My Gown and A Vessel

Hello!

Here is a better shot of my first full length dress.  Eggplant colored Merino silk and velvet...some recycling in there I am happy to say.

And I now have a series of 6 vessels completed...however one is already sold...this one is still available and represents the Grand Ole Oak.

Coming up this weekend is a fun little sale at St. Luke's in Coeur d' Alene. (Dec 1 from 9 am to 3 pm).  Then next weekend, Dec. 8 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, the Farmers Market group will be holding their annual Winter Market.  Lots of great stuff!!!  Come fill your stockings!

I will have a double booth at the Winter Market!  Many of you have never seen all my home furnishings so this double booth will feature both wearable art and home decor.  New finished designs in Felptures, handbags, jewelry and HATS!  See you there.

Happy Holidays,
Janet

Harvest Festival

Good Evening Fiber Friends,

Ahh...crisp morning air, frost, apples and pumpkins...


As we finished setting up for a month of selling at Green Bluff Grange Hall for the Harvest festival the other day, I decided to snap a few photos.  We have a wonderful location that has allowed us to display my art on both sides of our grid wall!  It doesn't show it in the pictures because we later changed things around, but my husband is set up demonstrating needle felting on one side and I have a cozy spot to demonstrate wet felting on the other side.  We want to thank everyone that came by this past (first weekend) to see us.  We had a delightful two days getting to know all our neighboring artists and visiting with Festival attendees.  Let's keep fingers crossed that the beautiful fall weather continues!

We will be at Green Bluff through the end of the month on both Saturday and Sunday 9-5.  Then look for us at the Kootenai Winter Market on December 8 at the Fairgrounds.  www.kootenaifarmersmarkets.org

AND you can see me modeling my Dream Fantasy Gown at the Kootenai Environmental Alliance's 4th Annual Fashion Show...Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Eagles in Coeur d' Alene.  http://kealliance.org/junk2funk/

In the meantime, I am busily working in my studio and squeezing in students when I can.  So far I have taught two Nuno felt sessions and I have a third scheduled.  It is exciting to see my students amazement when the bits and pieces all come together and they find they have created a one-of-a-kind work of art! Makes a teacher (me in this case) quite proud.

This week I have four Nuno scarves to finish as well as a custom ordered vest...which is going to be awesome!  Pictures will be posted.

Have a wonderful week everyone,
Janet

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

Most of the time I have to stay indoors and out of air currents because it messes with my fibers and ruins my design work...However, today I am at home - outside at the patio table - working!

At the end of last week I had partially felted 14 handbags of various styles and designs.  It took me days to lay them all out at my studio.  They occupied 3 tables.  My reward?  As we move into blissful Indian summer weather, I can sit outside at home and felt while enjoying my garden and the more moderate temperatures!  While I have enjoyed having a seperate studio...I have missed 'being home'.

This blue bag will be one in a series I call: Blossom Bags.

Tomorrow we are off to sell at our local market.  www.Kootenaifarmersmarkets.org

Have a great weekend!  Hope to see you around,
Janet

Hello!

Whew!  I know!  I know! It's been awhile since I last wrote anything to you so let me update you on some of the goings on in my life and that of Sapphire. We have both been very busy. 

I attended my last scheduled class at Pacific Northwest Art School at the end of July.  Jorie Johnson, of Japan, was our instructor.  Our assignment: Construct a complete garment without any seams.  I made...a full length dress!  I had already tackled a coat and a vest so the next thing was either a skirt, a longer coat or a dress.  I had been toying with ideas about a dress already, yet I was unsure of a few of the construction details...but Jorie had all the answers!

And while what we were creating was quite interesting...it was my fellow students that awed me.  I may have a few details slightly askew but essentially we had students from: from Israel, Kazakhstan (an artist with a thousand more artists from her country working under her in an artist cooperative), Canada and around the USA from CA, WY, ID, WA, and Ohio.  There were two college textile professors, a costume designer for a Repertory Theater in WA, a Past President of an Art School, a Immigration and Naturalization Officer, a budding artist/mom, a Rancher/Artist and several local Whidbey Island fiber artists. Wonderful discussions during breaks!

Toward the end of August we attended the second Artist's Reception in the POAC Sandpoint (Idaho) Art Walk 2012.  I took this opportunity to introduce some of the Art Walkers to sheer felting.

With September beginning we headed even further north to Priest Lake and Entree Gallery Trunk Show.  It was a lovely late summer day and we had a delightful place under the willow tree on the grounds...and I tried to demonstrate sheer felting for these folks but the wind was blowing enough that is was darn near impossible to get any of my fiber laid out.  I improvised by wetting out my surface before laying my fiber so it had something to stick to right away, but still it was too much for me. {Sigh}  That piece is headed for the recycle bin!

Then just two days ago we held Coeur d' Alene's first ever Studio Tour!!!  We had at least 150 people through Sapphire Studio in just 7 hours.  By all accounts it was a good turnout and hopefully will be funded again next year.  I enjoyed all the people that took the time to come by and see me explain and demonstrate just what it is that I do.  A bonus was the time spent meeting more artists living in this area.

I also took time to formulate and launch my Fall Class Schedule which you will find on a TAB at the top of my blog...just under the header picture.  Since opening my studio I have pretty much been busy creating or traveling.  Hopefully Fall and Winter will allow me to devote some time to teaching in my studio.

Oh!  Did I mention that I was invited to model my newly felted dress in a "Runway Show"?!  Never been down that kind of runway before...yikes!  This event is held each year as a fundraiser for Kootenai Environmental Alliance.

More to come...but for now I have to go get some sleep,
Janet

My New Pink "V" Coat

Evenin'' Everyone,

I am trying out new photo software.  My previous uploads were through Photo Bucket and often failed to load properly...now I am using Picasa.  Hope it continues to be easy to use AND that my photos load quickly and correctly.

It is now the second week of July and things are really starting to hop around here!  I was browsing through my email at the beginning of the week and saw a message announcing a jewelry contest with an online gift company called Uncommon Goods.  Sooooo I spent the middle of the week getting a few samples made; photos taken and sent off on the airwaves.  There will be an in house panel first.  If I make it out of that round then I go to the public voting round.  If I am in the top five after that round then two jewelry judges get a shot at my designs...the winner gets $500 and a vendor contract with the company.  To see what I sent off, scroll back to the top of this page. I'll let you know if and when it is time for the public vote or you can follow along at www.uncommongoods.com

These necklaces are made from merino, stones or glass (made right here in Cd'A) which I embed into my felt.  Then I add eyelets...or are those grommets...I can never keep that straight!  I then either felt a cord from merino or use a hand-dyed, handmade silk ribbon and add the clasp on one end and the flower pendant to the other.  Each necklace can be custom made.  To accompany the necklaces, I made earrings of Lucite flowers, stone beads, and Swarovski crystals.

I also found out this week that my Studio and I have been selected to participate in the first ever Studio Tour in Coeur d' Alene.  It is going to be on September 8th.  The sponsor of this event is Coeur d' Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance. More details on this later...just save that date!!! www.artsincda.org

And lastly, I have finished my first coat!  This beautiful pink and purple "V" coat is absolutely wonderful to wear.  I am not a model, yet it was fun enough to model this coat and flirt with the camera for a few quick shots of it before we drove it up to Kristie and her shop Blue Flag Weaving Studio.  www.blueflagweaving.com

This flirty, fun, wide sash collar, wrap around coat is made of cotton gauze, merino, a mixture of designer wools from Montana, silk cloth and silk fibers, metallic fibers, buttons...and the bottom purple border which is a recycled blouse...it is a stretchy burned-out velvet like material.  The inside, which is more geometric than random/abstract is as fun as the outside and I wanted to make it reversible but I just couldn't do it! (sigh)...maybe next time.

 

And tomorrow is Saturday so we are off to Farmers Market again...unless...well the prediction is for 70% chance of thunderstorms...so if it is raining in the morning I will just stay home and work on my Ode to the Ocean vessel!

Ta ta for now Fiber Fans,

Janet

Hello,

You know how it gets...you intend to do things...but you just don't?  Well that's me and blogging...Is it that life is just so busy or am I just that lazy...jury is still out on that one...but anyway here I go:

I have been quite busy.  We have returned to our local Farmers Market where sales were slow early on but picked up this Saturday when the temperature also up...as in the 90's!  That is too darn hot for my happiness, but since we had been wet and rainy for what seemed like months on end...I'm trying not to complain (too much).

May found me planting my seedlings in the garden It is growing nicely though I lost some to rot due to all our rain. I went to Pacific Northwest Art School for a class. I hosted some low-key Open House days at my studio in June. I also got asked to be the featured artist for Blue Flag Studio & Sandpoint's POAC 35th Annual Art Walk which runs daily from June 23rd to September 7th.
www.artinsandpoint.org
www.blueflagweaving.com
www.pacificnorthwestartschool.org

I have some awesome art up there...I hope some of you will be able to make it up there to see my newest art!  Since vessels are 3-D there is more to see on other sides...for now you just get a preview.

I have a series of new vessels I have started with the theme: Interpreting Nature.  The first one is dedicated to the mighty oak trees and is nearly done.  The second is about the ocean and is about half done.

I have more art in the show in Sandpoint and I will write about it in my next post.

Ta ta for now everyone...
Janet

Pacific Northwest Art School

Hello Everyone!

Yes, I am still alive and felting!  It's been an interesting winter/spring.  Very busy.  And now I am over on Whidbey Island (in Puget Sound of Washinton state) to attend a class on vessels taught by Sharon Costello. Www.blacksheepdesigns.com at Pacific Northwest Art School (PNW).  This is a sample of the views from the cottage I have rented. 

When I return on May 29th I will be setting up for the first time at the Sherman Avenue Farmers Market on Wednesday and then holding an open house at my studio on Saturday, June 3rd from 1 to 5pm.  If you are a local following my blog, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Janet

BACK to WORK!

I know I have mentioned before that I often work late into the night.  I just find it is the best productive period for my creative thinking.  And I'm not the only one!  I recently read a quote from a famous piano player...He was talking about how working in the wee hours of the night is liberating and stimulating for him...And I know how right he is!  It was great to find someone else putting out there.

So the studio is coming along though not finished.  Haven't even been able to set a date for an open house yet.  Still there is progress.  And my finger is healing so I have been able to get back into my studio the last couple days...though I must admit that the antibiotics are giving me fits and drain my energy so no late night working at this time.  But...I am off and running on a new batch of projects and it feels so GOOD!  Creating is so exhilarating!

1. A set of curtains/drapes for the front windows of the studio.
2. A wrap/scarf/jacket kind of thing using nuno felting techniques.

Each are coming along well.  I have some pictures for you...first the full length curtains...

And now here are the beginnings of what I hope will be a stunning spring wrap for me to have for the opening of Farmers Market...

The wrap is made up of layers.  In one layer will be the fuchsia gauze fabric, along with the pink & purple metallic gauze and a stretchy velour burnout fabric.  Then there is a layer of merino...that covers another layer made of silk roving, nubby wool blend and more metallic gauze.  I haven't yet decided if I will add some floral silk on top of the fuchsia gauze...

Soooooooo much fun!

Janet

A Pip of a Poppy

Yippy!  I have been able to get back to felting...finally.  On Sunday evening I worked on a few samples for my class with the Senior Ladies.  Then today I taught them to wet felt jewelry.  Two finished and they are shown below along with one of my new poppies!

Keeping My Perspective

You know it seems that I have forgotten how beautiful this place is…   Remembering back to when we arrived in May of 2010 to live here for a while - having just departed the southern desert region of Nevada - we were in awe as we rediscovered the amount of lush greenery, tree covered mountains and water in the form of streams, rivers and even a handful of lakes!  Ahhhh…we basked in all its glory. 

Come winter we got to experience the dramatically changing weather as clouds streamed past when storms blew in.  We missed the exciting elements Mother Nature can contrive that we came to appreciate so much during our days living aboard our sailboat, Sapphire.  In addition, we had snow!... Sparkling flakes on the trees covered mountains.  Even the dead looking trees waiting to be reborn in spring, shone with a stark beauty as only they can when snow adorns their dormant limbs. 

Spring showed us our new neighborhood was full of new life!  Crocus began peeking out from the last bits of frozen moisture, with daffodils and tulips following in their wake.  Yet in the time since that, everything has lost it appeal.  Things began to irritate me.  I realize now that the busier I got, the more I forget to stop and appreciate these things of beauty surrounding me!  Especially lately…I seem to have forgotten to take the time to “Stop and smell the roses.”

And while I love change and all its promised new discoveries and challenges…I have found setting up my new art studio/art school, which initially was thrilling, is now…well dis-satisfactory.   And I find myself paralyzed each time I walk in as I am faced with this:

The paralysis has spread to other parts of my life.  And I find I am accomplishing very little some days.  Discontent has spread too.  I am no longer happy with where we are living, my choice to make a go as a fiber artist, or even the way the winter played out.  I missed being able to pit myself against an indomitable foe (Mr. Winter) and feeling triumphant each time I prevailed and made it home safely.  This past winter barely gave birth to the idea of winter!  Even spring seems a wet blanket to my usual enthusiasm for this time of year.  But why?!  I revel in spring!!!   I love all the new growth; the promise of home grown food and flowers everywhere!  And they are there…those crocus are popping up to show their bright, cheerful faces…so why my gloom and discontent?  

It is my new studio!  And why should the uprooting of my studio cause me such discontent?!  I need order!!!  And until I am able to organize and contain my new studio spaces I will not be…happy…content…and able to create.  


And so it's back to work... but it is a labor of love!


Janet


P.S.  See!  I have managed to get some things organized...so all is not been in vain...and I have hope!

New Studio - New Spaces

While getting Sapphire product making materials out of our home has been joyous...moving all of the materials in batches to their new location has created chaos tenfold!
The one place that is already taking shape is, of course, the relaxing corner full of compfy spots to sit!  Which is what I find myself doing frequently as I stew about how I am going to put order back into things!

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted!!!  Vacations really create their own kind of havoc even while creating fun and enjoyment of life!  My mom, younger sister, one aunt and I all took 10 days to visit Kauai, Hawaii...kind of a birthday celebration/girls trip.  What an adventure!  There were flash floods, road closures (never was able to get to north end of the island), record rain, culverts washed out which caused sink holes, beaches were closed, terrifically LOUD and long thunderstorm which caused more flooding. hail storm (lots of crop damage) and a tornado!  Us?  Well we just did our little touristy things right through it all!

So now I am home and back to reality....and just what is that?  Well before I left on vacation, I signed a lease on a retail/industrial space on one of the main roads in town.  What for you ask?  It  is to be the home of my new Art Studio.  Yep!!!  I am really excited!  Happy Birthday to me!!!

So since returning to Idaho, I have been hunting high and low for bargains to outfit my new space.  What fun hubby and I are having doing it too!  Might be one reason we love staying on the go - we love setting up new spaces.   Gypsies at heart I guess.

I must tell you the story leading up to this some day...for it was a true nightmare!  For now I want to share with you some of the color, textures and patterns I found in Kauai...future material for felting...

Next post I'll update you on my studio and include some photos of our work as we progress through the evolution of the space from warehouse like to workable art space...stay tuned!

Janet

 

Nuno Scarves

Felting again!  It has been awhile as I am working on a secret project, but today I have two lovely scarves laid out on my tables.  Soon as I am done I must clean everything up as company is coming!  And then on Sunday I am off on adventures with my younger sister, mom and aunt on Kauai.

When I return ...big surprise!  While I am gone I will be looking to nature for patterns and textures that one day might make it into my felting designs.

Take care...
Janet

New Pillows - But They're Already Spoken For

Done! Done! and Done!

I am so excited to finish these two pillows as they have turned out very nice.  They feel wonderfully soft when you feel them too.  The final touch was adding a small - as in micro - trim to the edge to cover seam stitching and a few tassel like tufts of fiber here and there!  I am sure their new owners will enjoy them for years to come.

They are washable too!  Just open them up and remove the inside and then pop the covers into the sink with some Soak wash...let them soak for 15 minutes.  Pull them out and roll in a dry bath towel to remove excess water.  Lay out flat on a dry towel until dry.  Or you can vacuum them for a quick clean up...very easy care!

http://www.soakwash.com/

Hope everyone enjoyed their Saturday as much as I did mine.  We had near blizzard conditions for awhile here.  Very cozy inside though.  And I have made more progress on my list of things to do before I leave for Hawaii next week.  Gotta keep at it though as there are many more things to do...

Take care,
Janet

More Felted Jewelry Ideas

Good Evening,

It has been a couple busy days!  Working to catch up from being sick and finish three custom pieces and get them delivered before I leave on my trip on the 4th.  Still lots to do besides these things.

And when I return I need to have a couple new ideas worked out to teach at Garden Plaza Active Retirement Community.  In fact, I better have one figured out and my write up ready before I go so it can be posted while I'm gone!

I'm still working on this flower concept for the seniors.  Two prefelts each.  One has coral for center - other has a piece of dichroic glass.  These could be pins/brooches or turned into necklaces.

Another Piece of Jewelry

This is a necklace idea I am working on.  It needs to be reworked a bit because it sits too low down the front to be real attractive...but the basic idea works.  Like the bright spring feel of the colors going on here.

Havin' Fun With Pretty Posies

Evenin'

Have a cold today so I am not doing any felting...but I did have some fun editing pictures of my Valentine's Day flowers...I am wondering how I would put one of these in my pinterest account...hmmm...may have to look into that...

Goodnight all,
Janet

Shell Necklace

Hello Everyone!

I have another fun, somewhat fast piece of felt jewelry that I created over the weekend.  It has shell inset in the felt and a magnetic Swarovski crystal magnetic clasp.  Fits close - almost but not quite a choker.  Sorry the glare in picture wiped out most of shell detail...there are raised sections.

Felted Jewelry

Good Evening!

I am having a great deal of fun working with these small bits of felt art!  They are finished so quickly that I can get many of them done in one day...such a change from my 5-foot by 8-foot projects that take days just to lay out the wool and another couple days to felt!

Today I made some quick little flower petals which I roll up into a flower on a stem.  It is another idea I am working on for the senior classes.  They don't photo well...or at least not with the camera in my phone and me as the photographer.  But the pics should give you some idea.  They are wayyyyy more transparent and lacy then I was able to show.  Sorry!

I also created two new necklaces using commercial prefelts and some natural stone cabs.  Fun! Fun! Fun!  I made cords and put magnetic clasps that have Swarovski crystals in them.  The Howlite (white with gray veins) flower is made of lavender (top layer) purple (middle layer) and peach (back or bottom layer).  The Denim Lapis flower has just two layers so it felted down to a smaller size (less wool = more shrinkage).  The top layer is bright pink and the back layer is blue.  The blue came through a great deal more than on the triple layer flower.  So the pink appears blotchy in the photos.  It is mottled somewhat in real life, but has a smoother texture than you see.  Again I put a magnetic folding clasp on the cords as I felted them.  Oh! And I used a nifty tool I have had for years and never used...I used it to install eyelets in the flowers so I could attach the cords to the flowers.  Worked great!  Think I will use this tool more.  The senior ladies may be able to make these necklaces...we'll see...endurance and strength needed.

We are in the midst of a snowstorm...hardly believe it with the winter we have had so far!  It makes great weather for staying indoors and felting though!  Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday...

Janet

Saturday's Projects

Working on some natural stone and shell pendents and cords for necklaces that the senior ladies might make.