About Salley Mavor

I make 3-dimensional fabric relief pictures that are photographed and used to illustrate children’s books. I sew together different materials to create fanciful scenes in relief, much like a miniature stage set, with figures imposed on an embellished fabric background. My work is decorative and detailed, full of patterns from nature and found objects, all sewn together by hand with a needle and thread.

little standing animals

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Update (June 2014): Things have changed in the 3 years since this post was published. After emphatically stating I wouldn’t write another how-to book, I surprised myself this past year by working on Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures, which will be released by C&T in the spring of 2015. Read posts about it here. These animals will not be included in the new book, but there will be lots of other fun dolls to make.

I made this group of animals about 10 years ago, when I was gathering ideas for my how-to book, Felt Wee Folk. They didn’t make the book’s cast, so the little critters have been waiting behind the curtain ever since. I’ve pretty much decided not to write another instructional book (read ahead for more on that), so they can come out on stage, now.

They are made with wooden forms that have a simple dowel on the bottom, with a turned ball on the top. You can find the wood shapes here. At about 2 inches tall and similar to finger puppets, these can stand up by themselves. The small wooden bead “paws” are a choking hazard, so they shouldn’t be added if a young child plays with them.

They look a bit like Halloween trick or treaters in felt costumes, with their hoods and painted faces.

It’s so wonderful to hear from readers who have enjoyed making the dolls and other projects in Felt Wee Folk and many have urged me to write another instructional book. The publisher is willing, too. So why can’t I say yes? I am clearly ambivalent, because I had a great experience working with C&T Publishing. It’s just that I’ve moved on to other things and don’t feel the same push to get it out of my system, like I did 10 years ago. It’s not that I don’t have any ideas for new projects, they’re just more complicated and personal. I’m resisting the pull to work on another book because I want to spend time exploring new ways of working, to experiment and grow as an artist. Just the process of formulating my thoughts for this post has helped me understand why I’ve been dragging my feet.

The trouble is, I know what it takes to produce an instructional book and I also know that I’m not up to it. It’s writing out those pesky directions that has me stumped. When I approached C&T with my proposal for Felt Wee Folk. I had a strong desire to share my ideas, enough to force myself through the quagmire of analysis and explanation. I’ve always had a problem with describing how to make what I do, even back in the days when I designed projects for Better Homes and Gardens. I know that I can do it, but I can’t bring myself to jump down that rabbit hole. I want to give myself over to the mysterious process of creating something without later having to give a detailed description of how I made it.

So, I’ll be sharing projects and ideas from time to time, but without patterns and instructions. Hopefully, my readers will feel inspired enough to want to try a hand at figuring out how to make something of their own!

Rabbitat filming session

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Salley Mavor

There’s been lots of activity in the studio since the valentine pilot gave an aerial tease of the new piece I’m currently working on. It now has a name, thanks to my husband Rob, who called it Rabbitat after I told him I was making a habitat for rabbits. This is not an illustration for a book, but a stand alone fabric relief picture. I’m still sewing parts of the scene, like this lilac bush.

I’m also working with some local filmmakers, the husband and wife team of Daniel Cojanu and Elise Hugus. I’ve hired them to make a 3 to 5 minute film about my artwork, with Rabbitat as the subject. Here they are, filming and recording the interview portion in my studio. See the finished film here.

The film will show my process of working, with a voice over of me explaining and describing what I do. It won’t really be a how-to, but more of a glimpse into what I think about art and the creative process. Here I am, setting up a shot with Daniel.

Not everything is sewn in place yet, so we played with the dolls. Here’s Daniel filming one of the rabbit characters.

We had fun twirling the rabbit around on the tripod, while the camera rolled. Daniel and Elise will come back and film some more when I’m finished making Rabitat. I hope to have the film finished in a few months, so I can show it on this blog and when I give presentations about my work. Until, then, I’ll give little glances of Rabbitat, but save the details for when the film is completed and ready to show.

Pocketful of Posies wins Golden Kite Award!

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I just got off the phone with Lin Oliver from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The first thing she said was, “Are you sitting or standing?” I was sitting at my kitchen table, ready to eat a spoonful of homemade Portuguese kale soup when she told me the news that Pocketful of Posies has won the Golden Kite Award! I can honestly say that this was a complete surprise.

What is so special is that my book was selected by a jury of my peers. For those of you who may not be familiar with SCBWI, it’s an organization that helps writers and illustrators prepare for and navigate the baffling business of children’s book publishing. I’ve been a member since my first book, The Way Home came out 20 years ago (see post here), but you don’t have to be a published author or artist to join. I’ve been invited to accept the award and give a class at their annual conference in Los Angeles this August. The idea is still sinking in as I write this post. My editor, Margaret Raymo at Houghton Mifflin doesn’t even know yet. Tomorrow will be a busy day, with fitting in calls before and after my 11:00am book signing at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum. Thank you for this honor!

fabric memories

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I’ve been cleaning up and organizing my fabric stash, which includes some old familiar prints. My mother made a jumper out of this folksy blue fabric that my sister and I both wore.

I remember wearing a dress out of this red pattern in about 3rd grade. It was in the days when girls had to wear dresses to school. We would put shorts on underneath, so that we could climb the jungle jim!

This black fabric was a skirt.

We used a lot of Marimekko fabric in the 60’s. The memories are strong. It’s hard to choose what to keep and what to part with.

thursday book signings

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Salley Mavor

On the next two Thursdays, I’ll be signing copies of Pocketful of Posies at 2 locations in Massachusetts. I hope to meet some of you there!

"Little Miss Muffet" from Pocketful of Posies, 2010

On Thursday, February 24, at 11:00 am, I’ll be at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee, MA. 16 original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies (including Little Miss Muffet) are currently on display until March 31st. See other venues for the Traveling Exhibit here.

Also, I’ll talk about my work and bring some original illustrations to show on Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 pm, at the Andover Bookstore in Andover, MA.

valentine fly over

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Salley Mavor

Happy Valentine’s Day!I found this cute old valentine in my mother’s things. The pilot and her feline co-pilot are flying over my work table, which is covered with a new project I’ve been working on since the new year. I know its cruel to tease like this, but I wanted to show that I’ve been working. It’s a large piece and will probably take most of the winter to complete. I’m the type who needs to finish a project before showing any one. I’ve been taking pictures along the way, though. I find that I am lost in that magical creative space for long lengths of time and forget to step out of myself in order to take pictures, but I’m trying my best. This project is an ever-changing experiment, something I want to experience, without having to explain what’s happening during the process. That can come later. I’ll tell this much– there are rabbits involved!

Closeups (castles)

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Salley Mavor

The first image is a detail from an embroidered illustration I made for a class in 1974. The assignment was to make an album cover for a made-up band. Mine pictured a kind of folk/rock/ renaissance musical group with a landscape and castle in the background. I think this was the first totally stitched scene I made. I found a stitching how-to book at the library and followed the directions. Before this all of my embroidery was embellishment on blue jeans and other clothing.

A couple of decades later, I made this sand castle for the book, You and Me. The beach sand is made from raw silk that I dyed with a spray bottle. And yes, those are real beach stones glued to the fabric.

detail from “You and Me” 1997

Here’s George reading a fantasy story with my favorite castle design on the cover. I got out my old stack of Color Aid paper to make the book.

This castle is from a royal scene I made for a doll magazine in 2000. The fleur-de-lis on the castle door is a nail head. The project was in The Cloth Doll, Volume 14, number 2.

The next 2 closeups are from my newest picture book, Pocketful of Posies.

In this one from Old King Cole, I use a combination of clay beads and wool felt to make the stone wall. And the fiddle is made from felt.

2 new displays

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I’ve just set up 2 new displays of original illustrations from Pocketful of Posies. Sixteen pieces are hung on this blue wavy wall at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee.

display at Cape Cod Children's Museum

I’ll be there to meet people and sign books on Thursday, February 24 at 11:00 am.

display at Cape Cod Children's Museum

The Sandwich Library has a nice display case that holds 9 pieces. The artwork is OK under the lights because the frames have UV protected glass. Both displays will be up through March, so if you’re in the area, do stop by! In April, the show will be traveling to Iowa. See the schedule here.

Sandwich Library

snow delay

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Salley Mavor

This morning, I was all set to drive the artwork over to the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee for the next installment of the Pocketful of Posies Traveling Exhibit. But, we’re having another snow storm, so I’m delaying the delivery until Thursday, when the storm should have passed through. I’ll probably deliver artwork to the Sandwich Library on Thursday as well. They have a nice display case where I’ll set up some originals from the book. If your library has a decent sized locked display case and you are within a 3 hr. drive of Cape Cod, please let me know.

loading the elevator at the Danforth

On Sunday, my husband Rob and I picked up all of the illustrations from the Danforth Museum, where the show has been for the past 3 months. The museum’s director, Katherine French and her staff were wonderful to work with we’re talking about my return to the museum with another show in a few years. Not book illustrations this time, but stand alone fabric relief artwork. Katherine wrote this lovely review of the show:

“The Danforth Museum of Art has been pleased to host an exhibition of original art created for Salley Mavor’s Pocketful of Posies. Even the most jaded parent, reluctantly pulled into the gallery by an eager child, finds themselves engaged by fiber art at the highest level. Created with traditional craft materials, the artist creates small sculptures that are completely charming, yet intricate and complex. The stories she tells are simple, but demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of composition and sculptural form. They are, quite simply, extraordinary. ”

Thanks, Danforth Museum! Here we are, all packed for the journey home. My Subaru Outback is just big enough to fit all of the frames.

lobster pot lawn art

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Salley Mavor

I saw this pyramid of lobster pots, while stopping for a sandwich in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Around the Cape, lobstermen frequently pile up their pots in the yard during the winter months. With the festive arrangement of floats on top and Christmas lights, this one takes the cake!