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Denise DeGidio

@metalandwool

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Fiber Artist · Maker · Instructor
Pole Shed Life 🌊 Lake Superior
Peace. Love.💙 Mend.

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I'm happy to introduce today Denise DeGidio @metalandwool
Hello, I’m Denise DeGidio, a fiber artist and maker who has been patching, stitching, making, and mending my clothes by hand for decades – a textile practice that began when I was a young university student studying fibers in the early ‘90s. During this time, my mostly thrifted wardrobe was a canvas for making marks and learning repair techniques, mostly by trial and error, and is a practice that has continued to this day.

I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in visual arts with a concentration in fiber – centering around weaving, textiles, knitwear, natural dyes, and surface design and have traveled around the country and internationally studying this medium. My studio and creative practice are featured in the Spring issue of Where Women Create magazine, and I have been a fibers instructor in higher education and currently teach workshops and classes locally and nationally.

I appreciate traditional craft and techniques to stay connected with how fiber methods and materials have been used over time and am equally inspired by the stories that our wardrobe has to tell. Nature often inspires my work as it surrounds me daily, and I enjoy incorporating elementary Elements of Art and Principles of Design to bring inspirations to life.

Making and mending are a part of me. Fiber is a part of me. I can’t imagine a world without this practice and am grateful for this creative life. As fiber is a vast medium, it’s hard not to want to do it all. As I take the time to reflect about this phase of my life and work, it seems that a few key components are at the forefront – stitching, mending, weaving, and dyeing with nature’s colors – each facet centered around sustainability. This focus directs my work, trying my part to be a good steward of this earth, helping preserve her bountiful gifts for the next generation and beyond.

#textileartist #moderntextileart

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Give your favorite clothes a second life. 🪡✨

Join Denise DeGidio on Madeline Island for a three-day creative visible mending workshop focused on stitching, patching, and darning well-loved garments. Learn practical repair techniques while exploring color, texture, design, and personal expression - all in a welcoming community of makers.

Leave with beautifully mended pieces, new skills, and inspiration to keep creating long after you return home.

Inspire · Design · Mend - A Visible Mending Course to Repair your Beloved Wardrobe with Denise DeGidio
3-day Workshop
September 6 - 8, 2026

Registration link in MISA’s bio.

#misa #misaworkshop #denisedegidio #mendingworkshop

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On a quiet road in Northwestern Wisconsin, fiber artist Denise Degidio (@metalandwool) weaves together stories of past and present—mending, dyeing, and creating with intention. Inspired by the stillness of Lake Superior, her work—and her studio—reflect a life rooted in care, sustainability, and quiet beauty. Her space, much like her garments, is thoughtfully pieced together with thrifted, gifted, and handmade finds—each one adding to its story.

“One thing is for certain: fiber will be my practice, hands finding rhythm with every needle threaded, shuttle passed, or redesign explored… striving to continue this simple, creative life.” 🧵✨

Visit our website [link in bio] to read Denise's story!

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Got a favorite pair of jeans you just can’t part with? Or a sweater that’s lived a little too much life? Let’s give it a beautiful second chapter. 🧵✨

Join Denise DeGidio for a joyful, hands-on 3-day workshop where worn becomes wonderful. Learn to stitch, patch, and darn your beloved pieces while exploring color, texture, and design in a whole new way.

This isn’t just repair, it’s storytelling. It’s slowing down, creating in community, and stitching new life (and personality!) into the clothes you love most.

Bring your well-worn favorites and leave with pieces that feel even more you.

Inspire · Design · Mend - A Visible Mending Course to Repair your Beloved Wardrobe with Denise DeGidio
Madeline Island Campus
3-day workshop
September 6 - 8, 2026

Let’s mend something meaningful. 💛 Registration link in MISA’s bio.

#misa #misaworkshop #denisedegidio #mending #visablemending

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#mendmarchbigfinish #clothingrepair
Spilling the beans on what I've learned repairing through the years and having been taught by the best: the menders participating in Mendmarch!
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Many thanks go out to the amazing Kate of @visiblemend for organizing the biggest mending party.
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#visiblemending #upcycle #saveourplanet🌍

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This is your sign to meet your internet friends. 🧵 Some of the best people in my life started as ‘just’ online connections … and then one day you’re sitting across the table from them + drinking coffee, like it was always meant to happen. (We could have talked all day long … and we almost did.) Last week, I hung out with @metalandwool while she was in DSM for spring break. Last year, she made these custom patchwork jeans for me (!!) - swipe through to see them close up - which somehow made the whole thing feel even more meaningful. I love when being instagram buddies turns into real connection like this. Creative friendships are the best kind.

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#mendmarchdarned #jeansrepair
"These here darn jeans could do with some darned repairs!"
Several darned mends (woven/machine darn) on one pair of jeans. Plus some sashiko repairs as a bonus.
This was the first time I applied 'proper' darning to denim, inspired by the beautiful darned denim mends from @selinaam05 . Decided to give it a go, since the fabric was very thin in some places, but not worn through. Added some light blue here and there to break the white. Made with Olympus cotton sashiko threads.
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#visiblemending #mendmarch2026 #sashikostitching

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#mendmarchwintery #upcycling
From wintery weather to the first flowers of spring is but a short bike ride and a couple of stitches. Well at least in this reel it is 😃
Luckily mending clothes and proudly wearing them is for all seasons.
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#mendmarch2026 #visiblemending #springtime

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I’ve been collecting testimonials and feedback from the 50 women who moved through my 8-week writers collective last year.

Many of these women went from an initial “I’m not a writer,” reaction and hesitating to commit to 8-weeks to realizing this is about…

- getting in touch with yourself again
- giving yourself permission to explore and create through words, doodling and community
- figuring out what’s next for you, and finally taking the time and space just for yourself

I’m continuing to design and refine this community, it starts by showing up for myself, first and foremost, which truthfully isn’t always easy given all the health stuff we continue to navigate, but then I receive messages like this from Jill and I know I need to stay the course and keep building this.

Thanks to everyone who believes and trusts me with your time and your energy, and doing the work to show up for yourself. 🤛🏽

What a gift. 💛🫶🏻

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Février 2026
So far j’ai plus de 20 sparkle de joie dans ce mois malgré tout chaotique
On dit « Good Job » ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
La joie ça s’entraîne 💪🏻 tous les jours pour les jours plus tought.
Essaie pour voir.
De minies choses 🫶❄️🌄
Et puis tu répètes
Et puis un jour sombre tu souris pareil parce que c’est beau de voir des humains jeunes et vieillissants faire le party 🎈 avec des clown
Pis ça te surprend
Pis ça te donne l’élan de sourire vraiment de toute la face même si en-dedans c’est triste encore des fois
Parce que la joie est toujours là comme le soleil ☀️ un jour nuageux
Je le sais que tu le sais
Mais ça aussi faut se le répéter 🔂
Ça cohabite, ça fade in
Pis ça fade out 🤘🏼💛
#coachdejoie #joyspotting #playful #touteestdanstoute #1000tonnesdeLOVE

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Like a studio in spring—full of light, texture and possibility. Have you explored the spring issue of WHERE Women Create yet?
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#artstudio #wherewomencreate #artistsoninstagram

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