Unexpected Pairings

Some of the most interesting work happens when materials or design styles that don’t usually belong together end up side by side. For these four makers, the unlikely combination is the point. Leather meets embroidery, flowing silk becomes cast metal, construction materials turn into paintings and stained glass designs take shape in wood. By pushing past the expected uses of their materials, they create work that feels fresh, surprising and entirely their own.

You can find these artists and many more at the One of a Kind Holiday Show, December 3 – 6!

With more than 40 years of sewing experience, Nazneen Husain creates handbags that pair traditional handwork inspired by her Indian heritage with contemporary design. She often gives vintage garments and salvaged fabrics a second life as bags made to be used and loved for years.

Tell us about your creative process.

Nazneen: My creative process begins with materials. A beautiful leather hide, an unusual textile or even a discarded garment often sparks a new design. Before a bag is assembled, I transform many of the components through fiber art techniques like embroidery, appliqué, chenille, patchwork and painting. I approach each piece as both an artist and an engineer, making sure every bag is as practical as it is beautiful.

What makes your work unique?

Nazneen: No two pieces are alike. I also love teaching others to sew and embroider, and some of my bags feature embroidery, painting or pyrography created by a student. It lets me leave a legacy while giving them a chance to showcase their own work. Fun fact: a lot of the leaves and flowers I embroider onto leather come straight from what’s blooming outside my window.

Can you share a moment that shaped your work?

Nazneen: In 2016, I made the pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj. Rather than buy a backpack for the journey, I felt drawn to create one that represented me. I designed a convertible tapestry bag that transforms from a backpack to a shoulder bag to a crossbody, reinforced with leather and 44 brass rivets. I named it Birbaboti because its round shape reminded me of a little red bug. It’s a reminder that some of my best work comes from creating exactly what I can’t find anywhere else.

Laurie Gyarmathy’s background spans figurative sculpture and fashion design, and her jewelry brings the two worlds together. Her bold statement pieces capture the soft drape of fabric in solid, sculptural metal. A School of the Art Institute of Chicago alum, she produces each design in very limited quantities from her Seattle studio.

Tell us about your creative process.

Laurie: My work explores translating the fluidity of fabric into metal. Through the medium of wax, I work gesturally and intuitively to tease out energy and movement. Once a balance between intention and spontaneity is reached, the forms are cast and meticulously finished, resulting in smooth curves and a glossy, light-catching finish.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Laurie: Seeing a woman try on one of my pieces and light up from the inside out. That moment when a piece makes someone stand a little taller and see themselves differently is why I keep creating.

Can you share a moment that sparked your creativity?

Laurie: As a child on the California coast, I saw windswept trees reaching dramatically toward the ocean and was so overwhelmed by their beauty that I burst into tears. I’m still inspired by that rush of life captured in a still form. Fun fact: before jewelry, I designed a line of luxury lingerie with hand-painted silks and taught myself pattern drafting to bring it to life.

Wisconsin artist Rebecca Berger combines painting and sculpture, using everyday building materials to create textured, intentionally imperfect pieces. Her inspiration comes from the gardens and native plants surrounding her old farmhouse.

Tell us about your creative process.

Rebecca: My paintings are made using joint compound, modeling paste and acrylic paint. I build texture by hand using palette knives and other tools, then layer paint to enhance depth and movement. Each piece reveals something new as light shifts across the textured surface throughout the day.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Rebecca: The endless possibilities of texture and pushing myself to explore new color combinations. My other passion is gardening and being in nature, and I gain so much inspiration from combining the two.

What led you to pursue a career as an artist?

Rebecca: I’ve been a small business owner since my children were small. Between raising four daughters and running our business alongside my husband, I had no time for anything else. About five years ago, we became empty nesters, and I pursued my new career in art. I haven’t looked back since!

Ryan Hardy takes the linework of Prairie School stained glass and reimagines it in wood. His furniture echoes the style’s concepts without copying it, making each piece a natural accent for any room with a Prairie-inspired look.

Tell us about your creative process.

Ryan: My style was initially inspired by Prairie School stained glass windows. I design a tabletop inspired by that linework and make it out of wood, then design a base that flows with those lines. Some of my other pieces play off those initial designs.

What led you to pursue furniture making?

Ryan: I’ve worked in architectural millwork for about 10 years, dissecting an architect’s design for a feature in a commercial building and figuring out how to make it a reality. Now it’s been exciting to come up with my own designs and bring them to life.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Ryan: The creative problem solving. It’s exciting to find a solution after I hit a roadblock in a design and struggle with it for a while. Fun fact: I used to be a ski instructor for seven years.