MARY CARPENTER FELDER, 1105 South River Road, Denham Springs, LA 70726
www.maryfelder.net [email protected] 225-933-4313

Mary Carpenter Felder grew up in Greensburg, Louisiana and moved to Livingston Parish in 1968. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with degrees in Elementary Education, Library Science and Supervision and Administration. Art education has been workshops and classes with local and international teachers. Her art mediums are Quilted Art, Collages and Photography. She began creating traditional quilts many years ago, but was never satisfied. She always wanted to change patterns and create her own designs. Mary treasures the traditional quilts from her grandmother, mother and the ones she made. She loves their beauty; knows that the fabric and materials were hard to acquire; and that many hours were spent hand quilting them. But, she is drawn to the contemporary art side. She took classes from local and international instructors and learned to dye, print, stamp, burn, weave, twist, screen print, paint and ink fabric. She makes fabric beads and collects embellishments.

Mary joined the Contemporary Fiber Artists of Louisiana and served as president. She joined the International Quilt Association and Studio Art Quilt Association. It was an opportunity to meet art quilters from all over the world. She exhibited, by invitation, a traditional quilt that she designed at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. It was published in Lark’s “500 Traditional Quilts”. “Jubilation”, an art quilt, was juried into an exhibit called "Reflections" with SAQA at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Her quilted art has been juried into the “Brush with Burden" exhibit and LSU’s "Compact Competition 20 by 20".
Mary teaches workshops locally and sells her hand dyed fabric and art quilts. She demonstrates surface design techniques and gives lectures such as printing on fabric, making fabric beads, creating fabric and paper collages, and silk screening.
Mary created many pieces with her photos on fabric. “Sunshine and Shadows” is in a private collection. One side was a forest scene on a summer day with her photo of a blue heron printed on it. The other side was a forest floor with leaves silk screened and discharged. The art quilt, "American Lotus" also has her photos as the focus. She grew the American Lotuses, photographed and printed them on cotton, silk and organza and created a collage showing the stages of growth from bud to flower to dry seedpod. She has mastered many techniques, but never stops trying new ones. Collages and her photographs work well together.

Mary wants you to enjoy her art and feel the emotions she experiences when she is creating. Nature is her inspiration. Louisiana is a beautiful land blessed with a rainbow of plants and animals. A ride in the country reveals ditches with dazzling white egrets standing amid beds of rare red irises. A walk along a path in the forest reveals orange flowers on a vine adorning a tree like an exquisite piece of jewelry. Inspiration is all around us. Her photos are also an important part of her work. She began printing on fabric about 15 years ago. She uses her photos in her quilted art and collages, but also produces photographs. Mary has lived in Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana for 50 years. Its beauty never ceases to amaze her.