Artist In Residence- North Prairie, WI

With a sign that inviting, you can't help but get excited about what new project awaits you when entering the threshold into Mrs. Engelking's elementary art room! Come peek with me into the project we created and the time I spent in south-eastern Wisconsin April 9-10th, 2018.

 I was approached in January about doing a school-wide felting project with her, and right away I began asking questions to start planning a proposal:

• How many students? A: 350 from K-6 grade
• What's your scheduling like/ do you have flexibility A: We're flexible in a day and a half timeframe
• What size/ scale are you thinking? A: Budget dependent, we decided 4' x 8' finished size nuno felt
• What are some themes or ideas you'd like to see incorporated? A: We're in North Prairie, WI so.... prairie? 

Typically when approached by elementary schools, I go straight away to wet felting. She wanted to do some needle felting, as her older kids had gotten lucky and been doing some in their classes already. I told her I would work on a proposal and a sketch. 

When I start brainstorming, all those factors from the questions and their answers will be building blocks in how we put together a fun, successful and inspiring cooperative fiber art project. Each one I've done is different than the other. I LOVE the challenge of that and the more I've done, the more I've learned and been able to apply to the next project. 

I broke down the design into components for each grades with a wet day (did I say wet! I mean WET!) followed by a blissful dry day of needle felting. 

• Kindergarten - Clouds and Sky
• 1st- Blending of colors for grass
• 2nd- Blending of colors for water 
• 3rd - Felted grasses 
• 4th- Rocks and Leaves 
• 5th- Flower petals and assembly (needle felting)
• 6th- Sparkly bugs and assembly (needle felting)

We arranged to have each grade rotate through the art room, divided into three, 12-minute stations. One station the kids got to watch our dvd about the animals, shearing and art made with the fiber. Then, they traveled to the teacher's station where they made an individual component for the art piece. Last, they came to my station, where we put those pieces on, did agitation, and talked about my art. It all ran very smoothly, thanks to engaged teacher support and assistance, and some wonderful volunteers and terrific kids. 

By the end of the wet day, we had used a BUNCH of towels which our awesome, helpful volunteer offered to take home and wash and we were wiped out! Despite it being very cold, I decided to trek around downtown Delafield, WI where I found some treasures...mostly window shopping...which I find equally enjoyable and far less dangerous! I also enjoyed a quiet dinner at The Seven Seas overlooking Lake Nagawicka. 

The second day began with a wonderful breakfast at the lovely B&B I stayed at, Ped'lars Inn in Wales, WI . The owners were very accommodating to my crazy schedule of arriving late and leaving early and it was very charming. I highly recommend it!  

The whole experience was terrific; wonderful people, beautiful creativity and breathtaking results! Here is the finished piece and a fabulous video about the entire project that Mrs. Engelking put together. Thank you Prairie Elementary for having me and for making beautiful art together!  

Northshore Adventures

On the snowiest week of the season, I had the fabulous adventure of teaching and presenting at this lively guild based in the Northbrook, IL area. All the snow from the season decided to fall on those couple of days, or so it seems. My poor husband does snow plowing and it was a pretty long shift, so he didn't have much time to miss me being away. Funny how things work out! Everyday we woke up to more snow, until I felt like I was watching the movie "Groundhog Day" play out before my eyes. 

That didn't stop us from having a great time! I presented a brand new program to the guild, one that I titled "Inside the Mind of the Artist". I was thrilled they enjoyed as much as I do, the stories behind the art pieces and the inspiration that brought them to life. It was like a walk down memory lane for me! Ahhh, the attachment an artist has to their work is a bittersweet one- you love making and basking in your creations but you need to make room for new pieces and new inspiration by letting them go. Though I'm not a mother, there is a bit of that concept I think we experience in every piece of art we make. 

The guild hosted a mask class, which they invited me to join in on. I admit masks are not my thing but I LOVED this! It was so fun to just let go and create and let the materials take me away. I called my mask "Spring in Disguise" which is ironic because here it is, April, and sweet spring is definitely surprising us with snow showers and plummeting temperatures. It's certainly in disguise. 

I took off and explored the downtown Winnetka area, where I discovered some unique artisan galleries and shops. Vivid Gallery had a fabulous fiber art exhibit and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the owner and gallery curator. We talked art, fiber, business, image, marketing and a thousand other threads. It's terrific connecting with other business owners as passionate about their work as I am! The exhibit of Marianne Burr was breathtakingly stunning. Her bold shapes and colors were terrific, and I loved talking with Cynthia about the stories behind each one. 

My vest workshop was off to a great start with that perfect amount of creative fuel, and Tuesday we started on two days of design, felting and construction. I was very excited to bring the concept of making a nuno felted piece of fabric and then using draping techniques to craft it into a low or no-sew vest. The vests require bit of specific shaping, so we work right on student's bodies to custom create a vest as unique as them. No two are the same. 

We started out laying out layers of silk fabric, then two of wool. By the end of Tuesday, everyone had designed and wet down the surface. That was a big job! There was a lot of water but everyone was a good sport and we put those towels to good use. We were creating 2.5 yards of felt fabric, so my students were like felting warriors training for battle... this was boot camp for sure! Watch the surface transform through the day! 

The second day was where we had to use our imaginations and make this fabric into a garment! It was through vision, cutting, hot water, selective agitation and faith that these vests were born. Here are some pictures of the progress: 

I hope this workshop inspired, as did the presentation. I love bringing the concept of wool as wearable art into the world, and sharing my skills and inspiration with others. I find it invigorating! I did end up getting home in between snow storms that Thursday and spent some quality time with hubby... riding in the plow truck and being his little sidewalk shovel-er...Fun times! 

Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures

Women's Journeys in Fiber 2017

Theme: Boxes

What hidden treasures will Peter find today in Mr. McGregor’s garden? Carrots of course! He’s been sniffing around for a treasure since he slipped under the gate and into the carefully tended rows of Mr. McGregor’s vegetable box.

Beatrix Potter’s imagination birthed a classic we know and love, but did you know what a strong and passionate woman she was as an individual? She took earnings from her book and purchased a farm. Her work in cultivating the preservation of the Herdwick sheep led to her purchasing lands surround her farm and creating open space for future generations. Not only did she capture the magic of her surroundings, but she helped us to fall in love with it and the creations of her dreams. She left her mark in the world in the form of something beautiful and lasting.

Her life and story is such inspiration, and she will forever be a role model for ingenuity, artistry, and truly, a hidden treasure. 

Author’s note: I’d like to thank the dozens of bunnies and the countless vegetables on our farm, Big Rock Organics, that provided inspiration and models for this project. Throughout the season, it planted the seeds for the fruit of this projects as I tended and picked our lovely produce for markets and CSA boxes. 

You will find this exhibit at the Fine Art of Fiber Nov. 3-5th at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin Janurary-March and the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier in March. Check out the website to learn more about the group and their goals at www.womensjourneysinfiber.com

Mississippi Adventures!

I was approached to teach at the Mississippi Art's Commission's Winter Institute  where 160 educators would gather for art enrichment. I was thrilled! Their theme was Elvis Presley, as it was held in Tupelo, MS, his birthplace. 

The experience was incredible, with a stunning nuno felt piece created by the educators themselves, great food and people and sweet Southern hospitality. What a privilege and joy to share my passion for fiber art with the folks down South! 

I've put together memoirs of the trip along with my reflections. It shows the preparation and thought process behind the piece, the place I went and people I met, and stories galore. Check out the photo album and memoirs!

The creation of.... Shibori Soiree

Many times, I get inspired from a single piece of fabric. In this case, that piece took me down a long path but the destination was worth it! (And the journey was not too bad either!) 

July. I was up in Milwaukee for the Handweaver's Guild of America Convergence event. I had one day to enjoy seeing the vendors and to see my fashion show garments on display. My husband came with, and we made a nice few days vacation at Kohler Andrea State Park. It was the perfect time to renew the creativity that was in summer slump. 

I walked past a vendor with tupperwares of fabric. Why are we drawn to tupperwares of fabric? It beckons to us... whispering "dig thru for treasure" and we are lured in. What tempted me was the fact they were Italian lambskin remnants that had been shibori dyed. And they were big enough to make a back panel for a vest. And they were reasonable. Very reasonable. In fact, reasonable enough to make me wish I hadn't gotten just one. Dang! 

October. Fashion show is nearing. I must get working. In a nuno felted yardage class I was teaching for the Haute Couture Club of Chicago, I thought I could "wing it". I created a beautiful piece of gray and chartreuse nuno felt. 

It's beautiful isn't it? It's a shame I didn't bring the leather piece with me. It is chartreuse. And that leather is definitely more in the mint range. Not chartreuse in the slightest way. Call me anal or perfectionist, but I am very particular when it comes to color matching. I don't like matchy-matchy... which is a good thing because you can rarely hit it perfectly, but I am a stickler for having value and saturation work together.   

Since I did want to bring the shibori component into the nuno felt, I knew I was going to do some dyeing. I figured a little of this and a little of that and my color would come out perfectly. Well, in the end I did get a color but the journey there was not direct. We all have those times of problem solving, don't we? Road blocks in our creativity that can either spur us to brilliance or send yet another project to the closet of UFO's (un-finished-objects) 

Late October. Time to get busy. Looking at the fabric, it starts to take on a life of its' own. I start early one morning (I love creating in the quiet morning hours) with a Chobani Tropical Escapes yogurt and a cup of Earl Gray tea by my side. Breakfast of... champions? Starving artists? The crazy? 

With a vintage mannequin and a mouthful of pins, I start to pin the fabric together. A tuck, a pleat, a few pins here begins the process. I don't work with patterns so my style is a unique blend of working with the fabric I have created and finding the best way to wear it. After an hour, I have a sample to carefully try on. (Carefully as the pins are very pointy!!!) Following the first trial, I begin the cutting and re-pinning. Then comes a second trial. Succeeding this is finally the sewing machine for my side and shoulder seams.

One of the beauties of nuno felt is the fact it doesn't fray. And even though my two fabrics were very different, they contained similar properties. This makes assembly easier in part. Once it was together can the final touches of adding closure snaps. The vest can be worn several ways, either with a shawl collar with a pop of color or a more demure closed style featuring the shibori patterning. I love giving versatility to a garment.

This piece was featured in the Fine Art of Fiber Fashion Show at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in early November.  It is also featured in my holiday wearable art boutique at Esther's Place

What a journey! Every piece I create has a story and a journey. As an artist, each piece of art has a little piece of us. When these garments find their new home, they also have a unique history of how they were born. I feel it makes something just even that much more special!

Shibori Soiree
Shibori Dyed Nuno Felt and Lambskin Vest
Size Small
A meeting of two entirely different fabrics comes together harmoniously in this vest for a piece perfect for every outing. Soft and supple shibori dyed lambskin makes a stunning back of the garment. The theme is carried into the front with shibori dyed, nuno felted fabric. A truly unique piece inspired by a singular piece of fabric. 
 

The Creation of... Midnight Echoes

Sometimes I need to change it up. I get stuck in creating old classics- styles that are loved and adored and sell well. But there are new classics to be found and discovered! And that was my ambition with this piece. 

I needed something new and interesting. Trendy and chic. Where do you go for inspiration? PINTEREST!!!! Yeahhhhh.... five hours later and a few dozen pins for things like chocolate caramel brownies, felted flower brooches, diy kitchen hacks, and more, I came up with the "it" item of the season. The sleeveless blazer or long vest. Bridging two seasons and many decades of fashion style, it's cute! 

My goal was to make a more artistic version of this style. A lot of nuno felted vests seem to be one size fits all and have a flow and swing to them. I wanted something more tailored and heavier, like a wool fabric rather than a gossamer nuno felt. 

I did calculations for drawing out a resist- a piece of plastic that goes inside the piece so I can create a seamless garment. When calculating, it has to be a third larger to allow for shrinkage. Basically, my resist looked like an extra large hospital gown. But I've done this enough times to not lose faith.

Starting with a ginormous piece of bubble wrap and two large tables set up in my studio, I set out for this adventure with gusto. First layer: charcoal silk gauze. Second layer: turquoise merino wool laid in thin wisps in one direction. Third layer: blend on the drum carder shades of turquoise into navy into dark green into charcoal into black with bamboo and firestar intermingling. Fourth layer: embellishments of yarn, silk pieces, bamboo and more on the bottom of the front panels. 

I was very fortunate to have some help from my friend Jodi on the wetting and rolling process. This is quite the process, and many towels get used. It's a real exercise rolling as many as 1200 times or more to fuse the fibers to the silk fabric. This agitation forms a new fabric and causes the overall shape to shrink. 

At the very end, I cut the front down the center to make the vest. This is such a nerve-wracking moment. You know you have to do it, but cutting an intact piece still causes beads of sweat to form on my brow. But it's always best to cut at the end so you form strong felt, so it must be done. A little more rolling, slamming and kneading and it's transformed into a sleek, styled garment! 

Now for the finishing touches- the collar, beading, shaping and more. These little details can really make the garment. Sometimes these details are the last to go on, or even get foregone for lack of time or patience, but you know the true artistry when you observe them. 

This piece has been in the Uncommon Threads Fashion Show in St. Charles, IL and Fine Art of Fiber Fashion Show and is available in the boutique at Esther's Place.  

Midnight Echoes
Nuno Felted Sleeveless Blazer Vest
Size Small/ Medium
A fushion of hand dyed silk fabric and layers of wool blended with bamboo and firestar, this elegant piece is perfect for every occasion. Wear it with skinny jeans and a tee for an afternoon of shopping or with black leggings and accent jewelry for a night out. The contrasting shawl collar and pockets add to the fine detailing. Light yet warm, it changes with the seasons. 
 

A Vote for the Underdogs

I will admit it. I am a bandwagon fan. My brother has been a true Cubs fan, the one who through the most major sports drought in history, kept believing. Kept cheering. Kept watching. It's admirable. Really! He's got the jersey, he's got the lingo, he's genuine. 

Me, on the other hand, I just like to see the underdog get a chance. When I heard the Cubs were going on to greatness, I was kind of doubtful. But when they kept pushing forward, proving their strength and dedication, I jumped on the bandwagon full force! Why, I even learned the "Go Cubs Go" song (I'm a little ashamed that I didn't know it, but believe you me, it's etched into my memory forever now. Like it's never gonna leave. It's stuck permanently. LOL)

As I watched the team rally together, and watched the fans join in harmonic support, it was truly inspiring. In light of the current political environment of slander and negativity, the fact there was something we could all believe in together felt surreal. It felt patriotic! There was a feeling of unity as we saw the impossible becoming a reality.

And then there was that 7th game! What a nail-biter! What a victory! And we all celebrated with them. Why? Because when an underdog wins, all of us other underdogs feel a fire stir within us. I feel like I am an underdog at times. Art teachers. Farmers. Small Business Owners. Even the lowly sheep. Those who swim upstream in the river of societal culture. 

We're all underdogs. Yet watching the Cubs, I realized so many things. Deep life lessons. Teamwork. Dedication. Belief and faith. Talent. Persistence. Discipline. Passion. Here are the traits of success. The Chicago Cubs have reminded us how to dream and with all those attributes, how to dream big. Congratulations on making history! 

We celebrated their win at the Illinois Art Educator's Conference in Normal, IL . Here art teachers gathered from around the state to learn, share, inspire and engage in their passion of art education. For me, art teacher conferences are like the World Series of my year. Something I look forward to, something where we can all celebrate together what we love doing. Where we get support and a shot in the arm to keep going. Art teachers are really the best!

It was fun hanging out with all of you and getting to celebrate our victory together. And especially fun was creating and crafting with you, Cassie Stephens, another kindred spirit who loves life, fun, fiber just as much as me. She's a great resource with her art teacher blog and an awesome person to know.

So on behalf of all the underdogs of the world, we congratulate the Chicago Cubs on winning the World Series after 108 years! If this is possible, ANYTHING IS! Dream big my friends! 

Skylines and Smiles

Having a shop and being an artist can be challenging at times. But there are other moments that just blow your mind at the impact you have in the world and the lives you touch. I had a moment like this just recently that was amazing! 

Chris is a very talented artist who does needle and wet felting, making all kinds of things with a focus on felted mittens.  She came in a few months ago and told me about a project she was going to do with her staff. I suggested she nuno felt the project, a larger landscape wall hanging. She picked out a navy/gray prefelt and some pretty, vibrantly dyed merino top and she was on her way. 

Well she came in with show and tell and let me tell you, I was blown away! Her team of about 6 or 7 was skeptical at first at her creative team building activity. Several people confessed a lack of skill and creativity. She made it very approachable for them, laying out the background for them. They then designed the colors and created the sky and the river. The prefelt was cut into the buildings of the skyline and laid on top. This was then wet felted and everyone got involved in the rolling process. Laughs and smiles were shared as they bonded in this creative process. When it was unrolled for the last time and unveiled, the feeling of pride and amazement was shared by all. Chris added the stitching and dozens and dozens of hot-fix crystals to the piece. It really makes the little details pop and gives those Chicago architectural highlights definition. 

What makes this piece even more intricately involved is the fact that Chris works for a department of the USDA, in Chicago, and Esther's Place was born out of a USDA Rural Development grant back in 2016. Ten years ago we dreamed of merging the worlds of art, agriculture and education. Ten years later, fiber art has found its way into the lives and hearts of so many, and now, the staff of the USDA itself! Local wool will be decorating the walls of the USDA office in Chicago, and they are even talking about doing another project. This next project would have a more agricultural bend to it. 

How inspirational is that? There is nothing that drives a point home like being able to actually experience something for yourself. Here I got to observe it in action, and see a full circle come around. It's been ten years of hard work and dedication to the cause, but I am so thrilled be a part in change. It all begins with a sheep, some skylines and ends with smiles. 

Jumpin' for Joy

There are some times in life when you get those small joys. They can be seemingly minuscule- finding a close parking space, or snagging the last in your favorite ice cream at the grocery store. Maybe it's clean sheets you can snuggle under, or the smell of laundry hung out to dry with it's crisp freshness. For this little guy, it was fresh straw. Bright, clean, fresh straw. It might sound simple, but it's really got him jumpin' for joy! He can't contain the happiness and you have to admit, it just makes you smile. 

So many times in life, we focus on the annoyances and the frustrations. When those little joys do creep into our day, will we take the time to recognize them? Enjoy them? Be thankful for them? If we aren't careful, they slip right on by without us even knowing. 

So next time something happens that is unexpected and fills your heart with happiness, will you jump for joy like this little lamb? I hope you picture it in your mind and it brings a smile to your face. It surely does to mine!  

Prize Winners!

I wanted to give you an update.... my dress and vest both took ribbons at the MidAtlantic Quilt Festival Wearable Art Competition! The dress, Silver Lining, took first place in the ensemble category, and the vest took an honorable mention in the vest, coat or jacket category. 

Very exciting! And for more news, be watching at the Handweaver's Guild of America Convergence 2016  coming to Milwaukee, WI July 30th-August 6th. These two pieces will be in the fashion show there as well! 

I have had work in their Yardage Exhibit, All Media Exhibit, and Fashion Show, in the past years in Albuquerque, NM, Long Beach, CA and Providence, RI. Their event is every two years. It features a vendor hall, a myriad of classes, lectures and workshops, and great connections to the fiber art pulse in the region. 

We're going to make a weekend of it and go, my husband and I. We're thinking of camping at the breathtaking Kohler-Andrae State Park. It's right on Lake Michigan, with sand dunes, forests and quiet peacefulness. Then we can drive down to Milwaukee to enjoy some night life, food and of course, the show! It's a great get-a-way that's not too far away. And since the last Convergence I attended was Long Beach, I am already anticipating gathering lots of new supplies, ideas and inspiration. Stay tuned! I'll definitely  be sharing that experience with all of you. 

Meeting a Superstar!

Meet Cassie Stephens , art teacher extraordinaire. I first learned about her, literally a few days before the National Art Educator's Conference. I was meandering around the internet, as that happens far to often to us, and I came across her picture. 

I stopped in my tracks and I was like, who is this? She looks fun! And she is WEARING FELT!!!! I totally have to meet her now. In the hubbub of the next 72 hours of packing and prepping, getting to the show, setting up, dealing with the Union Teamsters and such, I kind of placed it in the back of my mind. 

Well, lo and behold, I was talking to the vendor coordinator of the Illinois Art Educator's Conference, and who should come walking up across the aisle but Ms. Cassie Stephens herself? In her wonderful, colorful glory, she definitely had the aura of a superstar. So the gal I was chatting with, casually glances over and says, "Have you met Cassie Stephens yet? She loves to felt too! I'll introduce you to her". 

So that's how it happened. Cassie is one of the nicest, most genuine people and crazy creative. An elementary art teacher and blogger, she really makes art come alive for not only her students, but a whole cyber world of her devoted fans- many of whom are teachers drawing ideas for their own classrooms.  

We chatted, and I learned that she had taught a needle felting embellishment class a day earlier at the conference. She said everyone in class was asking her if she had heard of Esther's Place! We laughed and said "where have y'all been my whole life" (well she said it that way in her charming Nashville accent). I really felt like I met a kindred spirit. 

The lesson I learned from Cassie? If you love something, love it with abandon! Go after it in a big way. Forget what people will think. The right people will love it. You will be a star, one that illuminates and lights the way for others. A superstar! 

Finding where you belong

Have you ever been someplace where you felt instantly at home? Where you looked around and said to yourself, these are my people? I experienced that recently at the National Art Educator's Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, and let me tell you... it was awesome! 

We've been working with art educators since we first met a local high school teacher at a local show seven or eight years ago. She was intrigued by the needle felting, and wondered if she could do it in her classroom. She decided she would do pictorial needle felting, first having the kids pick out their photo for inspiration and then felting it on a "canvas" made of an old t-shirt! It took off, and before long, that teacher was not only felting in one class, but now in multiple schools. She and her colleagues invited me to my first Illinois Art Educator's Conference as a guest presenter in their class on needle felting. We had a booth with all our wool roving. It was a huge hit, and I began to meet some fabulously inspiring teachers from all across the state. 

As each year grew, we kept infusing more schools with the creativity of fiber and our booth became a favorite mainstay at the Illinois conference. We developed some wonderful relationships with these teachers, and I even have done some artist-in-residency programs in their schools. 

Their creative vision for fiber arts has energized me, and I knew this was a place I belonged. There was such enthusiasm, it was just contagious! So when a little bird told me nearly two years ago that the national conference was going to be in Chicago, I knew we had to be there. It was big; bigger than anything we'd done before. But as they say, "go big or go home"! 

So we sent in the application, wrote the check, crossed our fingers and sent up prayers. Yet deep in my heart, I felt we were taking a big step in the right direction. Big changes are not easy, and not without some trepidation about the unknown. Though sometimes you get a gut feeling and you just have to go with it. It's a little thing called blind faith. A lot of amazing people did amazing things this way. A lot of things in this world were changed this way. A lot of the future was forever transformed by this belief. 

So for three surreal days, I watched my dreams come to life as we met teachers from across the country! I heard stories of how fiber was transforming their art programs in places from coast to coast, and shared my skills and ideas with hundreds and hundreds of educators eager to learn. We felted acorns as a make and take and were one of the most popular booths in the vending hall! (Which is really something considering we were among the likes of Blick, Crayola and Sharpie!) 

It was energizing, invigorating, fulfilling and encouraging, and I'll be sharing more in upcoming posts. So..... am I glad to have taken the plunge? I can truly, wholeheartedly, say YES! So what ever is in your dreams but beyond your bravery, be encouraged to jump into that place of change, growth and uncertainty. You never know what awaits you! 

The Mask Project

For nearly three years, I have been a member of a group of a very creative ladies called "Women's Journeys in Fiber" . Started by Jan Gerber in 1998, it has met for the purpose of challenging it's members to explore a subject and create a specific piece in fiber from that process. Over the years, they have had the themes Mantles, Circle, Botanicals, Purses, Robes, Hats, Aprons, Footwear, Shifts, Masks and Umbrellas. 

I like to describe it this way: we take a iconic women's item and art-ify it. We construct these entirely from the ground up. There are meetings held routinely, and we are given a year to each theme; usually about six months to create and six months to exhibit. 

Our pieces are exhibited at three locations; the Chicago Botanic Garden in November, the Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, WI in January and the Chicago Flower and Garden Show in March. Along with the piece, we also submit an artist statement for the piece. This allows you to see more in depth to the heart of the artist and is a crucial aspect to the viewer. 

It's a wonderful way to submerse yourself in creativity while working as a group with our different backgrounds, beliefs, ideas and inspiration. A challenge, but a joy and always a stretch of one's artistic intellect. 

It's a Colorful World

I was asked yesterday what my favorite color was. Growing up I bucked the trend of little girls, just because I wanted to be different, and answered "blue". I really liked blue, soft shades the color of skies, rippling water and fairy dust. As I got older, I grew into the color purple, a color for which I have an infinity for to date. I briefly went through a stage of neutrals, which made my closet look like an ad for IKEA or Martha Stewart or something. The only color I really dislike is red, in any form or shape. I don't even own a tube of red lipstick. 

Being an artist however, you learn to appreciate all colors. I dye a lot of our fibers, so I feel as though I get to be surrounded by a spectrum of color perpetually. Lately, in preparation for spring shows, I have been dyeing a lot. I have dyed at least 50 pounds of wool in the last few weeks, so I'm not kidding when I say I'm surrounded by color. Literally, you open a closet, there's wool. You open the laundry room, there's wool. You open the oven, there's wool dyeing. My dear, patient husband has stepped over wool, taken wool off of chairs to sit, and been inundated with my nagging to come see my beautiful new colors. Bless his heart!  

But when the dust settles, and all is dyed, you feel as though you stepped off the sky and into a rainbow. Everywhere I look is a joyous celebration of beauty in the wooly form I love to work with. It is balm for the soul in a drab mid-winter like we have outside our doors. I can beautify the world while we await for it to awaken from it's winter nap. I can dream up colors and places I want to be, and paint my wool with that fantasy. It's a wonderful feeling to watch my walls come alive as the wool gets draped on them. I feel like I'm decorating for a party in which we are celebrating life! 

So I'm sharing some of those photo's with you in hopes that it brightens your day too! 

Warm Feet, Warm Hearts

This past week I enjoyed the honor of teaching a class at Esther's Place for felted slippers. I feel like there is nothing more luxurious, or indulgent, or feminine, than a pair of cozy slippers that are fun, colorful and you! They are needle and wet felted and shaped around your feet so they fit you perfectly. With dozens of colors to choose from, and hundreds of combinations, one could literally warm the feet of everyone in her world and not exhaust the possibilities! 

One of the joys of teaching is the ability to bring together perfect strangers and through the act of sharing art, an afternoon and a skill, meld the group together. Our conversations ranged from horses to homeschooling to tea tasting and beyond. We shared smiles, advice, laughs and hints. Old memories were shared, while new memories were being made.  We were all different, but at the same time, we were all the same. 

So at the end of the day, we all had a beautiful pair of slippers and some warm feet! But I think we also had warm hearts. That is the kind of warmth that is kindled from one person to another, in the simple act of sharing ourselves. We forget that in today's world that teaches us to be so very guarded and protective. So as we melt away the cold iciness with our warm hearts, we're changing things little by little. So remember....sometimes the tiniest of actions can really mean so much more! 

Corn, Corn Everywhere

When I create a garment, I also have a specific idea of how I'd like to photograph it. As any artist will know, as frustrating as it can be, your art is only as good as your photography. When I jury my pieces for shows, the only thing that juror will see is a digital image. My art doesn't mean anything if that image doesn't accurately represent it. This was a really hard thing to learn early on in my days creating art, but I am so thankful for a couple of really helpful people who have made all the difference in the world. 

One of these people is my mother-in-law. She's been absolutely fabulous to be a fashion photographer with a very crazy artist here at the helm. My crazy ideas could get the best of me one of these days.....

I had only a few days to get this piece photographed before it left for a show. And I wanted to photograph it while standing in a field of golden corn with a stretching panorama of endless sky in the background, maybe even a sunrise. Sounds simple and straightforward, right? 

Did I mention this was in October? That time of the year where I'm from, there's combines running 24/7 to get those fields of golden corn harvested. So the corn field I was thinking of using actually got combined a few days before our photo shoot. Since plan A was foiled, we went for plan B- and ran from field to field looking for brighter colored corn, corn that didn't look weather-beaten and corn that was facing an eastern sky. 

It was a blustery fall day, as well, so the brisk wind made the dress dance and move.... sometimes not necessarily in the right ways! I had to hold the edge down with my toes on a few of the shots! It was a challenge, but you know me.... when I get an idea in my head, there's no turning back! 

My mother-in-law was gracious and captured some lovely images of the piece. I do love the idea of shooting in our beautiful rural surroundings. It brings to life the panorama that oftentimes inspired the piece in the first place. I hope to try more farmland-backdrops in the future. There is nothing quite like beautiful art in a beautiful place! 

Blue Skies and Silver Linings

Pictured above is one of my newest runway pieces, a gown titled "Silver Lining" . I completed the dress in October of 2015. My inspiration came from the fabric of the skirt. My mom actually dyed this beautiful shade of blue-gray that reminded me of dull skies. Skies that you don't whether they plan to dump big plitter-platters of rain on you, or plan to break open with a glorious sun beaming through their  thick cover. 

She offered me the fabric, which at one point was being considered for her mother-of-the-bride dress. Since it didn't get used for that, it was now free to be invented into something else! I had yards and yards of this mystery fabric, that shifted and changed colors with every rustle of it's wonderful crinkly drape. 

The top I created the fabric for, using my hand dyed habotai silk and then nuno felting a blend of merino wools into it. Like a lot of my recent pieces, I have been exploring using the silk side of my nuno felt as my featured side. The nuno process of fusing wool into the silk fabric creates this amazing texture. I added some pleating before felting to accentuate the texture. 

I really wanted to create strong diagonal lines on the corset-style bodice with my silk and feel I was able to accomplish that. I emphasized it  with the beading, a feature I love the look of, but always regret about 5 hours into the beadwork, when squinty eyes, a headache and at least 100 seed beads decorating my floor remind me not to put beads on my next piece! Yet I always do....

I love the asymmetry of the design. Creating designs has always been a favorite part of the process for me. I am excited to be working with Marilyn Donoho, an amazing seamstress who really understands me and works with me to take my sketches, fabrics and vision to completion. 

This dress fits a size 8 beautifully, comfortably and elegantly. Perhaps the greatest joy for me was to be able to try it on and wear my dream and feel it come to life! That is truly the impetus for creativity!