SENSORY FELTEDS

CREATIVE URGENCY INFLUENCE #2

2011-06-26T15:41:00.001-04:00

IN THE MIDST OF CREATIVE URGENCY #1, I'VE DECIDED TO HAVE A HUGE SALE AND CLOSING OF SENSORYFELTEDS!

I don't feel like a TADA - because I have invested time and love and so much creativity into my shop on Etsy. It's also not like I really want to give it up, but I NEED to. I NEED to close the door to make room for the new one which is more than cracking open.

So, here comes the SALE - 50% OFF OF EVERYTHING ENDING 7/31/11 AT WHICH TIME I WILL CLOSE THE ETSY SHOP.

I HAVE TO CLEAR EVERYTHING OUT AND AWAY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS NEXT LEAP OF FAITH. Yesterday, with the help of my husband, we tore into my artroom and the closet which is the crawlspace under the stairs. Oh, you know how good that feels! Both of us are feeling the aches and pains today. We were off to Goodwill without so much as a look back, memories of parents now gone, junk not used for years, old pieces of felteds, all the things I kept "just in case", clothes and boots and coats from other closets. When you start, it's hard to stop.

All my felting supplies are away, all my yarn, the shelves cleaned waiting for new things. We hung my favorite painting of a girl coyote which had been hanging in the rec. room. She is a lovely, huge painting I purchased (much to Ken's chagrin) in New Orleans. My room looked too baren and I can't have that..I don't like vast expanses or any expanse of nothing - doesn't feel cozy OR safe to me.

So I am setting the scene to paint -

HERE IS MY MUSE - LOUISE BROOKS - a silent film star of some renown. See the hair? We are alike.

MORE TO COME. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE OF MY FELTEDS, PLEASE GO TO MY ETSY STORE. NOW I'M NOT SAYING YOU WILL NEVER SEE ANYTHING FELTED FROM MY AGAIN - OH NO, I CAN'T CHANGE THAT FAST - YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT AND WHERE WILL APPEAR SOMETHING FUZZY.

MORE TO COME ABOUT ANOTHER INFLUENCE.

PLEASE COME AND JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY........
OK, SO I'M NO LOUISE BROOKS - BUT HERE'S THE OLD COLLEGE TRY! HA HA

Creative Urgency Influences #1

2011-06-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

It's been another long time since I've posted here - this is partially due to the end of teaching, family functions and a wonderful trip to Las Vegas AND the lack of producing any Felteds.

There is a change coming within me and it started with incorporating healing foods into my diet.

Another ia a creativity change. This is a slow process. I feel I have to "clear out" my creative mind of all the myriads of interests: beads, fabric, thread, fiber, wool, sculpey, weaving....it's all to much to hold. I have accepted that I am capable of holding all of these within me AND it's time to go for one..just ONE because I am getting nowhere and the urgency is there and I must speak to it.

While I was in Las Vegas, I found a wonderful artist, ANJA. I saw her work in several galleries in the hotels. Her name is Anja Van Herle..

You have to go to her website to view these images and so many more. The paintings are acrylic and are huge! I saw them as I was walking by and had to go in every time. What draws me is the faces - she
frequently uses my hairstyle - and I love the clean lines and those EYES!
http://anjav.com/

HER PAINTINGS ARE QUITE LARGE, ACRYLIC ON CANVAS MOUNTED ON WOOD.

YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY APPRECIATE HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS IS FROM THIS PHOTO. THE DETAIL IS AMAZING!

I will leave you with her and discuss how she is influencing me next time.

AT THE FAIR

2011-05-09T18:46:00.000-04:00

This weekend was the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Howard County, Md - at the fairgrounds. I go every year and thoroughly enjoy myself.

I went Saturday morning - a whole lot of other people went too - my Gosh!!!!!! The indoor pavillion was chock full of vendors and buyers. It was hard to get a good look at everything being offered. As usual, many women sported things they had made and as usual, many women were walking around knitting - they didn't manage to bump into anyone either!

I haven't felted in awhile, as I have said, and was sad that I wasn't inspired by all the color...the wool, the yarn, etc. I bought some hand dyed wool pieces, though. There was a new vendor and she was selling squares of wool (like fabric) for embellishing. She cut pieces out of the wool and embroidered them on another piece. This was different and totally doable.

As the day wore on and I went home, the magic happened!!! YIPEEEE - I got the bug again. Sooooo, I went back Sunday morning (nice Mother's Day beginning fo rme) and bought a few things. I'll tell you about these in my next post.

BUT I JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU THE PICTURES OF THE SHEEP!!

ISN'T THIS LOVELY? THE MORNING SUN WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE PEN SLATS!

BLUE FACE LEIESTER SHEEP - LOOKS SOMEWHAT LIKE A DEER

THIS WONDERFUL RAM HUMUNGOUS IN SIZE WAS VERY HAPPY TO BE FONDLED. I WAS IN HEAVEN ALSO.

LOOK AT THESE HANDSOME DEVILS

SHORN AND FASHIONABLY ATTIRED

BABIES IN THEIR HOUSE - PYGORA GOATS

FRIENDS

THIS HAS GOT TO BE MY FAVORITE!

THE FAMILY!

THIS GUY HAD HAD IT WITH TWO HOURS OF BEING SHOWN IN THE RING. BEFORE THIS PICTURE HE HAD REARED UP AND TRIED TO JUMP A FENCE. HIS OWNER AND SON WERE DOING THEIR BEST TO DRAG HIM TO HIS PEN AND IN THE PROCESS LET HIM HAVE HIS WAY WITH A CHOMP.

HERE THEY ARE DRAGGING HIM - HIS FEET WERE FIRMLY PLANTED AND HE VOICED HIS DISAGREEMENT.

ALMOST THERE FELLOW.

BACK HOME FOR A REST

Dance With A Skeleton

2011-05-05T13:37:00.000-04:00

Here are a few sharings.

I've almost finished physical therapy after my car accident March 7th - seems so long ago. I've had a wonderful therapist who does a technique called, Counterstrain. I am still in pain - but I always am from chronic pain condition. I feel so much better though and this week I have been fully participating in my Movement Therapy classes with deaf children with disabilities. I've also taken two dance classes - JOY, JOY!

Want a laugh? Here we go.... Entitled: PHYSICAL THERAPY PHOTO SHOOT!

Here's my therapist, Bernie, bringing our friend out into the lights - no makeup for him, though.

I wanted him to put his arms around us. Here she is doing the limbo!

Here's we are with our buddy. Bernie is leaving the practice today - unfortunately. We've had so many laughs. She has taken me through pain and relief.

Since I have pain in my ribcage, I thought it fitting for him to embrace me there - but darn those fingers hurt!

Shall we dance?

As for ART........

Here is a sketch I did maybe for a painting on canvas - yep, no felting involved.

We'll see about this becuase...

THIS WEEKEND IS THE SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL IN HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND. It is time for my annual trip. Since I haven't been felting, I doubt I'll buy any roving. But there is so much more there - buttons, yarn, etc. etc. Of course, there are sheep and of course there are those darn stands selling lamb kabobs....I hate that....just don't see why people don't make the connection between "oh, look how cute" to "give me a big leg and a coke".

So, we'll see if the felting bug gets to me..........in fact, I may just felt something today - oops, see there it is - ahhhhhhhhhhh, wool.

Oh, Sweet Dove

2011-04-26T19:07:00.000-04:00

I've taken a real break from my blog, creating and Etsy. After my car accident, somehow I kept losing my "umph"! Then last week I went to Vermont to visit my daughter, her husband and my two sweet grandsons. I came away without the terrible colds they had and without too many aches. I feel quieter, healthier and certainly loved.

I think I needed a total break - you know those times when you just want to walk away from almost everything. I haven't gone into my artroom for quite some time. Our local sheep and wool festival is coming in two weeks - I always come home with oodles of roving..we'll see this time. I'm also working on changing my eating habits - had a wonderful cooking lesson while in Vermont - I am finally going to take care of myself and feel deserving of it - ahhh, there's the crux.

So, since there is nothing creative from myself to show you....

Yesterday morning I was in the backyard letting Buster the Beagle do his thing. I saw what seemd to be a Mother/Daughter act. One big dove and a smaller one sitting on my fence - they were quiet. Then, I looked down and saw a broken robin's egg - so blue. Then I went to get into the car and saw the same small dove perched ontop of it. I rushed upstairs and got my camera.

I took a picture from the porch stems of my townhouse and then walked closer - he didn't move - I took another picture. Here they are....

What a lovely way to start the day.

I do have some new ideas for my own creativity which are bubbling up inside --- stay tuned, all is not lost!

HAPPY SPRING - hoping it is somewhat warm where you are and that you are safe and sound!

Froggy Would a Wooing Go

2011-04-02T18:11:00.000-04:00

Now I am a TOTAL FROG lover! I got a custom order to needle felt one - well, he/she went through many stages before evolving into a frog. I thought they were supposed to start as tadpoles - mine went through a gorilla stage - something to do with his rear end.

Anyway, after consulting a huge book of frogs I just happen to have, I came up with this guy/gal. The request came from a Mom who had bought a sheep from me at a crafts fair two years ago. Seems their dog got to it and messed up some of the wool. I fixed him and she ordered a frog and a moose.
Holy Smokes, can't wait to see what stages the moose will go through.

Here are some photos I just took - I almost hate to give him up.

"AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE A PIPE OUT MY END!"

"AHHH, SUN BATHING!"

"IN MY NATURAL HABITAT"

"WE HAVE THE SAME SMILE"

NICE NEW LEAVES!

"COOL TOADSTOOL!"

"peekaboo"

HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR SPRINGTIME FROGGY! CROAK

Boldly Go Where I Haven't

2011-03-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

My husband is at the Washington Capitals Hockey game tonight and I'm here with BUSTER the BEAGLE (not surprising).

I finally finished something I never featured on here - meaning - "here is what I'm working on!"

So, here it is when FINISHED: I have had the flower for quite some time - was going to make a pin out of it, I think. I wanted to make something springy and a smaller wall hanging than the previous ones I've made. It took me quite some time to work on this - I would wake up in the middle of those wee hours and get ideas and then during the day, I would work on it some more, then try different things and think some more. Finally, I got it!

The flower is so dimensional and textural and is obviously the focal point - it's wet felted and attached in the center with embroidery thread. The stem and leaves are needlefelted right onto the yarn background. Two tendrils hang down. I wove this on my lap loom .

Here's a close up of the bloom.

Here's the back. Like my bigger hangings, I painted muslin and added the flowers, etc. I then hand stitched the loop on top and attached the back to the front with more embroidery thread.

I love these these photos. I took them in late afternoon. I have this BIG BOOK about rainforests - I'm talking BIGGGGG - I found this flower - same colors! yippeee and placed the wall hanging on it.

There you have it! Of course, it's available on Etsy.

By the way, physical therapy seems to be working and I'm almost out of CAR WRECK mode - back to work next week. Thank heavens for art - makes pain bearable.

BUSTER ON THE BLOG

2011-03-31T18:53:00.000-04:00

Do you LOVE Beagles? We just happen to because we have BUSTER the BEAGLE - he's been introduced before.

I just have to tell you he's at the very TIP TOP of this wonderful Etsy Beagle Team Blog.

http://etsybeagles.blogspot.com/

Now, if I show you what the blog says - you won't go there and I really want you to because the dogs are so cute and it's a great blog.

Here's a few pix of Buster to titalate you:

BUSTER IN THE HOUSE!!!!!

CHANGES TO THE FELTED, BEADED PAINTED ON CANVAS

2011-03-24T13:43:00.000-04:00

SO, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE FELTED, BEADED, PAINTED ON CANVAS WORK? WELL, I DECIDED TO HANG IT VERTICALLY AS ONE OF MY LOVELY FOLLOWERS SUGGESTED.

I ALSO DECIDED TO PAINT THE BACKGROUND IN A LIGHT MUSTARDY YELLOW. THE SIDES ARE PAINTED, ALSO. I FELT THERE WAS TOO MUCH GOING ON THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE. I ALSO ADDED TWO MORE Q TIP FABRIC BEADS BY 'PAINTING THEM ON" WITH MORE CHEESECLOTH.

IN ORDER TO ADHERE THE FELTED TO THE CANVAS, I ACTUALLY STITCHED IT - FIRST TIME FOR ME AND I DID IT WITH A THIN NEEDLE. SO NOW I MUST ADD SOMETHING TO THE BACK OF THE CANVAS TO HIDE THE STITCHES AND TO SIGN IT, ETC. HERE ARE A FEW NEW PICTURES.

*******************OH, AS FOR MY ETSY SHOP, ANOTHER PLUG. PLEASE USE COUPON CODE: sensespring20 FOR 20% OFF EVERYTHING + THERE'S ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING. CHECK IN WITH THE SHOP TO SEE HOW LONG THIS OFFER STANDS. *****THIS PIECE IS NOT POSTED ON ETSY - YET - WE'LL SEE.

COLLABORATION ALMOST FINISHED

2011-03-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

ALMOST FINISHED! I'VE BEEN IN A BIT OF PAIN STILL, SO IT IS TAKING ME AWHILE TO FINISH MY LATEST TWO PIECES. THANK HEAVENS FOR ART - EVEN THOUGH BENDING OVER IS NOT THE BEST POSITION - BUT OH, FOR THE SAKE AND SANITY OF IT.

HERE IS HOW THE "COLLABORATION" PIECE IS COMING ALONG...................

HERE IS A RE-WORKED PIECE OF FELT - STUCK IT IN HOT WATER, SOAPED IT UP, RINSED, DRIED AND STITCHED AND ADD

HERE IS ANOTHER FOUND LONG PIECE WHICH WAS FELTED AROUND A WIRE - SO I WRAPPED HIM/HER IN A COCOON OF ANOTHER FELTED AND ADDED THREAD AND CURLED THE WIRE - CUTE GUY/GAL

HERE'S A CLOSER VIEW

HERE IS A PREVIOUSLY MADE BROOCH/PIN WHICH IS NEEDLE FELTED WITH A BIT OF CROCHET. YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF AND WEAR IT

HERE IT IS SO FAR AND PRETTY MUCH DONE. THE YELLOW FIBER CLUMP WOUND IN BLUE IS NOW TIED UP WITH THE TWO TENDRIL/CORDS IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER. ALL THAT'S LEFT IS TO DO MORE NEEDLE FELTING TO MAKE SURE NEW WOOL IS SECURE AND PUT A BACKING ON AND A ROD POCKET FOR HANGING! AND OF COURSE, BETTER PHOTOS.

Collaboration Between Pieces

2011-03-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

While I've been working on my Felted on the Canvas (which has changed, of course), I picked up two pieces of previously large felted pieces and as I am want to do ------- decided to put them together.

Here is one that was made with orange wool - probably Merino - as the base with Mohair (I believe) wool locks laid ontop. All was wet felted. There are bits of very course fabric like fibers and a strand of art yarn (shiny and ladder like) also thrown in. I attached a large wet felted/needle felted and embellished flower and a needle felted doo dad.

The piece is 19" long and about 9" at it's widest.

The other piece was also wet felted and began as red and light yellow - lovely Merino wool. However, beautiful as it was - it reminded me of a pizza - too mch sauce and mozzarella. So, I sat myself down and began to make it more like the piece above.

I have two other big previously made flowers in just the right colors. I have them pinned on the piece as they may move, of course. This piece has two tendrils hanging from the top - I cut holes in the felt and threaded one cord in from the back. I stuck a fabric bead on there just to see how it looks.

Here's a picture when it was almost all needlefelted yesterday..

You can see the line quite clearly here where I ended the needlefelting

Here is the "a bit more finished" piece now...

Here are two photos - one of a sort of bead made from a clump of the locks and how the locks look - clumpy and curly.

Here is a nice bag filled with fabric fiber and locks

Now, here they are beside eachother - just a start - the end? a wall hanging!

SALE AND NEW POD

2011-03-19T13:42:00.000-04:00

First, a PROMOTION - another TADA

From now until 12M on March 31st, if you use COUPON CODE: sensespring20 when you purchase ANYTHING in my shop, you get 20% OFF and you always get FREE SHPPING! PROMO, PROMO!

While I'm recovering from my recent auto accident, I'll be making new things - gingerly, of course - who? me?

HEAR YE AND HERE YE - A NEW FELTED ENERGETIC POD EMERGES FROM THE DEPTHS OF A MESSY ARTROOM IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hanging around outside on a bittersweet branch.

with another pod friend

fly away with me

Up close and personal

This is one of those original PODS. In my "wild abandon" mood, I added a round Felted to the basic pod shape. I attached a Nuno Felted piece of cheesecloth to it. I'm usually not a bow person, but it's funky enough not to be frilly.

Then I got into my paints again in turquoise, green and yellow and kept working until I "felt" it was just right. See, I hardly ever plan on what I'm going to do next. Sometimes that gets me into trouble - most of the time, not. I'm lucky for sure.

I had this previously felted cord which just happened to be in the right colors so I attached it. Now that took a bit of doing because I did it last - here's where the trouble could have been. So, since that bow ubstructed where I wanted the cord to go, I just got out my turquoise embroidery thread and stitched and knotted it as I went. NO hiding the stitching for me.

I had two fabric beads which just happened to fit over the cord - phew! Oh, I made them.

The bow is so soft - nothing like nuno felting. The back of it is really nice because you see the white cheesecloth with little colored fibers coming through!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70352197/wall-hanging-felted-pod-with-bow

Felt, Paint, Beads and Canvas

2011-03-18T09:37:00.000-04:00

HERE IS THE LATEST IN MY WILD ABANDON! I HAVE COMBINED ALL OF MY FAVORITE MEDIA - PAINT, BEADS, FELT, YARN, CANVAS, CHEESECLOTH, Q TIPS (ha ha), FABRIC AND METAL.

Here is THE previously created Felted:

IT HAS BEEN PAINTED, YARN AROUND THE EDGES ATTACHED AND PAPER BEADS STRUNG ON THE TOP.

NOW

I'VE PAINTED IT WITH ACRYLICS, FABRIC PAINT, METALLICS AND PENS. I ADDED PAPER BEADS (BOUGHT ON ETSY) AT THE TOP, DID SOME BEADING AND ATTACHED TWO FELTED BALLS (SEEN IN PREVIOUS POST). THESE BALLS ARE ALSO PAINTED . I GLUED ON SOME FANCY ART YARN. THEN I HAD THESE SHINY METAL, COLORED JUMP RINGS AND ATTACHED THEM TO THE FELTED AND HUNG THE BEADS SO THAT THEY DANGLE.

IT HAS TAKEN ME DAYS AND DAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT. DID I WANT TO HANG IT AS IS? I REALLY ENJOY PAINTING AND TEXTURE SO I BOUGHT AN 8 X 10' CANVAS. AFTER HOURS OF PAIINTING BACKGROUNDS IN WHITE, YELLOW, ORANGE, MAROON AND SITTING BACK AND NOT THINKING ABOUT IT, I CAME UP WITH THIS. I HAVE FOUND THAT CHEESECLOTH IS A GREAT MEDIUM. I LAID IT OUT ON THE CANVAS AND DECIDED JUST TO START PAINTING ON IT. THE PAINT ADHERES IT TO THE CANVAS AND I ALSO ADDED A BIT OF GLUE HERE AND THERE.

WHAT TO DO? THE COLORS WERE WRONG. I WANTED TO FEATURE THE FELTED BUT IT LOOKED ODD AGAINST A PLAIN BACKGROUND EVEN WITH THE CHEESECLOTH. SO I WENT TO TOWN AND PAINTED WITH THE COLORS IN THE FELTED AND ALSO CONTINUED TO PAINT ON THE FELTED ITSELF.

NOTICE, I ADDED TWO FABRIC BEADS WHICH ARE WOUND AROUND Q TIPS. I STUCK THEM IN AMONGST THE CHEESECLOTH. THEY TWO HAVE BEEN WORKED ON. THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM HAS THREE OF THOSE JUMP RINGS. THE ONE ON TOP HAS PRINTED FABRIC, RED ORGANZA, ART YARN AND GOLD THREADS.

THE FELTED IS PLACED ON THE CANVAS - NOT ATTACHED YET. THE CANVAS IS LAID VERTICALLY.

HERE THE CANVAS IS HORIZONTAL. I HAVEN'T MADE UP MY MIND WHICH WAY I WILL ATTACH THE FELTED OR HOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT. I WILL MOST PROBABLY USE A COMBINATION OF STITCHING AND GLUEING.

I MUST ALSO MENTION THAT THERE ARE TWO LAYERS OF CHEESECLOTH. THE ONE UNDERNEATH IS A MAROON, (AS SEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE). THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CANVAS IS A DOUBLE LAYER OF RED WITH YELLOW ONTOP.

HERE IS A CLOSEUP OF THE TWO FABRIC BEADS AND THE CHEESECLOTH. I PAINTED UNDER THE YELLOW CHEESECLOTH. ONTOP OF IT AND TRIED TO MAKE IT VERY MULTI-DIMENSIONAL.

THIS SHOWS MORE DETAILS OF THE CHEESECLOTH.

SO THERE IT IS......I'M PLEASED AND WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT FINISHES ITSELF!

Experiments in Clay/Fabric Beads

2011-03-13T17:31:00.000-04:00

Here are a few new explorations in Sculpey and fabric beads AND...................

HERE ARE TWO FABRIC BEADS I MADE. THEY ARE BOTH FROM THE SAME FABRIC - WHICH HAS SOME PATTERN TO IT. THE ONE ON LEFT I PAINTED WITH YELLOW AND GREEN PAINT. THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS QUILTED WITH A PIECE OF BATTING BETWEEN TWO FABRIC PIECES, MACHINE STITCHED TOGETHER AND THEN NEEDLEFELTED WITH YELLOW WOOL. IT TOO IS ALSO PAINTED AS IS THE FELTED PORTION.

HERE ARE THREE FABRIC BEADS DRYING ON A STRAW. THE THREE BELOW JUST CAME OFF. THESE ARE YET TO BE EMBELLISHED! NOT TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY BUSY.

HERE'S MY Q TIP WITH TWO FABRIC BEADS. THE PURPLE WAS ACTUALLY GLUED ONTO THE Q TIP AND THEN I TOOK A BEAD WITH A BIGGER HOLE AND SLIPPED IT ON. THAT BEAD HAS ALSO BEEN PAINTED AND I PUT A LIGHT WASH OF GREEN METALLIC ACRYLIC PAINT ON IT AND RUBBED SOME OFF.

HERE ARE FOUR PREVIOUSLY FELTED BALLS. THEY ARE EMBELLISHED WITH FABRIC, ART YARN, PAINT AND EMBROIDERY

HERE ARE THREE OF MY SCULPEY TRIALS. THE TOP LEFT BEAD IS SANDED AND HAS A CLEAR GLAZE ON IT USED FOR SCULPEY - SHINY. THE ONE ON THE RIGHT HAS HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT, EXCEPT BAKING. THE BOTTOM ONE IS A COMBINATION OF PINK AND GREEN CLAY. I STAMPED IT A BIT WITH THE END OF AN OLD SPOON, PUT THE CLEAR GLAZE ON AND THEN USED THAT SAME METALLIC GREEN PAINT ON THE LOWER PORTION. THE PINK LOOKS ORANGE HERE AND THE ORANGE ON THE TOP TWO BEADS IS REALLY RED.

THEY WILL BE DEBUTING SOON IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!

Mimu Rubin-MixedMedia FiberArtist

2011-03-10T18:32:00.000-05:00

There are several artists that I instantly have a kinship with, one is Mimu Rubin. I found Mimu when I joined Fiber Arts/Mixed Media. It's a wonderful site filled with artists, my own page, online classes, challeneges (I even won once) their own radio broadcast and much more. It's such an inspiration as is this lovely lady.alwa Mimu is always generous with her praise for other artists.

I contacted Mimu to ask if I could do a blogpost on her and she graciously said to go ahead. She lives in Nartick, Ma and has a variety of talents.

Let me jump in with just SOME of the creations I most love.

The COLOR, the workmanship! I know Mimu works with an embellisher (machine) and by hand to add all these different pieces to her creations.

Magic Carpet Ride Necklace

Kalaideoscopic

Amulet Necklace

Art is My..AnotherView

Butterfly Blossom Pendant

Here is the link to her page on the website. There you can view all of the photos she has taken of her creations - they will make you feel instantly happy.

http://www.fibermixedmedia.com/profile/MimuRubin
She also works with digitalartportraits
http://www.digitalartportraits.com

Thanks Mimu, for bringing so much joy to our senses!

Those Creative Times

2011-03-09T16:45:00.000-05:00

Did you ever have so many wonderful, artistic things on your mind that you end up standing in the middle of your artroom and just staring?

Yep, it's happening to me. I like to do too many things - it's great - don't get me wrong - but it's terrible - don't get me wrong. Being creative is not easy. Just before I fully wake up in the morning, ideas come marching in....Are they always about felting? No and that could be the problem.

I love to felt - but I also love to do so many other things - use other things....like those QTips I used in my wallhanging...

Or, how about the fabric beads?

How about the Yucca plant stalk and frond and sticks?

Then there was that other time when I just couldn't stop embroidering, embellishing.

Discovery in wonderful - imagination is wonderful - curiosity is a must have and a belief that whatever you create is worthwhile.

I FEEL BETTER NOW - Thanks!

Engergetic Pod Felted with Beads

2011-03-08T15:53:00.000-05:00

Was in a car accident yesterday so today not doing too well - more emotionally than physically. Enuf to say, the guy hit me, he accepts liability, I was 5 minutes from school where I work, I will be able to drive me car, I'm driving a cool rental one.

AND

Here's the latest post FEATURING a Sculpey bead and two fabric beads - I made them.

There's my clay bead uptop, and the two fabric beads nestled in.

I added a round piece of Felted and beaded it. I attached a piece of wool yarn for the hanger, I twisted purple and green embroidery thread around it and slipped the bead on. To attached the yarn, I put holes in the Pod and brought the ends through and tied them. See those nice fiber beads? I had fun with these. The top on I painted little flowers on and the ends. The one on the bottom is a previous piece I had quiltied and done some needle felting on. I painted on that , also. There are the two hanging beads. I took head pins and strung the seed beads on and put a big one on the bottom, did a bit of glueing and bending of the bottom of the wire.

Can't say two peas in a pod - but there are two pods, anyway!

A Real "Green" Pod

2011-03-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

I needed a piece for the bottom front of the piece - something to compliment the

top piece of nuno felt. So, I added another one formed in a U shape, folded it over, sewed it onto the POD and added a beautiful handmade glass bead from a great Etsy shop, Canyon Echoes. You'll be seeing some of her other beauties soon. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CanyonEchoes

Here you can see the piece on the front portion. I also added a previously wet felted cord which just happened to be in the right colors - teal blue, lime green with white silk fibers. Then, how to attach it and how to make it look a bit fancier. I had two beads from the ReStore in Barre, VT (these beads came from a factory which I assume thought they weren't good enough to sell) so I strung them on. They are moveable. I decided to attach them with the same yellow embroidery thread I used to attached the front nuno piece. I knotted as I stitched and I like the effect.

This POD is now available at my Etsy Shop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69340008/wall-hanging-felted-pod

"Energetic Pod" finished

2011-03-01T17:20:00.000-05:00

Happy March 1st again! Today has been productive! A healthy dose of a dance class, two rugs bought for my artroom and an "Engergetic Pod" finished!

I took a purple sari ribbon and wound beads and green embroidery thread around it. I threaded it through the fold, tied it at the top and then at the very top is a loop and ball closure. I added a focal bead from a local beader, a felted piece for the center with more of the green beads attached with purple french knots.

Here's a closer picture.

From top to toe.

Hanging from the top of my livingroom lamp

Of course, there's a bird feather from a collection I have - any idea who it's from? I don't.

Energetic Organic Pods

2011-03-01T06:27:00.000-05:00

Last week I was in a felting frenzy. I just had to get my hands in fiber, soap and hot water. I call myself a "felter" so you think I would be doing it every day. This is not the case as there are other things in my life such as working two days a week, working out and feeling too pooped to pop, as they say. I also have a few projects that have nothing to do with felting such as the "pods" you see below.

For me, felting takes a certain mindset and amount of energy. I have Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. It is under control for sure and I'm used to pain. However, there are those times when putting the physical energy forth is a bit much - it is those moments that I turn to embellishing or thinking of new projects.

These "organic pods" came from a burst of energy and the itching to be close to wool. Even though the wool roving is dyed, it still can smell like wool - you know, sheepy. I love it. I wanted to use some new roving from LivingFelt. I got a nice package which included green and sort of a teal blue.

Now, for the "pods"

These two are fairly small - about 7". The one on the left has purple and yellow Tussah Silk fibers . They give a nice marbled and shiny effect.

This little "pod" almost looks like a fish. I did not cut the opening wide enough, hence the mouthlike lips. Notice the purple silk.

Ahh, I love this one. The little blop in the middle is a piece of cheesecloth felted with green roving. I tried an experiment to see if I could Nuno felt with cheeseloth. I love how it came out. Then I wanted to see what would happen if I added it into the felting of the "pod". The fibers attached themselves and it is now all one.

Here is the "pod" looking down into the openng. I also like the shelf under the cheesecloth - this just happened - another not planned surprise. See how the colors blend? Oh, I did add some white roving, also.

This is a little vase, again, looking down. Look closely at the white and you can see how I stretched it upwards - all those little veins.

Now, what to do with these. The "pod" on the left in the first picture.....the top has been folded over on itself just a bit and I added a bead. The idea for today is to attach some sort of cord so it can be hung.

To be continued!

Kiss Me I'm Beaglish Challenge Giveaway

2011-02-28T17:25:00.000-05:00

Would you look at this! It's the KISS ME I'M BEAGLISH TEAM CHALLENGE GIVEAWAY from the Etsy Beagles Team. Just click on the Challenge below and you'll be taken to the blog for details on how you can enter and win a cool prize.

Etsy Beagles Kiss-Me I'm-Beaglish-team-Challenge

DeannePace: Hammered Sterling Diamonds with Irish Green Peridot Rondelles
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68937131/hammered-sterling-diamonds-with-irish

2RavenChicks: Luck 'O the Irish Charm Bracelet
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68509443/luck-o-the-irish-charm-bracelet

FrumsGlassMenagerie: St. Patrick's Great Dane
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68984585/great-dane-dog-beaded-necklace-green

MsAnomaly: Shamrock and Wishbone Beaded Pendant Necklacehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/68495991/shamrock-and-wishbone-beaded-pendant

CodysCreations: Shamrock Stripe Collar
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66453333/1-inch-wide-dog-collar-adjustable-with

ourfrontyard: St. Patrick's Day Green Tree of Life Earrings
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68872386/st-patricks-day-green-tree-of-life

SensoryFelteds: Wearin 'O the Green Dimensional Brooch

www.etsy.com/listing/63248348/the-wearin-o-the-green

GOOD LUCK!

Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 3-Pottery

2011-02-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

As promised, I wanted to show you a few more "thrown" pieces of pottery. Not "thrown" away but proudly displayed. What I particularly love about them is the glaze. Glazes make all the difference in/on your piece. I also enjoyed photographing them just for you.

This piece is about 4" high. Notice how the glaze drips down.

The bottom is more matte and the second glaze has a nice shine.

Very small and sweet. The lines on the left are from my window as I photographed there in the sun. Again, notice the drip in this photo and the one below.

A particular favorite of mine. Nice and gloppy, dimensional and organic! There is no glossy glaze put on in the final phase - reminds me of pottery from the 1900's.

The grouping!

Hope you enjoyed this. More to come.

Our Best Wishes Bowl

2011-02-26T10:43:00.000-05:00

March is upon us and I thought I would make a WISHING Keepsake Bowl. The wool I used, Merino, is wonderfully colored. The greens when mixed with the blue is gorgeous - the blue, as you can see, is turquoise. I did use two different colors of green - the lighter one gives off a bit of yellow.

One of my favorite materials to work with is Tussah Silk - I took slivers and placed them among the wool when wet felting. The silk won't felt, but the wool fibers grab it. Sometimes I just throw the fibers in the mix, so to speak, not thinking where they will show and this is what happened here.
When you peak inside to make your wish you see what looks like strains of real gold. This is how it looks on the outside, too. But it's fun to look for treasure in the bottom. You just never know.

Wet felting is so amazing because I never know exactly how something is going to turn out.
This bowl lended beautiful ridges which I further defined with my needle felting needle. I also added swirls of green, blue, yellow and light green Tussah silk needle felting them onto the piece.

I have mentioned before that I am not a fan of beading but I love how it looks - the sparkle of the beads against the dullness of the wool. So on one side I put three clusters of seed beads - for THREE WISHES!

This Pot O Gold is 4 1/2" in diameter and a little over 2" high. The opening is a little over 2" also.

No, I did not find a new way to needlefelt glossy beads - I couldn't find any yellow gold pieces here at home - so I grabbed this glass beads.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/68903033/green-felted-march-wishing-bowl

XOXOXOXO As always, my best wishes for you. I do think this would make a thoughtful gift for someone who is experiences difficulties right now. I know that can apply to almost all of us but so many people are facing such hardships and this would be a lovely gift to wish them well - a note inside or whatever would be appropriate.

Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 3-Pottery

2011-02-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

Here's a very brief post about my pottery experince - or puttering about at the wheel - should I say.
About 6 years ago, I took 2 years of pottery at a school ot far from my home. Every Wednesday morning, I would don my worse clothes and head up the hill to the Frederick Pottery School. We started with the usual centering a glob of big round "mud" on the wheel.

Having Fibromyalgia did not help me - bending over grabbing this huge hunk of clay which already had taken me too much time to soften and punch the holes out and trying to center it - faster, go faster - and there it goes...onto the floor! A baker, I am not (an eater of baked goods, I am). I met some wonderful men and women and we all had our various successes.

I did make a set of plates and bowls. There were more accidents than you can imagine and lots of laughs. I soon found that out of accidents, come the most interesting objects. A vase gone wrong (and there were plenty of them turned into something lovingly weird) A bowl gone wrong was even better.

Throwing a plate or platter was easy for me, I just threw it away.

Then there was slab work - rolling out clay into any type of shape you wanted - pizza anyone? This was it for me - here I found what I was good at. I love vines and tendrils and odd shapes and something no one else has done.

My love of animals took me to make what I think are the most incredible other wordly and sweet creatures.

I am going to show you two pictures - quicky taken - the animals will come later.

Here in my front Hallway is my moose. Most of our home is filled with American Indian paintings, spears, etc. This little fellow is in keeping. I believe I made a round slab and attached the moose head. I painted and glazed the slab and glued beads on. I left the moose unglazed. He's rather primitive as I look at him now. Oh, his head sticks out.

This one is fairly large - hanging on a side wall in the kitchen - which is really painted red - lookes orange here. I thought I'd try a landscape - primative with the usual sun, mountains, trees, turtle and bird. I made the beads and top. The hanger looks like a log. Above the log is red thread which goes through the top of the log, through the beads and into a hole on each side of the slab where I tied it.

More SLAB ANIMALS COMING SOON.

Hand Felted Exotic Bowl

2011-02-22T18:14:00.001-05:00

Newest bowl made from beautiful rainbow colored merino wool from Living Felt. I incorporated, fair trade yarn, focal beads from my local bead store, used purple thread I bought at the ReStore in Barre Vermont, and small paper beads made by a former Etsy Seller.

We just got back from another trip to Vermont on Sunday and I promptly got an intestinal upset. So, I've been laying low but felt like finishing this bowl since when I arrived home, I found the beads awaiting. I also wanted to use the pretty purple thread from the ReStore.

The ReStore is one of those places that has everything from appliances to dental supplies that some company had no use for - you know, I tried to think what to do with them. I did buy some uphostery fabric swatches and some beads and of course, bubble wrap. Every time I go there, I see more "stuff" for art projects. But since we go to see my daughter so often, I don't feel the "better grab it" syndrome.

Here is the bowl just listed on Etsy.

This is another 4 inch bowl. You can see that I felted some of the fair trade yarn in it so it sticks out. I also shaved the bowl to get off the excess fuzzies. The inside has some white which may have added to that.

Today I ran a length of the yarn with the paper beads (beautifully done) and affixed it to the front with the purple yarn. Then I added the focal bead - which moves. I photographed on my Great Grandmother's needlepointed thingamagig - it's not a piellowand has some little pellets inside (which, of course, are coming out now). But doesn't it go well with the bowl?

Click below to go to DarnGoodYarn and Fused Glass

Darn Good Yarn
The paper beads are made by YanniCreations
FusedGlassbyGinger
Merino wool
LivingFelt

A Woven Wall Hanging W/O A NAME!

2011-02-12T19:32:00.000-05:00

Dowel is painted green, needlefelted beads in purple and two shades of green are on, green and white beads hang on the bottom. The back is sewn on. Only thing left is the name.

Gorgeous light green with white dots and dark green with white dots glass beads are tied onto the bottom.

Closeup of the top to middle right.

All in a row

From the back

I have decided that whomever purchases this piece will be able to give it a name. At that time I will write the title, my name and the date!

Progress on Purple/Green Woven Wall Hanging!

2011-02-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Progress in being made on Purple/Green Woven Wall Hanging!

Here is the muslin backing. I painted it with acrylic green and neon green fabric paint. The neon is sparkly!

I used this Curly Q rubber stamp to reflect the circles on the front of the weaving. I painted it with purple fabric paint and also added a little bit of the neon green and stamped away. Gosh that's fun! So, I thought why not see if I can put it on the weaving itself!! Ah ha, those fabric strips - by jove - it worked!

See! Here's the top of the hanging.

See, here's a little closer.

See, here's the bottom - colors are not good in this picture - looks like a candy Easter Basket - sorry. I took this and the pictures above in my artroom with the lights on.

SEEEEEEEE, better light here AND this is it FINISHED (almost) - notice that the cords top left are captured in a loop of the fabric strip, I moved the heart to the right, cords that were dangling from the top two circles are now caught and looped to look like stems, the cord on the bottom left is would around captured with french knot embroidery stitches and a light green wool yarn which previously hung out, is needlefelted into the middle of the left swirll!

Now all that's left is to machine stitch the backing, hand stitch it to the weaving, figure out what to do with the loops, dye a dowel (sounds funny) and make end felted beads!

Purple/Green Wall Hanging Update!

2011-02-06T17:41:00.004-05:00

As promised, here is the second posting regarding a certain purple/green woven wall hanging that's in the works.

I cut the painted fabric into strips. I didn't pay much attention as to how straight I cut. I did turn the muslin so I could get a pretty long strip with both green and purple.

Out of my previously bought Michaels stash of yarn, I selected an acrylic in the perfect shades of green and purple - all I had to do was keep looping away and the colors magically changed (I like that).

I took various shades of purple and green wool roving and light green tussah silk fibers and gave them a good wet felting. This piece is about 4" x 4" and nice and thin.

Here are some wet felted cords to add to the weaving. The ones on the right side are from the lovely purple and green roving I bought. The others are green and purple with more tussah silk added. Making these cords is easy and fun. You can use them in a variety of ways.

Results:

The lovely little felted above turned out too big for the lap frame. In my mind, I thought of a little piece of felt surrounded by the weaving. Of course, I made a big piece. Well, if I DID use it, how was I going to incorporate it. Was I going to just weave the whole thing and add the felted later and stitch it over the weaving? Was I going to weave and stop when it came to the felted and then go back again leaving a hole for it to be inserted into?

I decided just to weave and figure it out later.

Ah, the painted muslin strips. If you look carefully, the purple is more towards pink and the Felted is a lush purple. Another dilemna! I started anyway because I was impatient (not a good way to be). I figured I could paint over the pink even when it was on the loom or discard the felted all together.

Ah, the cords. The ones on the right did not fit with the Felted - the colors didn't make it - not sure if I like them at all anyway. But the dark ones are wonderful!

READYYYYY?

Wow, what happened?

The Felted got cut into three circles and re-felted. Some additional needle felting was done when they were dry. Two of them now have a green, purple and gold bead in their middles which are attached with purple and green embroidery thread. They're french knotted. The middle one has more french knots in two shades of green and one purple.

I took out the first group of painted muslin strips (yuck with the pink) and replaced it with others which are primarily green. Then up we go with all those different yarns I selected. The top worked out just fine in darker colored strips and more cords. I love cord "tails" and some of them are caught itthe circles (middle and bottom right). Others dangle.

Back tails are tucked in and will be covered in a painted muslin backing.

At this point the bottom has also been stitched with purple thread to keep it from moving down the hanging. The top two photos show a little purple/green felted heart with beads and wire. I made this last year and thought it perfect for hanging onto a cord.

That's all folks - closer pictures and an update later!
AND
WHAT SHALL I NAME IT?

To see my previous post go to........
http://sensoryfelteds.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-palette-for-hanging.html

Woven Wall Hanging, "Summer Siesta"

2011-02-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

I just listed my third woven, "Summer Siesta"on Etsy. The name comes a friend, Janet Kirkham, who is on the FiberArts/Mixed Media website with me and tons of other very talented artists! Here's my page: http://www.fibermixedmedia.com/profile/ConnieBerlin. Shameful promoting and why not?

All I've really done to it is paint a wooden dowel orange and add two needlefelted beads in orange and aqua to the ends. Like the other two hangings, the beads are moveable. Almost forgot, I also painted a piece of muslin for the back in orange acrylic paint. As you can see, it is signed, named and dated.

I have to say, I really like this one because I put so much into it. No, not the time, well, yes....but I mean I added so many textural elements. I will stop here as I have the purple/green one I'm working on.

Let's just say for Ms. Purple/Green - she's turning out WAYYY different from wence she started......

curious? maybe tomorrow.

I also need to do another "Getting to Know my Felter". Would you like to see some of the pottery I did a ways back?

Woven Wall Hanging, "Under the Pond"

2011-02-01T13:12:00.002-05:00

I've been working on getting my Woven Wall Hangings ready to list on Etsy. This morning I cut the painted muslin strips I made as seen in my previous post (back to that later).

Here is the second of two on Etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67190054/woven-wall-hanging-under-the-pond

When I began this weaving (my first), I start with a yarn - - none in particular. I know it's the wild abandon of just picking and choosing I like. I rely on my eye to make the selection. I do look for some balance of color and texture as I go along, but I don't agonize over it (thank heavens for that). If I did, where would be the fun? The yarn which is what I call, the "setup", is cotton - straight from JoAnne's Fabrics. The light green I bought at a Sheep and Wool Festival years ago. I did make a sweater out of it - wow, chunky is not the word! Some of the other is artist yarn - you know, fancies. Of course, there has to be a "Felted" somewhere. You can see it in the third picture on the right side.

I love this one because there are so many different yarns, one felted cord and that gorgeous focal bead! Of course, the colors are great from pale to dark. I painted the dowel green.

Here's the back, painted muslin, signed, dated and named. I moved the two needle felted beads more towards the center of the dowel - they are moveable and I'm giving the option of having them glued by none other than me.

Here's a closer look

The focal bead is from this great Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/macarroll. I bought the bead first (and some smaller ones) and then chose the yarn.

My Palette for a Hanging

2011-01-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

THE VERY BEGINNINGS FOR A SENSORYFELTEDS' WOVEN HANGING

Today I went to Michaels and spent $40.00 of a $50.00 Christmas gift card from my Kentucky daughter. Took me awhile to get around to spending it - you know, it's too good to just go out and blow... too much darn good stuff in that store. So, after meandering, I went to the yarn section and bought some in purples and greens, some paint, and embroidery thread all to use in the next two hangings.

The first is in purples and greens. I want to add another dimension to these hangings. Soooooooooooooooo

Last night, I decided to paint some muslin in just those colors. The plan is to make my own fabric strips or cords - not sure how it's going to play out. So, I got out the paints, went to the rec. room, put the muslin on the coffee table (with paper underneath) and went to work. My husband and I were watching hockey.
Of course, I forgot to take the muslin off the paper and an hour later finally got smart and went to take it off - let's just say, there are some words on the back. So, "a peelin'" I did. It's not all off yet.

Here's the muslin and I still have more to paint.

I may need to make it more interesting 'cause when they're cut I don't want it to be just one color. I might give it more texture.

Here is my selection of what else I "might" use ...

New and old yarn - some bought today. The one with the poms looks interesting, The purple on the right is glitzy. The yarn on the far left is really more of a green. There are some embroidery threads also and lovely shiny rayon threads by Sassalynne from England in the center. http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassalynne. Please stop by her shop if you long for threads.

Here we have some buttons. The ones that are loose are farm fresh buttons from OhForCute on Etsy. Her packaging is so clever. She has many items in her adorable shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/OhForCute
The top left is a light greenish yellow felted cord I made with wire inside, below that is what was going to be a felted cord swirl brooch (it's painted and stitched), the front left is a felted pansy pin. In the middle is a piece I cut up from a bowl that didn't make it. I fooled around with beading, etc. but it does have some pink on it. hmmmm.

Here is some wonderful wool roving I bought from WC Mercantile on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/WCMercantile. It is hand-painted in lovely shades of purple and green. If you're into fiber, give her shop a look! What looks grey here really is the part that goes between the purple and green - I'm going to make felted cords out of it and hopefully it will work with the cut fabric. I also bought some green that I'll probably use.

SO HERE ARE THE BEGINNINGS
STAY TUNED

STEPS TO A WALLHANGING!

2011-01-23T15:10:00.003-05:00

When I'm not making Felted Mini Art Quilts, Vessel and Brooches for my Etsy Shop, I like to go Bigger, Different, Artsy and "Let it Rip"!!!!!!!

This is the third wallhanging I've made. I'm finding I enjoy using fibers, yarn, threads and my own felted cords to make something what I consider, very unique! Here I have used wool and acrylic yarn, sari ribbon, ribbon yarn, baby camel yarn, my Merino wool felted cords, rayon thread from a fellow Etsyian and Yes, a Q TIP!

I will keep working on it, give it a name and perhaps sell it. I would like to have a new section for SensoryFelteds which would include these hangings. We'll seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

Here's a shot of it still on the loom - haven't finished it quite yet. I've left several felted cords hanging.

Painted and NOT re-cycled Q TIPS in Metallic copper and gold

A side view. You can see a nice little bead hanging onto a cord.

A ribbon yarn in rust shades is used for the set up. Notice how this peachy sari ribbon looks like little pods when woven. It folds over itself and gives a great dimensional look. You can also see on the white acrylic yarn, I have added little stitches done with shiny rayon thread.

Here's is a closeup of the Q tip which is caught in a felted cord. The cord has three colors and the shiny gold is reflected in the gold Q tip. I also used the same ribbon yarn (set up) for weaving. It too folds on itself.

Buster in the afternoon sun - "Hey, I want my picture taken. After all, I DO match that thingy you're making!"

Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 2

2011-01-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

"Getting to Know Your FELTER/Episode 2"

Here are some behind the scenes:

Here is where I keep some of my wool. That little pink drawer thingy has my embroidery thread. Top right shelf is some of the pottery I made. This is also where I keep some of the flat pieces of felt I've made. The drawers underneath harbor scrapbooking materials (two grandsons, what am I to do!), knitting needles, rulers, drawing pens, fabric, stencils and inks. Oh, there are side closets....more pottery (+ tools), yarn, paint, threads.

This is my cork board with inspirational cards. I love that luna moth on the right and I made one on top of it in felt. The card with two tulips inspired me to make one of my Felted Mini Art Quilts. I'm an animals lover - goats and sheep and there are a few photos.

On the top is some felted trees that didn't sell this past Christmas. The black bag holds felted cords. Next shelf is my felting, embroidery, etc. books and a holder for artist yarn. Then the three below are for commercial felt that I use to back my brooches and art quilts - can't believe they're so organized. I do try.

My Artroom - freezing in the winter and freezing in the summer. It's downstairs in our townhouse. When we bought our house, this was an unfinished room. We had it made into an artroom several years ago. Being ALL the way downstairs and having only one vent (why are vents always near the window?), it's darn cold no matter what time of year. Fortunately, I have a heater I drag in there and lots of sweaters which I drag on me.

I also have two tables. One holds my sewing machine (alas, not used very much) and lots of felting projects yet to be finished. The other has my lightbox (alas, broke the bulbs in several of the lights so haven't used that much lately) and has beads. Oh, I have holders full of beads, too.

Hope you enjoyed taking a peak into my art den -

Artists Promoting Artists

2011-01-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

As a member of the Etsy Promotional Frenzy group, we were asked to write a blog post about one of our members. This is the wonderful post that Chrissy of lithuanianeggart wrote about me. Here is the link to the post, although I've copied it in it's entirity here.
http://lithuanianeggart.blogspot.com/2011/01/shop-of-week-sensoryfelteds.html

Here is her Etsy Shop.
http://www.etsy.com/people/teener1416
She makes the most gorgeous Lithuanian painted (yes, real) eggs.. What a wonderful Valentine'sDay present and surely a unique gift for Easter..think ahead..if you see one you like - go ahead and buy it - it won't spoil though - ha ha.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011

The Shop of the Week - SENSORYFELTEDS!

Presenting a Felter I find to be superb in all aspects of life....

SensoryFelteds!!!!

** Check out her etsy shop and read on for a wonderful insight into her world!!!

Here is a fantastic shop I think everyone should check out and get to know! Connie (shop name SensoryFelteds) She creates lovely unique felted bowls, brooches, and more!

Not only does she felt, but all the items have the additional sparkle of beads and bling!

(to the right is Connie's felting area... even the stoarge area looks crisp and bright! There is no way to create the items she does without a smile on her face I am certain of it!

Here's a little bit about Connie:

She began as a dancer, teacher, performer and choreographer. She has been involved in all sorts of crafts like knitting and pottery

Now she wet and needle felts. She has won awards for this wonderful craft!

Connie is a Movement Therapist and works at a school for the deaf here in Maryland. She works with children with disabilities doing yoga and movement activities.

She is a happy grandparent and a beagle!!!

I spent some time in her shop and fell in love with her items and the fact that she has such an interesting life that flows into her crafting... Did you know an item of hers made it into Peacefelt2010? She worked on and "mailed to another felter in New Zealand. This piece was photographed and mentioned in an international felt magazine

Look at how adorable Connie's youngest grandson is! What bright faces the two of them have.

Also check out this cool wall hanging that incorporates her felting... she sent it to me and a seriously considered using the picture as my laptop background.... so beautiful!

Check out some more items in Connie's etsy shop!

9 comments:

Charlene said...: What a wonderful article. Thanks for sharing sensoryfelts with us.; January 19, 2011 7:21 PM
asdesigns said...: Great feature. She has amazing items; January 19, 2011 7:22 PM
petite hermine said...: Such a great feature! Good job! :D Sensoryfelts is certainly talented.; January 19, 2011 7:32 PM
Angels and Everlastings said...: I love that red felted heart.; January 19, 2011 7:42 PM
bountyofbeads said...: This is a fantastic blog feature. Personal and oh so enlightening!!!; January 19, 2011 8:04 PM
new creationz said...: Great feature!; January 19, 2011 8:19 PM
galla15 said...: So jealous of your workspace all nice and organized! Great feature :); January 19, 2011 8:32 PM
Enid said...: Gorgeous shop!!! This is the first time I see it!!! Love it!!!; January 21, 2011 5:31 AM

NewCreatioNZ - a Great Etsy Shop

2011-01-19T20:21:00.001-05:00

NewCreatioNZ is a wonderful Etsy Shop that I'd like for you to get to know.

The creator is Jocelyn Friis and she hales from Auckland, New Zealand...so far away but close to us via the wonderful computer waves and ETSY.

New Creationz
Her shop has been open since 2009 and she creates a wide variety of art from paintings, fabric art, cards, bookmarks, photography, family trees, ACEO's, Digital Stationery, manets, photo jewelry, Christmas and Valentines, stationery, tags, banners and boxes. Phew, now that's some talent.

"Sea shore acrylic mixed media paintings with real New Zealand Paua shell

Texture and sea shore colours abound in this set of three acrylic paintings on canvas board. Real New Zealand Paua shell gives the finishing touch to these beachy abstracts. Inspired by photos I took on my local beach early one morning. (You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/jocelynfriisart ) Made with artist quality acrylic paints, paste, glass beads and sealer. Size each 5" x 7""

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52110889/sea-shore-acrylic-mixed-media-paintings

BEAUTIFUL

Here are her words about these lovely photo tags......

"Five beach theme gift tags, using photographs taken by me, printed professionally on photographic paper and adhered by hand in a 3D fashion onto white card. These tags would be lovely attached to a gift or, for sellers, included with your Etsy sale. Or how about wrapping them up and giving as a unique gift to someone who "has it all". I am able to do custom tags with your shop name or other wording on too."

http://www.etsy.com/listing/31998696/beachy-gift-tags

She sure lives in a beautiful place!

I certainly do appreciate an artist who is multi-talented and gives her buyers a taste of each of her gifts. The personal attention that an ETSY seller gives is way beyond the normal buying experience.

Please visit her shop.................NEWCREATIONZ.....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NewCreatioNZ

Variations on a Felted Bowl

2011-01-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

As a continuation of Episode 1 - "Getting to Know your Felter", here are some of the results of the Tutorial below.....

This bowl shows sculpting by using a needlefelting needle to enhance the top ridge and side ridges which resulted from the felting method below. The rosebuds were nedlefelted onto the sides.

This is done with different colors of wool. During the felting process, I added bits of artist yarn. Because they are not wool, they do not felt. There are more hanging on the other side. Notice the way the wool colors meander through the vessel.

A very, very small 2 1/2" in diameter keepsake bowl. White and light purple silk fibers show nicely amongst the purple and red wool. The heart is needlefelted and later attached to the bowl.

This little bowl got it's top when I cut the opening and went around a little further - just like pealing an apple. The heart and beading were added when the bowl was dry.

Here's another very small one. Purple and red wool is further enhanced by using the needlefelting needle and sculpting. The heart was needlefelted on.

From the basic bowl in the Tutorial below, you can see how embellishing and sculpting can alter the look and feel.

Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 1

2011-01-08T06:46:00.004-05:00

I'm starting a new series called, "Getting to Know your Felter" - who could that be?

I thought I would re-post this tutorial to "show & tell" how I make one of my Keepsake Bowls.

Stayed tuned for another episode coming to your computer shortly............................
**********************************************************************************
EPISODE 1 - tutorial on felting a bowl

Welcome! This is my first tutorial and I will endeavor to make it as clear as possible. Recently, I've been felting these little vessels. I often add embellishments to make "tapestry bowls" and other times they're perfect as is. I want to share the basic process with you hoping this will spur you on to try felting yourself. If you're into cooking and baking you can surely transfer your skills. There are many sites and blogs that will show you how to do this..they certainly have helped guide me. All felters will eventually find what tools and techniques work for them. Many of the supplies listed below can be found in your kitchen and/or hardware store. You can find the wool from many sellers on Etsy.

Materials
Any type of wool roving. I use Merino in this example.

bubblewrap
rubber mat
tulle netting
wallpaper roller
rolling pin
large spoon
soap (liquid)
bamboo placemat
towels
sharp scissors
plastic grocery bags
plastic lid
crab mallet

Before we get started, here are several pictures of the finished product from this tutorial. It's approx. 4" round, 2 1/2" tall and the openng is 2". I decided to use off white wool roving as I'm going to make into a colorful tapestry bowl to match a rug in my bedroom.

What is a resist/template? It is simply any pliable, yet capable of "resisting" water, material which prevents two layers of wool from felting together. For this project, I used a top from a plastic container - the kind you get at the deli counter. I cut the rim off. It can be any size you want.

1. Lay down your towel, mat, bubblewrap (bubbles up, please), tulle (netting) and lastly the resist. The size of the resist determines how big the bottom of your vessel will be.

2. Lay down small amounts of the wool around the resist to look like a pinwheel. They should somewhat meet in the middle and extend about an 1' to 1 1/2" beyond the resist. These will be the sides of your vessel.

As you can see, I've added alot because I want to make sure that I have substantial sides (you can't go wrong)

3. Now it's time to add three layers onto where you can feel the resist is (you'll still be able to see it through the pinwheel fibers..or just pick them up and look). The layers will be laid down perpendicular to eachother. You can start horizontal or vertical. This is done so they will grab onto eachother. The color is funny here because it's easier for you to see (white on white - ugh?) Here are two layers. Add one more horizontal.

4. I lay one more layer of pinwheel fibers as I did in step #2. Wow, now look at this dense pile I've made! lots of air and fluff.

5. I'll lay the tulle over the piece and in small amount pour very hot water just on the part that covers the resist. I add a dab of the dish liquid. Then I will rub my fingers around the edge of the resist - feeling with my fingers.

6. I take a small piece of bubblewrap and go over this the entire circle/resist area for about two to three minutes...have to be careful not to move the fibers around too much because you just want the layers to mesh together and start to hold. When finished, put a layer of bubblewrap ontop.

7. Time's up and ready to flip the whole thing over. You now see the resist with the pinwheel fibers behind it. Take the fibers and gently fold them into the center and smooth them. I usually end up with a huge pile (if you should, it's OK). Hmm, looks good enough to EAT!!!!! Smooth them down as much as you can.

8. IMPORTANT: START AGAIN! To this mass of wet fiber, begin steps 2 - 7 . Don't worry, it works. You will end up with the picture above but on the other side. These steps are all done to make sure you don't get holes and that it's frankly, just a nicely packed and happy little loaf!

9. So, you've done it all and now it's time to be a real Pastry Chef! Patty cake! This is where you're actually doing the "felting". The wool, with hot water, soap, some pressure and agitation, rolling, etc. is going to make you a bowl! Put some music on and enjoy!

10. Here I'm picking up my cookie and going around the edge with bubblewrap. You can put the tulle back over your piece for extra agitation. I like to work from the outside of the cirlce inwards and I feel it's important to get the edges somewhat felted first. Hot water and more.

11. I'm also going to go around the outside with my wallpaper roller to make sure I have a nice edge. I will flip it over and do it again and again adding hot water.

12. If you get too many suds, rinse the tulle and bubblewrap under the tap. Keep working around the edge. Take either a piece of bubblewrap or the roller and work towards the middle. You can roll towards the center going round and round. The fibers will bunch up in a lump in the middle, but...

13. Here comes the rolling pin. Gently roll it over the circle. Feel like a gentle baker..turn it around and roll again..turn it over, roll again every so gently. Notice, I have the bubblewrap on.

When I've worked it over using the rollingpin and wallpaper roller and I notice that it seems all in one piece (not alot of ridges where those pinwheel pieces were), I'll add water and continue

to roll.

13. It feels pretty firm but not ready yet so I put bubblewrap on both sides and stick it on the sushimat, roll it all up and go back and forth many times (how many depends on how your arms and back are feeling - try to place yourself in a position that's right for you). Then I will open up the mat and turn the cirlce the other way..again and again. (you want to make sure that you're getting the fibers all mushed from several different directions).

Unroll....if you need to do more work, go ahead, you can't hurt it.

24. Take your sharp scissors and cut a small hole in the center. Cut straight down through all the layers. This will stop the fibers from going anywhere. Don't worry..just cut till you see the resist.

Oh, look who I found - not the four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie!

25. To seal the edges of the circle, take some of the soap and with your fingers go around (the same way you cut) the lip. Remember, you have more work to do, so don't be amazed if it doesn't seal. Now we have to get the resist out. Since mine is plastic and not too pliable I'll run it under water while reaching in to get an edge and just worm it out. The hole will get somewhat bigger that's why you don't make a big circle cut to begin with.

26. Begining to look like a bowl? Oh yeah! Now it's pretty well hanging together, but it needs to get tighter and hold a firm shape. Next step is called, "Fulling" - you get it "full" of itself. I'm going to roll it some more with the rolling pin, the wallpaper roller - no more soap - but yes to water. You can rough it up a big now. That small opening is now big enough for me to put some fingers in. See that horizontal ridge below? That's where the edge of the resist was. I want to make a bowl, not a disc so I'm going back and forth on the bubblewrap to get rid of the ridge and give the bowl some height.

27. I'm going to run it under hot water and push and pull it and then under cold - this shocks the fibers and at the same time allows me to further full it, scrunching it up and agitating it.

28. Looking good. I'm going to take bubblewrap and go around the inside. (many felters will turn their bowl inside out). Go inside with the wallpaper roller too, if you have the room.

29. Take the rolling pin and turn the bowl so it's on it's side...roll, roll - every side.

30. It's looking very good - hey it's a bowl! See some of the ridge in the bottom of the picture? Cool, leave it if you want. Take cutup pieces of the grocery bags and stuff the bowl - real tight - you are now shaping it!

31. Plop it into boiling water, stir it a bit (more cooking than I ever do) and take it out to beat it up some more.

32. Looks like a dumpling! Roll it around on the bubblewrap (careful, hot potato) hit it and get it into the shape I want. Look at those great ridges!

33. I can also stretch it with my fingers, run it under water again, stretch some more. I take out the wet grocery bag scraps and take a look...hmmm..nice

34. Run it under water and make sure all the soap is out - not good for wool..oh, no! Then dry it off

and take it into the bathroom to pack with dry grocery bags. I'll hit it all around with the crab mallet and smack the bowl (so satisfying) sometimes angling the mallet so the bowl will get taller or smooshing it to make it smaller. I can manipulate the lip, too.

All done. I've looked at it from all sides and it's down onto the heat register to dry alongside it's purple counterpart. Now wait and when it's dry, out with the stuffing and you can embellish it with needlefelting, embroidery, buttons, etc........

Here are just a few resources I use:

Wool Roving
http://www.etsy.com/shop/flightsofwhimzy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SarasTextureCrafts

Books on Felting
Beginner's Guide to Feltmaking by Shirley Ascher & Jane Bateman
How We Felt by Carol Huber Cypher

Wool Locks for a Ram

2011-01-07T17:57:00.000-05:00

I haven't done a Felted Mini Art Quilt in quite awhile - seems that way - so this one's been waiting to be finished and photographed. Very soft and wintry. I had some wool locks - I can't even remember if they're from a sheep or a goat - I have a feeling it's from a goat (of course, they're my favorites). The locks look like (LLL) they came right off the guy/gal. They were perfect for making the little ram's body and horn. Not BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaD.

Here's the link which takes you to the listing on Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65438718/felted-mini-art-quilt-sheep

Heart "FELT" Namaste Brooch

2011-01-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

I felt a little EASTERN today - I have two drawers full of books on Buddhism and found my mala - nice to re-connect. So, I decided to name this brooch in honor.

What Language is this in?

2011-01-02T12:56:00.006-05:00

In the midst of going through my Flickr pages, I came across many pictures of this piece I made for the PeaceFelt 2010 project. You may remember it here on my Blog. I sent to a fellow artist in New Zealand.

There was a comment under the Flickr picture (this is back in September) from Marie Spaulding, who is the creator of Living Felt, telling me I was featured in a magazine from the Netherlands and did I see it in a newsletter she sent out. Well, no I hadn't and still wouldn't know about it today until I stumbled upon her comment!

=========================================================================

"Peace Felt 2010 continues to spread it's message of love, brotherhood, sisterhood
and the promotion of feltmaking across the world! This month VILT KONTAKT magazine
from The Netherlands published a 2-page article on Peace Felt!

Artists whose work what shown in the article include: Marie Pickering of New Zealand, USA Artists: Connie Berlin, Sara Figal, Meg Kubiak's school childrens creations, Paige Cunningham and her group; René Rjabinnik Kvícala (Rjabinnik) of the Czech Republic, and Christine Eloot of Antwerp, Belgium.

Peace Felt Facebook is full of images and shared stories
Also visit the Vilt Kontakt Group online"

=========================================================================

There's the picture on the right page with my name and I can read Maryland and New Zealand. I wish I could read the rest of the article - I don't even know what language it's in.

Anyone know? Probably Dutch?

Of course, I'm thrilled and will try to get a copy of the magazine.

HEART "FELTS"

2010-12-31T13:41:00.000-05:00

A HEART "FELT" GIFT FOR YOU

Early LOVE

2010-12-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

NEVER TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT LOVE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60289570/felted-purple-heart-brooch

Just a peak at a funky beating HEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011 Now That's Another Story!

2010-12-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

It's been several weeks since I posted here. Now that the holidays (except New Years, of course) are over, it's once again time to take stock. My thoughts immediately turn to SensoryFelteds. Where am I going with it?

Being somewhat of an artistic Jack of all Trades, I find my mind (usually as soon as I wake up) filled with artistic notions......painting on small canvas, attaching Felteds to canvas, weaving and adding some Felteds, making my own buttons/beads, trying new things with fabric....that's about it for now. With all this reeling through my head, there's my artroom filled with everything to do the above! Should I clean it and get it organized, ONCE AGAIN?

I have always been this way, going from one thing to another, creating on the spot, mixing media, dancing...moving, moving. These are good traits to have but as with anything there is the flip side - never feeling an expert in one thing. I'm certainly not an expert at many things, either. But there is that propensity to try something new - never thought of before.

So, after some pondering, I think I'm pretty much happy with a new Path..one that I experimented with this summer and it partially has to do with this woman.

JANE HALL

I found her on Craft Gossip I believe - a mention of her new book. That's all it took and I told my Vermont daughter to get it for me for the holidays. I am SO GLAD she did.
Click below and you'll get there...
Jane Hall's website

Her book,

is one of the lovliest I have ever seen. Here are some pictures..

Do you think that this dragonfly is real? No, she made it from SILK and wire and fiber!

The book

Jane studies the world of nature - she examines tree bark, insects, flowers, vines. When she does so, she listens, smells and becomes one with whatever she is observing. Sometimes she goes with a camera, with a sketchpad or nothing. She had a fanciful childhood where she was encouraged to roam the gardens surrounding her home, to have tea with fairies and all such.

What I am so enthralled with is that she makes beautiful sketches, minutely examining each hair, each insect leg, each petal delving into journals and biology. Then, like a detective, she figures out how to use her tools, her creative senses to fashion sometimes the tiniest of insects - as small as your thumbnail.

There is something of her in me - and this is what I want to take into 2011 and beyond.

That ability to stay with, to process, to sense and to finally create. This attention to detail takes me away from everything and into a world of nature where nothing is mundane or usual. There is no frustration, no push to sell, nothing but the shear pleasure of concentration and wonder.

PS. I have saved two Stink Bugs which I will send to England to add to her collection - maybe they are lucky and don't have the little buggers there!

Can I do it? Now that's another story!

BIG BOLD FELTED BROOCHES

2010-12-13T16:47:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be a good time to feature some of my DIMENSIONAL BROOCHES. I'm in love with them because they're BIG, BOLD, COLORFUL, TEXTURED, EMBROIDERED, PAINTED, LAYERED, SCULPTED AND LARGE - 3" to 4".

I've posted a few of them before, but the last two are new.

THE CENTER IS A NEEDLEFELTED PIECE I DID LAST YEAR. I WET FELTED A PIECE OF PURPLE AND RED TO GO WITH IT AND ATTACHED IT ALL AND EMBELLISHED - BUT, OF COURSE!

THE BOTTOM PIECE OF THIS ONE IS FROM A WET FELTED BOWL I MADE TWO YEARS AGO - DIDN'T ACTUALLY COME OUT THAT GOOD, BUT I LOVED THE COLORS, SO I CUT IT UP AND USED IT FOR A NICE BOTTOM. THEN I WET FELTED A SMALL PIECE OF PURPLE. I HAD THE PURPLE CENTER FROM LAST YEAR AND WAS GOING TO USE IT TO MAKE A HAIR PIN. THE CORD/STRING/THREAD IS FROM NEPAL AND I ADORE IT - IT'S ALL WOUND IN GORGEOUS COLORS. I ATTACHED IT AROUND THE SECOND LAYER. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF IT ON THE TOP RIGHT.

FIND BUSTER THE BEAGLE

2010-12-08T19:42:00.000-05:00

Our Etsy Beagle Team is having a challenge - as talked about in a post several days ago. I just had to post this SmileBox slideshow with all the beagles in it.

Here's a picture of our Buster

do you think you can find him among 100 and some beagle pictures? I'll give you a hint: he's early on and in the first picture, he's about in the same position. I'm sure there's a better way to do this link, but it works when you click on it - believe me, it's really cute!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsmilebox.com%2Fplay%2F4d5463354f4445794e6a413d0d0a%26blogview%3Dtrue%26campaign%3Dblog_playback_link&h=1c3eb

Here's a picture of all the entries to the challenge. Of course, my "Cats at Play" is right in the middle - alas, no dog reference except that I will donate all of the $ to the vet that took care of my daughter's fiance's dog, Maggie the bulldog, who just passed away.

Please go to this link and vote for my entry on this challenge - hurryyyyyyyyy!
http://etsybeagles.blogspot.com/2010/12/etsy-beagles-happy-howlidays-blog.html

Can't Ask for More

2010-12-08T16:20:00.000-05:00

I received this lovely e-mail from the new owner of this tree (custom made) - can't ask for more!

"Dear Connie,
We just received our beautiful tree! It is absolutely perfect and I loved everything: the careful packaging and wrapping, the colorful tissue paper, the sweet handwritten note, the card, mini cards and sticker (I am a big Moo fan too!), the scent of the tree and what a beautiful ornament you added for us! We are so spoiled! Thank you so very much! I knew it would be beautiful, but all these little details made it even more special and I am so happy / lucky we have found you and you are the one who made this gorgeous tree for us!
What a pleasure this has been! Thank you!
I wish you wonderful Holidays - may they be very happy and joyful - and the very best for the New Year...
With much appreciation for the beautiful work you do and the heart you put in it...
Celine"

Here is how another customer displayed the Felted Art Collectibles she bought from me for Hanukkah.
She used the loop on the back of each Collectible to hang under her mantel and to display her children's pictures and a Star of David! Very creative, I would say!

CAN'T ASK FOR MORE!

and thanks!

Felted Rustic Santa

2010-12-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

My newest creation is

A FELTED RUSTIC SANTA

I've seen little gnomes and elves in several magazines. So, I thought well, I have this cone shape which I use for making trees - why not use it to make a little fella.

So, I set out to use some beautiful wool I have - off white, brown and wine colored. I wet felted over the cone with off white in the middle - not really knowing how it was going to pan out. I sort of figured that the top would be his hat. I wanted to make him very old world looking - kind of vintage and very woodsy.

When he was finished drying, I took a good look and tried to imagine where his face would go. After a few experiments with a pen, I chose the placement. Two brown eyes and a round brown nose. Then cane the beard. I have these wonderful curly wool - locks and I believe it's from mohair goats. They look like they just came off the animal - beautiful! It is perfect for hair. I also used it to make birch trees in one Felted Art Collectible.

Next I needlefelted his beard and hat. His hat is brown and the win colored wool wound around his head and ending in the back in a little twist. The pom pon is more of those locks but this time in dark brown. More of this was used to make the front of his hat and two ear flaps.

Santa, sheep tender, wood elt, winter spirit - who knows, but I adore him and I like him teamed up with my Putz sheep and large felted trees. I also imagine him on someone's mantel or in a Christmas village.

You can see him on my Etsy Shop!!!

Also, I was a Featured Sellter on DO YOU ETSY - exciting - I will be promoted throuighout this month!

http://www.doyouetsy.com/

New Woodland Felted Tree

2010-12-03T18:41:00.000-05:00

I shipped off my first Custom Order today - based on my Woodland Felted Tree - the buyer requested I make it from the colors of her kitty. She lives in New York City and I really enjoyed making it for her.....

It is 14" high. The colors came out great and nicely marbelized.

How I made it:

1. I bought a 14" styrofoam cone

2. I added three layers (in different directions) of wool. The final layer featured all the different colors of brown.

3. I got a queen size pair of pantyhose (one leg cut off) and with the help of my husband, put it on the tree. Now this is no easy task as the wool tends to fall off and it is very dense. When we put the pantyhose on, it's like putting on a girdle and I must be very careful not to disturb the wool. So, I have my husband hold the cone and wool while I stretch the hose over the top and down, stuffing the wool as I go. I take a sigh of relief when everything is collected. The hose is not only to keep everything together but to add extra friction (which wool adores) so it felts faster.

4. Then comes the hot water and olive oil soap. Roll, roll, roll, add more water and soap and keep on a rollin'. When I see the wool come through the hose, I know it's starting to felt. I have to take the pantyhose off or it will felt to the wool - not nice.

5. Off comes the hose - easier now because the fibers have grabbed to each other. Then I put it back on again - also, easy. Now more of #4.

6. When I see that the bottom of the tree is beginning to pull away from the cone, it's time to take the pantyhose off. I pinch test the wool to make sure it's holding together. For this piece, I actually took a thin spatula and went in from the bottom to release it from the cone. The cone is very rough (which is also good for the wool) but tends to also grab the wool.

7. All off and then I start to do the "fulling". Fulling means to really get down to business...less water and soap, using a rolling pin on it, rolling it on bubble wrap bubble side up and in general giving it a good workout. I turned it inside out to make sure the inside was felted then turned it back again. I took a piece of bubblewrap and went over it. By this time, it got very fuzzy (depends on the wool) so I used the smooth side of the bubble wrap to try and get the fibers to lie down.

8. I whacked it against the side of the sink to further felt it, ran it under hot water and worked it with my hands over and over again. I stretched it to make it longer and wider.

9. When satisfied, I rinsed it in vinegar and water to balance the ph...then another rinse.

10. Then I stuffed it with plastic bags and put it ontop of a heat register and closed the door - nighty night.

11.I took the bags out to let it dry inside and waited. In this case, it turned out just fine!

"That's a Beautiful Thing"

2010-11-30T19:36:00.002-05:00

I've created many different pieces since I opened my Shop, SensoryFelteds, a year ago this past Halloween. I have also made countless felted creations not listed on Etsy. Of course, as any artist, there's that idea, how do I translate it into felt, what colors to use, how to market it, etc.

When I created Felt Art Collectibles, ideas came tumbling out as the seasons changed...flowers, pumpkins, mennorahs, birch trees, snowmen and then came the time honored wreath - I wanted to fill it with tiny embroidery stitches, beads, a bow all captured in a 4 x 4 1/2" collectible to display on a mini easel or hang on the wall.

I wet felted the background in white merino wool, with green for the wreath and a blob of red for the bow.

My daughter, husband, 3 1/2 year old grandson and our new 7 month old grandson came to visit. The 3 1/2 year old and I were in the livingroom. I had this very rudimentary piece there and I guess I was thinking of working on it when things slowed down.

He asked me, "What is that Gramsie?" I told him what I was going to make and he said,

'THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING"

Here was this very simple piece not looking very festive at all. I was amazed not only at the words my grandson uttered but at the sincerity and appreciation in his voice for something so basic. Isn't that just the way it should be.

To me, he is "a beautiful thing"!

Now, of course, it is all decked out and what I consider to be one of my best pieces......but to this day, it's still for sale on Etsy - maybe it's meant for me!

Three Large Organic Brooches

2010-11-30T19:11:00.000-05:00

I'm very much enjoying making dimensional brooches. In this frenzy of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Coupon Codes, etc., it's been nice to sit down and make some large unusual brooches.

I found one of these brooches from last year - unfinished - no backing - but I think it has punch. I don't quite remember how I made it, but it does have four what I call "lumps" which I sewed together. I think they may have been wet felted. I love Mixed Media and this brooch has it all! It has two green glass beads which I attached with french knots. I also used some fabric paint. Felt is rather fuzzy and bumpy so is certainly not a smooth canvas. But, I did a dab here and there and like the effect. I also like it's heft.

It's 4" and really packs a wallop!

I have a box filled with odds and ends of felteds - pieces I started - brooches begun and curious shapes. I decided to get it out and see if I could piece something together - great to do while watching TV.

I found a piece with two leaves attached to a round - I diddled around with it and then found a circular piece matching the same color as the center - I put them together with stitching in green and yellow, added two leaves to the bottom, attached the pinback and commercial felt to the back and blanket stitched around. This has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces..

Now here's a real interesting fully colored and sculpted large brooch! I made it last year and did not put a backing on it. It's also about 3". The top round piece is almost 1/2" thick!

Of course, all three are available in my Shop - great gifts for the Fashionista, I say!

Thanks for our Four Footed Friends

2010-11-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

At Thanksgiving, of course, we think of every thing and every one we're thankful for. I thought it fitting this time to be greatful for the animals I have met, who have given me pleasure if only for a few moments, and to those who are with me.

A MOTHER GOAT FROM VERMONT

MY DAUGHTER'S FIANCE'S BULLDOG

MY DEAREST PAL, BUSTER

FRIENDS AT THE FAIR

A VERY COOPERATIVE BUMBLE BEE

THIS BEAUTY WHO STAYED JUST LONG ENOUGH

A HANDSOME OX

A NEWLY BORN SHEEP

A GENTLE EYED COW

THE NEWLY BORN WITH MOM

A BEAUTIFULLY COIFFED FRIEND

A YOGA PRACTICING PIGLET

A SWEET SHEEP

A SOFT BUNNY

FRIENDS SO PERFECTLY FRAMED

TWO FRIENDS QUIETLY CHEWING

FOR THESE AND ALL THOSE ANIMALS WHO UNKNOWINGLY GIVE US A GLIMPSE INTO SOLITUTDE, PEACE AND CONTENTMENT!

What's NEW?

2010-11-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

What an exciting time - much has been happening here!

Boy, you thought Halloween was SPOOKY what about BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY!!

On Etsy, we're all atwitter (twitter, literally) promoting, tagging items, listing items and I'm No Different!

Here's what's new...

1. ******* COUPON CODE: Sensory101648 - YOU GET 15% OFF OF ANY ITEM IN MY SHOP NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH. You just plug that coupon code in.

This is a new feature on Etsy and most of us think it's just great. I'll see.

2. I've been featured on this blog, which I love - the title is great - reminds me of "The Housewives of...".

http://baltimorehousewife.blogspot.com/2010/11/sensory-felteds.html

I had no idea that felt had a smell, but according to Sensory Felteds smell is just one of the reasons why Connie Berlin--the mastermind behind Sensory Felteds--enjoys creating using a felt medium.

A life-long artist, Connie creates her pieces using wet felting and needle felting techniques, and even embriodery and considers each piece she creates to be a work of art.

One of Connie's favorite pieces she's created for Sensory Felteds is pictured above and is titled "Charlotte's Dahlia". As Connie puts it,

"This is one of my felted mini art quilts - a gorgeous closeup of a Dahlia flower. I took quite alot of time to make this. I was looking at blogs (at random) and found one that had this gorgeous flower. This was in the summer. I thought it would be perfect for one of my quilts. I contacted her and she sent me more pictures of her Dahlias on her front steps. Soooo, I named my art quilt after her, Charlotte's Dahlia."

Stunning!

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SensoryFelteds

Blog: http://sensoryfelteds.blogspot.com

Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sensoryfelteds

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SensoryFelteds

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ISN'T THIS GREAT?

3. I've listed a three new brooches and one pendant

The one above is one of my coils. I added my favorite stitches - one of course being the french knot . I painted, yes painted with fabric paint the tree inthe middle and a few areas around it..

Nicely beaded - they sort of cascade down

This is one of my favorites because it is so sculpted!

Here's a glitz glittery coil brooch - the light areas are sparkly in white and light purple

4. New Christmas Cards made from photos of my Felted Art Collectibles

They come four to a pack with envelopes! I have so much fun making these! There are others also, I mix them up!

What a Groupin!!!

2010-11-15T17:18:00.000-05:00

NEW ADDITIONS

TWO CONICAL - COMICAL (?) WET FELTED TREES, ONE DREIDEL AND TWO CANDY CANES

WHAT A GROUPIN!

THIS IS A VERY CONTEMPORARY TREE - I MADE THIS LAST YEAR IN A FRENZY OF ETSY - I HAD JOINED ON HALLOWEEN AND WAS LISTING ON ETSY AND DOING TWO SHOWS - I DROVE MYSELF NUTS!

THIS AND THE TREE BELOW WERE FELTED OVER A FOAM BASE - THE KIND YOU BUY IN A CRAFT STORE - OH MY GOSH - IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO PUT WOOL ROVING ON THAT SHAPE - WELLL, IT FALLS OFF - SO I WET IT A BIT - YOU PUT A PAIR OF PANTY HOSE OVER IT TO ACTUALLY FELT IT - MY HUSBAND HELPED ME - IT'S QUITE LABOR INTENSIVE.
BUT LOOK AT IT! IT HAS GREEN GLITZ AND WHITE WOOL LOCKS WHICH STICK OUT. I THINK IT'S A VERY CONTEMPORARY TAKE

ABOVE HERE WE HAVE THE EVER POPULAR CANDY CANES - I LOVE THE WAY THE OFF WHITE WOOL FELTED - IT'S ALL BUMPY - LOOKS LIKE SNOW OR FLANNEL MATERIAL.

MY DEAR FRIEND, WHO BUYS ALMOST EVERY FELTED ART COLLECTIBLE I MAKE, BOUGHT THIS DREIDEL - WITH GELT NO LESS - KIND OF A FUN CHILDLIKE PORTRAYAL OF HANUKKAH!

I LOVE THIS WOODLAND TREE - YOU KNOW THAT IT IS ABOUT 1/2" THICK? I GUESS YOU'D SAY, THE WALLS ARE. I LOVE THE WAY ALL THE DIFFERENT COLORS OF GREEN MESH TOGETHER. I'M OFFERING IT FOR SALE WITH THE 5 MINI NEEDLEFELTED TREES.

HERE'S MY BUSTER THE BEAGLE - HE HASN''T MADE AN APPEARANCE HERE RECENTLY. MY EVERYLASTING COMPANION FOR SURE!

Sketchbook and Inspirations

2010-11-13T17:08:00.000-05:00

I've never showed you sketches of my artwork. I remember seeing a website where a woman did just such a thing and she inspired me to keep my own little book of sketches. I frequently get my inspirations from flowers and photos others have taken. Maybe it's a scene I wish I had been a participant in or a scene from a children's book.

My Felted art collectible never started out to be detailed renderings albeit in roving of flowers - nothing detailed - more muted with a touch of embroidery. But over what seems like many months (but really isn't at all), I found stitching. Then I carefully played with just how much to put in a felted. Like with any art, the key is to know when to stop - I face that continually. Sometimes, I think that something might sell because it needs to be guilded when I really prefer to have it more ethereal and impressionistic. I've written about this before so won't go into it.

Sometimes, detailing with stitching does just the trick taking something from boring to interesting! My stitching repetroir is not extensive - mostly because I found this art at the beginning of the rev up for the holiday selling season. I look forward to doing more of it - there are two great sites I refer to.

Here are a few pages from my sketchbook.

The one on the left is on Etsy now and pretty much looks the same - the idea came from a plate I saw when I googled the Star of David. The one on the right came from a suggestion from a friend - dreidel and gelt. This also came out pretty much the same and will be listed tomorrow.

The one on the left is inspired by the Tree of Life - I'm not sure how this will translate to a Felted Collectible - I really like this quick sketch, though. A Few minutes ago I finished the one on the right - just the front though - not the whole thing - that comes tonight.

The one on the left is inspired by a picture of a rug in a catalog. We'll see if I get around to it. The other one has been done and sold.

The one on the left is about apples and leaves in the Fall - never got done - but the one on the right certainly did and I added a gourd - now also sold.

And this is a watercolor I did of an apple orchard on a farm we stayed at two years ago in Vermont - in the summer. It is there that I bought the sketchbook! I also got many inspirations from the photos I took of flowers there.

Something to MOO About!

2010-11-13T14:45:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about my new POSTCARDS I bought from MOO. Right off, here's the link.

http://us.moo.com/en/?gclid=CJL-i7-snqUCFctL5QodWWq4Gg

I also bought new MINI MOO's - business cards

Come in this cute liitle box

I chose one of my favorite pictures and added my information. I chose different photos for the backs! If I'm clever enough I can match up a card with an order - but most of these photos are from things either sold or never for sale - just my favorites!

AND STICKERS! These were previously only available from the UK

I've always wanted these - you upload any photo - postion it - and wala - I have a few stickers of my grandsons! This would make for a great stocking stuffer!

AND
POSTCARDS - I HAVE THESE FOUR SETS FOR SALE ON ETSY

Says SensoryFelteds and my Etsy URL
I hope someone snaps them up - YOU COULD..........

1. Frame them
2. Hang them
3. Collect them
4. Make a collage
5. Send them
6. Perfect Hostess Gift
7. Perfect Teacher Gift
8. Perfect Secret Santa
9. WHAT ELSE?

In any case, MOO is a great company, fast service and great products and they have more!

Owls Dancing-What a Hoot

2010-11-13T09:22:00.001-05:00

Zumba Owls! - Isn't this just too much! Have a GREAT Day - make sure you Hoot!

PROMOTE IT, BRAG IT AND SELL IT

2010-11-12T12:25:00.002-05:00

Sellers on Etsy are all about promoting, giveaways, special and all in all some WONDERFUL DEALS! I wonder if the general public has any idea what lovely handmade pieces there are. You just can't beat buying something from the artist - great customer service, also. I know so many sellers who are working so very hard and it DOES takes money to sell. With recycling being the new thing to do, many sellers can keep costs down. Then there is the time you spend to make something, the time it takes to promote it and craft shows and promotional materials and postage.

I have great respect for my fellow artists and creators and wish them a great selling season - which seems like such a short time. There is hardly any chatter about Fall items - I still have a few that are appropriate..I feel like we've jumped over Thanksgiving and into Hanukkah (to a small extent)/Christmas. Feels just like retail - like Joanne's - before you know it, they'll have Valentine's Day things out.

So, I'm on the bandwagon with some promotions.

#1. Anyone who has fanned me on my Facebook Fanpage, can get a deal. I'VE SOLD 48 PIECES AND AM LOOKING TO HIT 50 BY SUNDAY NIGHT...sooooo. FREE SHIPPING, too!

Buy two felted pumpkin/leaf brooches and get the third FREE. They are great to wear from now till Thanksgiving....give it to someone NOW to wear at the Thanksgiving festivities. Sport it now on these beautiful Fall days!

Here's my Page:
http://www.facebook.com/SensoryFelteds?ref=ts
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55756004/felted-autumn-trio-brooch

#2 I'm in this blog Giveaway hosted by Jewelrybysolange - ends MONDAY, 11/15
I'm giving away four needlefelted pumpkins.

http://jewelrybysolange.blogspot.com/2010/10/spooky-mega-giveaway.html

#3. I've added these new felted Poinsettia brooches: They come with a 5" x 7" photo card of my poinsettia felted art collectible, plus envelope in a cellophane sleeve.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61588747/felted-poinsettia-brooch

#4. Want to see my latest Hanukkah Felted Art Collectible? you do? ok

It's reserved for my dear friend, once again. Don't you love the rabbi? Of course, he and the menorah are not for sale - they're ours.

bye for now and thanks for listening~~

Two Holiday Traditions

2010-11-09T16:10:00.000-05:00

I just listed, again for my wonderful friend, my first Hanukkah Felted Art Collectible. It took me quite awhile to make - unfortunately, I did not design it beforehand which left me with the "what now?" predicament. I'm not doing that again..... I do trust my creative ability, but I had several elements going at the same time - the traditional color blue, yellow for the Festival of Lights, a menorah and a white cloth in the shape of the Star of David. Finally, I was finished. It became very thick and very old world looking. Old World meaning like it had been around for awhile - slightly worn and a bit off kilter.

I've asked my dear friend to tell me what other scenes she would like. I have a few in mind, but I'm leaving it up to her.

Now, on the other side of the coin or should I say, HOLIDAY SPECTRUM, is Ye Olde Christmas Tree. Now here is something simpler. I didn't do any drawings for it either, but left it up to my creative juices to decide about the decorationsy. So out came some beads. Now, I hate invisible thread (after all, who can see it?). So, I thought I could use embroidery thread as an accent rather than trying to hide how the beads are attached. Perfect. Then I added my favorite french knots in yellow. I embroidered a yellow star for the top.

Felted Christmas Brooch PLUS

2010-11-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

I've looked into my stash of last year's Christmas felted goodies I made. Some I didn't get around to listing, so I'm very pleased I have some more pieces to show on Etsy this year. I have quite alot but decided to started with brooches - the word, "brooch" sounds so old to me - "pin" sounds more modern. Anyway,,,here goes...

Festive, don't you think?

I also am including a card, note card, greeting card - whatever one likes to call them. I ordered photos from Shutterfly of pictures I had taken of some of my Seasonal Felted Art Collectibles. I went to Joanne's today and bought some pretty pearlized white cardstock. Of course, finding the right size for a 4 x 6" photo wasn't that easy. However, after some cropping, I'm happy with the outcome. All I need is to get the envelopes.

So, there you are.......one more wreath and tree to do!!!

Frosty and his Cardinal!

2010-11-05T18:16:00.000-04:00

Everyday I'm making more Felted Art Collectibles. Like last year at this time, I feel a real push to create and list on Etsy. Here are two more of my latest.....another Happy Snowman and this time a puffed up cardinal.

The snowman is influenced by children's Christmas books - you know, that scene where Frosty is out and about the town. My guy is a takeoff of this childhood favorite. He's got everything he needs - but no broom - but he has a nice yellow (well, it looks good) moon and twinkling stars. I've found that using white silk fiber when wet felting and when needlefelting creates an icy look. I also used a bit of grey curly locks - which I must have gotten from a sheep friend of mine - because I have it in clumps in my artroom. It does very well for shadowing.

I broke one of my lights that came with my lightbox - it fell - don't think it's really broken...just got loosened. So, I had to use only one and in the picture above, it gave off a nice glow.

Here he is in my bedroom along side my birch collectible. Well, it sold already so not mine.

He reminds me of the "Titanic" - "Here I am, world!" as he leanas forward - shows he's dimensional -a nice way to say he's a bit rounded.

Now, here's the second newest - when I googled "cardinal" to see what these guys really look like, I came up with many pictures - some of the "Cardinal" as in the Catholic cardinal. Maybe that's why the bird is called a "cardinal" because the top of his head looks like a "Cardinal's" hat. Of course, he's very important also.

I love this picture - he's nestled in this birch bark light - hard to explain what it looks like - the photo is a bit fuzzy - but I love the branches!

He's on the wall and I'm trying to show his roundness

Here he is with a friend - this was posed in my livingroom window. ...with the cotton batting.

I puffed him out with alot of shocking red wool - the beak was rather thought provoking - how to make it stick out and then what to do about the mouth opening. Fnally, worked out and I used a fine tipped artist's marker for his mouth-lips-whatever-where it opens.

This is reserved for a dear friend who continually buys from me.

So, what's in the works next? What holiday is coming up after Thanksgiving and before Christmas for Jewish folk?

THE LAST OF THREE

2010-11-02T10:32:00.000-04:00

I decided to change the name of "Felted Mini Art Quilts" to "Felted Art Collectibles". For awhile the first name just didn't feel totally right although it certainly was and is descriptive. It felt like too many words. A friend who has bought so many of them (dear, dear soul) is collecting them - four for each season - although she's heading for more for the winter. I like the idea of collecting them and making displays for each season of the year - or an occasion. Hence, the new name.

Now, here is the third of those original three obscure looking felteds. By the way, the other two are up for sale at my SHOP! hint, hint!

This blue/off white one above this caption

Heeeeeeeeere IT IS!

I like to use this snowman -

My Dollar Store Box

He's on the batting I use

I love his smile! I made his mouth, eyes and buttons with french knots. French knots are also on his hat. I wanted to add something to his bottom so he wouldn't fade into the snow - so I added to bunbuns.

He's pretty folksy looking and a bit vintage and nostalgic. He certainly represents children and animals which should be very present during the holidays and winter. I can see him in a child's room, too. Of course, hanging out with other seasonal "Collectibles" is great, too. Now I sounds like I'm promoting. Well, that's alright - I'm being an advocate for Snowmen!

And of course, my dear friend snatched him up before he was on Etsy for too long . Another one is finished this morning - birch trees, snow, river. I'm painting the little easels white. Thought that would be a good idea. I had thought of decorating them, but I don't want anything to detract from the scene itself.

It's rather odd for me to be thinking of making Christmas/winter felteds. We just finished Halloween - but one has to think ahead. Problem is I have so many ideas going through my head *usually when I wake up* or *late at night*. Then there's Thanksgiving!! I refuse to felt a turkey - being a vegetarian I don't quite cotton to that. But I also will NOT felt a ToFurkey, either. (made one once - tasted like gluten in a pantyhose).