Lost River Artisans Cooperative

Donna Bleam - Wool Art Hooking

This picture of Donna was taken at a show at Cambria Pines Lodge in California. The piece behind her is a self-portrait, based on a photo taken by Gene Shepherd in the Cambria Pines Garden. Donna is wearing the same dress and hat as she was in the original photo (which can be seen tacked to the lower right corner). Donna specializes in turning photos into original hooked works of art and also does commissioned work.

At right is a detail image of the self-portrait.

Donna Lees Bleam moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia from Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1976. She considers Harrisonburg to be her home.

This piece is Jane McGown Flynn's "Lady of Leisure" It is composed of hand-dyed woolen strips pulled through a linen backing. Priced on request.

This piece is called "Walter Meets Vincent in Bucks County." It was inspired by two of my favorite Impressionists, Walter Baum and Vincent Van Gogh. It is a snow scene typical of the Bucks County Impressionists but has bits of Van Gogh's color and his swirls in the snow. I plan to make all four seasons in the future. Thus, this piece is currently not for sale.

This is a mixed media piece entitled "Bushmen." This work is an example of up-cycling. I have re-purposed a wall hanging by hooking the design and adding other items from a thrift shop. The metal spear hanging rod was made by my husband who is a blacksmith. Priced upon request.

This stool is another up-cycled piece.

This image shows my studio.

Betty N. Curry has been Donna's mentor for many years. Betty introduced Donna to wool art hooking and she has been at it ever since.

Many others have helped advance her skills, most notably Susan Feller who is a nationally known fiber artist. Donna also has studied with Elizabeth Black, Jane Halliwell Green, Donna Hrkman, Joyce Krueger, Bea Brock, Laura Pierce, Gene Shepherd, Jane Olsen, Carla Fortney, Karen Rose and Rae Harrell.

Well-known local artist and LRAC member Priscilla Blosser-Rainney taught Donna how to dye with natural materials Donna has also taken many classes teaching chemical dye methods which allow her to hand dye her wool for special effects.

Donna is a member of the the Shenandoah Valley Textile Arts Guild . Her avid rug hooking creates an inventory of work for sale.

Custom pet portraits and art based on family photographs are a specialty.

She can be contacted at : dlbleam@msn.com or 540-833-5118

These photos show a work in progress. This is my adaptation of Jane McGown Flynn's "Small Rhapsody" The background of the rug was a pair of wine-colored wool slacks. Most of the flowers are composed of my hand-dyed wool. The wool is cut into strips and looped onto a linen background.

This rug recently won People's Choice at the Morgan County Fair. It is priced on request.