Karen Borga

Fiber Artist

My Collaboration with Nature

Through fleece, fiber, and natural materials, my work emerges through a collaboration with nature.

Studio

Rooted in generations of handwork, my practice explores the transformation of raw materials through weaving, spinning, dyeing, and feltmaking. Each piece begins with curiosity and unfolds through a collaboration between maker, material, and nature.

Karen Borga hanging naturally dyed fabric samples outdoors

Fiber

Raw fleece resting on an open journal in the studio

Every piece begins with fiber.

Raw fleece, yarn, and natural materials are gathered, studied, and explored before they become cloth, felt, or finished work. Through observation, experimentation, and making, I seek to understand the character of each material and the possibilities it holds.

These studies form the foundation of my weaving, feltmaking, natural dye, and textile work.

Natural Navajo Churro fleece used in Karen Borga's fiber art practice

Cone of handspun yarn used for weaving in Karen Borga's studio

Notes from the Studio

Raw Navajo Churro fleece resting on a wooden surface before preparation for fiber art and textile work.

The Churro Fleece

A Navajo Churro fleece arrived in the studio carrying the marks of the landscape it came from. Before the wool becomes yarn or felt, there is a moment of discovery where the material reveals its own character.