NEW CLASS LISTINGS!

Each year the classes rotate to different months.  I add new classes as I learn new techniques or develop new patterns.  My passion is not only in learning new and challenging  felting techniques but in teaching them to anyone willing to try something new.  These are the classes currently scheduled for the 2013 year at Peninsula Art Academy.   

 

To register for any of the classes listed please contact PAA at 330.657.2248 or info@peninsulaartacademy.com.  Please secure your reservations via email or phone call.  Snail mail registrations:  PAA, P.O. Box 171, Peninsula, Ohio 44264.  Unless otherwise noted walk ins are welcome to the classes.

 

More classes will be coming for November and December.  Just give me a wee bit of time, I have 1 more weekend at Yankee Peddler Festival!

 

 

 

Felting Goodness

Due to popular demand I have put together a weekend of felting goodness.  You can signup for one, two, or all three classes.   Sign up for all  3 classes and not only is there a substantial price break but you will walk away with 4 lovely pieces to keep you warm all winter long, or gifts for 3 different people if you can part with your creations. All materials and instructor fees are included in the price.

 

Basic Scarves October 19th, 2013  9am—1pm $75.00   (members $67.50)

Skull Hats October 19th, 2013 2pm—5pm $75.00  (members $67.50)

Fingerless Mittens October 20th, 2013 12pm 4pm $ 75.00 (members $67.50)

Register for all 3 classes!  Get $20 off.

 

 

 

Basic Scarves

This class starts off the felting goodness series.  You will learn how to create a basic scarf with the wet felting method.   You will learn how to roll the scarf and harden it off using the most basic tools available.  Materials are included in the price.  October 19th, 2013  9am—1pm $75.00   (members $67.50)

 

 

Skull Hats

Named skull hats because they fit closely to your head not because we will put a skull on it.  This design is new to Heather’s felting and is meeting with success at shows.  This hat uses a resist to provide you with the hat pattern. The hat is then hardened to fit your head.  October 19th, 2013 2pm—5pm $75.00  (members $67.50)

 

Fingerless mittens

 If you are anything like Heather, your hands get cold while you are creating away.  But gloves or mittens don’t work because you need your fingers to be free.  Fingerless gloves are just awesome for this.  Another new design from Heather’s studio, it will be debuted at next years shows.  This is your chance to start creating a pattern that Heather has not yet released. October 20th, 2013 12pm 4pm $ 75.00 (members $67.50)

 

 

 

 

And then spring happens...

Have you ever noticed that your activities whether they are business, home, or hobby related tend to find their own rhythm?  And if you are like me, they seem to mirror the seasons. 

So spring found me utterly exhausted.  I sleep the sleep of small children.  If I mistakenly lay down to watch some TV with the boys, at any time during the day, I fall right to sleep.   It's not like I didn't just spend all of winter basically hibernating from most of my hobbies and playing board games with my children.  It is due to the sheer physical, mental and business of spring. 

As many of my friends and family know I hold basically 4 jobs:  Mommy/family job (unpaid in money but paid in hugs and kisses), Garden consultant/environmental educator, Fiber artist and teacher, and of course the 3rd shift managerial work at the WG.  The blessing is the 3rd shift work; I have a crew that I love to work with and admire, and although I may work 8 days of 10 hour shifts I then get 6 days off in a row.  It's like mini vacations every other week.  And yet, the exhaustion of spring comes from working in a box and not being able to convince my tired body that although it is so lovely outside I need to be inside a dark bedroom sleeping.  

Spring brings me to one of my greatest and longest loves, gardening.  I tried to grow plants in the windowsill of my basement dorm room in college, not to any great success but it gives you an idea of how long this has harbored inside of me.  And I blame my grandparents.  Spending time next to them either watching Grandpa Mcclure cut down trees, sugaring (that's making maple sugar for those not in the loop), and smelling diesel on him when he got done mowing.  Or it was watching and helping Grandpa and Grandma Bowman in their flower and vegetable gardens as I grew up.  I remember chasing rabbits out of the garden we had in our backyard in Wadsworth. 

So you may think that spring is my favorite season, but I must correct you and tell you that it is only one of my favorite seasons.  My hobbies are seasonal, and so each season brings forth another hobby.  As spring has changed into summer (just couldn't stay awake to finish this blog in the spring) I find myself shifting gears.  All of the garden beds are planted and are moving towards maintenance. Weeding, mulching, dead heading, harvesting and maybe a few more plantings of perennials I find on sale. 

Summer also starts some of my favorite activities hiking, biking, photography, and I get to start felting again.  My hands are just so grimy and tired from all the planting that felting is frustrating in the spring.  I just cannot get the pressure I need to felt wool around soap, or the various cuts and scrapes catch the wool as I try to do needle felting, and again, I just cannot seem to stay awake.

Fall brings my family into the Fall Hiking Spree in Cuyahoga National Park.  I get to do more felting, and the gardens slowly get put to “rest” with leaf mulch.  It is the ending of a growing season and I love to get it all organized so next year's garden will be even better.

Winter is my time to blog, to rest, work out new felting designs, plan the garden and enjoy my family.  I love the winter hikes, sledding, and just the peaceful look of the snow.

So, as you can see my life seems to mirror the natural rhythm of nature; Spring is bursting with so much life and activity I cannot stay awake when I am still, Summer is about fun with a little maintenance thrown in to keep me in line, Fall is about closure, and Winter is allows me to plan for the next cycle.  I love that about this life and can only imagine how much more seasonal it will become as my kids grow up, my jobs change, and my hobbies grow.

WINNER! of the Fine Art Contests...

As all ways, I seem to be running a little late and this time I can not blame it on my husband or kids.  My first week back to work and all I wanted to do and did was sleep.  But while I was napping there was an Orchid Passions Contest going on and thanks to all those who participated.


Mother's Orchids by Diana Gunning won first place.

Purple Orchids by Kathleen Struckle won second place.


Each piece is so uniquely wonderful that I had a hard time voting myself.  Please visit these links and take a look at what these wonderful artists are accomplishing!

Fine Art America - come view!

So, I am trying to do a few new things every month.  I suppose you could say it is a new year's resolution of sorts, if I ever really do those in January and not 3 months after that time.

This month it is painting my living room.  Which in this house may actually take a full month because I have to move furniture and toys away from one wall, spackle - respackle - sand - spackle - sand - wipe down, and then paint 2 coats.  Move everything back, and then move to the next wall.  So my living room is looking alot like my studio space.

I did say a few new things, so the other new thing is to be a little more active on my websites and groups.  With that in mind I uploaded some of my photography onto www.fineartamerica.com.  That takes you to the full site and it can be daunting.  There is so much awesome art out there, you really need to have something in mind to search for, otherwise you will get sucked in to a time sink.  Although this time sink is filled with lots and lots of beauty! And you can pin what you like to pinterest!

So my site there is http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/heather-quinones.html.  After uploading a few new photo's I took a tour of their contests and entered a few.  Then I decided to host 2 contests - Orchid Passions, to which the public can vote on the piece they like the best (in 4 days).  Then I will, with the artist's permission, felt a piece like the winner's photo.

The second contest is truly just for fun.  Zoo Visits is just for FAA (fine art america) members to vote on but it is so easy to join and they have free membership so join!  And then enter my contests and let me know about it so I can take a gander at what you are doing.

Now I must take these small wee people who are hoarding toys and send at least one off to school.  The weeist one is stuck with me all day and I hope is completely enamored with his trains to allow mommy to get a first coat of paint on this second to last wall.

Ya, he is trouble
 

Painting with Felt

I know that it was sunny and warm and felt a lot like spring today.  I know that I was just complaining about spring teasing me and how I absolutely hate that in-between seasons.  But I could not help myself, I just had to spend the day inside. 

The reason for abstaining from peering through the leaf mulch, looking for signs of spring?  Felting class, not taking one but teaching one.  I was honored to meet 2 lovely ladies this morning who were thrilled to learn a little bit about felting.  I love that they have been around abit and are still willing to learn!  Awesome, awesome day. 

They each created 2 pieces and went with a more abstract version of landscapes.  I would love to see what they end up doing with the pieces in the end...

 



And so after 4 hours of felting, needle felting and sharing stories my two lovely ladies went home.  They have relatively quiet homes to go to, I have a house full of boys, messy boys, boys who like to jump and make everything into swords.  So, instead of dutifully packing up and heading home like a good little mommy I played a little hookey (it's never to late!).

 

 

Now, before you call children services or anything, my 2 gremlins were off at their abuello's being ornery, snacking, and basically being as spoiled as possible.  My husband was most likely at home playing video games, which left me with either 1. staying at Peninsula Art Academy and felting or 2. packing it all up, heading home, unpacking and then finish painting the next wall in the living room.   Of course I chose #1!  I mean, all the fiber stuff is already out, I have my kindle on pinterest so I can look at my fiber inspiration board and there is no spackle to be sanded or wall needing to be painted there.

 

So, I did 3 pieces, a swing, a path in the woods with spring flowers, and a forest of birch trees in flowers.  Here is the start of the birch tree one:

 

Can't wait to finish it off with the details!  But alas, it has to dry...and so I wait impatiently...sigh....

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teasing me...

As many of you know I am not only a fiberest at heart from knitting, sewing, to my all encompassing felting BUT I am also a gardener.  I love growing everything!  And I hope to one day be able to retire and retire someplace really warm like Mexico, where I can grow exotic fruits and grow veggies all year long. 

So when I had that 45degree day this past week, where you could just taste spring coming in the air I was ready.  I headed off to clean up the garden where I consult, helped a 3rd grade class pick one of the new beds for their project, and make a to do list for when I would be fully mobile and less limpy (stupid knee surgeries are catching up to me).  And I made a huge list of seeds to purchase.

So today, when I get up and I see light snow I think OK, its just getting it out of it's system.  But it is now almost 11am and the sidewalks are gone, the plow has gone by 2x's, and I can see that my car not only needs gas but will need to be uncovered.  sigh...I want spring, the trees want spring (you can see their buds are starting to turn colors), the birds want spring (they are trying to nest in the air vent from the oven), and most importantly my kids have cabin fever....

In honor of spring teasing me here is a nice photo of my felte dryier balls.  They will be referred to as "snowballs" for Yankee Peddler but everywhere else, they are dryier balls.

2013 Classes

WHOOHOOO, I may actually be a little organized this year.  Although I have a few empty months due to the other half of my business (environmental education classes), I think this year's classes will interest everyone.  They showcase some of the cool things I have been designing and will give you the experience to do them as well.  Not to worry, as I work out some of my other designs and set dates for the EE portion of my of my life more classes will be added throughout the year. 

If you are interested in registering for any of the classes please contact Peninsula Art Academy either via info@peninsulaartacademy.com or 330.657.2248.  Because I have to order supplies 2 weeks in advance I do ask that everyone pre-register.  However, if you suddenly find yourself with nothing to do for a class day please just send me a note at dabbles.heather@gmail.com as I am pretty sure I have extra supplies laying about the studio just waiting for you to come and play.


Painting with Felt
March 9 2013; 10pm - 2pm; NonMembers $75, Members $65
Felted landscapes will start conversations and just ask for people to stop to admire.  This class will teach you how to start with a base, lay your design in  and the start creating the finer details with a felting needle.  All materials are included in the class.  The piece should finish to be about 8x10 when finished.  You will leave the class with a mostly finished piece, instructions on how to finish it off and Heather’s contact information for any questions that may pop up.  

 

 

 

 Felted Trading Cards

June 15, 2013; 12pm - 3pm; NonMembers $40, Members $30

ACEO’s are the artist version of trading cards.  Designed to be 3.5inches by 2.5 inches these little wonders are miniature versions of larger pieces many artists create.  This class will teach you the skills in creating your own ACEO (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals).  The base and basic shapes within the piece are wet felted but the details are needle felted.  All materials are provided for the class.  If you would like to take the needle and foam home to continue with your new hobby there is an additional $5 fee paid to the instructor. 

 

 

Felted Doodads

August 24, 2013; 12pm - 3pm; NonMembers $45, Members $35 

Let’s felt us up some do-dads!  This class will incorporate a little wet felting, a little needle work, and some needle felting.  Depending on how much your creativity takes over we can create a couple 3-d flowers, a bee, a turtle/animal of your choice, and possibly a fairy or two.  When you leave this class only your  imagination will restrict your ability to create new pieces using wet and needle felting methods.  All materials are included in the class.  If you would like to purchase a small piece of foam and felting needle to take home it is only an  additional $5 to the instructor at the time of class.

 

 

 The Following are CANCELLED -NEW LISTING!

 3-D Scarves

October 19, 2013; 12pm - 4pm; NonMembers $75, Members $65

How much fun do these scarves look!?! Join Heather in learning how to craft these 3-d scarves that embody the basics of felting with more advanced techniques.  This class will be restricted to 5 people due to the space and materials needed so sign up quick!  You will walk away with a beautiful 3-d scarf of your choice of flowers or leaves and the knowledge to make more.  Materials cost is included and Heather will share with you how to make your own nifty electric sander. 

 

 

 

 

Ribbons and Ginko Leaves

November 16, 2013; 12pm - 4pm; NonMembers $75, Members $65

For those faint of heart this is a class to tax your ability to ‘stretch’ your faintness.  We will be manipulating  the wool as we felt it, from pulling and stretching to tearing into it as needed to create these ribbon and or ginko leave scarves.  You will have the choice of either the ribbon or ginko leaves.  All supplies are included in the cost of the class.

 

 

Scarf Art

December 14, 2013; 1pm - 4pm; NonMembers $75, Members $65

Interesting in the felting process but a little trepidation about starting? Or are you an experienced felter who is curious about new techniques?  This is the class for both the novice and experienced felter.  In this class you will have your choice of creating designs in a flat scarf or creating a ladder scarf.  All materials are included in the class price.

 

 

 

This past christamas season

I must admit that the best part of being a parent is watching and encouraging my little peoples imaginations.  From the elves candycaning our house (happens anytime between December 1st to December 24th) to Aaron our resident elf getting into mischeif to their excitement of opening Santa gifts.

The worst part is trying to figure out where I tucked away the kids presents. deciding which prezzie is the best one because the gift we give them will outshine Santa's! at least in the long run even if it is not the one he asked for. and the endless wrapping of gifts. I won't include a photo of what all the boys will be getting but it is a haul this year. I seriously need to start working the season like a job and creating a secret spreadsheet for them.

But, this post is not about what they got, how their eyes lite up with the toys nor how grotesquely over run my living room is still with toys.  It is instead about the present I made my oldest.  He loves computer games, he loves to watch tv, and sometimes I have a hard time getting him excited to go outside to play with me and his brother.  So I am on a mission this year to introduce some old time toys to the little person.  Hence this first one, marbles. 

Now I have never played marbles but it allways looked interesting.  At least the marbles do, with cool designs in these little spheres of glass and all the different desgins and colors.  So maybe he and I can learn to play marbles.  In winter you say?  How on earth?  Well, here is where my creativity takes over a bit. Yep, this felter felted a marble board.  Now it is by no means regulation league size (6'-10' diameter circle).  Can you imagine how much fiber that would take?  Not to think of the floor space one would need to be sure when you harden the piece off it would end up being that size?

And so 3 days before the big day I began the felt process:



first the backing - huge square of white, 3 layers deep

lay in where the circle should be

 

 

 

 

fill in said circle

 

 

start filling in the rest of the circle; hardest part is determining what colors to make it

 

 

 

all ready for felting, 24 hour break!  and make sure the kids do not head into the basement

And let the felting begin; LOVE the new felting tool!

 

Felting part done, you can see how much it has shrunk already and I haven't hardened it off yet

 

FINISHED!  with 20 hrs to go before the big unwrap!

 

 

Piece measures 23.5in x 21.5in; not bad for getting it very close to being square!  The circle from the outside line is 21in at the widest, although it looks a little bit like an oval.