Ashford Artist of the Month – Jan 25 – Kate Zazzara
Welcome to 2025! We are very happy introduce our first Ashford Artist of the month for the year – Kate Zazzara, from Canada.
I hope you enjoy reading about Kate’s fibre art journey.
Kate
Where are you from, and what do you do as an artist?
I am originally from South Africa. I was raised moving quite a bit, having grown up in both Switzerland and Canada. I have spent most of my adult life in Canada. I am a Fibre Artist, although I do also do illustrations/ink drawings. However, I am passionate and make a full time living weaving, spinning, knitting, indie dyeing. I currently sell my hand made items on my website and etsy.
What was your background before you started creating fibre art?
I graduated High School in 1996 and am a University of Malmo (Sweden) alumni. I spent 20 years in accounting before discovering my passion for Fibre Arts.
How did your fibre artist journey begin? What inspired you to start?
Although I have been crafting most of my adult life, but I fell into the world of weaving in late 2019 simply by chance. Shortly before the pandemic happened I stumbled upon a blog on weaving. I was fascinated and after a few macrame pieces, weaving quickly captured my interest!. I encouraged my husband to make me a loom and finished my first weave in Dec of 2019. By March I was laid off from my Dispatching Job and filled my days in quarantine with learning all I could about weaving.
How has your creative process evolved over time?
In March 2020, after being laid off at the start of Covid, I opened up my Etsy shop at first only selling my wall tapestries. I found success with some small commission work. However, it wasn’t until I started spinning in Jan of 2021 and selling my art yarn that my small business took off and I was able to turn my hobby into a full time job. I have never looked back and since 2020 I have been able to earn a full time wage weaving, spinning and curating fibres to sell on my website and through my Instagram following.
What happens to your creations once they’re finished? Do you use, sell, or showcase them in any particular way?
After my success with learning to spin I started a lucrative home based business and eventually created my own website where I now sell all my handmade tapestries, art yarn, hand dyed fibres and more. I also am a fibre supplier with kits, looms and macrame cord/strings. I primarily advertise on Instagram where I have grown my followers over the past 5 years.
If you sell your work, where can people find it?
I have both an Etsy shop and a website, rootedwovenart.com. I am also on Instagram @rootedwovenart
How do you find balance in your life as an artist?
I love what I do. I am passionate about my craft and all things fibre related – And so finding balance with my everyday life is easy because weaving, and spinning is part of my daily life. My family is very supportive of my craft and in 2021 we relocated from Ontario to the East Coast of Canada where I was able to expand my studio. My 3 daughters are often in my studio helping me with projects. Whether it be carding my batts, helping me dye yarn, or helping me pack orders, it has become a family affair.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I find inspiration everywhere. Whether it be a memory, my love of nature, Africa, my daughters. Inspiration is all around us. It can be the texture of a certain fibre, a colour, the way the sunlight falls into my studio. I often see shapes in the sand at the beach just down the street, the salty ocean air will bring back a memory of growing up in Africa and suddenly I am warping my loom. My loyal Husky Kai by my side I often just dive in. I don’t weave ideally with any set plan in mind. I weave free form /style and that works for me.
What advice would you give to someone just beginning their fibre art journey?
What I love about fibre is that it is a very forgiving medium. You can do so much with a strand of yarn. The possibilities are endless. My one advice is that you find your own unique style in whatever fibre related craft that moves you to create. The beauty is in the journey. There is no right or wrong when it comes to making, creating with your hands. Just have fun!
What’s next for you? Where do you see your fibre journey taking you in the future?
Last year I bought a floor loom. My biggest investment into my little shop. However, I have yet to really start creating on her and so this year I want to really concentrate on developing that skill on a 4 shaft 45” floor loom. I am also an avid Knitter and am working on writing some patterns which I hope to publish this year. Perhaps being able to write a How to Weave book? I would also love to be able to expand my supply of fibre. This past year was a tough one and I know many little shops didn’t survive, so I hope 2025 brings me some small successes. I love being able to work from home doing what I love. I have 3 teenaged daughters and a big part of why I do this is for them. If I can start a small business from scratch in my early 40’s during a pandemic, then there isn’t anything that they can’t do. And so I just hope to keep on moving and growing. Fibre is a way of life.
