Work/Play

Will she remember?

front...

on the back...

Work? Play? Where does one begin and the other end? I am really not sure. When it comes to felting, it is always both. I made 2 simple treasures yesterday, toyed around with the idea of keeping them for myself, as I often do, but know today that they will be sent off to others. One a gift for the most lovely friend ever, the other, a long over-due commission to another dear friend, who is likely to have forgotten the request.

The house is quiet. We have settled easily into the holiday routine of indulgent, late nights and lingering in our warm beds a little too long in the morning. I peer, now and again, at the Artist in Residence schedule on my desk as though it is something long in the future. My time in the studio yesterday was completely unplanned and spontaneous. The next few days involve a little maintenance and repair in my studio so perhaps it was my subconscious fitting in some wool time while I can.


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They came, they ate, they went...

Fabulous Holiday. I love my family.

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Closer to my reality...

Yes, the sterile, airy space from the previous post would be very nice. However, until we can function with a lot less "stuff", this is closer to my reality. Not so bad either.

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House Clean

Just looking at this makes me breathe deeply.

As the holiday approaches (and all the days preceding, frankly) I am wishing I could purge all surfaces, hidden spaces, and those cupboards that you close real fast, of all extraneous matter that clutters up my subconscious head space. It all really makes me crazy. Living in a house with many others requires great patience and hope that, at some point, I will have a minimalist space. The studio does not count, of course. I think I will, however, make it a resolution to transform my studio space to a more peaceful, zen space. This will require the installation of a door, however!

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Where have I Been??

The bag I managed to fit in amongst the chaos! Details below!

Ahh yes, nothing like getting together with my favorite gal, wearing matching acrylic sweaters and charring up some polish sausage. Life is grand, no?

Okay, could not resist this picture. I do have more that are equally entertaining. In any case, I know, I know, I have been a neglectful blogger. Not like me, I know. Not sure where the days have gone as I have been neck deep in family, studio and my retail business that I feel shackled to!

After operating a small retail business with my wonderful mother for 6 years, we are clearing out some things and switching gears which has meant mark-downs and lots of orders leaving time for little else. I will be very happy to see Friday arrive when shipping out and deliveries are done.

Yesterday I had a wee flood in the studio (via the ceiling under the boys' bathroom floor-don't ask) and today I broke a glass plate. While this sounds like a quick clean-up, quick it was certainly not. Shards of glass were in the dishwasher and every place possible requiring a good hour of my day. It has just been one of those weeks, in short!

This past weekend, however, I did make a fabulouso bag! I am in love with it and have an idea for another design. I am sorry I did not photograph the process, but will for the next one for you all. I made a piece of prefelt with a cotton fabric and corriedale, accordion folded it while stitching in strips of resist. I then laid this on the surface of my bag right after I wet the fibres out. Once it was all done, the resists were cut out with a lovely effect. The body of the bag is C-1/Pelsull in a really dark charcoal. The dyed black takes a bit longer to full and I was feeling wimpy and not unusually patient. This technique is similar, I believe, to Marjolien Dalinga. The result looks similar, in any case. I am going to play with the technique and materials and make effort to create a unique twist on the technique.

The next two days involve some tying up of loose ends, deciding what I am going to have to let go and not get done and then it is time to spend long days in the studio, drink hot chocolate and hang with the family. Fa La La La La!

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December is here. Say what?

Done...

2 layers. Ready for pocket resist.

Adding some colour.

..and some "stuff".

resist is buckling. Time to cut it out.

the first cut is the deepest (or scariest)

December? Wasn't it just September or July or something. Craziness. I am totally low energy the last couple of days. I am battling a throat that is on fire and have not decided if I am going to sit for hours at the clinic. If I pretend, maybe it will go away.

I had a conference call Monday, so got a bag laid out and then took 2 more days to complete it. I am waiting for a wool order (inpatiently) that was placed weeks ago to start on my teapot for the Morgan Glass Gallery invitational show. I now only have 3 pieces to send to the Guild Shop in Toronto...2 bags and a yoga monster, but with samples to make for my artist in residence, should probably just ship 'em out.

I am taking the family out to the thea-tah this week. I am sure they will complain, they always do, but I am hoping when they are all grown up they wiil appreciate all the live music and culture I have forced on them!

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com