Zero-waste artist and craftivist, Sandra Clarke, has been untangling skeins of yarn, fabric, paper, and making useful things for over 30 years. Born in the colourful, celtic, Montreal neighbourhood of Griffintown, and educated in Montreal, New York, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Toronto, helped Sandra develop her eclectic and repurposeful style. Her textile, fibre & paper arts and courses include; eco-printing, natural rust dyeing, junk journaling, improv quilting, embroidery, weaving, spinning (spinning wheels & drop spindles), sewing, felting, crochet, and knitting. Sandra creates and teaches about making useful things from recycled and reclaimed items. These items include; beaded trees of life, artisan boho fabric jewelry, improv quilts, and upcycled clothing and accessories. Her art can be seen regularly in boutiques, galleries, and online. Sandra illustrations are featured in ecology themed books that can be found online, art galleries, and in her courses. Nature themes are also explored in Sandra's illustrations, both graphic and by hand. 2022 brought recycled paper arts to Sandra’s focus in her ephemera steampunk, boho, floral, vintage, and Victorian themed curated books. She teaches art and art business courses online, in galleries, and schools. Sandra gives traditional arts a contemporary life while still retaining practicality and function. Fueled by the fast-fashion rebellion, visible mending and craftivism, Sandra's zero-waste philosophy results in ethically made and thoughtfully re-fashioned textile, fibre, and recycled paper art. Sandra's life and art was deeply affected by the death of her daughter, Emily, on January 1st, 2021 due to complications from her May 2019 heart transplant. Sandra lives with her husband and special needs adult son, dividing her time between her home in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and her off-grid cabin-in-the-woods near Algonquin Park in Highlands East, Ontario.
Email sandra@sandraclarke.ca
Email sandra@sandraclarke.ca
