Today...

Oi, my feet hurt. I made the below scarves today as well as a bag, which is in it's final stages, so will post image tomorrow. 12 hours on my feet...time to sit and read, even though all the troops are fast asleep! The OCC guild shop in Toronto needs more work and I have lots of other art commitments, so am going to knock some good felt out and get it out the door!

felted and ready to full...

2 fulled, one to go

three done...really happy :o)

done...laying flat

on my favorite model.

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Students Yesterday

I had 3 lovely Quebecois women in the studio yesterday who woke up very early for the trek to see me. We did a one day vessels class that went by in a flash. How quickly time passes once we get started! They were lots of fun and did very well with their English, which is a good thing because I speak no French, whatsoever!

Celine, Francesca and Anne-Marie

Celine's layout

Done!

Anne-Marie shaping.

Now, to tidy the studio so I can get back to my own work. I will keep you posted ;o)


Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

What's up

Quick piece in the studio the last couple of days.

Tidy of studio for students arriving from Montreal tomorrow.

Zipped up to Almonte to new gallery and lunch with my favourite Mom.

Parent teacher interviews.

Early to bed for aforementioned students. 

My "palm washboard" from Heartfelt silks

surface detail

rushing falls behind the Heirloom Cafe, Almonte

Mmmm. Quinoa salad

g'nite

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Home is where the heart is...

De-Icing in Toronto

Into Laguardia

In contrast...into Denver!!

Shuttle into Estes Park

Behind the middle doors is my studio for the week!

Our Space

View out the back door

From the back door again...Wow!

Ipad cover in the making

Deb's soon to be "bark" bag

Alex's soon to be hip bag for passport and the all-important smart phone.

Grommet time. Flap to be fully finished later.

The revealing of the elements!

Impressed that she was able to really follow the detail of her sketch!

Just a handful of the 15+ pods that were done in the class! The green one was my sample and has a new home!

My last (short) sleep was spent at the Denver Crown Plaza. Lucky me...

I had a wonderful, albeit quick, trip to Colorado. Two workshops with eager students that made great things. Pods went well and, as usual, produced a wide range of wild plant and animal creatures! I warned some that it would take awhile given all the elements that were being added, but did not want to discourage them. They did not disappoint as some worked late (lucky me got to sip wine and chat!). Day three began bags and after another late-night conversation while students worked the night before, I allowed a nice range of options for my students. The ones that had the most ambitious bags worked extra hard to finish in plently of time and the new felters were great about not being too elaborate with their design.
They were a wonderful, warm group and I hope that I will have the chance to go back to the area. The view from my studio was stunning, as you can see. The elevation took a bit of getting used to as I huffed and puffed walking to the dining hall (how sad is that?!) But, it was so fabulous. Visiting with "old" (sorry ladies) friends, Val and (fellow instructor) Jill Gully was so nice and made a couple of new friends, Deb and Alex who I hope to cross paths with again.

Everyone fared well at home, but they were happy to see me as the cupboards were getting empty. I was happy to get back to the studio and reality, even though being away in the beautiful rockies with wonderful students was pretty sweet too. Thanks, all.

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

New work...

In between teaching/travel teaching/webcam teaching and producing work for my regular galleries, I have been working on pieces for my "big January show", as I seem to be referring to it as! (I actually have 2, but one space will be an installation only, the "big" show is a huge space that will have to be lots of stuff!)

Lots of ideas in my sketch book. Just a sample of what will come...

felted and ready to cut

My inspiration was an image of a carved wooden piece of art by George Peterson

I was guinea pig sitting for my son while I worked.  Meet "Scooter"

Cuts done and time to finish

Still drying

A closer look

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

Whirl Wind Weekend

This weekend went by in a flash. I planned. I made lists. I packed and anticipated....and now it is done! I have a lovely friend, Susan, who is such an easy-going, kind soul. She serves as the go-between for registrations and payment and rounds up people from gosh- knows- where to come to our little village to felt. she asks very little in return (okay, she asks for nothing!) and makes everything run smooth as firmly felted short fibre merino so I can concentrate on the students and the teaching. I am sooo lucky! Her husband even came to fold up tables and help me load up! THANK YOU!

I also had the most amazing students. So warm and eager. Not a complainer in the bunch and I enjoyed getting to know my repeat students even better and truly hope that the new ones will come back to see me.

Saturday was the heavy day with lots of physicality. One day for sculpted hats IS doable, but not for the lazy and I had a great group that made great hats and trusted in me that: those holes would disappear, it would fit, it would all stick, and they would just need to rub a little bit longer. Thanks for trusting, ladies.

Day two began with the knowledge that I had a group of hard workers, so many options were given...and taken...with some lovely results. I managed to photograph a few, but missed others (sorry!) Will you trust me when I say they were all a success and looked amazing? Of course you will ;o). Silk was flying, wool was felting, texture was happening. It was all good.

So here I sit, my van still packed (will address tomorrow), with a glass of wine (thanks to Susan...can you believe my good fortune?!) with tired feet. The studio will take a couple of days to reassemble and then I am back to work. I will keep you posted.Until then, enjoy the images!

Susan's Sculpted hat.

Shoshanna and Hoki. Great vibrant colour on black!

The crew minus one!

My lovely young scarf student with a stunning lattice on silk. So sweet on her!! She is like a beautiful china doll!

Simple hat with "Spinach Linguine" scarf...or was it  the "Seaweed Scarf"?

worn by the maker, Sheila. So great!

My right hand, Susan. rich browns and deep purple!

My new Francophone friend, Marianne. We speak "felt"

Lovely circular element was her favourite part!

...and the most lovely handmade gift. So much work...and with another delicious treasure. Merci Beaucoup!!

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com

New work...

A snow day was thrust upon us and in spite of having three boys at home, I spent the entire day in the studio. It is possible, however, that the entire day was spent in the studio because all three boys were home ;o) I have been amassing sketches and not short of inspiration, I just decided to "make". My work tends to evolve away from the sketches sometimes and I just go with the creative flow. I will make a few of these that will hang together and be part of one of my shows in January.

getting started...

layout

Patty is creeping close and got yelled at

Adding some colour to my sketch to help decide

Patty sleeping...what a nut

The completed piece drying...to be finished and photographed later. 

Like these 2D pieces with 3 dimensio...more to come.

Visit my site www.andrea-graham.com