Barbara Wunder Hynes, Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Some of my earliest memories include studying the costume illustrations in the Dress section of the World Book Encyclopedia, being fascinated by the contents of my mother’s sewing tin, and attempting to make doll clothes by tracing around my baby dolls onto fabric. I began knitting Barbie & Ken clothes at age 8; I learned how to sew in 4-H and began to design my own clothes at age 11; and while in high school I embroidered my jeans, taught myself how to crochet granny squares, and I experimented with patchwork quilting. I think I was born to stitch!

By 1969, I was making one-of-a-kind hippie clothing for local boutiques. The original Gypsy Spirit Threadworks was born in the 1970s, when I created costumes for musicians and other performers, and participated in craft fairs and festivals. During this time, I also worked as a theatrical make-up artist and costumer for two costume companies, and I designed costume jewelry for a local mall store.

I hold B.S. and M.S. degrees in Home Economics from California State University, Northridge. I taught sewing and needlearts classes for Ventura Unified School District’s Adult/Continuing Education program for 10 years. I was a textile arts judge at the annual Ventura County Fair for over 20 years. I founded and led the Ventura County Wearable Art Guild in the 1990s, and I was a member of Fibervision, a collective of Central California fiber artists, in the 2000s. I’m a long-time member of Ravelry (gypsyspiritthread) and the International Freeform Fiberarts Guild. I’m a former member of SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates), and current member of CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) and the Ventura County Arts Council. I moderate the Altered Artwear group on Facebook.

I have taught a variety of fiber arts classes through the years at many venues, inspiring students of all ages, from children to seniors. I’ve participated in many art gallery and museum exhibits, winning numerous awards for my studio quilts and wearable art. I’m a longtime resident of Ventura, California, where I live with my husband Joe and cats Roxy, Moo, and Aiko in our home we fondly call the Brokedown Palace, after the Grateful Dead song of the same name. The long, strange trip continues…..

Gypsy Spirit in the ’70s