Bridget O’Flaherty

I’m a sustainable textile artist, speaker and storyteller. My work is shaped by where I live and by the materials I can access close to home. I use local wool, natural dyes and reclaimed fabrics whenever possible because I care about how textiles connect us to land, community and each other. Sustainability guides every part of my practice, from the fibres I choose to the conversations I spark in classrooms, guilds and cultural spaces.
Textiles have always been part of my life. My mum quilted, embroidered and knit, and she showed me early on what it meant to make something with your hands. Working alongside her in a quilt shop in my twenties introduced me to art quilting and eventually to thread painting. When my work was shown at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte, I saw how deeply people responded to stories told through stitching. That experience helped me understand that my creative voice was rooted in narrative and in a strong connection to place.
There was a long period when I stepped away from my work due to caregiving and loss. When I eventually returned to quilting, I needed something steady and grounding. Stitching gave me a way to move through each day, and it brought me back to myself. I picked up a quilt I had started years earlier and finished it using reclaimed and naturally dyed materials. That piece marked the beginning of a new chapter in my practice, one that aligned more closely with my environmental values.
As I re‑entered the textile world, I became increasingly aware of the gaps in sustainable material production in Canada and the importance of working with what is available locally. Wool is one of the few fibres still produced here, and that led me to start working directly with a nearby sheep farmer. I learned to wash, pick, card and felt fleece by hand, and I began incorporating that wool into my textile pieces. That experience reinforced my belief that sustainability is not just about materials but also about relationships, community knowledge and local connection.
Today, my work focuses on thread painting, teaching and sustainability advocacy. I create nature‑based textile pieces that reflect my connection to the land, and I teach others how to develop their own visual language through thread. I offer lectures and workshops on sustainable practices in textile arts and host a podcast called Threads of Sustainability, where I speak with makers and practitioners about their approaches to sustainability in their own communities.
My goal is to encourage people to explore their own stories, understand the materials they use and consider the impact their choices have within their local ecosystems and communities. Sustainability doesn’t have one perfect path. It is built through small, thoughtful decisions that reflect our values and our realities.
If your organization is interested in textiles, sustainability or the power of storytelling, I offer talks, workshops and conversations for guilds, cultural institutions, galleries and community groups in Canada and internationally. I welcome opportunities to connect and learn how others are engaging with textiles in meaningful ways.