I am trying the whole Etsy store thing again. I won’t have everything posted but I will use it for notecards and some original stuff. I will be doing periodic updates where I post a few originals. My first one is OCT 24 at 6pm EST.
Settling in is a long process. It seems to go in stages. You get one room settled and then in gets cluttered up as you work on another. But eventually everything will find it’s place! Some of my art stuff is finding it’s place. The garage studio conversion is going to take longer than originally planned. So in the mean time I have moved into one of the spare bedrooms. While it is…ummm smaller….than what I was coming from,
it’s already been a nice space, once I got it cleaned up that is.
It’s a nice reminder that creativity comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s the work that matters most! And I have been able to pick up my pencils and paintbrushes.
I even have my work available at my favorite new spot in Fayetteville, Leclaire’s General Store!
It has been a pretty good couple weeks so far, and it’s only going to get better!
It’s been a whirlwind couple weeks. I had my TV debut, the opening of my show “Tall Tales and Felted Fables,” had a number of Felties find new homes AANNNDDD
Moved. The day after my show.
I will miss everyone in Richmond! But don’t worry I will be back for shows and exhibitions. So you can’t get rid of me to easily. I am happy to be back in Fayetteville though. We lived here for many years before moving a bit. So it’s like coming back to our second home.
I will have an awesome home/garage studio—-when it’s done. At the moment all my work stuff is still in boxes.
We are waiting to have windows put in the new studio, and after that I am hoping to get back to work. But it will be awhile. So if you need anything, just know my turn around time is much longer than normal. I am hoping that within two weeks I can at least find my prints/paper/pencils/paints. You know all the stuff I need. But until then I just ask everyone to bare with me!
On Monday morning I was on CBS 6’s “Virginia This Morning,” talking about my upcoming show and demonstrating needle felting. If you didn’t get to see the segment click on the link below.
Monday afternoon I dropped off all my art for my show “Tall Tales and Felted Fables.” It’s a little nerve racking driving around with over a year’s worth of work in the van.
We only had one transportation casualty. But a little ant rehab had him up and ready to get redelivered on Tuesday.
We are also moving to NC this week, so the rest of my time has been spent packing, sorting and loading the van back up. So don’t mind me…zzzz
But the point of all of this is that the opening reception for my show is TOMORRROW!!! From 6-8 pm at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen. I would love to see everyone!
I am still working on pieces for the show coming up in July! This week it’s all about the rose leaves! Trying to take some lessons from my turtle, slow and steady, slow and steady!
The count down has begun. Here is the official Facebook event page for my opening reception at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen on July 19! You can come by car, train or paper plane!
I realized it has been a long time since I posted on my website blog. Facebook and Instagram has become my main mode of communication and chronicling. But I want to do a little better in keeping this more up to date! Right now I am working on a body of large scale watercolors for my solo show “Tall Tales and Felted Fables” coming up in July at the Cultural Art Center of Glen Allen. I have plans to make this project into a book-so I am not sharing too many photos…yet! I will debuting this work along with felted characters at the opening reception on July 19! But for now, here are a few sketches, some sneak peaks and small “out takes” from the project!
By popular demand I have organized some felting classes and workshops!
I really enjoyed teaching my needle felting workshop at Open Ground Studios this spring. I have had many people ask me about teaching here in VA so I wanted to start offering a chance to learn about poking the wool! I am very fortunate to have my own studio that will work great for workshops and I am working with a local art center for my classes.
Beginner Mouse Edition November 11, 2017 10am-4pm Plant Zero, Studio 39
Poke it to life, the mouse edition.This workshop is an introduction to the addictive realm of sculptural needle felting. This unique process involves poking un-spun wool with a barbed “felting needle” to knit the fibers together, creating felt. No sewing or patterns required! The repetitive process has a zen like quality and the ability to produce incredibly engaging creatures. In this edition of “Poke it to Life” we will create a mouse character and in the process learn basic techniques for felting, attaching eyes and accessories and simple armature construction. No experience necessary. Come join us and experience the wonder of a character emerging from the palm of your hand! Supplies included. You will get to keep two felting needles.
Fine Print: Students 10+. We will be using sharp objects with the potential for poking ourselves. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. $100 all supplies included
Mice
Beginner Bee Edition
December 9, 2017 10am-4pm
Plant Zero, Studio 39 This workshop is an introduction to the addictive realm of sculptural needle felting. This unique process involves poking un-spun wool with a barbed “felting needle” to knit the fibers together, creating felt. No sewing or patterns required! The repetitive process has a zen like quality and the ability to produce incredibly engaging creatures. In this workshop we will create a bee character and in the process learn basic techniques for felting, attaching eyes and accessories and simple armature construction. No experience necessary. Come join us and experience the wonder of a character emerging from the palm of your hand! Supplies included. You will get to keep two felting needles.
Fine Print: Students 10+. We will be using sharp objects with the potential for poking ourselves. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. $100, all supplies included.
Bees
Classes
Poke it to Life, Beginner Mouse Class. This four week class is offered at the Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen. Registration is through their website, http://www.artsglennallen.com. The class runs from Nov 8-Dec 6 2017 from 6:30-9pm. (With a week off Nov 22.)
This weekend I will be set up at the Science Museum of Virginia for Richmond’s Makerfest. This is a different event than I normally participate it. It’s a hands on event with vendors doing demonstrations about how people “make,” whether that be science, technology, art, engineering, sustainability, food, fashion or crafting. Vendors are also selling their goods-and all makers need purchasers to continue!
I will be set up (and selling) my paintings, prints, cards and merchandise like usual but I will also have my collection of felties with me. I will be demonstrating needling felting techniques, giving some hands on introductions to the tools of the trade AND selling my available felties!
So if you have wanted to see how my little critters are made or if you have been wanting to purchase one stop by!
Hi Everyone. I have something I would like to share about this piece. It is a piece about loss and more specifically a piece about my personal loss. I had a miscarriage this month. (I am physically doing just fine, no physical damage or lasting effects.) I drew this piece a few hours after the doctors appointment where we found out there was no longer a heart beat and that the pregnancy would shortly end in miscarriage. I painted it during my recovery from the D&C surgery I needed because my body hadn’t naturally miscarried. I have debated sharing the reason behind this piece, mostly for fear of the misinterpretation of motives. I am not looking to garner sympathy or do any kind of preaching. But I felt like sharing this piece and its meaning might bring comfort to others. One, because I found out early miscarriage is fairly common and there just isn’t much dialogue about it. And as someone who gained a lot of comfort from dialogue about the experience I wanted to put my money where my mouth was and talk about it the best way I know how-through art. And secondly, as an artist people are always asking where my inspiration comes from and I want to be truthful about my answers. I always say I find inspiration everywhere. And I mean it. I don’t just find inspiration in happy moments. In my artist statement I say that I believe art’s power is in its ability to make others see. So I make a choice to address issues in a way that offers comfort not just replicates the problem in another form. I love this little mouse. It makes me sad, it makes me hopeful, it makes me say goodbye, it makes me smile- all at the same time. So if I can offer someone else going through this loss a moment where they can smile through the tears then I want to do that. I am keeping this painting for myself, but I will be having prints made because I want to share this little mouse as much as it needs to be. I will be donating a percentage of the proceeds of any print sales to to St Jude.