New Felting Kit

After almost a whole year I have decided to start making new felting kits again. . I originally had 4, but dwindled it down to the one polar bear kit on my etsy shop that seems to have been pretty popular. I plan to create several new kits, with the first one being a small wall hanging of an American Goldfinch. I've been inspired to create this from the large flock that appears in my back yard every night around supper time (which reminds me, I need to fill their bird feeder). Their one of my favourite birds. In addition to the wall hanging I am going to put together a small kit to make the actual bird for those who like to create figures in 3 dimension. I may get to work on that tomorrow, but in just two short days I will be returning to teaching for another year, so time will be hard to find. With everything that goes on in life it's often hard to make creating anything a priority. Something else always has to be done. For me it's taking care of two boys, pets, a house, and anything else that comes my way. I do make some time though, because if I am not doing something artistic I often feel lost, as if I am missing something important. It's almost like therapy. You'll have to stay tuned to see if I can keep it up!

Finally Finished Felting

Today for some reason I have been inspired to get a lot of artwork done. Perhaps it's because I am against the clock with work starting up again in 6 days. Why is it that we always leave things to the last minute? My sewing machine has been buzzing all day as I managed to thread paint and quilt my latest felted piece. This piece was of a butterfly on my lilac bush that I took a picture of earlier this summer. I was on the way into the van and just happened to have the camera in my purse, so I was able to get a couple of good shots. In this piece I also skipped the wet felting step after I finished the needle felting. This was a bad idea, as I needle felt with a single needle by hand, and this means the wool stays a bit puffy instead of being hard felted. This puffiness was FOREVER getting caught in my darning foot on the machine, which is what I use for free motion quilting. I think it practically doubled the time it normally takes me at the sewing stage. When I wet felt it pushes the fibers closer together and I get a hard flat surface, much like the felt is that you buy at the store. The lesson for today, skipping steps rarely saves time. Tonight after I serve my family a gourmet meal (not really) I plan to work on 3 kerchiefs that I have made for friends. They are already painted and cured, and now I have to do some free motion stitching with some funky variegated thread. I gave them to them for free, but told them if anyone likes them to send them in my direction. Can't beat free advertising.

Finding Inspiration

Making art usually is not something that comes to me like divine intervention from above. It is not always romantic (in fact rarely) where I get up in the morning full of energy and fabulous ideas, then create the perfect works of art in a beautiful studio with no worries of the mortgage or other bills. In fact, it's not like this at all. Inspiration comes in bits and pieces and sometimes in the most unlikely of places or times. For instance, I've been feeling inspired lately to create at a time when I have to go back to work, my son is leaving for university and the army, and my credit card is trying to run from me. Sometimes the hardest of times can create the best of art, perhaps because emotions are running high. A few years back I created a series of paintings based on cancer cells. Not exactly uplifting. I was at a time when I had lost my grandmother to cancer and several friends as well. It seemed to be everywhere, and as a result I reacted to the sadness by painting . I have talked to other artists who have had similar experiences. Inspiration can also come on a walk, at the grocery store, anywhere. It helps to get out and have a wide variety of experiences. I am at a stage lately where I am painting and quilting on fabric. I have been sticking with whimsical themes, but the self critic in me thinks that this work is not "deep" enough, that somehow painting pretty things isn't serious art and won't be accepted by critics. I am probably correct, so it helps to develop a thick skin. I'm not quite there yet, but hope to be someday.

So what is serious art anyway? I always think of it as something that has a message, depicts emotion, is well crafted. I also believe that you can be an artisit and be self taught, although in the art scene there is great predjudice against those who have not gotten the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Correct me if I'm wrong.

What's Old is New

As many of you know, what's old is new again. This is certainly true when it comes to the traditional arts, such as quilting, sewing, knitting, and embroidery. What's new about this though, is that the trend is mixed media, which means a combination of things together. I have been drawn to this in particular with quilting, specifically the art quilt, which is not what your grandmother did. I prefer to take felted pieces and machine quilt them, then add highlights with thread. After that I might embellish with beads or yarn. Anything goes. I also draw on fabric with oil sticks and embellish these drawings in much the same way. Lately I have made several kerchiefs and have gotten a lot of positive comments. Far from being frumpy or "granola", these kerchiefs are fun and funky ( and not bad for hiding a bad hair day!). In the pictures I have included I have used organic cotton fabric ( pre-washed), painted on the daisies with oil stiks, then thread painted small leaves using variegated thread and free motion stitching. I hope to post a few on my etsy store to see what happens. Later tonight I plan to draw on 3 kerchiefs that I sewed this afternoon. They will have to cure for several days before I can do the stitching. If I am feeling really energetic (not likely) then I hope to do some felting and some art history work. In reality I will likely crash in front of the TV around 9 and spend the rest of the evening tuned out. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Heatin things up

It's pretty hard to be creative when you are roasting in the heat. I don't know about anyone else, but the heat tends to suck the life right out of me. I admit I haven't worked on my felting in about 4 days, due in part to the temperature, and in other part to the fact I am in or by the pool trying to cool off. I have however been working on some art history, studying Baroque, NeoClassiscism, and Romanticism. When you look at these periods in history its amazing how much of it influences art and architecture today. Take for instance the American President Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800's. He had his house remodeled in the classical style, complete with pillars and a dome. Roman and Greek art were emulated all over the world. As I said in an earlier blog, you need to look back to see how you got to where you are.I can think of the Dominion Public Building downtown in the small town where I live which has a distinct Greek Architectural front. Looking at the past can also give artists great ideas for their own work. I recently saw an art quilt modeled after variations of the Venus of Willendorf, which was a small statue made by ancient man, possibly a fertility symbol. Inspiration is everywhere. As an artist it is vital to expose yourself to a wide variety of experiences, which is like the fertilizer that helps a plant to grow. In the widely popular book "The Artist's Way" the author suggests that people go on a weekly artist date by themselves to expose themselves to new things and to the art of others. Not a bad idea.

OK, so I know this is an artist blog, but I can't help telling you about my latest "thing". Those who know me know I am a total greening freak, much to the dismay of my family. Suddenly I have been inspired to take it up a notch, and am trying to eat only local food for a week, organic and fair trade when possible. I have also been growing some of my own food this year, and hope to double my garden next year. I've attached a sampling of what I picked today, and I can't wait for the tomatoes to start. Oh, and by the way, everything I make has to be made from scratch. This could be a long week. I guess gardening is kind of artistic and creative, and I admit I find digging around in the dirt to be peaceful, much like I find working on my artwork. You are also creating something from a tiny seed, much like you take an idea and turn it into something artistic. After writing this, I realize I have done an art post today.

Here it is as promised. This piece, which is an image of a clematis from my friend Allison's house, is composed of oil stiks on Muslin, highlighted with thread painting and machine quilting. I have totally fallen in love with art quilting as I mentionned in an earlier post. I use the thread for highlighting and for quilting around the edges of the flower and the leaves. I'm pleased with how it turned out and plan to include it in my solo fibre exhibit at the Amherst town hall in October as part of the NS Fibre Arts festival. My next piece is going to be another felted work, likely something to do with butterflies. I tend to gravitate towards nature in the summer as I have it all around me, especially in my numerous perennial beds. This fall I am leaning towards doing some portraiture work, both on canvas with oil, and perhaps some felting and art quilting. I'm learning something new every day, which means I am always trying something new. I hope I am not becomming the jack of all trades and the master of none!