A Fish Story

This is Mr. Fish and is my "collaboration" with illustrator, Trevor Waurechen. By the way, you can see what we have all been doing at Kollaboration Kingston and blogging about here
Trevor had this illustration of the most awesome fish. I am a huge fan of Dr. Seuss and this little guy really looked "seussical" to me. Thankfully, I told Trevor this and his response was, "Thank you"! I asked if I could create him in 3D and I think he has taken on a new dimension, so to speak! I floundered a little but decided to make him... just for the halibut. (bud-um, chhh!)

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Did it...

Yup. Did it. Bought a machine (again) from Feltcrafts . I did have one of their earlier machines and, at the time, did not (a.) have a specific plan for it's use and (b.) was not willing to spend the time for the learning curve. Anne and Don are fabulous and I adore them, so I am back! I have ordered a 60 inch machine. They have a variety of sizes and I feel very good about making the very affordable investment.

These machines don't save "time" per say and, I stress, you already need to know how to felt and read you wool. Although, for me now making many scarves, I can design while others are rolling and also save some wear and tear on my (currently aching) elbow and shoulder.

I just had a message from the OCC Guild Shop that I have the 2nd highest sales numbers for the month and sold 7 pieces. I find it amazing that people have purchased winter weight scarves in March, but hey, not complaining! Today I will finish 3 scarves on my table, photograph them all and tomorrow get them delivered to a friend who is taking them to Toronto for me :o). Then I get to lay out a bag for my class samples...felting, felting, life is nice!

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3 Scarves done...

These 3 are done. I finished felting them by noon as the layout had been done the day before. I then also laid out 3 simple laminate scarves (not the collage scarves which take much longer to layout) I have 3 more laminate scarves laid out the felt this morning. I have been asked to make more collage scarves by my galleries, but with spring here and summer approaching think lighter weight is the way to go. I will need to continue production on the scarves this summer so I am ready for Fall for the Guild Shop and my other galleries.

I am seriously considering buying a rolling machine. I did have one that I sold. It was when they first came out and it had no speed control. I found I was too impatient for the learning curve on using the thing (I just want to felt!)
But now, with the aches and pains in my elbow and shoulder think it may be time. I know they do not save any work and sometimes things take longer on the machine, but saving my body a little wear and tear may be worth the investment again. I only have to sell 57 scarves to pay for it (argh)

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What I've been up to!

I have laid out some scarves for either the Guild Shop in Toronto or New England Felting Supply (or both depending on how many I can get done!) I will wet these out tomorrow and get them done and start 3 more to finish before the weekend is done. I'll show you when they are done!

This is one of my samples I made for the Bags class I am teaching at NEFS...see below for the "in progress"

Felted and getting ready to gently full. Note the body of the bag seems large as I need to allow for the side depth...

Back of bag and front of flap. Wet out, resist encased.

The "Girly Bag" complete. Kinda Cute...

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The fun that lies ahead...

Oh! The silk has arrived and I want to drop everything and make some collage scarves!! I have a "pod bag" on the table in the making and will post an image later along with the "girly bag" that I finished and is now dry. Once I complete the pod bag, I will lay out some delicious scarves to take with me to New England Felting supply. I ordered some prints I had not ordered before not being certain the weight of the fabric and I am excited to design them. I am certinly not short of projects and need to consult my list before I get ahead of myself. Lucky for me "scarves" are on the list! Must run...more later!

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An image from this morning...

I had mentioned a collaboration in the making. This morning, I met with filmmaker, Lenny Epstein

and photographer (image above), Tracy Olan to film and document one of the stages of this collaboration. This piece speaks to our human ability to view difficult things in a way that allows us to cope, to only hear, read, or understand the things that challenge us in a way we can distill and process. This may come in the form of denial or creating our own truth.

An event in my past left me with a letter that is full of more questions than answers. I create my own story, make judgements, excuses, fill in the blanks to cope with an event that can never make sense. In this piece, a film of someone writing a letter will be projected through and on felted panels of varied transparency. Sound artist, Matt Rogalsky will record the letter being read and distorted and the sound of the pen on paper. Not sure what the completed piece will become, but I hope the concept is translated and will leave the viewer considering the "truths" they create for themselves and why they do so.

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Reading Between the Lines - Distilling Truth

We had a second day of Kingston Kollaboration today and I am working with: Lenny, a filmaker, Matt, sound guy and Tracy the photograher. I have long had an idea about using felt as a filter, as an instument that distills harsh reality. Softens and obscures the truth allowing the reader to justify, accept or deny and, thus cope with Good-Bye. Using film, sound and a piece of my past we hope to create a thoughtful piece for exhibit at the Sandra Whitton Gallery.

Tomorrow we meet to shoot the film portion and I hope Tracy will shoot an image I can post to give you a peek at the process.

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