Candace Churchley
"Hugging a Mountain", wood hemp wool, 5"x10"x9"
"Tessellation", book (220 pp), 8 1/4" x 8 1/4"
"A Walk in the Woods", paper lantern, 10" tall
"Nature's Watching", paper, 16" x 22"
"100 Books a Hanging", 1600 pages, 4" x 3" x 26"
"Black, White & Brown", hemp & wool, 6" tall
Candace Churchley
Bookmaker & Basket and Paper Weaver
Candace Churchley is a bookmaker, basket weaver, and paper weaver who blends her creativity with a deep commitment to environmental sustainability. Through these art forms, she finds meaningful ways to express herself while reusing and repurposing materials whenever possible.
Each of Candace’s handmade books is one of a kind—crafted to serve a unique purpose, whether for journaling, storytelling, painting, or simply to be enjoyed visually through collage. The process of making books often leaves behind paper scraps, which she transforms into vibrant weavings full of texture, rhythm, and movement.
Candace’s baskets reflect a similar philosophy of honoring both material and method. She learned basket weaving from Sanda Henney of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, who taught her to “listen to the song of the basket” and to weave without knots or glue. That lesson continues to guide her practice. She primarily uses natural fibers such as hemp, wool, and silk—often reclaimed or repurposed—and has recently begun incorporating driftwood as a base for her baskets, further connecting her work to the natural world.
Each of Candace’s creations, whether a book, weaving, or basket, is a celebration of individuality, sustainability, and thoughtful craftsmanship
“Bookmaking, basket weaving, and paper weaving allow me to creatively express my lifelong passion: Caring for the environment and wildlife.”
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To see more of Candace’s unique and environmentally friendly artwork, visit her website that she operates with her husband, David (a tile mosaic artist):
*Candace will be in the Annual 2025 Nestucca Valley Artisans Festival.