Article By: Zak Lodhi
Where Fiber, Stone, and Story Meet
At the base of Thimble Peak in the Catalina Mountains, artist C.W. Stedman creates work that reflects a lifetime of travel, study, and creative exploration. From her home studio, aptly named Thimble Peak Studio, Stedman produces an eclectic range of art that spans jewelry, basketry, weaving, and mixed fiber pieces, all infused with the colors and textures of the desert Southwest.
Stedman’s artistic path began early. As a child, she entered local art shows and earned recognition for her work, eventually beginning college as an art major. Family expectations redirected her studies toward academia, language, and history studies. And that academic path opened the door to years of international travel.
During more than four years living in the Middle East, Stedman studied weaving with master Bedouin and Turkish Kilim rug weavers. Immersed in traditional textile culture, she explored spinning, dyeing, felting, and tapestry weaving alongside fellow fiber enthusiasts.
And today, those influences appear throughout her creations. Stedman weaves cloth using a variety of looms and techniques, crafts baskets from reeds and coiled pine needles, and often incorporates gourds, geodes, or other natural elements. Her jewelry features precious and semi-precious stones, ammonites, and geodes wrapped in sterling silver, copper, or gold-filled wire, often paired with Kumihimo-braided silk fibers.
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