07/29/2026
I was recently asked a few questions about my work for tours in the Ft. Collins MOA if your interested here what I shared….
MOA asked…
-How does living in the Colorado mountains inspire your art?
-What is your artistic process?
-What is the importance of clothing and how can they tell a story
1)I would say it’s the wilderness and mountains that is the essence of my life. Intentionally living off the grid on 40 acres, surrounded by miles of vast wilderness, high elevation and mountain living dictates the rhythm of my life, and how I live it. It teaches me resilience, and constantly keeping me in the present, to thrive and create my work here. I have to guide my work, sleep and chores around the weather and this wild lifestyle. From how much solar power for life's necessities or the trek to my studio far outside my home, to the hikes on our trails with my constant (canine) companion Ferguson, the mountain life, its beauty and challenges narrate my day.
2)My artistic process is my life. Relaxing, playing and just Being in my wild home and land, cooking, hiking, gardening, dyeing, painting and of course creating my beautiful nuno felted artwear is all part of my process. I consider all I do either feeding or blocking my creativity. I create out of joy, so I try and feed that, however it comes but usually nature is my balm, just being in it completely. The rhythms of the season dictates a lot of what I can make, for example summer is best for dyeing outside with plants I grow or gather. Winter I tend to do embroidery, finishing with hand stitching pieces and spinning yarn or painting. Spring and fall I tend to make big pieces since the weather is nice for the sweat and mess I create. I like going with the flow instead of “forcing” work. I can’t harvest in spring and I can’t sow in fall….so I do what works best in the seasons. I have a very slow process, and am very patient. People ask all the time “how much time does it take to create each piece”? I’m on mountain time, I don’t keep track. My work is part of my life, I don’t punch in and out….
3) The story. This is two fold. Myself, I love clothing as an expression of myself. What I wear can make me FEEL strong, creative, funky, fit-in, exotic, armor or joyful. It dictates and radiates my mood, my expression. It is very important most days how I FEEL in my clothes, it like a superpower or calm presence. I was cutting up, bedazzling (80s) and stitching on clothes from early high school. When I go to India, I feel so comfortable in traditional Indian tunics and block prints. When I’m hiking I will wear my high tech and mostly wool clothing to fight the tough Colorado winter swings. Summertime in the altitude and sunny heat I wear a lot of linen. Whenever I get the chance to go to a farmers market, Denver, Boulder or a night out in Ft. Collins I wear my artwear. I’m convinced Coloradans would dress up more if it was as comfortable, breathable, and artistic like my artwear. If they could see all the fun and conversations that can be had! I always enjoy a good conversation when asked what I’m wearing!
Secondly, my clothes I create tell a story….they always start with a spark. An antique lace I picked up in Europe, a block for printing I bought in India, a bead I bought in Tucson, vintage silk I found in Santa Fe, elk horn buttons I got in the Teatons. I gather, or am given or create a spark and the piece comes from that. The story starts with some piece that gets me excited and I say “what can I make from that”?and then I’m off to my studio, to be lost for hours or days….bliss!
Thank you for being curious,
Michelle Ridley
