exist, Erica typically utilizes the itajime, arashi and kanoko techniques for creating her unique pieces.

This method involves wrapping fabric around a pipe or pole before binding the fabric with thick yarn or twine. This technique results in a pattern of diagonal, wavy lines reminiscent of the Japanese word for “storm” from which this technique takes its name.

Most often used by Erica in her designs, the itajime technique involves folding or gathering the fabric in various combinations, then binding or sandwiching the fabric between blocks. The fabric is then folded around these shapes and clamped together to create the repeating, geometric designs that are a staple of the shibori technique.

Similar to the tie dye method, the kanoko technique utilizes rubber bands or strings to pinch, bind and shape the fabric into unique patterns. This method allows for flexibility and an endless array of patterns.

Erica uses these techniques because they render a graphic pattern which is contrasted by the ephemeral quality of the dyes that appear at times almost like a watercolor painting. Shibori is a study in opposites: hard and soft, abstract and graphic, precise and spontaneous. The natural irregularities and “mistakes” that occur during the hand-dyeing process give each of Erica’s pieces a unique character that can’t be replicated.

Erica also incorporates a photographic printing process called cyanotype in many of her designs. Invented by British astronomer and chemist John Frederick William Herschel in 1842, the cyanotype process utilizes sunlight to produce images on a variety of surfaces. Erica creates her images on cotton, linen and paper. She finds joy in the simple process of placing objects and materials onto the coated surface to create stunning, one-of-a-kind designs. The iconic Prussian blue hues associated with cyanotypes blend perfectly with Erica’s dreamy botanical and abstract geometric designs.