Tess Wilson is a fiber artist who loves to create functional art. From rugs to wearables, Tessere Fiber Arts fuses a traditional craft with modern designs and colors. We think it's especially cool that Tess makes textiles using recycled fabric, so your favorite tee or worn out jeans can become something new and exciting. "Tessere" is the Italian verb meaning "to weave," so it's clear that Tess was born to bring this art form new life with her beautiful designs.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Tess Wilson and I am fiber artist. I’m primarily a weaver but I also felt, knit, sew, and spin my own yarn. Weaving sits at the intersection of functionality and art; it combines inspiration and design with craftsmanship and skills to create one of a kind pieces that can be touched, worn, or even walked on. I love the concept of functional art and I strive to make all my pieces are both beautiful and useful.
Where did your business name come from?
I’ve been designing and creating woven art for nearly four years now. I was tentative about selling my work but, as I was researching potential names, I came across the Italian word Tessere. It spoke to my heritage, contained my name, and translates to “to weave”. I took that as a sign that this was meant to be and haven’t looked back since.
What’s your favorite item that you sell?
My favorite items to make are my rag rugs. All the fabric I use is upcycled, ranging from old sheets, to ripped blue jeans, to outdated leather upholstery samples. There is nothing more satisfying than giving new life and purpose to something is set to be thrown out, especially when it’s fabric that holds memories. I have a rug made out of my dad’s favorite jeans, another that features the hot pink sheets I loved in high school. I offer custom rugs where I turn your fabric into a durable piece of functional art that will last for years.
What do you think sets your designs apart from others?
Weaving is an ancient art that is intertwined in everyone’s daily lives. How many machine woven items have you touched today? Your clothes, that blanket, the upholstery on the couch, it’s ubiquitous but often overlooked. Even as a traditional craft it isn’t as widely practiced or taught anymore; at craft fairs I hear so many stories about grandfather’s who owned a loom or a great aunt that loved to weave but it’s always generations removed. As a 25-year-old, I’m far outside everyone’s mental image of a weaver. I try and infuse the traditional craft with modern designs and colors to keep my pieces trendy.
What do you love most about craft show vending?
My favorite part of craft fairs is engaging with customers. I always bring my loom to demonstrate and teach weaving to further the awareness of the craft. I especially love talking children through the process and watching their amazement as the designs appears as I pick up seemingly random strings!
Will you be featuring any special holiday items?
For this craft fair, I’m making special sets of needle felted ornaments. Needle felting is the tangling of colored wool with a sharp barbed needle to create soft figurines. To learn more, stop by my booth because I’ll be demonstrating the process throughout the day. I’ll have penguins, snowmen, reindeers, and Santas. For $8 each, they make perfect little stocking suffers!
Check out more of Tess's products online, and be sure to stop by her booth at the Minneapolis Gift & Art Expo, November 3-5, 2017 at the Minneapolis Convention Center!