'good' pics of my latest hats

good morning happy bloggers......I thought I would just quickly share the 'good' pics of my latest hats soon to be listed on etsy.

Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild.

Before I left the Textile Arts Program at Capilano University I won the Janet Collins memorial scholarship.....memorial being relative as she is still alive and looking quite lovely I might add. Janet and I have had intersecting lives for ages and strangely enough just after a trip to LA to tape a segment on needlefelting for Uncommon Threads we were both diagnosed with Breast Cancer within the same week. Janet is terminal, I am in remission. So winning her scholarship was an emotional experience for me......part of the commitment of that was that I had to give a talk on my progression as an artist and the impact of the program on my work and myself. I was excited to go and to see Janet again....I had to most hysterical drive to horseshoe bay with an overheating car.....but managed to arrive as a foot passenger on the Langdale side relatively unscathed and towing a ginourmous rolling suitcase courtesy of my son. I was met my Janet in her lovely little PT Cruiser and we toodled through the area stopping for a bowl of soup at a place called 'the gumboot' before heading to the meeting. The powerpoint went off without a hitch which in itself was a bit miraculous and the women seemed genuinely interested and I may have had a few converts for the program....lol. My mini trunk show was also well received and between that and an honorarium I left with considerably more than I usually make in a day so no guilt about taking the day off!. We then went back to her house where she gifted me with some precious little treasures from her stash including the perfect finish for a hat I am working on....we finished the day with a lovely dinner with Penny and her husband Jon before Janet returned me to the ferry terminal. There is always the joy of seeing an old friend and a bittersweet sadness of wondering if it will happen again. Life is short and I am reminded again of what is really important. I made the return trip in the crazy car who made it back to my driveway to finally gasp its last breath. In a panic yesterday I managed to procur a van just before it was listed in the local auction with the help of a friend in Merritt.....few stressful,hours running (literally) to the bank, to the auction, to the insurance and then to work.....but, all in all worth it as I am now the proud owner of a post telus dodge caravan with awesome ugly roof rack perfect to hold the tent and the gridwall.......I am positive again that everything happens for a reason. Today I am setting up my outside studio and just settling into my first day off in a month.....coffee first.

Millinery Intensive

The last two weeks have seen me totally immersed in a Millinery Intensive taught by Mitchell McKay as part of the costuming program and Capilano University. It was a wonderful creative experience and I have discovered much to my amazement that I am a latent milliner.....expect to see many more creations....in the meantime until I have Kats do some 'good' pics of my work I have some snaps from the class.

Blog Updates

So.... I have added a few little updates....a workshop page and a shop page and updated the background, its springtime and I felt like an overhaul. Tommorow starts the millinery intensive and I hope to have lots of pictures to share.....one more sleep.

a little disperse experiment

I did a little printing experiment on some fabric that was acquired from Our Social Fabric....worked quite well, now to design something specific for this fabric.

Felting Nature's Lace Workshop

I am offering a workshop at my home on May 19-20th. The cost is $175

Add a fun new textural dimension to your laminate felting by adding natural lace which you will make from Thai Kozo; the inner bark of the mulberry tree. This creates felt with a lovely organic lacey texture which is a bit stiffer than most laminate felt options. This technique really lends itself to 3D projects such as purses and vessels either by sewing or felting with a resist. No previous felting experience necessary just bring your enthusiasm and creative sense of adventure. The $175 fee includes 2 days of felting fun, kozo and wool included. There will be a list of things to bring. I am asking for a $50 deposit to confirm your space. $50 Deposit

Countdown to the Art For Fashion Show

The Art For Fashion Show is this Sunday at the Seymour Art Gallery from noon til 4......Come and see all the great stuff! And on that note I am tagging inventory like a loon but also because time marches on, I am also dyeing fibre for my Jerusalem The City Of Peace And Gold entry......practicing good time management (actually its more like over whelming ADHD but we wont mention that).

oh and a sneak peak at another top in the making......dont forget.....Sunday at noon, Seymour Art Gallery in Deep Cove, be there or be square.

Cogitating on the next Call for Entry

The next call I am considering is Jerusalem The City of Peace and Gold so with that in mind here are my inspiration photos....I am hoping I can get something done and photographed in time.

Having never been to the Holy Land this should be a bit of a challenge but I think I am formulating an idea....

Charred Blossoms

Today is a day for tying up loose ends....literally. I am trimming, tagging and doing inventory sheets as well as affixing labels and packing for the upcoming show Art in Fashion. There is something peaceful about the finishing touches.....the tagging and the placing in bins.....order out of chaos.

ADHD and fibre arts...lol

Im fairly certain I am attention deficit.....Im like a little butterfly....oh lets do this....no this......and this......I can hear Mary Lou's voice somewhere in the distance telling me to focus.....lol. So, it started with picking up a copy of The Alabama Stitch book in Value Village a while back which inspired me to rework some of the tie dye I have left over from 2 years of flogging at at the Whistler Farmers Market.....I made some shirts....and I was hooked.....how that idea is morphing into something else....this is the first free form T shirt I have made.....has a slightly steampunky feel to it (maybe its just the stripes) and 2 flowers at the shoulder.....I have to name this flower technique....workin on it.

Anyway I am slowly pulling together a line of products in my head.....the Art in Fashion Show is coming quickly and of course I wont have as much done as I would like but Im feeling the direction which is a good thing.....tell me what you think of the Ts......its all a process......

Will I still know how to crochet when I don't know who I am?

Left the house in disaster mode after discovering I love these remade t's and and now working it into something else....(why didnt I buy all that jersey at the sale....why do I never know ahead of time what I will need....no wonder I am a packrat!)and started a new job this morning working with an elderly client with dementia. I wonder if dementia is a chance to put a life time of crap to bed and just live again, childlike and innocent.....it gives one pause for thought as well all have these stress levels of incredible volumes....why? when life is so precious do we judge and limit and control.....I dunno, sometimes turning it off doesn't seem so awful. The interesting thing though is when handed wool and a crochet hook her hands fall deftly into rhythm and she asks simply "what do you want" then puts it down examining the large hook I had given her incredulously..'too big' she says and I laugh at my arrogance thinking that she would find it easier and I make a mental note to bring a laceweight hook next time. When I am 90 and can't find the toilet and peer at the same faded picture endlessly I wonder if I will still remember how to crochet? And on the getting ready for the show agenda I have made some bags to pack purchases in for clients. I picked up volumes of window sheer at the social fabric sale and have disperse dyed them with 'Diva's Niche and a bird....the bird is just because I had them done and they look cool....anyway quite pleased with the results as I think it is nice to wrap the purchases artistically....and on that note Im going to make tea and plan another project....

reworking the tie dye

I have a hefty amount of tie dye left from the last few years of dyeing.....all mens shirts....all....just tie dye. So to take a break from felting I am starting to rework some of them Chanin style. It didnt take long to rethread the industrial serger, a task I have been putting off for a while. So here is the first one....I am quite please with the results and excited because I can see this developing into a new thing with a twist.....gonna work it for a while and see what comes.

and the long awaited artist's statement......

The moment the scales tip from winter to spring she twirls barefoot through the scattered blossoms. Blissful in the Pink Ephemeral Moment. Using Textural Collage Felting combining a plethora of textile ingredients and techniques I have created a wrap to infuse you with the feeling of the first moments of spring. A garment like no other, lighthearted and playful, face to the sun, sure to chase away any gray cloud.

finished Cherry Blossom Purse

"Blissful In The Pink Ephemeral Moment" I am reminded today that writing comes to me sporadically.....sometimes I can channel my dead mother and write something amazing.....today is not that day....lol. That and writing artist statements always hurt my brain.....something about scattered blossoms.....ephemeral moments......something playful.....ack, we will see what comes after another cup of coffee...... Today I am planning to print some labels, finish some pieces, drag Dorothy the manniquin out of the attic and do some housework....oh and try to move the car tent which in the windstorm has relocated askew across the drive......pitter patter lets get atter......

more armwarmers...

These are yesterday's pieces....I'm loving the lime and purple ones.....a bit garish but sooooo much fun! Today I am working on some garments...what started as a vest is going to be something small that will fit Shannon my model for the show. I had forgotten why I had hung on to this soft brown fleece....its because it doesn't want to felt...lol. So I am forcing it but the rest of the fleece will be spun.....so stay tuned to see what the large brown collage vest morphs into.

BENIGN

What a lovely peaceful word.....the annihilator of stress and agnst and facing ones mortality.......what an arduous week this has been and a damn good reminder to focus on what is important......all of a sudden I have all this energy. Now.....i need to find a part time job until they place another kid and felt like there is no tomorrow....oh wait a minute thats what I was doing.....I need to felt like there is a million tomorrows. ..........lalalalala

Working with resists today.....

I am in the need of a little 'change em up' so.....for the next little bit I am working with resists and coming up with some new ideas.....I have done 2 purses, one a cherry blossom entry and one a fish, I will show both when they are completed....in the meantime 2 pairs of armwarmers to share.....

cherry blossom purse

This is my second Cherry Blossom entry.....started when I was deconstructing a beautiful pink punjabi suit. The lining for the bag is the sleeve lining pieces from the suit....a lovely deep pink turban cloth. The wool is mostly white wendsleydale fleece with one layer of pink merino.....and of course the textural poly embellishments....I am quite happy with the results now I just have to figure out the strap and closure....leather maybe....I will work that through when its dry. I have also made 2 pairs of arm warmers that I am also thrilled with.....but I need someone to model them for pics.....in the meantime here is the partially made purse...

Why am I always buying bananas?

Its one of those life mysteries or a sign that I am losing my mind......where do all the bananas go? Im sure I bought tons but then I get confused about whether that was when I took the client shopping or whether that was when I did my grocery shopping.....or maybe Dylan ate them.....8 bananas......who eats 8 bananas.....ack, Im crazy. Anyway the last 2 days have been hell on my weight watchers plan so I am henceforth back on track even if I can't find the bananas. And so....in the vein of being on track.....here are some more pics taken by Kats and the AV department of my recent work....today I am working on armwarmers and maybe some hats or bags we will see.....some good news though, the car tent is now empty and I can use that as an outside studio so I will set up the giant layout table over the next few days and hopefully the weather will warm up and I can work outside.

Life, Biopsies and Felting

Started the day with a run of the mill mammogram which morphed into an all day biopsy marathon. "They" have been following a 'thing' in my right breast for 2 years....today the radiologist decided although it hadn't grown it had changed shape slightly.....he was quick to point out it could easily be because it was a different machine and told me not to worry.....HA say that to any breast cancer survivor and see what happens......and so from the depths of where ever strength comes from I sucked it up and proceeded with an exhausting day...went back at 11:30 am the allotted biopsy time (after taking and ativan and having a hyper gerbil like conversation with my landlord about what Im not sure)walked down the long hall in my blue gown like I was walking to the gallows....got on the table and waited and waited.....they could not find the biopsy gun......after about 20 minutes it was discovered that they were all down being sterilized and could I come back at 3.....well, not much choice and no point in whining.....so I toodled home. Wrapped my boob in a plastic bag and duct tape to protect the x marks the spot and had a bath to de-stress.....didn't really work but it did pass the time.....got out....went back.....had 3 biopsies of a lump that is less than 3 mm.....cant be much left can there? And now I wait in that strange disconnected head space where the Cancer demon lurks and drools......4-7 business days to get the results.....so in the meantime I will felt and try not to worry about cancer and not having a job and anything else that wants to worm into my brain....ok venting done....now onto the pictures..... Kats in AV did these yesterday and I am so over the moon thrilled with them. Most are portfolio bound. But I wanted to share them here first...

Smaller textural felting scarves

I have made 10 shawls in the new collage style in preparation for the ART IN FASHION show on April 1 at the Seymour Art Gallery in North Vancouver.....with those complete I am now moving on to flower pins (6 done last night) and some smaller thinner scarves 2 done thus far. My production was slowed this weekend with the wee kiddies here for a night as poor old Diana was sicker than a pig.....also baby sitting the grand dog who incidentally also has the runs.....needless to say not a lot of felting was done. I did make some play dough for the kiddies and I made clay pins and buttons while they made played playdough......got an hour in that way. My anxiety around not knowing if and when a kid will be placed here is fueling my creative energy, as always felting is a way to self soothe for me.....When the show is done I will take some pieces to various stores I have lined up. Since I last blogged i have spent 5 days working with an elderly client in the beginning stages of dementia, ......it made me realize that my skill set is a little more varied than I originally thought, Anyway the old dear gave me some lovely saris so watch for some interesting felt pieces in the upcoming days. This scarf is hot of the press yesterday, peach silk with merino felt and some shibori-ed poly bits and bobs...nice length to wear with a sweater or with a coat.....very light....next a sneak peak at the flower pins which could become an obsession.....I am LOVING them.

The process of process

I am slowly becoming aware of the amount of work in these new scarves even before the felting process. I am collecting pieces of fabric for the collage pieces, dyeing fabrics and yarns,heat pressing polys when i cant find suitable ones, shibori-ing, singeing and a ton of other techniques and that is before I even get to lay it out......but.....I am LOVING the results. The deep tactile and visual textures are really pleasing me and I am planning the next one before the last is finished......job satisfaction....lol.

more collage scarves

I am hoping to have a few good days of full on production. Having said that I am not holding my breath as things frequently derail my well made plans. I have laid out the pieces of my next scarf so that I can live with them a bit and add and subtract as the day goes on.....I am planning to make this scarf tonite.....we will see how that goes. And today is a red letter day of sorts...I am meeting with Kjaer Pederson the current Artist in Residence in Maple Ridge and we are going to spend the afternoon making buttons.....I am tres excited! Also it is almost time to check the rusting fabric....woohooo, as it were...lol.

Reflections

The only problem with using dyes that are discontinued is when you get a colour you truly love there is no way to repeat it. Well, strictly speaking thats not true it will just require experimentation and due dilligence and a bit of record keeping.... This is Deka Ruby Red...first bath and exhaust bath, truthfully it was the exhaust bath that i wanted in the beginning as I need pink for my cherry blossom entry but I ended up LOVING this red, now normally I am not a red gal but this one I like. The other colour is DEKA orange. These are dyes I got from Anthea and I am wondering if maybe Idye which is similar to Deka might be worth a shot. I woke this morning with the most intense headache, a kind of brain numbing neck twisting torture. After a bit of reflection I realized that this is what always happens when the two sides of my life collide. Working with an a Aspergers individual whose constant criticism and intense complaining take its toll when it is compounded with layers of misconception and manipulation.....mostly I dont take this stuff personally but that in itself requires energy and a certain amount emotional self protection which fights against the artist part and the need to be open and expressive...hence the crashing head. My solution and salvation is to throw myself into creating something I love......The boat may be sinking but I will be felting....lol. Again I have been reflecting on the whole cancer experience and how it changed my life, for which I will be ever grateful.....There seems to be a huge amount of people I know beginning (or ending as the case may be) that journey at the moment and that looms before me as next month is mammogram month.....lol, not that it is any big deal, I must have had a million by now but sitting in that hall in a blue gown waiting is a stark reminder of how fragile the balance is and how truly lucky I am......beside that all else pales. And just an intresting and surprising little snippet before i get out the felting mats.......I think chemo changed my sense of smell.....when did it start to like patchouli? I have spent YEARS avoiding it.....and yesterday decided to buy myself a treat and got a small package of aromatherapy bubble bath....patchouli and sweet orange and thought I was in heaven.....how weird.

Rusting Fabric Dyeing Roving and Galavanting About

Its been a busy little week. I finished some shawls...made some plans for others and went to the Vancouver Fibre Arts Guild Meeting with Hilary and Tamara So now I am getting back into production focus.....rusting some fabric (with the rusty mattress frame I had to fight to move with me in October) for some felted purses that are fighting to get out of my head and dyeing some roving and locks with some discontinued deka dyes....ruby red.....looks a bit like intestines...lol. So stay tuned, it will take the rust a few days to 'cook' I am hoping the results are as cool as I think they will be.

feels like spring....

While I worked on a new idea for felted flowers Boston discovered the organza.....rolling around in it and walking around with the tangerine one over his head.....he makes an enjoyable design partner.....:)

and the grass is always greener......

Here are the two finished green scarves from the fibre dyed the other day. I am working on a few new techniques for adding texture to my nuno felting....going to require a bit more collecting of bits and pieces. I realize I am becoming totally unenamored with flat nuno felt .....sooooo....I don't know......boring....time to ramp it up...lol. Tommorows agenda is some disperse printing, some mohair and wensleydale lock dyeing.....

Green with envy....

Today was all about the greens. I used some unknown vintage acid dyes that I got from Emma last week....and some ciba that got seriously rusted in the move.......I love the results but I need to get to maiwa for some black. Boston was not so big on the respirator part of dye mixing....

I got some lovely green shades which will hopefully be dry by tomorrow and be incorporated into some scarves......also in the making are some felt nubs to add to hats.........

All in all a fairly prolific day.

logwood collage scarf

This one was fun.....Im loving the textures and the muted logwood colours.....the back layer is organic mull dyed with logwood the wool is logwood dyed merino and topped with silk and linen and some poly bits.....again, I need Kats to photo this one.