Metchosin fabric artist Zara Lau is one of 17 artists opening their studios for the Stinking Fish Studio fall tour.

“I’ve always worked with fabric since I was a kid,” Lau said.

Growing up in Malaysia, Lau learned to sew while helping her mother make dresses and she would also make clothes for her dolls.

While in her teens Lau moved to Canada to attend Simon Fraser University.

As an adult her craftsmanship with fabric continued and she would sew all of her own business clothes and even the curtains in her home.

“One day I decided to try something more artistic with fabric rather than practical,” Lau said. “I wanted to use fabric and make it look like a painting.”

Cotton is her fabric of choice. “I like cotton because it lies flat and you can get a lot of different colours,” Lau said.

Once the fabric is selected she adds a backing layer that works as an iron-on adhesive. Using numerous shapes and sizes of fabric, Lau layers each piece carefully while creating a picture.

Mainly Lau likes to create images from nature such as trees, flowers and animals. “Arbutus trees are my favorite,” Lau said.

Adding to her artistic work with fabric, Lau also works in the medium of ancient Chinese knot tying for jewelry.

“It is a Chinese art that is dying,” Lau said. “(Historically) Chinese people did not use button to close their clothes, they used knots.”

After discovering a book on the art, Lau taught herself several knots such as the compound double coin, clover leaf, prosperity and Pan chang (forever) knots.

Other than fabric art the Stinking Fish studio tour hosts pottery, silk work, wood work, screen printing, botanical sculptures, glass blowing and silver smith work.

The tour spans from Metchosin to East Sooke.

“We are in a beautiful area and we have 17 different artists in 12 different disciplines,” said Linda Peacock, tour founder and artist.

The tour runs from Nov. 28 to 30. Maps are located in all Metchosin retailers or at www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com.

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