In the 1970's, a trip to a sewing store changed Elsie's focus from ceramic and glass beads to fabric. She saw a selection of bright, luscious prints, and felt immediately they were "jewels" she wanted to work with. She called the larger pieces "body ornaments" instead of necklaces. Her imaginative fabric and wire designs began with pencil sketches she refined over time. The sewing machine was set up in her living room, and she would sew yards of fabric tubing to cut and use in her designs. At night during family TV time, she would sit in her favorite chair and hand-sew fabric flowers and shapes.
The Body Ornament Collection
When a body ornament wasn't being worn, it could be displayed on the wall! Elsie loved creating her wearable art; the idea they could be beautiful AND useful was important to her. Customers who really wanted to make a statement could purchase a matching shawl to accompany a necklace. She wore her art often and enjoyed the comments and attention they brought wherever she went, but unfortunately we only have photos of a few of them. It was one of her posthumous wishes for her children to gain exposure for her work. She hoped the ideas, structure, shapes, drama and fanciful nature of them would be an inspiration to others.
Crowns and Accessories
Elsie dressed in bold colors, prints, and silhouettes; and she dared others to do the same. Her crowns and accessories were always fantastical, made of feathers, gold lame or bright materials. Why wear white as a bride when you can have a wedding shawl, crown and nosegay in neon yellow, pink and green?
Wearable Art for Sale
As a member of the Tucson Craft Guild and the Arizona Designer Craftsmen, Elsie was invited to participate in several art shows every year, including the Tucson Festival of the Arts and the Firebird Festival in Phoenix. She would set up a simple table and drape solid fabrics as a backdrop for her dramatic creations. Her children loved being part of these events; it meant frolicking between art booths, and snacks not normally allowed in a sugar-free home (Elsie was a health nut). Her signature outfit for any craft event was always eye catching: a canary yellow mu mu and giant matching sun hat? Why not!?
The custom font for her business cards and tags was created from cut paper (perhaps by her dear friend and fellow artist Charles Clement?). The whimsical dot on the "i" is so wonderful.
Inside the card it read, "handcrafted beads and good stuff", and "made on a sunny day in Tucson, Arizona".
Elsie's last official art show was in 2007. The senior home she lived in displayed her work and to commemorate the occasion, all her friends wore a body ornament.