Monday, December 31, 2007

Events for 2008

Artists Clearing House at Crossings March 29-30, 2008
Textile Camp at Crossings July 21-25, 2008
Midwest Felting Symposium Madison, WI July 23-27, 2008 (just attending classes!)
RAC Artists Morning December 6, 2008
Fabrications V at Crossings at Carnegie December 2008

more to be added later I hope

New Felting Books

I've acquired several new books over the last few weeks:
How We Felt by Carol Juber Cypher
Uniquely Felt by Christine White
Complete Feltmaking by Gilliam Harris
Fabulous Felted Scarves by Chad Alice Hagen and Jorie Johnson
Felt to Stitch by Shelia Smith
Needle Felting by Hand or Machine by Linda Turner Griepentrog and Pauline Wilde Richards
I like them all, but I won't declare a favorite publicly in case any of these authors are reading my blog. Haha.

I will be trying out some new techniques soon, though, including Chris White's ribbon felt, and some nuno collage. My dear hubby gave me a needle felting tool for a Christmas gift so I will be embellishing. A needle felting machine will have to be a long term member of my wish list, as they are pretty expensive. I did not bring any felting projects on our Christmas travels, so I brainstormed instead about what kind of vessels I want to try. I will have to order more batts, or maybe roving. I'd rather use batts.

I bought some Felbi prefelts made by Fibre Fusion. I purchased them from Outback Fibers. I am anxious to try them out.

There are pictures of some of my pieces on the Bluff Country Artists Gallery website.
Also there is a possibility that I will teach at the Textile Camp this summer at Crossings at Carnegie. I am pretty excited about the prospect.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Christmas Gifts Made



For my grandmother, a hat with ear flaps. Modeled by my daughter.


For Sandy and Dennis, felted coasters.


For the kids' godparents, felted Christmas ornaments.




Thursday, December 13, 2007

December ramblings

Today, I mailed four pieces to Bluff Country Artists Gallery in Spring Grove. They were wet felted pieces-2 large and 2 small.


There will be an "artists clearinghouse" at Crossings in Zumbrota in March. I have a couple of months to get ready for that.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Rochester Athletic Club Artists' Morning

Last weekend was the RAC Artist's morning. I'm glad I participated. It was an easy way to get an idea how to do a show, what things people liked, how to arrange the table, etc. I didn't sell very much but that was ok.

Fabrications IV: Fibers and Finery

I just got back from the Fabrications artists open house at Crossings. It was tremendous fun to meet all the other artists and hear about what kinds of things they do.


There were several jewelry artists. I admit, I'm not much into jewelry, but I am starting to appreciate the different types and methods of jewelry making. There were some fused glass pieces that I liked a lot, as well as some made from metalic clay that is then baked or fired to reveal the metal. They were all pretty. One lady was also a painter, so she had scanned some of her artwork into pendant sizes and made necklaces.


The silk fusion pieces were beautiful. Another artist dyed silk. I bought one of her scarves for my mother in law. The wool hooked-rug pieces were attractive...much more contemporary designs rather than the traditional looking pieces you might expect to see in hooked rugs.


There were all kinds of knitted scarves, weaving, pieced table runners, and Native American mandelas. There were even vessels woven from water-colored paper.
I must admit I was quite pleased when Crossings owner, Marie Marvin told me she like my pieces. I guess I am a praise junkie.


Here are some of the pieces I submitted for the show.