Dance With A Skeleton

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.

Wool Locks for a Ram

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

Just a Batt

Yesterday, I was tired of making bowls, thinking and planning.  I had been tearing off pieces of a batt (a roll of different wools, fibers, glitz) to use in the bowls.  Like with some batts, there are colors that you don't like or don't exactly go with eachother and appear muddy.  So, off I went and just FELTED!

I decided to take a nice hunk and add more fibers.  I threw in (almost literally) soft colored locks (very curly), Tussah silk, yarn and ribbon.  I did this on both sides.  I sort of had in mind making a little purse when all was said and done.  What I didn't realize was that since I was not very careful, with my wild abandon and all, there were a few week spots.

After felting away, which really didn't take much time, I was rewarded with a lovely piece.  Both sides are very different. Hmmmmmm what to do with it?  This morning I took some pictures.  Maybe I'll hang it up as is.  Or, I could needlefelt on it and get it thicker to make a little purse.  Here it is.

Guess you can tell which side I like.  Actually, it loos more vibrant in "person".  I'm a little sick today so I don't feel like taking more pictures.  Happy Spring Colors Everyone!

SPRING TAPESTRY BOWLS

Two new Tapestry Bowls have emerged!  Picture first, then description.....

This one is made with off white Merino wool.  Of course, it's wet felted.  In keeping with springyness (huh?), I needlefelted little buds with the Shetland wool I got from Sara's Textured Crafts.  I also  blended some greens and added leaves, some bits of yellow and a light green vine around the lower portion.  You can see the fuzz on the inside.  I think this adds further color and I like the way the little hairs feel in contrast to the rest of the felt.  I photographed it nesting in white tulle (always have on hand for wet felting).   Now, for the next:

I'm particularly fond of this one...notice the sculptural elements.  Probably, a felter would know why these sometimes occur.  Through no wonderful planning by myself, some of the wisps of wool which are placed around the resist (see my Tutorial), just don't make it to the lip of the bowl or they just don't adhere so well.  My own idea is that my wisps aren't very wispy..I make mine thicker becuase I'm afraid I'll get holes...well, hasn't happened yet.  I do love the resulting ridges and I can further deepen them by using my needlefelting barbed needle.  

The wool is a combination of Sara's Shetland and lovely new roving from Sweet Grass Wool.  It is from sheep called Targhee who are raised in the Montana-Wyoming area.  These two types of wools were wet felted.  I also threw in some pink fabric waste which you see in the second picture.  Then I sculpted the ridges.  I needlefelted little flowers onto the bowl and added vines and swirls and green on the lip of the bowl.  Again, I rested it on tulle for the photoshoot.

Here is the link to Sweet Grass Wool:  http://www.sweetgrasswool.com

Feeling the Felting

Felting is full of feelings....just like me.  There are times when my pieces are dimensional with vivid colors...well defined, sculpted, contemporary and bold.

There are other times when they are soft, blended, obscure, and ethereal.

Just like ME!!!!!

We are off to Vermont tomorrow.  I'll have plenty of time in the car to figure out which direction I will take in the next year - are we talking about felting or myself?   hmmmmmm, only Buster the Beagle in the Backseat will know.