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

New Merino Felted Bag

Good Evening!

I guess I can say honestly that I don't really ever make New Year Resolutions...but this is a goal I have (had) that I hope to be able to accomplish...My hope is to felt something every day.  This is going to be a challenge believe me...it seems there are always life's little emergencies that interrupt my carefully laid plans.  Still I am off to an okay start.  I figure if I can put a star on my calender most days then I am fairly successful.  I wet felted on the first and second...needle felted on the third and wet felted again on the fourth (today).  We'll  see how long I can keep it up.  We have to go to Seattle next Thursday and Friday so that is going to be a hurdle to get over...maybe needle felting???

I told you last night that I had a new bag to show you...and I do!  It is so lovely!!!  Just remember that my photos are quick snaps done with my phone so I don't get the quality shots I need to show details well.  This little cutie is made from natural merino.  It has a drawstring with sterling silver caps at the ends.  The strap is also merino and I attached it inside the edge of the bag so the bag stayed fluted when being used.  When I attached the strap I used pearls, crystals, sequins and such to add some hidden sparkle so that the owner of this bag will get that little thrill of seeing these things each time she opens her bag.  Lastly, I felted a red heart and put it on a string of crystals, pearls and rhinestones. I also added sparkle fiber to the bag itself as I was felting it so that is even more pizazz.  Hope you enjoy it and can see most of this in the photos!

Goodnight,
Janet

Christmas Sale

Hi!

I'm not a runner and I can only imagine what it must be like to run a marathon...but I feel like that is what we just got done doing!  There is so much involved in getting through a show!!!

We started months ago by purchasing more grid wall for a larger booth; ordered more mannequins and sign holders from Phoenix, Arizona; and I got busy creating new treasures...  Then there was set-up day...lifting all those grid wall panels into our van and back out again...ugh!...next they all need to be held in place and fastened together...and now we have so much 'stuff' we can't make it all fit in one load...Yikes!!!...so all of that was followed by and extra early morning to bring the second load which was all of the fun stuff we had for sale...so after a very late night finishing last minute pricing and inventory duties, 6 am found us crawling through the dark for food and clothes and heading to the fairgrounds with our van of goodies which we hung or placed somewhere in our booth for viewing...and a day of meeting and greeting all of our followers and potential clients...and finally the end of day two is take-down load and unload (again!) Whew!!!  So that is why I say that it felt like we had just run a marathon!  We crashed and slept for over 12 hours which is what I hear marathoner's say they do too.

For those of you that were not able to make it personally to say hello, here are a couple of quick snaps of our booth.  New items not yet on our website for sale are table runners, drapes (the ones pictured are samples...I make these all custom to specifications), pillows, felpture (table lamp) and several scarves.  Unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the other wall which had lots of new scarves on it... look for all of the new goodies to show up on the website in the coming week. http://www.sapphire-art.com/

This is a holiday scarf that I made for this past Saturday's Market. It wraps around several times and ties at the shoulder. There are two points in front and two points in back. Black silk with red merino wool and sparkle yarn. $78 Can also be draped over each shoulder and allowed to twirl down the front...great look both ways!



Have a great Monday everyone!  I am off to work on the custom orders I took and need to fill.  Thanks everyone!!!
Janet

Triple Wrap Nuno Scarf

Time is up!  Gone...I have none left...well maybe I can squeeze a few more hours out of tomorrow before set-up...I have been fairly productive though these past few days which is making me excited to get set up and see what people think of my newest creations.  Saturday will tell as they say.

And so it is now very late on Thursday (actually it is almost two hours into Friday) and in the past two days I have finished four new scarves!  Yippee!!!  Long hours though so my blog is suffering for it.  Anyway these scarves are all in a fashion I call a Triple Wrap Around.  They were very big sellers this summer at the Market.  I start with an double dyed, iridescent silk scarf and add merino.  When it is finished I cut it up so that it is very long and wraps around and around...  Very fun, light and flirty.  Sorry to say that none of the double dyed, iridescence shows in my quick pics...a little of the sparkle I add in with the merino shows...for the rest it's left to your imagination.

Enjoy! 

The Power Of Suggestion

Ever have something happen to you just by the power of suggestion?  You know...you get a fortune cookie and it says something and then a day or so later sure enough that's what happens?!  What I always wonder is did it happen because it was going to happen anyway or did it happen because I was thinking about it a few days earlier???  People out there that believe in the power of suggestion would say it only happened because my conscious and then unconscious brain activity was attracting "it"...and a big part of me believes that...especially after what happened to me today!

At Thanksgiving dinner someone mentioned self-cleaning ovens.  That led to a discussion about their merits and whatnot.  Two people in on the discussion LOVED the feature...but the third person had incurred a $250 bill and still didn't have a clean oven after she had tried to use the feature on her oven and it malfunctioned.  So despite the fact that I needed to clean the oven, I hadn't quite decided to flip the switch on it, so to speak.

Sure enough today my husband leaned against the stove long enough to turn on the self-cleaning feature (which neither of us noticed).  About 20 minutes later I noticed the smell!  But by now the oven was LOCKED!  We are renting and I have not used this feature on this oven or any oven - ever!...I neede to find the manual and see what it said.  I was still thinking about it but the discussionfrom Thanksgiving had me wary ...well too late!...it was out of my hands!...nothing to do but wait and see...

That's how my felting project went too...I had created some beautiful 'nature' felt and was set to assemble my next felpture (a felted sculpture).  It seems that my subliminal thoughts were guiding my project for today...things seemed out of my control.  I could picture it in my mind, but I wasn't getting there.  It took many trials and lots of error, but by mid-afternoon (while the oven, I hoped, was baking away all my lovely spills) I had lighting that would hopefully work...a sculpted framework...and my felt cut into the correct sized pieces.  If I just pictured it harder in my head would it "just happen"? 

Somewhere my brain must have skipped some steps...I could see in my mind what it would look like finished but failed to quickly attract the solutions for getting there...though now...at 1 AM it is finally!!!...and so is the oven!  No blow-ups and no need for a repair man.  Had to open some windows for a bit to air the place out...and dinner was take out!

Here are some quick snaps of my felpture...

This little beauty is headed to the Christmas Farmers' Market this Saturday.  Hope to see many of you there cuase everything is way more spectacular in person!
Janet

Runners

Well it is after 1 AM which makes it Monday.  This is it...4 days left to finish things before set-up day on Friday and the Christmas Farmers' Market on Saturday.  I am NOT ready.  I have completed some things since I last posted about this upcoming show.  Not as much as I wanted, but more than I had before!

4 silk pillows
2 party wraps
3 table runners
3 sets of wrist cuffs

Next up I want to work on Felptures.  If I have time after that (not sure how that could possibly occur except if I were to work through the night and all day!) I sort of promised to get some wrap around scarves done for a couple of interested people.  Whew!  Glad I am not having to do any Christmas shopping this week!

For tonight I have the wet, but finished table runners for you to see.  I am including before and after pictures.  I found that the holes I had cut in my white prefelt to make my snowflakes closed up more that I liked...guess I should make gigantic holes...but then they tended to fall apart.  The holly leaves and berries turned out well except for a few that didn't want to attach for some reason.  Finally got them on there well enough that I could stop rolling.  The leaves and acorns turned out really, really well!  My favorite by far.  I did have trouble on this one too...the acorn tops didn't want to attach as well as other parts so it took some tender loving care with just them to get them on there.  They will look different after they dry...

Enjoy! I am off to bed for some much needed sleep :)
Janet

New Wrist Cuffs

The other day I got all bundled up in my wonderful Alpaca scarf and hat, boots, winter coat and mittens and headed out with the dog for a walk.  On returning I noticed how the snow on our roof had been sculpted by the winds from the night before and marveled at my luck on not having it all drop on me as I went out.  It was a lovely morning and the snow was beginning to fall again so I ran in to get my husband to take a snap or two of me in the snow!

But, oh how quickly the snow can go!  We have had a Chinook wind for the past couple of days and all the lovely white blissful snow has now been melted away.  On the positive side of things though, we might be able to squeeze in a bit more yard clean-up and some holiday decorating before the next snowfall begins!

I remember a year long ago when a Chinook wind came in February and caused great damage to things because of the super fast snow melt.  Rivers and streams flooded all over the area.  And of course we hadn't seen the last of Mr. Winter so after all the snow melted - of course confusing the plants and animals of which season it was - why here came a giant of a snowstorm to blast us back into the reality of winters in Montana.  Weird what things you remember sometimes! 

Anyway...thinking of those long ago days and my family seems appropriate with the biggest 'family gathering' day just a few hours away.  We will be joining my older sister, her husband and his family, plus our Mom for dinner tomorrow...more memories to make...and here's hoping you and your loved ones have happy memories from tomorrow as well!

Janet

Olde America Antiques Quilt/Art Blocks

Hello!

The handbags I am going to show you tonight are not felt work of mine, but rather some sewing I did before I even knew how to felt.  I have been sorting out my stock in order to prepare for our Holiday Farmer's Market on December 3rd.  I came across these and it was just so satisfying to see them!  They are very well done...even if it me saying so.  I have a non-Christmas one in this design that I use as my knitting bag.  I often get asked about the print I used on that one.  I have used it daily for nearly two years and it has held up very well!

The prints used on these two bags are vintage (1910) postcard reproductions created by a company out of my hometown, Bozeman, Montana.  I didn't learn this fact until I had already purchased from them and had my bags made.  They have their office down the street from my sister's old place!  Anyway they helped pioneer the process of using Giclee (zhee-CLAY) on cotton.  In fact, I think they worked hand-in-hand with Epson to develop the printer used for this process.  It is a great place to browse as all the vintage prints are wonderful...Check them out at:

http://oldeamericaantiques.com/catalog/index.php

My holiday bags will be available at the December market but you get a sneak preview!

Enjoy!

Janet

Wrist Cuffs - Fashion or Function?

Good Morning! 

Well almost...I neglected to get this post done last night...so sorry.  I have been very busy so I have lots of new things to post for you over the next couple days.  First off many of you may have been noticing women and young ladies wearing an item on their wrist that is unfamiliar to you.  It probably wasn't a glove, even a fingerless version...so what was it?  This newest craze is called wrist cuff or wrist warmer.  And they are just that!  A great way to keep your wrists warm, but for many it is all about making a fashion statement.  I have seen many a young lady sporting a fashionable wrist cuff - most often it was peeking out from under her sweatshirt or sweater.  I have made some myself.  Some are felted with silk as an accent.  Some are sewn with velvet, lace and other embellishments.  And one is a fingerless glove out of wool (many varieties), tussah silk, viscose and silk noil.  Some of these come as a pair though I am only posting one.  However, keep in mind that many use only one cuff - especially when it is done for fashion.

I think that many more women would benefit from a pair of cuffs.  Many of my friends complain about stiff hands and wrists, especially during the winter.  Those that knit and crochet are really bothered by it so I think that a pair of cuffs could help them out so they can continue to enjoy their hobby!  Patterns can be found on the Internet at http://www.ravelry.com/ and http://www.lionbrand.com/ and your can look at the types others are creating at http://www.etsy.com/

Enjoy!

Janet

Oh Boy! Here We Go - Our WEBSITE is online!!!

Good Evening Everyone,

We are very, very proud to announce that we now have our website up and going!  That's right - you can browse through our Internet store at your leisure in your home...so when we are not out selling Sapphire brand products at markets and shows you can still buy!

http://www.sapphire-art.com/

It is still a work in progress so we are making changes daily to get things looking better (for example - some photos need to be retaken) and to make sure all links are functioning.  At present we have just under half our inventory online, but we want your opinion about what we have created so far.  We would love to hear back from you!  Click your way through and let us know what you like and what is not working or not to your liking.

Sincerely,
Janet and Dick King
Kings Treasure Chest presenting Sapphire brand fiber arts products

A while back we were living in our motor home in Las Vegas.  I met a wonderful bunch of ladies and a couple gents that were all knitters and crocheters while there.  We had some fabulous discussions, workshops and potlucks at a shop called Wooly Wonders on Tropicana Avenue.

One thing led to another and I received an autographed book by Prudence Mapstone of Australia called Coat of Many Scrumbles.  The entire book is about free form knit and crochet.  One small piece of free form work is referred to as a scrumble.  This particular book documents the work of many artists from around the world that worked together to make a coat.  Wonderful work!

It so inspired me that I made a handbag from free form myself.  It is a very time consuming process, yet quite rewarding when you come up with a finished item at the end.  Maybe you would like to give it a try yourself!  For the book: ISBN 978-0-9580443-4-9 
For the guild: http://www.freeformcrochet.com/ 
And for Prudence Mapstone: http://www.knotjustknitting.com/

For a look at my free form handbag on our new biz website:
http://www.sapphire-art.com/shop-wearable-art/handbags-a-purses/item/free-form-knitted-and-crocheted-handbag.html

The shop in Las Vegas does not have a website that I know of but it does have a presence on http://www.ravelry.com/ or you can just visit Joyce at her store the next time you are in town!
Wooly Wonders (702) 570-0268 · 3421 E Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89121

Enjoy!
Janet

Well I spent a wonderful day at a local fine art and fine craft show in Spokane, Washington and I want to share a few great ones I found there...
A lady from Spokane, Washington named Jan Moulder who makes necklaces and pins out of paper that are light and stylish.  She also makes paper lamps with a big natural theme to them.

http://www.wyldewoodpapers.com/

and a lady from Sandpoint, Idaho named Cyndie Morgan that makes the most extraordinary figurines from stone, wood and polymer clay.

http://www.earthdancesculpture.etsy.com/

and a woman from Clackamas, Oregon named Debra Carus, that has outstanding and unusual handmade jewelry.  For example a Scandinavian bracelet made of reindeer leather and braided metal - a traditional art from that region.

http://www.elentari-handverk.com/

...It really was hard to limit myself here so I recommend a visit to the show site where you will find a link to all the artist.
http://inlandcrafts.org/artists/artists_2011.htm
 
Last, but definately not least for me, I wanted to share a link from Facebook with you since it features my art in a local shop!  Check out the whole article by clicking on link below...little green purse was just sold!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Blue-Flag-Handweaving-Studio/150826434987643

We plan to have our own website up soon...this time we hired a pro...so hopefully sometime this week. Keep your fingers crossed!

Janet

My Husband the Fashion Advisor

One of the most amusing things to me these days is watching my husband as he tries to be a fashion advisor for me!  He himms, humms and haahhhas at me as he decides how to best answer my latest request for his input.  Amazingly though, he does answer me!  And usually he has very perceptive answers too.  It isn't always what I want to hear, but what the heck, I asked, right?

I have had the beginnings of a felted coat hanging on my dress form in the hall for weeks now.  Slowly I have added a fur collar, inherited from my Auntie in Montana, and sleeves since it was still sleeveless.  I hung two different fabrics off of the sides to see which he may prefer.  He gave me a most definitive answer on those choices!  Now I would like to hear from all of you... What do you think?  Yes to the fur collar or no?  Light green suede sleeves or light brown sleeves...or shall I work on re-purposing this dark brown leather suede poncho a friend gave me?  Or something else all together???  Let's see if hubby got it right, shall we?  Tell me what you think.

The Science of Felting

As an educator in training years ago, I learned all about the scientific method.  Hypothesis, controlled variables, experiment, results....   And years before that I worked for several scientists at Montana State University.  I love science!  It was always my favorite subject to teach.

So as I sat at my felting table the other day it struck me how much of what I am doing today as a felter is all about science.  Yes there is very much an art form to it, but there is also a great deal of science too.  Each time I set about to do a piece it is an experiment....I combine wool and other natural fibers with a variety of natural (silk) and synthetic materials and see what happens...problem is I often have blown the controlled experiment process by introducing more than one new variable in each new experiment....but I like the surprises!  They are what keeps me going...the anticipation of seeing what the result of all my combinations will yield.  I know if I approached this more scientifically - having only one new variable - I would be able to replicate my work.  But...well...that is just too stifling and so I guess that is why it is called art instead.

Well Good Evening Everyone!

I have been busy nuno felting scarves yesterday and today.  They aren't ready for their pictures to be taken though so instead I have a couple of other items that I have finished to show you.

I love the Photo Bucket slide shows - when they work!  Hope you get to see all six photos.  I stitched on the felted fabric using the free stitching method (darning foot) on a machine.  I used different colored threads depending on the accent I needed - in some cases I used gold metallic thread.  Difficult stuff to work with!

Both these pillows will be sold through Blue Flag Handweaving Studio in Sandpoint, Idaho.  You can click the like below to contact Kristie about them.
http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

As a teaser here is a preview of a new scarf - before felting.



Well I am off to get my scarves out of their acid water bath.  Night All!

Janet

Gourd Crafts and Silk Painting

Good Evening!

You might ask yourself what gourds and silk painting have in common so let me tell you.  My mother recently gave me a book from her collection of arts and crafts resources called Gourd Crafts by Marilynn Host.

On pages 104-106 there is a series of photos of gourd bowls done in southwest designs.  Now, I lived in the southwest for nearly 17 years and still miss it. When I saw these designs it brought back a lot of my memories of my time there.  And as I sat admiring the book, I got an idea for a scarf and proceeded to paint the one below.  I used a gold gutta which you can just barely detect in this photo...in person it has a wonderful look!  And as you can see this is a contemporary - almost abstract - design with just a hint of southwest in it.



I also have a small silk bag that I painted in a bit more traditional southwest design.



Another design I would like to try is something like this gourd.

If you would like to research gourd crafts and carving for yourself  Google Books has this book and many others like it for sale.  http://books.google.com/ebooks

Marilynn Host's Book is ISBN 0-8069-4423-4

Enjoy!

Janet

Summer Memories as I Clean Up for Winter

Hello!

Today was a day made for working outside.  The sun was shining and though it was brisk (ice on the pails of water) I worked hard enough to take two layers of clothing off...which put me down to two left on!  I trimmed, pulled, bagged and relocated.  Generally just tried to get everything in ship shape for Mr. Winter.

There were still flowers on some stalks of poppy and a few marigold...quite a few Pansy and violets, but up they came regardless.  Still looking at the colors in the blossoms brought back memories of my garden in its glory this summer...

I painted this scarf during summer while daydreaming about all the bright colorful blossoms, butterflies and hummingbirds.  It is 100% silk with gutta and silk dye.  I do all my drawing free hand and then hand paint it in using small brushes.



If you should be interested in silk painting you can check with a local art store or online you can take a look at Dharma.  They are helpful and have everything you need to get started. 

http://www.dharmatrading.com/

Goodnight all,
Janet

I often work late into the night.  There is just something so peaceful about the quiet of the world once all the traffic dies down on the streets, the people have all gone indoors, and everything goes to sleep.  I feel so much peace and contentment...and still something more...and energy that allows me to produce so much more than I can ever get done during daylight hours.  It is because of this that I rarely am up to see the sunrise.  As a young child I was a morning person...even as a young adult I suppose, but definitely not now.

However, I  am familiar with the beauty of the world first waking up...the first rays across the frosted grass...the thin ice sheets over puddles...the reflection of the light on the lake water...and the warmth of the sun that finally begins to warm the world.  I created this handbag with Sunrise in mind...though in all honesty I guess it could reflect the beauty of the sun setting as well.  Either way...

Hope you enjoy it!
Janet

We Go For an Adventure Today

Hello,

So today was a very interesting day.  It started out so well...one of those days you can just feel are going to be good.  After all hubby and I had spent numerous hours these past weeks getting ready for it...so it just had to be a good day, right?!  I was well rested having finally gotten a full 8 hours of sleep and everything for the shop Blue Flag Handweaving Studio, in Sandpoint was tagged and ready to be loaded.  Whew!!

So after a leisurely breakfast and loading of merchandise and dog (yes, the puppy got to go for a ride today) we were off!  It is about 40 miles from home to Kristie's shop.  And about 5 miles from there this crazy truck driver tried to run us down...only he wasn't crazy he was trying to let us know we had a flat rear tire.  Wished I could thank him.  For some reason neither of us had been able to feel it - rather strange - never happened before.  Anyway an hour later and we had our spare tire - The Dreaded Donut Tire - on and we were back on the road to deliver all the cool felted stuff I had made.  And on the plus side all the time sitting and waiting allowed me to get some knitting done!

This is one of the small, fun-loving bags we took up there today.  I made the beads out of tyvek, paint and wire.  Almost too cute to part with!  Hope you enjoy seeing it.  And if you want to purchase it you can do so through Kristie at http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

Now we are back home and I am off to devour some of the yummy brownies I just baked...from scratch!  Yum...I'll try to save some for you :)
Janet