Elena Bondar

Elena Bondar is a fiber artist, specializing in contemporary jewelry
and textiles. Working with wool and other natural fibers, she creates
unique adornments that are inspired by natural forms and organic
textures. Elena's scarves and hand-felted jewelry have been featured
in the book, 1,000 Artisan Textiles (Sandra Salamony & Gina M. Brown).

Elena's Statement

I am a collector of curiosities: tidbits of lace, swatches of fabric,
rolls of warm, cozy wool, odd beads, and vintage jewelry find their
way into the studio. I love assembling them in new or unexpected ways
and breathing life into fibers that may have otherwise been discarded
or overlooked. I deeply believe that even ordinary materials can be
transformed into extraordinary wearable art, so I reclaim as much as
possible, like the pearls from my mother's necklace or vintage
swatches of ribbon. I think the stories behind these materials bring
warmth and character to the accessories I create.

Above all, I strive to bring a human touch, contemporary aesthetic,
and artful presentation to my work. Every piece I create for
TrendeFemme, my line of textile accessories, has an element of
surprise: unique textures, subtle folds and detailing, and beautiful
organic shapes. No two pieces are ever exactly alike and that is what
I love most about the art of felting, which is the cornerstone of my
art. Felting is an ancient textile technique that predates spinning
and weaving. Felt forms when wool fibers are stacked and then
subjected to moisture and friction using warm, soapy water and
rubbing. This process, called wet felting, causes the fibers to bond
into a durable fabric. Sometimes, wool is felted into fabrics using
Nunofelting, a more modern textile technique of binding wool to
natural fibers, like cotton, muslin, or silk to form a durable fabric
without sewing. Ever since I discovered wool in 2008, I have fallen in
love with this flexible medium, which allows for countless
unpredictable juxtapositions of fibers and shapes.