The Felted Garden

Dry Felting??????

2012-01-18T06:16:00.004-05:00

Yes, dry felting. Left side (blue) before dry felting, Right side (red) after dry felting.

I was able to take a trip up to Easthampton, MA the other week to see Chris and the gang at New England Felting Supply. I always get a book to add to my slowly increasing library of felting books. This year I added Chad Alice Hagen & Jorie Johnson's Fabulous Felted Scarves (an oldie and a goodie).

Anyway, in a freak stroke of luck, I actually had some time to sit and go through it! Well, while reading Chad's basics I, at first, skimmed a section that gave a description of dry felting, then did a double take. Dry Felting??? It's basically compressing the dry fibers before adding your soapy solution therefore speeding the felting process.

Well, after seeing Chris with her back brace after her second back operation (she looked great by the way) and experiencing back tenderness and carpal tunnel myself, I will look at anything that helps speed the felting process and relives pressure off my back!

This technique actually works! Not that I would doubt anything Chad has stated in print! Two advantages: 1. you can actually move your piece without sending your fibers into a tizzy, and 2. you can actually move your piece without sending your fibers into a tizzy!

Way to go Chad!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-27T12:01:00.002-05:00

From my home to yours....

Hope your New Year is filled with love, family and friends.

Fuzzy Feet On Deck!

2011-11-13T11:03:00.003-05:00

We run a really first rate, high class photo shoot in my neck of the woods. When the light is right, it's all hands (and fuzzy feet) on deck! I needed an alternate shot for a piece in the Artful Home catalog and 10:30 in the morning has the best natural light coming into my front windows.

I do have some hurdles. My model is my 16 yr old daughter, and those of you with 16 year old know that 10:30 in the morning is prime sleep time on the weekends, but I had to get the shot done. So, sleepy eyed, panda socks and all, my little trooper makes time for Mom.

Don't you just love her!

World of Swirls!

2011-10-26T14:48:00.003-04:00

Westchester Fine Crafts Show was, for me, a great show! Many old customers and a whole swirly bunch of new ones! This piece I highlighted in my booth got a lot of attention, especially when pared with Brian Toohey's belt (we later did what I have sworn not to do, and verrry rarely do....traded!)

This piece is actually an overgrown scarf. I was experimenting this year with extreems (via the weather's influence on the world) and did a lot of big and little patterns. People associate my work with flowers, but these swirls have been a staple in my work for years and it's fun and challenging to find new outlets for these patterns.

Welcome Back!!

2011-09-13T15:16:00.003-04:00

After a really horrible summer, mom passed plus assorted emergency room visits by close family members and then the untimely passing of a friends young daughter, it's been hard to keep up with my work, but felting has been a blessing and a curse.

The blessing was the distraction and the wonderful surges of energy and creative spirit which got me through some days, the curse is that all of my commitments are now coming due. Through exhaustion and deliberate focus, plus a few little angel helpers via my daughter's friends, I've been able to pull a cohesive line together and get through some of these deadlines.

Here is some eye candy for you.....hope to get back to posting. It's nice to be back.

Tips and Tricks #??

2011-07-06T10:27:00.004-04:00

Forgot what number I was on.

Anyway, I've been suffering with a case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. At times it's really been a pain when I lay out a piece of roving. It's most painful when I'm on the computer. Like right now.
Lately it's really has had me reconsidering my work, which I love, so it's been a painful process in a lot of ways. I've even started laying out roving with my left hand as the dominant hand!

Last year I was playing with spatulas as an instrument to hold the roving down while you pull off the wool. It worked ok but I wasn't desperate to see how it would work in the long run, so I kept it in the back of my head. Well, lately work has really gotten too difficult. So I brought out the spatulas and started again in earnest and you know what? It work pretty well!

Now, there are some drawbacks. First, you need the spatula with the ridges and one without. (The putty hardware store kind.) Second, the 'pull off' is a bit shorter that if you did it by hand, so you have to be a bit more patient laying out your work. Third, I feel it doesn't work as well on the top layer, so you need a bit of doing it the usual way. But you can certainly try alternating techniques. Fourth, it works really well on fine wool. Not so great on coarser kinds.

It takes some practice, so make sure you test it out first before you try it on a client piece.

Good Luck!

Sometimes It Feels Like....

2011-06-20T06:20:00.004-04:00

...somebody's watching me.

He's always there. Watching. Waiting. Wagging. It's never ending. Always looking for that opportunity to....PLAY!!!!!

Now, this is not the case of a sad little puppy left alone and ignored all day. No, no, no. My constant companion and 'felter's best friend' is played with morning noon and night. But here I was trying to set up outside on my patio for some shots before the sun got too high in the sky, (It reflects a blue tone on my backdrop at a certain point during shooting and I have to stop.) and realized after the shot that I had a stalker, waiting, watching. The good news is that I have some new pieces that I'll be posting soon if those sad 'play with me' eyes don't get the best of me.

Poor, poor pooch.

One Mother Of A Throw!

2011-05-06T10:53:00.004-04:00

I can't seem to get this edit file to work, but this is the throw with the finished pattern. It's still in the 'fusing' stage. I think I'll be rolling it all night at the rate I'm going. I want to keep it out side (wraped up, of course!) until tomorrow. It's supposed to be warm and sunny. I'm hoping thermal heating will help a bit in the rolling stage.??

I've been trying my best to get all of my commitments completed, some take a little longer than others. This is a throw that I'm making for a very patient and wonderful customer from Baltimore. We've basically have gone back and forth with emails and pictures for color and design concept for-e-v-e-r!!! But I have to say, that I'm putting on the finishing touches (and the fun part!) right now and hope the weather holds up so I can take this outside to roll.

.....hmmm, I just saw a video of a fellow felter doing a felting 'stomp' while rolling her work with her husband. Maybe a little music is in order and I can corral some of my kids to help out???

OMG Smithsonian Was GREAT!!!!

2011-04-17T20:12:00.004-04:00

Wonderful show! Wonderful oganizers! Wonderful customers old and new! Wonderful husband who helped me break down! I couldn't believe that I actually sold wool scarves in April. I had so much fun with my 'booth buddies' and there was the most adorable baby girl who was absoutely precious the entire show!!

Weather was nearly perfect except for my family's drive down on Saturday. It was an honor to be selected to be here and I am so greatful for the opportunity to show my work.

Smithsonian Here We Come!!!

2011-04-06T18:09:00.003-04:00

Well, I have to say, it's been pretty stressful. I have pieces promised to galleries that I'm just now finishing, a catalog that I have to finish and send out and, oh yeah, get ready for the Smithsonian Craft Show!!!!!! It's quite an honor to be invited and I am tickled pink, but the only thing is: I sell wool. And the winter's over. And it's starting to get hot. Soooooo.......you think something like that will stop me? Does J Crew sell cashmere in the summer? You betca. I just push up my sleeves, unroll that bubble wrap and get to work! I must say, it was pretty challenging. I was hit with a combination sinus and ear infection. After 2 rounds of antibiotics, I'm still not feeling great so putting on that creative thinking cap was a little tough. It probably took me about 3 weeks of 'misses' before I started getting into a creative groove, and you know what? Making Spring scarves wasn't that bad. The real challenge was making them look like 'me', Felted Garden style. I wound up with over 50 styles, most of them one-of-a-kind, well, at this point anyway. This little baby pictured above is one of my favorite and will be made in other colors. Wish me luck! and if you're in the DC area, come by!

If I Had A Million Dollars....

2011-03-10T17:32:00.003-05:00

I would buy a few of this artist's fabulous folk art dolls! Her name is Charla Khanna and I just love her work! This one is called 'Imagined Garden Grows' and I would just love to see inside this woman's garden, brain (or studio!).

I'm a big fan of Folk Art or Primitive Art, and this work is just heaven to me! A client in Chicago told me about her and I just drool over her dolls! Not that I would have anywhere to put them and they are far too expensive for me to buy, but if I had a million dollars...she would be one of my first phone calls.

Which leads me to ask, what decadent work would you buy if you had a million dollars.

P.S. Yes, I would give much to charity. This is just for dreaming.......

The Back Wall...

2011-03-01T14:50:00.004-05:00

...at the ACC Baltimore Show! I always do a 'concept wall' for my shows. It shows what I'm thinking (usually about color), some new designs as well as old favorites. This show I was inspired by all the bright colors on the runways to do a color and black 'back wall'. It got photographed by the show for promotions as well as ads.

As usual, lots of great people and some blog stalkers. So a big shout out "HI" to all of you. I loved talking felt! Also there and fun to talk to was the 'mom of felters in America', in my opinion anyway, Miriam Carter, as well as the felter who's work I envy above all: Gina Pannorfi.

I had loads of fun with my 'booth buddies', and will highlight their work in a day or two. Right now, I'm unpacking and getting ready to start some new designs for the Smithsonian Show in about 6 weeks.

What Have I Been Up To?

2011-02-06T07:59:00.002-05:00

Kristi asked, "What have I been up to?" Well, I've been soooo busy getting ready for the ACC Baltimore Show that I haven't had a chance to breath! (or take pictures!) I live in the North East part of the US (for those outside the States) and we've gotten SLAMMED with snow this year. Many no-school days. It's all taken it's toll on my work. Family comes first, but when I do have extra time, there's wool of some form in my hands.

I promise to post pictures, but I'm taking my camera set up to the show and photographing everything when I get there, so it may be a while......

Till then,

Best!

Update.....

2011-01-04T13:34:00.002-05:00

...from my last post.

A pool tube wraped with shelf lining, secured with rubberbands (ponytail bands). Works the best! I've rubbed down 3 scarves so far like this and had 'trouble' with only one. But I'm not sure with that because I hand rubbed one side and 'tube rubbed' the other and lost track of which side was which.

Just to clarify. This is not rolling a piece up in a pool tube and rolling it for 100 rolls/turn/roll/turn. This is the initial laying out/wetting down/ and then you usually use a plastic bag to rub the fibers to start the felting process. This tube rub replaces the plastic bag.

Happy felting!

Oh, And Happy New Year!!

2011-01-03T16:51:00.003-05:00

Hey, Happy New Year!

I've been sick for the past 3 weeks with I don't know what! It just slowed me down at night with a whole lot of coughing and fatigue. But I'm better now and had a great Christmas and New Year,
hope you did, too!

Guess what??? I think I had another OMG!! moment! My year started with about 3 big reorders and I have been a little slow in starting up (What??? It's only Jan 3rd!!!) Anyway, for whatever reason I wasn't thinking straight and was laying out one of my leaf scarves. Now this scarf has a lot of detail and the initial wet down and rub has to be done precisely because the pattern needs to stick ON BOTH SIDES!!! Well, I just took a scarf off of my rolling machine and had the noodle in my hand, I had a small 18 x 8 piece of bubble wrap that I was rubbing the scarf that was on the table with. Somehow the two got rolled up together and I started rolling (as you would with a rolling pin!) the lightly wrapped pool noodle on the laid out scarf!!!

Guess what??!!! Not only did the pattern start to felt quickly but it also evenly!! Now, I ususally tell you about things that I discover after I've done a technique for a while, but this worked so easily that I thought maybe some of you may want to try it and let me know your results.

If you need more details, let me know!

What A Show!!!

2010-11-22T14:40:00.003-05:00

I had a great time at this years CraftWestport Show! Lots of people came by to say 'hello'. Many old customers as well as lots of new one! My piece in the photo above with the 3 large roses was on the poster all over town as well as the post cards so I had a busy time welcoming new people who have never been exposed to felting.

The best thing about this show is that Artrider took it over and really made it great! Many friends as well as strangers told me that they haven't been to this show in years because they felt it 'lost something'. Well, they were back and shopping! I hope that the many other talented crafters had as good as an experience as I did. Thank you Stacy and thank you Westport Women's League for your fine support.

Trust the Force, Luke...

2010-11-18T18:33:00.003-05:00

..uhhh, I mean, Liz.

Does this ever happen to you? I made a neck piece a few weeks ago. Took measurements and notes. The result was a very successful neck piece which I have since sold. So I have a show this weekend and decided to quickly felt a few new neck cuffs. I like to try some new styles out for this show in particular because it can be a very picky, sophisticated audience.

Well, I got so far as to lay everything out and wet it down, but I froze. I just couldn't trust my calculations! I nearly had an anxiety attack over these pieces. Finally, after a hot cup of tea and a deep breath, I trusted my instincts and finished felting them, and of course, they finished beautifully!

I'll post some pictures this weekend.

A Rant

2010-11-01T15:09:00.002-04:00

I just put this picture up because I know you all like to look at the pictures! My real purpose of this post is to say that after doing a few shows and visiting a few galleries, I've really gotten frustrated with people who think hand crafted wearable art is supposed to be cheap. I just visited a gallery who asked me to stop by with my work and loved my pieces but when they saw the prices they decided that I was too expensive. Ok, I can deal with that. I reminded them that these pieces were all hand made by me using mostly wool fiber. I also cut and sew all of the floweres and leaves. Blank stares followed my 'enlightenment'. I smiled and started to walk out the door where I found on a table machine made scarves costing more that what I was charging for my scarves!!!!

Educating the new crop of 'craft buyers' is a really tough proposition. As much as I love some websites and have engaged in selling my pieces on them, I really think that the adverage consumer has gotten into his/her head that hand made means inexpensive. My time is not valuable. The care and the workmanship that goes into a piece is only valued by the label or store that is attached to it, not the artist. Yes, yes, I know there are exceptions to the rules but if I have to do one more show where someone asks, ' Is this your best price?' I'm going to scream!!

There, there. All done!

Here We Go!!

2010-10-11T19:40:00.005-04:00

This was the neck warmer from a previous post that didn't look quite as well as this one. I still don't know what happened to the original. I've had other mishaps since then. Four, count 'em, four of my grids didn't felt!

Is there anything like a felt poltergeist that roams the world looking for innocent felters to play felting tricks on??????

Maybe I'll have to start felting with a clove of garlic floating in my soap gel

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2010-09-27T15:35:00.004-04:00

One, of course, is much more valuable than the other!

My sick little girl let me take some pictures of her wearing one of my new neck pieces yesterday. Poor thing had such a runny nose! She said that she hates the photo because she has that glazed eye. I told her the look is the same one that you see those top models use on some front page shots. Well, we had a good laugh over that. Her glazed eyes were because of cold medicine.

Hot soup and early to bed for her!

In Felting There Are NO Shortcuts..

2010-09-16T16:15:00.003-04:00

I am always learning the hard way....but do I ever learn?

I have to say that this miserable piece caught me off guard. I thought I did everything right, but not even the base felt was felted.

Major case of not paying attention and thinking that ok was good enough!

Well, I'll show you the finished piece when I get it back on the table. Until then, put more elbow in it, girl!! Rub, rub, rub!!

Just Gotta Do It!!!

2010-09-07T17:01:00.003-04:00

I've been really trying to get my website up to date with new styles and such. It's been a slow process because with everything else going on, I've seem to developed carpal tunnel in my right hand. So things are going slowly.

But the good news is...and by the way this has nothing to do with my hand or felting for that matter, I went over to my friend Anne's house for my weekly dose of abuse, sarcasm and coffee and what do I see on her kitchen table? An accordion!!!
Yes, dear friends, that woman pictured in the photo above, plays and played the accordion for me this morning!!! I laughed until I cried!

Tips and Tricks

2010-08-24T10:56:00.005-04:00

Something up my sleeve? Just fiber!

I never saw this trick/tip so I don't know if anyone else does this or if I'm just soooo original.

I was laying out a large piece, today and the fiber was just getting all fly-away and disturbed. Well, it's pretty cool and rainy so I'm wearing long sleeves, so I thought," What harm can putting the loose ends up my sleeve to keep it away from the table?"

It worked like a charm!

FYI: So many of you have liked this idea but say you're wearing short or sleeveless tops: Cut off a set of long sleeves from an old cotton knit shirt! Something with a little lycra or rib cuff works best. Slip it on your 'stash' arm, and get to work!!

Ta-ta for now!

It's Good To Know People..

2010-08-05T14:53:00.002-04:00

Like my friend, Anne. Not only was she a top catalog and runway model back 'in the day', she's the one who is entirely responsible for my discovering the felting art.
It was her present from her mom that I was there to watch her unwrap that awakened my (very dormant!) artistic soul. Now, as a really true friend, in 98 degree heat, she puts on her professional face to help me out photographing and modeling my new designs for fall. She has great taste, a real heart and a generous soul.

Needless to say, she usually has the 'pick of the litter' when it comes to my scarves. But her life is not all that glamorous! She owns a small farm, raises chickens (and contemplating sheep, also) grows her own vegetables and is an expert woodworker as well as an unbelievable sewer and knitter. She also speaks like 5 languages......I give her hell whenever I see her. It keeps her grounded.

How The Heck Have You Been?

2010-07-27T08:46:00.002-04:00

Been a long time since we last met! I've been busy, how 'bout you?

Life's been a little more crazy than I would like, but all good. As you may or may not know, I've taken on some wholesale galleries, so I've been busy just duplicating styles that you've seen over and over again, so I promised myself I'll start this post with a new piece because I know most of you just want to look at the pictures!!

Since I haven't posted in a while I thought I'd list, for whoever is keeping score, some of my highlights so far:

We went through a wicked storm last week with power and (most importantly) internet down for a couple of days. That was a drag.
I was watching my neighbors cat named 'Cuddles' (I love cat's by am highly allergic). This cat wasn't Cuddles it was Cujo.
OH! and since I haven't been on my blog recently I was pleasantly surprised that I have 32 followers! I feel like I should play tricks on all of you or something. Maybe I should come up with a game? Hmmm....what evil can lurk in the mind of a serial felter?

I had such a big to-do list for this summer and I feel like summer is winding down and I haven't had a chance to go to a waterpark. After all, what's a summer with out a carload of kids and a waterpark? Not to mention cleaning out the fridge and garage were on the same list. But I think waterpark gets pushed to the top.

Once again, I promise to be more diligent about posting so to give some of you 'newbies' a chance to think twice about who your friends are. And, I want to hear a Hi! from everybody on my list!!!! Maybe even some not. But you have to be nice.

Woe Is Me!!

2010-06-13T17:54:00.004-04:00

I set up outside one cloudy morning to take some shots of some new designs that I've been working on and was sooooo rushed that I didn't pay attention to the details!!! After many shots and adjustments I brought the camera in, pluged it into the computer and lo and behold! my scarves were all wrinkled and looked horrid in the photos!!!

Bad mommy. Bad, bad mommy! Very frustrating because, with my new and improved working room set up (which you can revisit if you're that inclined in a past post), my ironing board now is always set up and ready to go in the laundry room just waiting for an occasion like this. BUT, and it's a big BUT, I have to use the darn thing!!!!

Well, there's no accounting for laziness. Must try harder next time.

P.S. Do you like my new background?? I was alerted to these new designs when I logged on!!! Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

Like Giving Birth

2010-05-22T13:56:00.004-04:00

That's what it seemed like, anyway.

I've never had such a time getting out a collection of scaves like this one! It was almost painful.
Not that the ideas weren't there or the designs didn't work, it was just the time spent on working on them seemed to go on forever. Any interruption short of the house burning happened. Kids sick, dog sick, Dr. appts., vet appts, school events, after school events. You name it, it prohibited the flow of creativity.

Well, I pushed these out, and there's still 2 more scarves to come that are still in the middle of some form of a mild labor. I hope that the next 2 weeks allows me to be more creative and productive because this schedule stinks big time!

Have You Ever Done This....

2010-05-13T09:05:00.003-04:00

I was trying to lay out this intricate scarf and had to use the floor because I don't have a big enough work space table. I wound up putting a bench from the dining room over the work and straddling myself over the bench to put on the design. Luckily my husband wasn't home to experience this with me or else you would be looking at a big butt shot which would have made you lose your lunch or something worse, your respect.

Anyway, I've hit a milestone for my work. I actually have a complete color bank of one of my styles! They have to be 'touched up' and pressed before they get 'officially' photographed, but I've worked like a dog to get them out. The last 2 were painful because I was soooooo tired of cutting leaves and placing them on the scarves.

I'm happy they're done!

The Real Thing

2010-05-02T10:28:00.004-04:00

All finished and ready for posting! It's always sad to say 'goodbye' to one of your 'babies'. I really loved the way this came out and can't wait to try it in different colors.

I'll be listing this on Artful Home's website in a few days. I hope I can find some more art yarns to make a few more, but for now, this is a one-of-a kind scarf.

Say 'Yes' To The ...

2010-05-01T15:50:00.004-04:00

...Scarf?

This is the first in a series of soft white scarves that I'm doing for spring/summer. It kinda feels like I've got June weddings on the brain, but that's not the case....well, not really. I always do a 'collection' of designs in a color way. It inspires me somehow and it's kinda fun because I can continue on an idea path and really work deeply though both design and color.

I haven't worked with these soft colors in a while. Oh, yes, I'll throw in a white on white winter scarf once in a while, but not really using these colors as the basis for a collection. Well, I started out with just playing with lighter looks and soft neutrals and, WOW! I can't believe how into it I became.

My problem is, that I can't just 'finish' a scarf and be done with it. This scarf is destined to go on to Artful Home, but I just have to finish the other scarves before I release this one....even just to photograph! I keep changing the position of the rose, making more roses. Trying different sizes. No wonder I'm not getting enough work done!!

It Just Started By...

2010-04-28T11:50:00.007-04:00

...just having to put away a few new bits of fiber that I received. Well, as pictured above, I couldn't get through to my storage area, so I decided (2 days before I left on vacation, mind you!) that I'll just clean up my bins to get some more room.

Well, withing hours, my OCD kicked in and I was on a mission. Little did I know that 2 days later, not only did I have an actual working, workable workspace....

...but I actually have a real laundry room again!!!! Whoopee!!!

I know, I know, I KNOW....

2010-04-09T13:21:00.003-04:00

...I haven't been posting, I miss you guys! I've been so busy that I can't seem to keep up with anything lately!!!! I'm making it up to you with some new scarves that are going off to a shop in CT. Between the rain, floods, trees down, power outages, kids home from school, my son's 6th grade play (which, of course, I volunteered to help with costumes 4 MONTHS AGO when I naively thought I would be going through my 'slow period' right now....NOT!!!) it's been hard to catch my breath.

But I finished these pieces and got out my trusty camera to take a reference shot and thought, "hmmmm, let's take a moment for some on-line therapy, too".

Why, oh, why do I not get nuno felting? It's become like a 'Sybil' to me. (for those of you who don't know who Sybil is/was... she's a woman who was diagnosed with 18 different personalities.) Every time I work on a piece, I stare at it and think, "Who are you, and why are you on my table giving me such a hard time?" Then, the next piece is like 'Whoa, this is great, who are you and what are you doing on my table not giving me a hard time?'

Now don't get me wrong, I know how to nuno felt it's just that I try to do things that really conform to my style and design that are a little more temperamental than a more abstract free flowing design and my time pressures have been restricted. Anyway, I needed to make some silk based scarves and I really like the raw silk edge effect, so I hope that people react fondly to these pieces and not like, "Hey, why aren't the edges done?"

April Foods, Seriously.......

2010-04-01T06:31:00.004-04:00

Feeding America is annually providing food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children. This is an increase of 46 percent over 2006, when we were feeding 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, each year.

That means one in eight Americans now rely on Feeding America for food and groceries.

Feeding America's nationwide network of food banks is feeding 1 million more Americans each week than we did in 2006.

Thirty-six percent of the households served have at least one person working.

More than one-third of client households report having to choose between food and other basic necessities, such as rent, utilities and medical care.

The number of children the Feeding America network serves has increased by 50 percent since 2006.

Feeding America food banks provide food and groceries to 33,500 food pantries, 4,500 soup kitchens and 3,600 emergency shelters.

68 percent of pantries, 42 percent of soup kitchens, and 15 percent of emergency shelters rely solely on volunteers and have no paid staff.

55 percent, are faith-based agencies affiliated with churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious organizations; 33 percent are other types of non-profit organizations.

Some important websites to visit:

Feeding

America

’s website: http://feedingamerica.org/default.aspx

The link to their April Food Day donation page: http://help.feedingamerica.org/aprilfoodday

The April Food Day blog: http://aprilfoodday.blogspot.com/

What A Week!!!

2010-03-29T06:33:00.008-04:00

Well in addition to my usual duties as mom, chauffeur, cook, therapist, landlord, and housefrau, (oh, and felt artist!) I've picked up a few extra hobbies to fill in my time that I'm not busy!!! One was doing a felting fun-draiser for our Church to support the Youth Group Mission Trip. I did one in the late fall and it was such a success, that I was asked to do another. The other was doing costumes for my son's 6th Grade play (but more on that on another post.)
The ladies were very creative, and I had a few returning customers, both of whom made scarves for themselves this time!
The photos don't do this scarf justice! The colors actually were a subtle blend of pinks and roses over the green. It was beautiful and got 'ooohs and ahhhs' at Church the next morning
This fiber artst did some wonderful work, very 'artsy', too! She ripped all of the edges and then form dimensional flowers using silk hankies and merino as well as other textured wool over silk!

YOU GO GIRLS!!!!

The Future of Felt!!

2010-03-19T16:32:00.000-04:00

You just have to watch this!!!!

Make a Felt Flower

Maybe I should hire this kid???

Big Wind.

2010-03-16T08:25:00.007-04:00

While our town suffered many power outages and down trees, our house was spared any damage only lost TV/Cable and internet reception. It was one scary night, though. I had planned to have people over the Saturday, (not knowing how big the storm was going to be), and eventually gave them the option on staying home. None did and we wound up having what amounts to a hurricane dinner. 2 of the 3 families lost power. Our neighbor (above) had not one but 2 huge pine trees fall on his property, just missing his house. Others were not so lucky. One neighbor had a fatality on her block when a tree limb fell on a car. One woman was killed, 3 others injured.

The town did a wonderful job of keeping town folk informed with 'Code Red' phone calls. Local radio stations get my 'thumbs down' for not getting critical update on the air, only playing 'happy' music with an overly 'bright and shiny' enthusiastic DJ that never seemed to look out his window and let us, who had no other means of gathering information but the radio, know what was going on.

We opened our home to neighbors and friends and seemed to have 'pot luck' buffets every night with at least one family, in some cases more, over for dinner and enjoy some warmth and hot showers.

This storm was a big inconvenience to many, but our hearts go out to people caught in flood zones and have to rebuild after this storm passes.

So. Tell Me Again....

2010-03-12T11:33:00.005-05:00

...what bad habits we'll try to break this year????

Can you guess? These shots of my storage room for my supplies are so similar from year to year that I should just forget about taking new pictures and keep posting my old ones. Yes, ladies, (and gentlemen if you're out there) it's time to reflect on all of those bad habits that we have developed over the year that really block the creative flow yet somehow we have difficulty overcoming. And yes, it's the 'Just-dump-the-stuff-in-the-back-room-and-close-the-door-I'll-have-time-to-put-it-away-tomorrow/later/this weekend/next week/when the kids have gone to bed/early tomorrow morning after I do/start my exercising again' syndrome.

You and I both know that there never is a later. Life happens and I wind up digging in a pile of knee-deep fiber and trimmings to get something that by the time I've reached the bottom of the pile, I have completely forgotten what I was looking for in the first place and come out with 3 other potential projects to start but still have to finish the one I came in for because I have an order pending on it.

If there isn't a support group started, I think I start one now. Felter's Anonymous. We also purchase roving and yarn we'll never use just because one day we might need that color.

ACC Baltimore

2010-03-08T18:09:00.005-05:00

A whole lota feltin' going on a the ACC Baltimore show! Along with the 'ususal suspets' (ie Gina Pannorfi, and my new BFF Bonnie Wells), newcomer Wendy Allen as well as booth buddy Sonya Mackintosh were there! Ping Wu from Project Runway (and my AltCraft soulmate from last year!) was right down the road from me, she had them clapping in the aisles!!!

Business was brisk some days and dreadful others, but I did sell lots and lots and should not complain. There was enough business to go around for everyone even though, sadly, some jewelry artists walked away with no sales for the week! Heartbreaking to hear.

It snowed while I was away, so I didn't have to deal with that and the drive was great both ways.

Nothing but good thoughts and good people!

New Scarves Are UP!

2010-03-02T09:05:00.003-05:00

Finally! I'm home from ACC Baltimore, more on that later!

I shot so many new photos before I left for Baltimore and haven't had the time to post them on my website. So, while I'm waiting for the kids to wake up and get off to school today, I started refurbishing my site.

I've made and sold so many of these beautiful scarves with the ombre' fibers that I think I can make them in my sleep! Every color seems to come alive and they are a great way to warm up a chilly morning!

OH! BTW, I was nominate (and apparently won!) a 'Sunshine Award'! Apparently, you people out there think I'm 'sunny', inspirational and light hearted (although light-headed is more like it). You can go to Woolly Lakes you can check out the other winners there and read more about, what else!, felting. She also does some wonderful other crafts. Check her page out (and give her and blog-hug while you're at it!) Now, I'm supposed to pass this on, so all you bloggers and stalkers out there, get you're "happy MOJO" up because I'm back and spring time is blogging season for me. WATCH OUT!!!

Something For The Boys

2010-02-19T13:09:00.004-05:00

This year, I've added a couple of menswear scarves to my mix. This is one called Timothy and is done in a denim ombre fiber with a hand spun art yarn finish. I got so many requests for more masculine scarves for some of my customers that I started to make some for Baltimore. Sadly, I was only able to make a few, I just didn't have enough time to get the kind of fibers I needed.

It really looks great, the colors blend beautifully, only thing is, I need more 'masculine' ombre' fiber and though I try never to use this blog to request or submit for sales, if you have or know of more masculine fiber colors (and again I prefer blended or ombre/tye-dye effects), please contact me!

Ta ta for now!

Here We Go Again!

2010-02-08T05:54:00.003-05:00

Not what you'd call professional, but it works!

Yes friends, it's time to dust off the ol' camera and put on the other hat that you need to sell your craft and submit to shows. It's actually the part that I hate the most. Photography is NOT what I do best, yet I can't afford a pro so...........

This set up turned my living room into a photo studio complete with dog toys (why the dog isn't in the picture I don't know. He seemed to be at my feet the whole time I was working.)

This year though, I had a really nice high school kid who was taking photography classes come in to help and he got some great shots! I was really happy about that. We worked for about 2 hours and got about 6 scarves done. Doesn't sound like a lot, but if I were doing it my self, I would have thrown the camera at the wall after the first 2 scarves.

Here, I'm just doing some quick shots for my wholesale catalog. The shots have to be good, but not perfect, so I was happy with the work and quality.

So Many Choices.....

2010-01-11T14:34:00.006-05:00

but only one path....

For those of you who struggle with kids, housework, meals, after school activities, homework and finding time for friends and yourself (forget about your husband or boyfriend!) you know the time pressures of making a business from your art. Not only do you fight every day with your personal deadlines, but when you have a show and you have to get work done, some things tend to get swept to the side.

I try very hard to keep my family first. Yes, sometimes I fail and it's take out again for dinner, but sometimes the pressure of cramming so much in actually helps. Not always, but sometimes.

I tend to put myself last when it comes to these problems. Recently I really worked myself to the bone. Getting ready for the holidays, keeping promises I made to the kids and then the intense after holiday clean up that had my obsessions with order challenged to the hilt....which gets me to my felting.

I'm usually so spent by fall shows and holiday orders that I really take January, February and part of March off to kind of regroup. I go through magazines, collect color combinations and photographs of leaves and flower designs over cups and cups of tea just to recharge and get myself psyched to start felting. By March, new ideas are flowing out of my brain so fast that the problem is getting them all down into a 3 dimensional form. Much of my work evolves from pieces I have done in the past and they grow and form new ideas almost on their own.

This year is different. I have the ACC Show in Balitmore. And although I am very grateful to be in the show, I find that I have to work a 'production' line right from the start. I don't have a studio or assistants, all I have is my very friendly and playful dog and 4 to 5 hours (if I'm lucky) 4 days a week to get tons and tons of work done. These shows are the 'real thing'! I have been accepted into the Wholesale/Retail program, so I not only do I need enough to sell to the public (4 day), but I have to focus and develop a wholesale line to show (2 days) which includes a line plan and handout references.

I've decided to center my efforts of my Wholesale presentation. I have maybe 60 scarves from fall still in my workroom, about 10-15 more scattered about in galleries that I should get back, so I'm making about 40 to 50 scarves that will be used in my booth for the wholesale display. I'm doing scarves in 'banks' of color, ie: the numerous color ways I would be offering to the stores. I figure that it will kind of kill 2 birds with one stone. I get to decide of what I can realistically do for wholesale line and after that, I'll sell the displayed pieces in the Retail part of the show.

What's the problem?

New, "new" ideas. I had to force my self to just go over the scarf ideas that I've done in the past and rework them in different colors rather that create 'new' designs. Generally making a totally new piece can take a few days to figure out and create. It's frustrating because most shows for 2010 have their applications out and I would normally start the year with my new ideas. Plus, any new work that I do, I'd photograph for my portfolio and submit these photos to shows, but all that has to wait.

I don't know how full time artist do it. I envy their ability to just be able to walk in to their studios and focus on their art....but then I just may have a romantic view of an artist's life.

Before and After

2010-01-04T17:27:00.005-05:00

Bronchitis, sinusitis, the stomach bug, another bronchitis bout and a bad cold just about sums up my December. Add to that a show, holiday tree getting, a few special orders (one that went MIA) and a Xmas Eve Party for 40 and you have my world in a nutshell.

In the middle of all of this I've promised my daughter since August, that I would redo her room with her. She's in high school now and wanted something more sophisticated than her baby pink room. Well, bring out the cape girls 'cuz we're in for a super mom miracle! I don't know how I did it, but I managed to repaint and redo her room the Friday and Sunday after Christmas.

The photo above shows you what I had to start out with...and it took a lot of hard work on her part to throw out a lot of 'stuff' that she just never touched........

...and this is the after. I don't know why the picture was cut off in the corner........

Done, Done, Done and Done!!!

2009-12-16T17:06:00.002-05:00

I have no pictures because I'm too exhausted to take them, but I finished my last scarves of the season this afternoon and have to ship them out tomorrow.

My shop is officially closed for the year! Now, I can take a break after I:

Do my Christmas shopping
Send packages off to family by Friday
Write out Xmas cards
Make Xmas cookies for cookie exchange
Organize my billing statements
File my expenses
Clean up my workspace
Paint my daughter's room like I promised her in August
Make all the Dr's appointments that I've been putting off all season
Make haircut appts for my daughter and myself
Plan my holiday party
Clean and winterize the house
Get to that pile of laundry that has been growing

Yeah, then I can take a break!

The End Is Almost Here!!!

2009-12-14T18:33:00.004-05:00

Three down, three to go!

It's countdown time. I have these three scarves going out to a customer tomorrow and have three more special orders to fill. I can't wait to finish up and start my shopping for the holidays. I've already closed down my website, I don't think I'll be able to make another scarf if you paid me, oh wait, I do get paid for that! Ok, if you begged me!

I've been sick, and my dad went into the hospital so I haven't been focused of really doing a lot. As a matter of fact, I made the most crummy scarves that I ever worked on last week!!! It didn't help that I had a severe case of bronchitis, I kind of crashed and then decided that a trip to the doctor was in order.

I'm feeling much better and my dad's out of the hospital and feeling better, but I just can't wait for to get these all done and mailed out so I can forget about scarves for a while and just relax.

Work, Work, Work!

2009-12-11T07:05:00.003-05:00

This is one of my 'special orders' that I have been working on this past week. It's a brown version of my 'Mariah' scarf with lots of little flowers on the edges. I still have about 6 more scarves to do by Monday. I don't know how I'm going to work that in plus having the 'gang' over for Christmas Tree getting on Saturday. I've decided not to start cooking and baking until Saturday morning! My friends aren't due here until noon or 1pm, my husband and son are out with the boy scouts until around 10am, so there's plenty of time!!!!

Long Time No See!

2009-12-06T08:09:00.004-05:00

Sorry, guys! My last show in Morristown, NJ is happening this weekend. I've been really trying hard to get everything done to close up my shop for the year. I have some new scarves coming out next week for my wonderful lady in Florida who sells in her shop and a few special orders, and then I'm done! I'll post those photos as they are ready to give you some eye-candy and inspiration.

I promised my kids that I stop working and start Christmas-ing. I've even promised to disable my website so I won't be distracted by business. I'll loose a few orders, but I thing the rewards of enjoying my family will be worth it!

Brilliant!

2009-11-17T16:42:00.005-05:00

Idea, I mean!

While preparing for my felting fundraiser workshop, I had to figure out how the teach the class how to 'full' their scarves. As you know, you can 'throw' or 'rub' or do a combination of both, which I think we all do. I really do prefer rubbing especially when you're dealing with delicate design or open cut pieces.

Well, while wandering the aisles of the local Bed, Bath and Beyond, I came across (what I think, anyway) was a brilliant and inexpensive idea. Washboard are expensive and so are boot trays (which is what I use). My idea? Refrigerator shelf liners! The ridges are high enough and it comes in a roll and for $14.99 I had enough for 5 students and since they all finished at different times, one roll was enough. I cut 2' pieces and put them out. The fulling was flawless. I've tried it at home on my own pieces and I like, no, love it better that the boot tray!

Give it a try!

FUN-draiser!!!

2009-11-16T06:09:00.003-05:00

Talk about a wild weekend! While my husband and son camped out in the middle of a very wet Nor'easter, I had the wonderful privilege of hosting a 'Felting Fun-draiser' in our Church to benefit the Youth Group Mission Trip to Simply Smiles in Mexico this summer. The kids will spend a week there building houses in a dump for families with no other shelter.

Well, I didn't know what to expect because this was my first time hosting a felting class, but boy, did we have fun!

We spent the first 2 hrs going over the 'basics' of wet and nuno felting (which, by the way, I haven't done much of, so I was really nervous!) and spent the whole afternoon working on our scarves. It was such a bonding experience that I not only made 7 new friends, but I reconnected with 3 old ones!

Everyone was upbeat and happy, the felting was flawless. And except for some 3 o'clock fading into exhaustion which was quickly extinguished by one of the ladies finishing her scarf (it encouraged others that the 'end' was near!), everyone went home with a prized possession!

The next day at Church, we not only had many inquiries as to when the next workshop will b e (January '10 and I already have 6 people on the list!), many of the women who took this one want to sign up for another workshop where they can make something more challenging.

Washington!!

2009-11-10T07:04:00.005-05:00

I had a terrific show in Washington, DC! I met lots of 'Blog-Stalker-Friends' and just plain nice folks. The show was not as crowded as previous years, I was told, and many artists, unfortunately did not do as well as last year.

I met a few fellow felters, too! Lisa Kalkualk of Strong Felt was there. Her work is always amazing. And she looks just like her pictures, which for some reason I always find amazing.

It was an exhausting 4-5 days filled with hours of driving, setting up and standing around chatting and selling. The evenings were great. I reconnected with old friends that moved down to Arlington. VA and my family came down for a picture perfect day of touring.

All in all a great weekend.

Westchester Craft Show

2009-11-01T15:44:00.004-05:00

I've been promising pictures of my booth at the Westchester Craft Show and, well, here's a partial photo! It's of my favorite color and design story this year, my "Twilight" Series. Many of these scarves were sold, some I've remade, others are one of a kind. I'm still fight myself for time to photograph and post on my website.

This week is gear-up week for the Washington DC Show. Lots to do and so little time.......oh and I was in a car accident yesterday which kind of put a damper on my spirits. :(

Welcome New Toy!!!

2009-10-29T17:34:00.004-04:00

I just got home to find this big box in my mudroom! It contained a mini spinner that I ordered from The Laundry Alternative a few days ago. It's used to spin dry small loads of wash or hand wash. I bought it because I read on a blog a few years ago that a felter was using a similar machine to spin the excess water from her work. I thought that that was a great idea and forgot about it until last week when I was pulling wet clothes out of my washer to put some scarves in to spin dry them. I just though that I was using up too much energy to use the front loader for such a simple task, yet I needed to finish these scarves up right away.

After conferring with my CFO (my husband) we decided it was worth getting, if not just to dry my kids swimming suits since they both swim between 3 and 5 times a week.

Well, it's here! I can't wait to test drive it and I'll let you know how it works!

Family Time

2009-10-28T11:41:00.002-04:00

We all took time out from our busy schedules to do a little pumpking picking this weekend. Here my son, daughter and fur baby are walking down one of my most favorite coutry road in CT at Warrups Farms to find a pumpkin field. There's a corn maze, hay ride and make their own maple syrup as well as other seasonal goodies.

I really have fun with my kids, I learn a lot from them. It's great to see the world from their point of view. One of my favorite websites to go with my daughter is My Life is Average.
We laugh and joke about all of the submissions and a lot of the times it leads to stories or events that actually take place in her life!

With my son, it's a little harder because he would live on the computer if I let him. I try to encourage more human to human contact that computer to human contact, but I have to admit, when he's here with a friend and they are playing the game called Runescape, (we have 2 computers in the room) they do interact and talk, devise and compromise situations that they are in. I don't understand it. But I don't have to as long as he can talk to me about the game and I can connect with him on that level, it's ok. Now, he is limited to 1 hr a day and only when his homework is done!

Just Checkin' In!

2009-10-26T19:27:00.005-04:00

Lots going on here! You know Halloween is approaching, and if you live anywhere my house, you know that this can be a month-long event. My son had his first 'dance' at the Middle School called the "Monster Mash". 6th graders LOVE it! It's their first chance to really go wild!! My son got dressed the the greatest costume EVER!!!! It's a upside down man. I 'Googled' it after he told me about it and do you know why it's so great!!!.....It didn't cost a dime! Yep, FREE! We had everything at home. Even the extra head! No money. Nothing. Easy. Fast. Fun. I didn't have to spend all of last weekend looking for overpriced costume accessories. Nada. Am I happy? YESSSS!!!!!

What A Difference A Year Makes!

2009-10-09T14:24:00.004-04:00

Last year, at this time, packing up for a show was an all-out project in booth styling. I had, what seemed like, tons of props. Chairs, quilt racks, ladders anything to show off my scarves. This year, because of my ProPanels (not being paid for the promotion) booth, it seems like I really have less and less to carry. Just 3 bins (and I should have cut it down to 2 and maybe I will) , 1 bag (with the dress form body and lunch) a mirror and of course my booth display, which is huge!

Needless to say, there will still be a lot of going back and forth from the car to unload, but a lot less to set up once it's all unpacked.

This next show is surly a test. I'm unpacking and setting up on my own for the first time. I've been struggling with bronchitis and sinusitis all week. Getting there and unpacking is not the problem. It's staying focused until 5 or 6 and then driving home for 90 minutes. That's what I worry about.

Well, I think I've Found My Scarf!

2009-10-08T11:35:00.004-04:00

People have been asking me, "Why haven't I been wearing one of my scarves?" The answer is because I only wear my 'rejects'. Scarves that, for one reason or another, have been felted wrong. Well, luckily, this season has been pretty good. I really haven't had a scarf that wasn't felted properly. I've made scarves that I didn't like. But that's in a different category all together.

Today, I was making a replacement for a scarf that was sold and I got lazy and didn't turn the piece over to check the layout. Well, of course, the silk buckled on the underside add to that, some of the edges didn't felt through the silk, either. Happily, it's one of my favorite scarves on my line. It goes with the colors I usually wear. Soooo, I've got my new scarf for the season!

Happy me~!

Sending The Kids Off....

2009-10-07T11:50:00.005-04:00

...to a big Trunk Show in Greenwich! My friend, Amy, does a very exclusive trunk show for a line of wonderful women's unique clothing called The Carlisle Collection

I'm very excited to see the reaction to my scarves in coordination with this collection. I gave her a bag for a fundraiser that invited a lot of her customers and the bag was sold almost immediately with lots of interest and discussion.

I'm crossing my fingers for great feedback.

Can't Fight The Feeling..

2009-10-06T15:35:00.003-04:00

I've had so many sales and inquires for my Sari Scarf, that I finally decided to take my Black and White combo apart and remake the design with the smaller flowers. This one is going to a trunk show in Greenwich, CT when it's finished. It really looks great in black with cream, winter white, sand and heather gray flowers.

I've been struggling with a sinus infection so I'm keeping this post short......

ta ta for now!

In A Whirl!!!!

2009-10-02T13:14:00.003-04:00

I've been slowing down, lately. I don't know if it's the cold weather or kids activities but my ideas are there and want to come out, but I'm not getting as much done as previous weeks. OK, you're right, I'm not picking the easiest pieces to work on, either!

With 2 big shows coming up, I have decided to work on some larger pieces that I've been threatening myself with. I think what happens to me is that I start burning out and therefore, I'm not working at such a frantic pace so I can actually take a deep breath and do some of these projects that take hours if not days to set up and create.

These swirl scarves and wraps are such an example. I have to get into almost a 'zen' state to state create them because of the time it takes to lay the yarn out and needle felt everything into place. The felting process is also a challenge because of all the details that have to stick!! It can become really frustrating when fiber and yarn start peeling off of just one section and the rest of the scarf is perfect!

Luckily, with this group, only one piece gave me some trouble, and then it was just if 3 small places. I decided they can be simply adjusted after the piece is dried.

On to the next~!

Just In Case You Thought I Was Goofing Off....

2009-09-28T17:48:00.003-04:00

...I had hoped to get more scarves up on my website this weekend, but the sun and picture gods were not cooperating and the pictures turned out lousy so I have to wait for another sunny morning. My indoor photography skills are suspect.

Sooo, just in case you thought I took this opportunity to slack off, no, no, no! Not here in Multi-Task Land, I had a handbag promised for a fundraiser my dog watcher is throwing in Greenwich, CT. (She has very chic connections.) Anyway, this bag was a B*#@! to do. Lots and lots of hand stitching on top of the usual felting complications. I actually used batts for this from New England Felting Supply. Last spring I bought a whole bunch of batts to make handbags and every once in a while I put one together. They felt really fast and actually was great to work with. My only problem was in order to make this bag, first it has to be 'prefelted' and dried and then the yarn is needle felted and then the final felt is done.....but that doesn't mean the bag is finished, oh no! This bag took me about 20 odd hours of actual work time which included reinforced bottom and hand stiched lining.

Needless to say I way out of touch for a while. But I'm back!

Feelin' Blue?

2009-09-23T10:02:00.004-04:00

Not in the emotional sense!

This is my latest color collection that if I have enough time I would put on my website. I love when a collection tells a story! My last career I was part business woman, part merchandiser, part designer. Not in that order, though! My background still has me creating 'groups' of ideas whether it is color or design idea I can't seem to let go until my idea tells a story. These are some of my favorite patterns that I have created using a super fine merino wool from Outback Fibers. My only complaint is that I'd like some new colors to be developed!

I don't think I can place them on my site until this weekend, though. I'm too busy finishing up with another color and I have to work on my purples!

What To Do, What To Do?

2009-09-21T10:57:00.006-04:00

I've got big decisions to make...Do I finish 4 scarves with hours and hours of sewing, or.......

work on new scarves with this luscious bag of hand dyed roving that came in this weekend? Oh, I don't know. If I stop sewing it only makes things worse by pushing off all of this work that needs to be done! It makes my UFO pile much bigger and I don't need that.
But if I felt, I'll make me happy. :0)

P.S. It's 7:30pm and I took the high road and finished 2 scarves.....but I'm saving ALL DAY tomorrow for felting! YIPEE!!!!

Finishing Friday

2009-09-18T10:43:00.004-04:00

(Sorry, Jennifer, but it's true!)

I did a lot of felting this week and in order to get thing 'off' my table, I've dedicated this day for finishing...well, this weekend, I mean!

This is a scarf from an earlier post, all nicely pressed and waiting for the finishing touches. I love the way the yarn drapes on the edges. It seems like I made a number of scarves this week that need fringe.

These all need to be done because next week I want to work on shawl/wraps and handbags and I don't want the distraction of finishing projects that I have started and are just sitting there waiting for me.

Yes, I Use Roving!!

2009-09-16T06:16:00.005-04:00

There's been a lot of discussion recently about the use of prefelts in the felting world. I, personally, work with both prefelts and roving and I have to admit that I flip back and forth to what I like best.

When prefelts came out, the are/were very expensive and I only used them for a few thing, buying only half sheets and being very careful of how and where I used them. There is a definite learning curve, too,the ease of use can be very deceptive depending on what you are doing. But the beauty of prefelts is having the able to have options for the ideas that you have. I have been able to work on pieces far bigger than in the past and the details that prefelts allow me to put on my pieces are as great as the imagination allows.

I would still say that I use roving in about 65% of my pieces. Granted, I can do between 250 and 350 pieces a year when I'm really working, I have NO assitant to help, I do it all on my own working around 2 active kids and a very social dog! So prefelts are a very important part of my work.

When you look at my website, first impressions may give you the idea that prefelts are a large part of what I do. But I put on my site, my newest and most interesting work. Since most of my pieces are one of a kind, it would be impossible to photograph and post everything I do. I only hope that these pieces open minds and eyes to the endless possibilities that combining an ancient craft and a new technology has to grow the future of this wonderful art form.

Another Day at Lyndhurst..

2009-09-14T06:19:00.002-04:00

This is my second day at Lyndhurst. I added a second bar on the back booth when I realized that people were not going to my 'table'. They really prefer touching and trying on the scarves from the wall. I have to think about the smaller figure, though. I need to make a black table cover so it doesn't look all messy (not that it really does, but I prefer a cleaner look). Most of all I have to figure out the 'chair problem'. Right now, my chair is that basket in the corner.....not good.

The show was slooooowwwww. It was a very poor draw and weather was to blame. Pouring rain and wind was not popular. I did ok, though. Hoping for bright sun and more people tomorrow!

Crafts at Lyndhurst!!!

2009-09-11T19:00:00.003-04:00

It was raining like crazy! Attendance was down, but not our spirits! It was my first show with my 'new booth'. I met some of my blog and website stalkers! How much fun is that!

I have so much work to do tonight to get ready for tomorrow. I'm exhausted. It took over 1 1/2 hrs to get home. I'm crossing my fingers for the rain to stop and people to come out.

If you're in the area, stop by and say 'Hi!'

Inventory Photos

2009-09-09T09:21:00.004-04:00

Workin' workin' workin'.

Some of my 'inventory' pictures that I use to catalog and tag my scarves. It's a big job and I hope that I can get through most of my work today!

Gotta go!

Now, I Have To Do WHAAATTT?

2009-09-08T09:32:00.003-04:00

Inspect, press, sort, name, label and price.

Oh, and repack.

I have until Thursday, the good news. The bad is that I'll be setting up for my Lyndhurst Show and it's supposed to POUR!!

Not looking forward to either of these tasks.

To Fringe or Not To Fringe

2009-09-07T14:02:00.003-04:00

I always have this dilemma. I do these wraps and they have all these leaves and vines, and the contrasts are so powerful, that I hesitate to fringe the edges of these wraps with a brown hand spun yarn.

It's funny but it's never an issue on the lighter colors, and after I decide to do it, I'm glad that I chose to, but it's this in between time that always has me flip-flopping.

Stay tuned!

Pick A Color, Any Color!

2009-09-06T08:07:00.005-04:00

Ok, it's not the best photo, I'll try to find the better one, but I had so much fun making these Trellis Scarves! Every color was a present! In every rose the color fell differently! Even the color which I thought wouldn't work out, worked out perfectly!

I'm even making more of these colors and this scarf will be highlighted in my 'Felting Fundraiser' for my daughter's Mission Trip this year. It will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14th and more info will follow.

It's A Wrap!

2009-09-04T12:28:00.003-04:00

Finally I'm getting to some of my bigger pieces!

This wrap is, unfortunately (or fortunately!), headed for one of my galleries. They have requested some bigger pieces and I've just been able to clear my table of all of the other things that I have been doing in order to felt this piece. It's actually related to a blanket that I did a few years ago that sold out very quickly.

I love the colors. The amber background is one of my favorites and there is a hit of a warm brown in the 'berries'.

I have enough fiber to make 2.......maybe I'll cut some more leaves this afternoon......

Nosey-ing Around

2009-09-01T06:14:00.002-04:00

I was looking through my blog list early this morning, partly because I haven't been paying attention with the kids being home, and partly because IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! and I had to get up at 5:30. Anyway, I poked into my friend at MMR, I love her work and she has the most interesting posts, when I poked into her blog list for Absolutely Beautiful Things.

Well, I thought I died and went to heaven. If I had a life, and didn't have to work all the time, that is what my house would look like! I could just stare and stare at each picture.

Oh well, gotta go. I hear kids waking and need to make breakfast.

Season's Almost Here!

2009-08-30T17:25:00.003-04:00

I'm finally loading up my website with some of my new scarves! I'm sooo busy ironing, labeling, photographing all of the work that I've done the past 4 months. Over 150 new scarves! I have a few to finish with 'fill in' colors as this trellis scarf. I have at least 4 other color combinations to make this week and then new scarves! I have soooo many new color combinations and ideas in my head that I am about to explode! Plus, people are asking for my tote bags and wraps! Whew! I'll be felting well into December.

Puttin' more up!

2009-08-27T10:16:00.003-04:00

Well, I got up early enough to take more shots for my website, but alas, I'm getting more duds than dreams. Photographing scarves is one of the most difficult things to do. I'm not a fan of shooting on a dress form, and any "model" that I can get, won't get up and work at 7 in the morning.

My peg shots are pretty good, but it's the single shots that I'm having difficulties with. They look too flat, and I'm afraid that I'll have to get ol'Thema and start shooting on the dress form. I've also discovered that the light in the evening is much better than morning, less reflection of the blue in the sky on the backgrounds.

Oh, well. I can't afford a pro, so I just have to do my best.

Lost the Light.

2009-08-26T10:24:00.003-04:00

After trying very hard to get the 'photo studio' set up this morning, distractions hampered me from starting to shoot until 9:30. Unfortunately I had misjudged the lighting on my patio and the sunlight started to bounce off the house causing a slight shadow and distorting and contrasting the colors. You may or may not see it in the photo above, but I find it annoying. Chances are this photo will not go up on my website, I'm just not good at photoshopping the pictures, and I know that I can and will re-shoot this evening.

Say It Isn't So!!!!

2009-08-24T15:33:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it! There is no picture because 2 of my best scarves have gone missing!!! I was all set to start photographing the scarves this morning and got all of my gear together, but when I went to collect the scarves that I wanted to shoot - they were not there!!!

I tore apart my workroom, took all of my scarves out of their bins, but nothing. One of these scarves was like the 'Sari' scarf only in grey with wonderful accent flowers attached. The other was the same grey, but in the 'Trellis' scarf with a lot less flowers on it.

It's a bummer because I need these for my shows, and the Sari scarf is about 3 to 4 days worth of work from start to finish. I was so looking forward to doing some patterned scarves this week and I had a funky new color combo for the grey fiber (same fiber as the missing scarves). Now, unless I find these by Friday, I'll have to spend next week remaking these two missing ones, using up the balance of my grey fiber.

Finally Started!!

2009-08-23T16:13:00.003-04:00

I finally started putting up my new scarves on my website ! It's taking me a long time to do since it's been raining, too hot or too many kids around. I had a few photos from about 3 weeks ago that I took but I didn't want touse until I had the shots without the dress mannequin. I'm desperate to get the site started, so I had to compromise.

Good news (for me, anyway!) is that next week is supposed to be mild and dry. I still have the kids at home but I can set up my camera outside in the indirect morning light and take pretty good shots that don't need a lot of editing before they get up. Bad news is that at this point I need to take pictures of everything I've done so far! When the shows start so much info can get lost in the cracks that I need the photos for the details that I may have looked over.

I also have to get ready for a really big push to do some bigger pieces when the kids go back to school so I'm doing a lot of cutting and sorting this week too.

Busy, busy, busy!

Goodbye Summer!

2009-08-20T08:49:00.005-04:00

Even though the is still 2 weeks left before school starts, summer's end seems like a roller coaster going downhill fast!

As the kids get older, it seems like I'm spending less and less time with them. They're growing up and finding their own interests and friends. My daughter, who is turning 14 today, is more concerned which friend will come over and hang out than 'hanging out' with family. Boys are slowly moving into the picture, and private moments are slowly being shortened to car rides and shopping trips (I still carrythe credit cards!)

Hopefully, school starting will bring back my early mornings talks and tea with her.

Happy Birthday, I'm to happy you were born!

I Have My Work Cut Out For Me!

2009-08-14T17:47:00.003-04:00

Well, summer camps are over, so my time felting is being cut to the quick. The only chance I'll have to work is in the morning between 6 and 10, and maybe some evenings if I get lucky. So, the plan for this week was to felt as many 'blanks' as I could so I can just work on all of the hand work next week, and maybe carry some pieces with me while I'm driving the kids around.

Guess what? I managed to get out 20 pieces!

I worked like a dog, really pushing myself, too. The real blip was that all of my Galleries are picking the same pieces for their events and I also want those pieces for my shows since they were in some of the photographs that I sent and some are being used in print ads. So, needless to say, I have to make up to 5 copies of some of my pieces! I really don't like doing that, because I get so bored with repetition, but 'ya' just gotta' do what ya' have to do'!

I'm really trying to get my website up with the new line, too. I have some photos taken, probably enough to get some of the categories started, but not all. AND my garden needs some serious weeding!!!

Front Page 2009!

2009-07-25T12:48:00.004-04:00

Here's a preview of my 'front page' on my website! Believe it or not, I still have about 6 more scarves to make in this color combo, but i LOVE the color so much, that I'll have to really curb my enthusiasm in order to get other work done.

This shot will replace the photo that you see when you go on my site, I just have to figure out how to do it! I downloaded the info from my web designer and 'filed' it away, but where exactly is the file, I don't know!

I'll be updating my site in August and taking store orders ASAP, soooo if there are any galleries out there that see something they love, contact me and I'll get you all of the information before it goes on sale to the public.

Just get over it!

2009-07-24T10:58:00.002-04:00

I spend so much time making new scarves that sometimes I just have to get over the fact that some of my 'old' designs are still 'good'. Of the 6 shows I'm doing this year, only ONE, count 'em, ONE is the same as last year, and that means only one thing: Totally New Customers Who Haven't Seen ANY of MY SCARVES!

Granted, I'm still going to 'upgrade' and put new features into my scarves, but it's OK if I reuse a design from last year.

Hello!

2009-07-19T21:45:00.002-04:00

This weekend we had a lovely visit with my in-laws from North Carolina. We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect! So perfect that each morning while we were waiting for my in-laws to arrive, I was able to take advantage of the gorgeous light on my patio and set up my back drop and dress form to take some needed photographs for my website.

Well, needless to say, my father-in-law has a sense of humor. (That's where my husband gets his from.) Anyway, he really felt that my mannequin needed a head. And his head was just a good as anyone else sooooo.......

Needless to say, he's not shy!

We love you!!!

Before and After

2009-07-14T14:26:00.004-04:00

Remember those trellis scarves from my previous post?

I became obsessed with theses scarves the moment I started on them. I always try to take my best scarves from my previous line and 'remake' them. Use the concept, but take it a little further. This year, I'm really working on texture and color. Exploring what felt is capable of as far as it's unique properties.
You already know that I was a fashion designer in a previous life, and I'm finding that the more that I work with felt the easier it is to take all of that knowledge of art, fashion and textiles and create something really unique.

Back to the Grid-stone!

2009-07-07T15:20:00.003-04:00

Well, it may not seem like much, but I have started to felt my 'Trellis' scarves this week! Woopee!
So far, I have 7 bases felted for all kinds of fun flowers and such. It's been slow go because I keep getting side tracked with other pieces that I've been focused on doing. I still have 3 or 4 shows that need new photos in order to submit applications and I've been trying to burn the candle at both ends to fill both needs.

That's part of the reason why my posts are so few and far between, too. (Plus, my computer, again, has been acting up. It's taken me 20 minutes just to get this much posted!)

You poor souls, too! All I've been posting has been partially finished scarves. I know you want to see the finished product, but that will have to wait until later. The good news is that next week I'm setting up to shoot photos so, if you are very nice, I'll post some of my finished work then!

WoW!!

2009-06-29T15:57:00.002-04:00

I even impressed myself!

I started Monday's as I always do, planning my work for the week. Since I had worked sooo hard all last week to get all of my UFO's finished, I thought that I would just treat myself and work on some of my new ideas. I had a few new concepts and a variation on my trellis to work out, plus one idea that I just can't quite get to where I want it.

Getting at least 2 ideas completed before I got frustrated was my goal, but much to my surprise, everything started to work out with easy and with much success!!!

These scarves pictured still have some finishing work on them (so they may look alittle boring), and some aren't quite right. I'll have to adjust them when I start making colors for my line, but out of 5 concepts, 4 are very do-able and will probably start making them for my fall line.

I can't wait until tomorrow!

Almost There!

2009-06-27T07:31:00.004-04:00

It's Saturday morning, 7am. I've been up for about an hour. Gave the dog a good walk in the park. Kids are away. Husband sleeping. What do I do?

Finish felting!!!!

I have just 2 Single Rose Scarves to finish, and while making my 2nd cup of coffee, sat down to finish the lot!

This year I've made 37 to start my season of selling. I still have to make about 4 more winter white ones, but I'll save them for later......I'm too excited to do new designs!

Have a great day!

Sometimes, you need a little help...

2009-06-26T11:58:00.003-04:00

I take my trellis scarves very seriously. They can be difficult to make, very labor intensive, and you have to keep on top of all of the interlocking sections. No matter how exact you are in cutting and how deliberate you are about felting, something always goes wrong.

I'm starting to make some bigger pieces this week, in additon to finishing all of the other things that I've felted, so it became really frustrating when some of the intersections didn't felt when I worked on this wrap.

It was my fault, really, I should have started with a smaller piece. I just had this design in my head and needed to work it out. It was my first trellis design that I laid out on the table this year and I'm alittle out of practice. I make sure that all of the strips were cut in the right width, laid out with just the right care, etc.

Well, it's really funny how things felt. Some pieces finished just as planned, alittle more that 1/2" in width. Others, felted much smaller. That's ok. But when the intersections in spots weren't felting, well, I had to call up the 'big gun' ie, my felting machine. After drying the piece, I went back and needlefelted all of the trouble spots, put the piece back on the table and wet felted it againg to 'finish' off the fused sections.

The result?:

All ready for finishing.

Wishful Thinking

2009-06-14T11:38:00.006-04:00

I started these last 2 week of school with the intention of getting a lot of work done which included starting to work on my 'signature piece'. Well, so much for wishful thinking! I still had a commitment as 'Bulletin Board Coordinator' to finish the final 2 boards for the school year which included one for the schools 'Field Day' which is just a fun day of games and waterslides for the kids on the school grounds. The other was the 'Last Day of School'. I managed to complete both tasks by putting off alot of other work, mainly my 'Signature Piece'.

I still have a 'chicken leg disection' to do with my son's 5th grade class, 2 moving up ceremonies, a dr's appointment and luncheon (which I may bale on). I just can't do it all and I had a major meltdown the other day because I have all of these ideas and no, no, NO time to do anything with them! So, I just add them to my wall, or door, of ideas.

So, sorry guys, if I'm not posting.....but I know you'll understand.

What else???

2009-06-05T13:25:00.002-04:00

I know that this is not what you want to see on a felting blog site, but this is my life. I went to the doctor yesterday because I had what I thought was a reaction to a possible spider bite. My right arm, near my wrist, was/is red, swollen and itchy with a round rash. One look and said those dreaded words - LYME. What a bummer.

The trouble is, I have my doubts. I started the meds that he gave me, but I have symptons that really don't read with Lyme (the itchy rash, for example). I'm giving it the weekend to settle. Doc said that it would get worse for a few days and it did. The funny thing is, he asked if my neck was sore of if I had sore joints! HA! I'm 52 and felt 5 hours a day! I'd be surprised if I didn't have a sore neck or joints!

I really had these next two weeks booked with school events, a lot of work, including photographing new work and long overdue Dr appts that have nothing to do with this ailment.

I have to just take a deep breath and deal with life, one moment at a time.

We're Organized!!

2009-05-31T16:55:00.002-04:00

After getting some acceptance notices to two BIG SHOWS (thank you!), I've spent the entire Saturday cleaning and organizing my 'stash' of fibers and prefelts.

I was really happy with myself because I threw out a lot of scraps and old fibers that I'll never use and organized my prefelt swatches and hand dyed wools. In addition to all of that, I went through my 'bins' and catagorized all of my cut pieces and silks! Wheew!!

I'm sooo excited to start my new projects!

Ok, ok. I have been busy!

2009-05-29T11:52:00.003-04:00

Quite busy in fact! In between taking care of all of the end-of-school year things that pile up. Inbetween concerts, dance showcases and parties, I've been trying to make up some of my "Single Rose Scarfs" that seem to sell very well at my shows and on line. I'll make about 2 to 4 of a color, depending on the color and I'll need about 30 to 40 to start my season. They look very pretty in this basket, almost as pretty as my garden, but I have to bow to nature.

I've decided to spend the next week or so really working on my 'signature' piece. One that really defines my approach to felting. I think it's time. I still have about 4 high end shows to apply to who have submission dates by July 31st and I think this is what I need to make my statement to the felting community.

In the meanwhile, I'll continue to felt for fun and fashion!

Stay tuned!

Sob

2009-05-11T15:34:00.002-04:00

It's been impossible to work on the temporary computer that my husband has installed for me, so with regret, this will be my last post for awhile until he sets up my new temporary computer that will hopefully run properly.

See you soon!!

Liz

Finishing Friday

2009-05-08T12:03:00.003-04:00

Just a few of the scarves that I'm sending out this week to some galleries. This bunch is going to my good friends at Celebration Shoppes.

They are having an anniversary reception on May 15th from 5 to 8. I'll be there with my daughter and a few friends. If you're in the neighborhood, why don't you think about stopping by! The artwork in wonderful and the food is yummy!

Also check out this video about the gallery by artist Robin Maria Pedrero.

See you there!

Finally Sun!

2009-05-07T14:41:00.003-04:00

I have been trying to post all week long. As a matter of fact, I had tried to post almost every day, but for some reason, my computer would shut down, or I'd do something, I don't know what, and loose everything I've written. It was very frustrating. On top of that, anyone who lives on the east coast has not seen the sun in about a week.

So it's been kind of gloomy, but today, the sun peeked out if not only for a hour or so. It inspired me to take Charlie out in the back yard and just get lazy in the sun. We played 'fetch'. Charlie's version, of course. I throw the ball, he runs to it and sits. I fetch the ball and throw it again with the same results. It was just nice to be outiside without a heavy jacket on.

Well, if I have enough energy, I'll try to put up the pictures, at least, of all of the new scarves I have been making this week.

Thinking Book

2009-05-04T17:18:00.002-04:00

I had my son home from school today, and that kind of threw me off a little. I usually have my mental list of how I'm going to work my day, all figured out the night before. Since he gets on the school bus at 8:10 (and my daughter at 7: 20), by time they are gone, I've showered, dressed, made the beds, collected and done a load of wash (maybe dried,too), made their snacks, had my coffee (usually a visit from the beloved 'coffee fairy') made breakfast and took the dog out in the yard for 10 minutes of play.

After they are on the bus, I give Charlie a longer play or walk (usually 30-40 minutes), meet a friend for coffee and must be home by 9:30 to start 'work'. I have about 5 hours to get everything I planned for done. Time is critical.

Today that changed. With my son home the dog was a little more hyper and wouldn't let me work, I kind of lost my mental focus and forgot what exactly I was going to do. I don't, at this time, write out lists, I usually don't keep to them and they sometimes restrict my 'creative jucies'.

Sooooo, I'm stuck. That's when I come out with my 'Thinking Book'. It has pages and pages of inspiration and ideas. I pull out from magazines any thing and everything that catches my eye. You never know when you need a color combo that has a twist to it. Or a leaf idea. This book is great! It's falling apart. It was used as my portfolio once and it's priceless to me. Almost like a family album. I just love to sit and look through it sometime when I watch TV. You never know what's going to catch your eye.

New York Times Loves Felt!!

2009-05-01T08:16:00.005-04:00

This is just the link to the New York Times article today, about the felt exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Fashioning Felt :

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/arts/design/01felt.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

There's a reference to the writer's disappointment in not having more modern, more down to earth pieces that weren't 100 years old displayed. Maybe I should walk around the museum wearing one of my scarves? Do you think that they would mind?

Brighter is Better!

2009-04-30T09:41:00.004-04:00

...for some customers, anyway!

This is a test piece for a series of brighter scarves and wraps that I am doing for some of my Galleries.
This year has been really different from the last few because of the requests for lighter, brighter spring/summer scarves. It's been a challenge, again, to keep up with 'quotas', too. Summer vacation is only 7 weeks away and I'm fighting for every minute of felting time!

Not Bad, Not Bad.

2009-04-25T09:24:00.003-04:00

These are just a few of the 10 scarves that I finished this week. It's important for me to keep to a schedule and keep to a 'quota' for the rest of the year so have enough scarves for all of my shows. It's hard to know how many pieces to make because I really don't know which shows I'll get accepted into.

So far, I've applied to 8 Arts and Crafts Shows (accepted into 2) and most don't send out acceptances until June. I also applied to 2 gift shows. Not my best venue. I was already rejected by one. I think that was a blessing in disguise, but disappointing because last year's chair wanted me in and asked me to apply this year. Go figure.

Anyway, I have a quota of 10 scarves for each week in April, and starting in May, most weeks the quota will be 15. By June, my designs will be all set, and then I'll really get cranking and do between 15 and 20 scarves a week. It's easier if I have an idea of what new style I'm going to do. I just prepare all of the work, and start to felt.

I really get envious of felters like Harlequin Feltworks that have a designated studio and can really spread out. It would be wonderful if I had a space to really lay out my work and possibly invest in a felting machine to help the rolling process along. In the meanwhile, I just make do with my laundry room. Sob.

Sometimes You've Got To Stop and Think!

2009-04-23T09:57:00.006-04:00

Ughh! I've been making these silk scarves for some of my galleries and getting a great reaction, so I'm trying to make extras to put on my website.

What's the problem? Well, I don't think. And when you're trying to run a small business you can loose a lot of money over time if you don't stop and think and instead, act impulsively.

I needed more fiber for the flowers. Specifically the salmon color. Jill from Outback has two lovely shades, which I ordered. (That was 2 days ago.) Well I woke up this morning and thought that I remake a blue and green version of this scarf, too. Of course, I don't have the fiber for 2 of the colors, so now, instead of one big order and only paying for one shipping charge, I have two small orders and pay for double shipping.

Stop.
Check.
Think.
React.

My new mantra for the year.

Live and Learn

2009-04-22T13:06:00.003-04:00

At this point, about 60% of my line is either made with or has some kind of prefelt in the design. Prefelts are great! The things you can create with them are endless!

Now, I had some really great ideas using double sided prefelts, and I thought that I would just make a big blanket and then cut out what I needed from the blanket. Well, I tried it out on some smaller pieces and it worked perfectly, so why not go for the big piece?

Well, thanks to my frugality, I composed myself and just worked with half sheets and proceeded to wet and soap the sheets together, rolled them, tossed them and then threw them in the dryer. (using some encouraging posts by Nicola Brown

Well, they felted beautifully, or so I thought. When I went to cut them into strips, not only were the pieces too heavy, but they didn't felt in some spots in the middle of the piece.

Poo. Oh, well. Looks like another new scarf for me!