Wherever she looks, she collects impressions and ideas. She perceives forms and patterns where others see only objects. She notices hues and tints where others see only basic colors. She incorporates all this visual information into her expressive fiber art.

Brenda Kopmeyer-Kaspar, owner of i.e. (that is) F-I-B-E-R at 222 Cedar, is currently concentrating on fabrics and producing scarves in particular. Her workroom filled with flowing materials and accented by vibrant colors reflects her dedication to her nature-inspired style.

"Fiber comes from anything natural out there. From the grass that grows to tree bark to cotton. And I work with natural fibers. I hardly ever use anything synthetic," she said. "I use natural fibers such as silk, cotton and flax, and I use protein fibers which come from animals."

Brenda Kopmeyer-Kaspar, owner of i.e. (that is) F-I-B-E-R, above, brushes designs on fabric that will eventually be used to make a matching pair of dresses for the daughters of one of her customers. Kopmeyer-Kaspar, below, recently set up a studio behind the Pastry Shop at 222 Cedar Street.

Almost 99.9 percent of the time, the natural material she uses starts out white. She then adds and removes color by using procion dyes to produce her one-of-a-kind scarves.

"I take a white piece of stock, and then I manipulate it in some way by scrunching it, folding it or sticking it in panty hose. Occasionally I will just lay it out and hand paint it," Kaspar explained.

"One of the great things about this medium is that I mix my own colors. I'm the kind of person who works intuitively, so I don't keep notes because I don't ever want to duplicate anything. Everything is truly unique."

Occasionally customers, perhaps interior designers, will ask her to make material for curtains, chair covers or table runners to match something. They bring in a pillow or whatever and she tries to match or complement the colors. She prefers, however, being given free rein just to let her designs evolve.

A movement that is gaining momentum is the production of art cloth. Kaspar said many people who are decorating their own homes, wanting something unusual to wear or seeking rare material for quilts are learning to make fabric uniquely their own by painting it.

Kaspar does do art-cloth, but due to limited space, she can do only about three yards at a time.

"Some people frame these pieces of art-cloth or cut them up and make pillow covers. Or they may do funky slip covers," she said.

Seldom does Kaspar have a definite idea in mind when she starts a project. She just lets the design happen.

"That's pretty much how I work, and many times I purposely make mistakes. I don't like to preplan anything, and if I do, it never turns out anywhere near what I expected.

"Often, I just have to let a dyed cloth hang there awhile before it becomes something to me. Usually I see a natural pattern eventually evolve from the cloth, and then I add textures or something to it," she explained.

She realizes that an imperfection in her work marks it as handmade. In fact, there is an old Quaker belief that she appreciates. "When they do their beautiful quilts, they consciously put a mistake in them because they believe that only God can't make a mistake."

Not limited to one style or one method, Kaspar relies on several art styles to produce her scarves and often combines them.

"I'm a big nature lover. I often take a photo, scan it into my computer, manipulate it more and then make a silk screen out of it," she said.

She also likes to create a stamp design for her fabrics.

"I'm a great 'rummager.' I like to use anything that is going to create a pattern, that has texture," she said.

One of her favorite stamps is one she created from the bottom of a meat tray she got at a supermarket.

To apply her stamp design, she uses pigment rather than a dye.

"Pigment sits on top of your fabric while a dye penetrates the fiber."

A T-shirt, for example, is dyed, but the design on it is usually stamped.

Prior to starting her own business, Kaspar had worked as a travel agent and as a creative product designer at Hallmark.

Her work with the agency allowed her to travel worldwide and to become familiar the arts of different countries. Some of those impressions continue to influence her work in subtle ways.

At Hallmark, she experienced all phases of commercial art, including the business aspect.

Her longest stint was with party goods. Where see designed many party plates, hats, napkins, etc.

"I had to study the marketplace to determine what trends were popular and work with marketing people on all levels," she said.

When Hallmark wanted her to do more management, Kaspar decided to leave and pursue her interest in art.

"I went back to KU and got in the textile program there. I had phenomenal teachers who inspired and encouraged me," she said.

For that she was most appreciative because early in life she ran into to difficulty with art teachers and fellow students.

So many kids in her art classes could draw realistic figures, and she couldn't. Her work was more abstract. Their work, of course, got recognition from all of the teachers and other students.

"I thought that was what art was all about, and I couldn't do that. When I went back to school and took commercial art and illustration, I learned how to do that and now realize that it's a technique. I have a different technique," she said.

Another of Kaspar's observations is the importance of all previous experiences.

"We are all inspired somehow by our pasts, so we just have to take a look at that," she said as she recalled growing up without all the video games today's children have.

In particular, she remembers watching clouds and seeing forms, noticing piles of sticks and seeing patterns and, in general, being entertained by the natural world instead of the world of Nintendo.

Kaspar hopes to build an inventory of scarves so that she can sell her goods to retail venues that focus on fashion. Then, she will start working on pillows.