My Story
My Story
I am a fiber artist & sewing arts instructor living in Greenwood Mississippi since 2011. As a native of South Africa, I draw my inspiration through my colorful cultural heritage to create narrative items from a variety of story bags, free form quilts, cards, placemats and more.
How do I work?
What happens when I make my license plates signs, for instance. The process is intentional. As I start to pull letters together, specific colors and faded hues jump to the front, it is as if they come alive. And then as they are placed in order, I wait for it, I wait for the music to come, it has a rhythm and a groove. A story, and when I hear it, I just know that’s it, the aha moment.
The same process occurs for everything I do: my skirts, the cards, the bags, the flags. Everything. The way I live. The way I teach, EVERYTHING. If it is not music and happiness it's not going to happen
Selected Articles and Interviews
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Interview on the Mississippi Arts Hour | December 29, 2019
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All In Good Measure: Sizing Things Up With Miss Yolande | Mississippi Folk Life | July 27, 2018
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Making Old Things New | The Greenwood Commonwealth Profile 2018 | February 22, 2018
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Yolande van Heerden: Artist designs for the soul in the Delta | The ‘Sip Magazine | Summer 2015
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Drawn to the Delta | Leflore Illustrated Magazine | Winter 2013