Re-vamping my webpage

So I looked at my webpage today and all I could think was BORING! I built the whole thing from scratch using html code four years ago. What I couldn't figure out my students helped me do. While it's not bad it certainly lacks pizazz. I did manage to put a really cool animated icon on the opening page today, and I re-wrote my artist statement, although it is pretty sparse at the moment due to the fact the creative juices have hit a bit of a standstill. It's not that I'm not doing anything creative, it's just that the creativity is someone else's. For instance, I'm knitting a cute sweater for summer right now, but someone else designed the pattern. I'm grading a pattern to sew myself a dress, but I did not design the dress. But wait! I did sculpt that porcelain angel, and I do have a vase and a couple of bowls firing in the kiln as I write this. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

I seem to have gone off on a tangent. Back to the webpage. I am going to try to update a little bit every day so it is a bit less boring, although I still plan for it to be minimal.

Last item of the day is that there is a brand new spot for those of us who love fiber to visit and sign up for. It's called Feltbook and can be found at feltbook.ning.com. Not to be confused with facebook, although it promises to become just as addictive. I checked it out today and you can find lots of things to sign up for, and of course you can register your blog.

Happy Felting!

Post Sale Relief

Well, I do believe the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival will be officially over today. I can already see a lot of improvements and gains over last year. I was part of the Fibre bazarre yesterday at the Tantramar Theatre and I am happy to say that it was really well done. It was an intimate setting, the preparation was wonderful, the vendors were fantastic, and it was well attended by the fibre community and other interested folks. I was lucky enough to have been invited to be part of it. As always I was surprised by what did sell and what didn't. I threw 3 pieces that I had displayed last year in at the last minute and low and behold two of them sold. I also found my knitted sterling silver rings to be popular as well as my needle felted polar bear kit. People hardly looked at my hand painted kerchiefs or my landscape felting kits. That being said I made some new friends, had some great chats, made a couple of key contacts, and got invited to go back next year. I am just thrilled that there has been such a renewed interest in all things fibre around the globe. What's not to love? One of the coolest things I saw was yarn that was fair trade and made from banana fibres! I've got to get me some of that!

Eco Felt Find

I'm back from my R&R, and I have to say that horseback riding on a trail through the woods is a very peaceful experience. Getting off the horse several hours later is a very sore experience. Loved it anyway. While I was reading one of my many textile magazines today I came across a great product, eco felt!!! Now normally I am all for organic , back to the earth, real deal, fresh off the sheep wool. However, I am also for recycling and re-using. Eco felt, which comes in many colors, is made from recycled plastic bottles. Go figure! It is also machine washable and won't shrink like the real deal. Now, for die hard felters like myself it might not be a great product to try to felt with. However, for those who use felt for craft purposes or as garnishes on hand sewn items, I think it's a good alternative. To find a supplier just google eco felt. I may try some as a background for some of the felted "paintings" that I create.

I know I had hoped to post a before and after of the clematis picture that I have painted and stiched, but it just isn't finished yet. Unfortunately I ran out of the color green thread I needed for the leaves. Crossing my fingers I can post the pictures tomorrow.

Back to my R&R. I was able to slip away to a great wool shop called Mini Mills. They have every color of wool imaginable and also have their own line of yarn. Needles to say I loaded the van with several colors, felting needles, pre-made felt (unbleached) and a new knitting book. Like a need another knitting book. This one however was full of the most beautiful , and unbelieveably difficult, patterns I have seen in a long time. Maybe this winter, after I finish knitting several xmas gifts, I may tackle the knitted coat. Beautiful.