It appears that I'm not systematic in blogging (oh really? yep, I was shocked to find that my last post was in October - shame on me).
Plans are to change this in 2016 and keep the record more up to date. Truth is, it looks like I haven't done much and I've been more busy than ever, however, sitting down to document has been another story, as I'd much rather be doing than writing about it. Facebook is good, because I can take a quick break and do a quick post or two. This past month though I have been sick with a dastardly virus that began when I returned on December 5 from a very successful pop up show in Charleston, SC, that I was invited to participate in with a group of fun ladies (and now new friends) at a fabulous home. Still today, three weeks later, I'm just beginning to feel more like myself but the congestion hasn't quite gone yet; it only makes me more grateful than ever for the good health I usually enjoy.
Plans are to change this in 2016 and keep the record more up to date. Truth is, it looks like I haven't done much and I've been more busy than ever, however, sitting down to document has been another story, as I'd much rather be doing than writing about it. Facebook is good, because I can take a quick break and do a quick post or two. This past month though I have been sick with a dastardly virus that began when I returned on December 5 from a very successful pop up show in Charleston, SC, that I was invited to participate in with a group of fun ladies (and now new friends) at a fabulous home. Still today, three weeks later, I'm just beginning to feel more like myself but the congestion hasn't quite gone yet; it only makes me more grateful than ever for the good health I usually enjoy.
2016 promises to be the busiest and most creative year yet and I have been offered some fabulous opportunities; I finally feel as though there is a nitch for my felting in the Low Country. I believe most people viewed felt making as more suited to those living in the North but once they were exposed to lovely light and airy nuno felting, ideas of too hot and wooly changed so now a lot of interest in workshops has been generated and I can't wait to share my passion. I have also been fortunate enough to meet some lovely people who are interested and are helping me reach a wide expanse of potential students locally - Beaufort, Charleston and Savannah.
So beginning in January, I will be joining SATB (Sewing At The Beach) in Myrtle Beach for a week of teaching. I'm excited to be meeting up with like minded creative people all gathered together under one roof - the creative energy generated at these events is unsurpassed! I'm teaching several classes using my trusty Baby Lock Embellisher combined with stitching/wet felting and so this week I will be making new samples - cuff, painting with wool, nuno fragments and my favorite, art flower felts. It is so fun to get lost in your passion and I am so ready after being sick for so many weeks. I love working tone on tone and creating lots of texture; working this way permits you to add punches of color if you feel it is necessary, but a lot of times, things that are too busy, do not appeal to me so it feel better to me if I approach it this way. The great thing about the Embellisher is that there are tons of ways to fix it if you aren't happy at first - cover or remove are just two.
Either in January or February, I will be scheduling a workshop in Charleston so keep tuned for that update.
In February, I will begin teaching at ArtWorks newly named Mather school; we are hoping that this will be a regular venue.
Early March, I will be teaching my other passion, Eco Printing, for the Fiber Guild of the Savannahs. Later in March, I am heading off to teach Tessellations in Felt at the Ballarat School in Australia and then later in April to Wilmington, NC, to teach Eco Printing.
In between, there will be more workshops for ArtWorks, the Fiber Guild of the Savannah's as well as in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in October. November will be busy with our FAB (Fiber Artists of Beaufort) annual show and sale.
If you or your group are interested in developing a program, please be in touch and I will design a special project and workshop just for you, whether it be wet felting, machine needle felting, eco printing, silk fusion or joomchi (Korean papermaking)
I've had two drumcarders in the past - an Ashford that I really liked, but I sold the Ashford and purchased the large electric one as I thought I may create production batts - I didn't enjoy it very much at all. Thankfully, used drumcarders are in great demand so I had no trouble selling it - especially as I had used it only a handful of times. My secret desire for a while was to have the Louet Junior because when embellishing, there are so many times that I want to gently blend silks, merino, curls for backgrounds - I really needed it and it works like a charm for my purposes! I just LOVE it - simply and effective. It is a dream to use, really.
