Sea Turtles - "Will we survive?"

Wet felted background, needle felt dimensional sea turtle and plants
~10"x12" wall hanging

The Pelican

The images of the oil drenched pelicans from the BP disaster lead me to creating wall hangings of how these precious animals should look. This pelican is the first in my series.


(~11"x 12")

Nubble Light on Display at Nashoba Valley Winery

The Bolton Artisans Guild "Summer Dreams" exhibit showcases varied works inspired by the theme. I finished "Nubble Light" just in time for this months display at the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, MA

Nubble Light - York Beach, ME

Needlefelted Nubble detail and beginning of rock formation

Nubble background - wet felted

I took advantage of the perfect weather outdoors and wet felted the background for another dimensional landscape. I had some pictures from our visit last summer and am pretty happy with the felted background. This took a bit of work due to its larger size (~24" x 22"). I want to get as many backgrounds done while the weather is nice since I really don't have an area where I can wet felt indoors.

Back to the fruits and vegies (I think I'll take my husband's advice and add bread, cheese and wine!)

Fruit & Vegies - Finished

Day 3...

~13" x 12"

While waiting for the pod to dry and wondering what to fill it with, I worked on my fruit stand which has now turned into fruits & vegies and who knows what else (David just suggested loaves of bread a wheel of cheese, and of course a bottle of wine.. great idea!!)

Stay tuned for progress reports...

My first "pod"

I've been wanting to take a course in felting "pods" and didn't want to wait until the Fall, so I decided to experiment using a resist to create what I thought would be a pod form... Not bad for my first attempt - now I have to figure out what to put into the pod.. maybe a felted critter?

Dimensional Landscapes

River Rocks (not quite finished)

Back from a 2 day workshop by Andrea Graham, Felt Artist extraordinaire held at New England Felting Supply in Easthampton, MA - tons of fabulous felting supplies and only 1.5 hours away from Bolton.

I learned so many new tips and techniques. Here are a few photos from the session...

Laying out the wool


After wet felting


Adding the dimension


Almost finished







This will take a long time to add the fruits and vegies.. - soooo much fun!





Laura & Andrea in front of some yummy fibers..


Andrea(s) "rocks"!!!

Signs of Spring at the Bolton Library, Bolton, MA

I've neglected this blogsite for much too long, my apologies...

I'm happy to write that I've completed a needle felt wool rendering of our library in Bolton, MA. This library now has a massive addition which isn't part of this felted work since I started this piece 3 years ago.


More pieces to finish and will post them as they are completed...

Happy New Year

Wow - I can't believe that it's been so long since I've blogged. Holiday shows and sales along with the typical Christmas crazies kept me very busy. No new year resolutions for me - just want to wind down 2009 and ramp up 2010 in a more relaxed fashion.

Here are some pix of my end of 2009 works...

Here's "Maggie" one of my favoite Gossip Girls

A couple of roosters hanging around

...and Honey Boy - a special custom order

Japanese Paper Doll "Ningyo" cards

I love colorful origami paper and found a fabulous way to use some of my collection. These Japanese paper dolls make great note cards to both collect and gift to others. Ningyo "human figure" dolls seal friendships, protect or purify those who use them, and help children explore their roles in society. Their history also reflects the development of religious and political ideas.

Happy & Healthy Germs - flu antidote

These alien-like healthy germs will protect you from the H1N1 flu or at least will help make you smile.



I was inspired by a felter in Finland to create sculptures of what healthy and happy germs might look like to help ward off the H1N1 germs.

Cookie Cutter Divas

New ornaments to add to the holiday collection...

New Gossip Girl in the Neighborhood

Turkeys, Trees and Gingerbread Ornaments

Been busy working on new holiday ornaments for the upcoming Bolton Artisans Guild Holiday Show & Sale. Here are a few in progress...

Need some inspiration!

A visit to the Cape might be just what's needed to get some artistic rejuvenation! The sun, the sea, the surf, oh my!

I'm bringing my paints, sketchbooks, and camera to capture some of the fabulous sights on the Lower Cape....

Stay tuned for some great creations when I return, or at least another blog entry.

...and if you're planning a trip to the Peabody/Salem Massachusetts, consider visiting the Peabody Historic Society

Artist Interpretation Project Complete!

My interpretation of the Proctor Tavern Sign is now at the Peabody Historic Society Museum and will be on display at the exhibit "Historic Interpretation: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Historic Collection" Part II

Opening weekend, August 15, 12 - 7 pm & August 16, 12 - 3 pm
Also on view 1st and 3rd Sundays: September 6 & 20,
October 4 & 18, 12 - 3 pm.

An elephant's trunk pointed up symbolizes good luck - hopefully there will be oodles of people visiting the show.

An explanation of needle-felting and a sampling of the fibers used will also be displayed for those not familiar with the process. Dyed and natural wool fibers are blended to create the desired color palette.

This was both fun and challenging and I'm glad that I"m part of the show. Due to the overwhelming number of artists, the show has been scheduled as two distinct presentations. The first presentation continues now through Aug 2nd, an then the second presentation (where my sculpture will be on display) will start Aug 15 - Oct 18 - the Salem News had a great write-up of the current exhibit.

Peabody interpretation - In progress...

Trunk is UP - better luck will follow!



The historic interpretation is coming along. The elephants rear legs, tail and tusks need to be finished, along with the rider. I hopefully will be able to get it finished before the August 2nd delivery to the historic society/museum...

Historic Interpretation

I'm participating in a "Historic Interpretation" of an artifact at the Peabody Historical Society, Peabody, MA. Area artists were asked to choose an artifact from the Historical Society and create their interpretation using their medium of choice. I decided to create a 3-dimensional “sculpture” of the elephant and rider made of wool sheep fibers over a wire armature based on the Johnson Proctor Tavern Sign.




Here's my work in progress - I have to work on getting the rest done as I need to deliver the elephant to the museum on August 2nd...

Belinda

I'm currently working on a commissioned "mini-me" doll named Belinda. I've never met the real Belinda and am working from photos. Along with the photos, I received a fabulous written description so that I could try and create a close likeness. I'll be posting photos of my work in progress.

I started with basic white fleece, created the head and have added the features... Belinda "has a bit of a crooked smile" which I accentuated to help capture her personality.




She now has a partial body..

Almost finished - Belinda has to sit and let the wool relax and then I will primp and apply the finishing touches....

The Gossip Girls

I finally had some time to spend in the studio. My first doll creation from the Art Doll Workshop was really lonely and needed a friend so I created someone to keep her company. They are so happy that they have each other to "gossip" 'er talk together.