Tapping into nature

Mary LaFrenz displays some of the pottery items made with nature scenes she has at her business called Tapestries of Nature that is based out of her Dover home. BCR photo/Lyle Ganther

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DOVER — Mary LaFrenz of Dover likes to be outside to find ideas for her artwork and to deepen her faith at the same time.

LaFrenz, the owner of Tapestries of Nature, moved to Dover about 18 months ago from the Aspen, Colo., area where she and her husband, Terry, had lived for the past 12 years prior to moving to Bureau County.

“It was very hard to leave there,” she said. “It was dry and sunny every day.”

The LaFrenzes, originally from St. Charles, moved back to Illinois because they needed to be closer to their family.

LaFrenz likes to make dry floral  items and work with what she picks up outside.

“I connect to God that way,” she said. “My faith is very important to me and I find God most in nature.”

In addition to making artwork with items such as twigs, grasses or flowers, LaFrenz also likes to make pottery items, again with a nature theme.

“In Colorado, there was a camaraderie with artists while you were throwing your pottery,” she added. “It didn’t matter if you knew nothing about making pottery or were a seasoned artist. That was the best feeling. It was exciting.”

The LaFrenzes had a business in Rifle, Colo., where she sold her pottery and paintings that she does on old windows. Terry builds furniture from items discarded by others like doors. Mary paints the furniture he made prior to selling it.

“It has to be in your heart to work,” she said about doing her artwork. “Since they only had aspen trees in Colorado, that is what I painted on windows. Around here, people like covered bridges more, or farm scenes.”

LaFrenz doesn’t want to be contemporary or modern in her artwork, but feels that nature is what she does best.

“We have done shows in this area, but the best one we had so far was the one in Princeton (Homestead Festival),” she said. “We have gone to Geneva, the Kane County flea market and St. Charles.

“It is like a healing time for me to go out and pick up things,” she said. “If you are going through a rough time, it can be  relaxing for men and women. Anybody can make art. Some people don’t think they can, but they can.”

LaFrenz likes to meet people and encourage them, especially when she works with pottery.

“My dream is to have shows here with other artists and to allow people to come out and walk around our property in the summer,” she added.

LaFrenz had access to pottery wheels in Colorado, but only recently bought this piece of equipment to make her pottery in Illinois.

“I am drawn to it,” she said. “Since I love nature, I incorporate bunnies, nests, etc. in my pottery pieces.”

In addition to moving 50 to 100 old windows from Colorado, the LaFrenzes also moved their horse, a donkey named Chico, and several dogs and cats.

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