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!

One down, many to go

Last night I just about finished an oil painting of a child. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although I'll have to wait a few days for it to dry before I can do a couple of touch ups. I had forgotten how dirty painting with oil can be. On a more exciting note, my copy of A Needle Pulling Thread magazine arrived yesterday. It was quite thick this time, and I was thrilled with how the cardinal project I designed turned out. The magazine did a great job with the layout. It's always really exciting to see yourself in print. Now I will have to go out and buy copies for family members! It's the third time I have been published, and I hope it won't be the last.

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival

It's that time of year again folks. For the second year Amherst is hosting the NS Fibre Arts Festival, which promises to grow each year as more people become aware of what is being offered. Last year I was lucky to be asked to have a solo exhibit, and this year was even luckier to be asked again. My small show is at the Amherst Town Hall on Ratchford Street. I included several felted pieces, as well as several art quilts. This year I have done some stitching on my felted pieces. I think the stitching is an evolution of what I have been doing. As well as the exhibit I have been included in a fibre arts sale which takes place on Friday from 11-7 at the Tantramar Theatre. I am looking at it as an experiment of sorts. I have decided to include some pieces I displayed last year, some sterling silver wire rings that I knitted, as well as 5 different felting kits of which 4 are brand new designs. Whenever I take part in any of these endeavors the nay sayer that lives in the heads of many of us tells me that my work isn't good enough, that somehow I will look silly. As an artist I struggle with those types of feelings all the time. I think it's because my art is part of me, so by putting it on display I am putting myself on display. Criticism, while it can be productive, can also really sting. I'm sure that anyone who creates has felt that sting from time to time. The only cure is to suck it up and keep on going. Hope to see some of you this week as part of the festival!

A Needle Pulling Thread

Just to let everyone know that one of my pieces will be featured in the Canadian Publication of "A Needle Pulling Thread" magazine, the festive issue. The best place to pick up a copy is Chapters Books in the magazine section. I haven't had a chance to see it yet but have been anxiously anticipating it's arrival. The piece I did is a "how to" of a felted cardinal in a winter scene. I can't wait to get my hands on it, especially since the wheels were put in motion for it back in February! I have been told it was published on October 1st. It's the second time a piece of my work has been published. Several years ago I had an article and a folk art "how to" in Saltscapes magazine. There's just something about getting published, even if you don't get paid, that's very exciting. Perhaps it's because your work is put out to a large audience. It's like a feeling of accomplishment.

Upcoming Exhibit

I am afraid I have been slacking off in my blogging. I have also been slacking off in my art. It's not slacking off exactly, it's just that there are so many other things that get in the way. It's difficult to make creating a priority with everything else that goes on in our lives, but like everything else, there needs to be time set aside for just that. Tonight my five year old is still asleep with a four hour nap so far, due in large part to his fever and sore throat. I have taken advantage of the down time to spend a couple hours at my sewing machine sewing backs onto my art quilts. In just two short days I will be hanging a solo fibre exhibit at the Amherst Town Hall. Unfortunately I have been leaving all of the little details until the last minute. I have nine new pieces that I plan to show which include felted art quilts, oil painted art quilts, and watercolor crayon art quilts. I'm kind of worried that I might not have enough pieces. I always worry about that before an exhibit. I keep telling myself that it's the quality, not the quantity that counts. I may be able to get a final one finished tomorrow night, but it's the season premiere of The Practice and another new episode of Grey's Anatomy. I know, I know. Stuck to the TV when there are better things to do. My real worry right now is that art sale that I am expected to be in. I am not nearly ready and am worried I may have to bow out at the last minute. I have been having a lot of trouble with my eyesight lately and it affects my ability to work for any length of time that I have to really use my eyes because I get a lot of pain. Anyway, my eyes are starting to bug me now so I guess it's time for a rest. Better luck tomorrow.

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.

My first day blogging

This is my first day blogging, so please bear with me. I'm going to talk about my art, the art I see of others, my job teaching art, and of course my life as I try to live as an artist.

Let me start by saying that everyone is creative in their own way, and just because you think you can't draw or paint does not mean you aren't creative. Maybe you're an awesome cook, perhaps you come up with great ideas to keep your kids occupied during the summer months, maybe you are passionate about the environment (I'm with you on this one).

I also want to start out by saying that making a living as an artist is not romantic. I do not live the bohemian lifestyle (much as I might want to), I do not eat granola (too fattening), I do not dress weird (well, at least I don't think I do), and I do not think I am eccentric ( even if my students say I am). I am not rich, nor do I ever think I will get rich as an artist. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of low pay, and I have to teach to make ends meet. I like to make things that I like, not what I think people want to buy (Perhaps this is part of my problem?). Still, being an artist is who I am, I would be lost without it, and I struggle every day with it.

Ok, enough of that. I want to talk about the direction I've been going in lately, and that's fibre. I LOVE fibre and all things fibre. With this medium I can do anything, and it provides a great way to combine painting, sculpting, design and textiles. In particular, I am "painting" with felt, thread, wool, yarn and oil paints. Instead of just felting images I have been going over them with thread, quilting, yarn, and whatever else I can find. I'll post a couple of pictures to let you know what I mean. I have a solo exhibit I'm getting ready for in the fall as part of the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts festival. Check out the website at fibreartsfestival.com. I also have one of my pieces in the festive issue coming up this fall in the Canadian Publication of "A Needle Pulling Thread".

My job today (besides cleaning the house and doing laundry, VERY romantic) is to pull out the thread and start working on thread painting an oil on cotton work. I think I am keeping the thread companies in business lately.