Snag or Full tree

Sometimes in creating pieces I come to a cross roads.  If someone is around or handy on the phone or even on Facebook I look for some input.  This week has found me with 2 such issues on 2 pieces. 

This piece is still in fluffy mode, one good puff and its all gone.  If my 2 cats were still at the house and had not found some where else to live this would have been a cat bed.  Instead it has sat on the basement table for 24hrs, and will probably be there until tomorrow night.  I cannot decide whether to make the far tree on the left a snag or to pine it up.  The problem is if I 'pine it up' and then decide it would have been better a snag, pulling the green up will hurt the background..cause it's "SO FLUFFY".
     
But I must admire them, they really do look like pine trees, and on my first go...GO ME!  And it does kinda look mountainous in the back there...GO ME!  I am kinda impressed with me, and I hope my little fan club of one (me) does not put you off.  I have had many blunders as I learn how to paint with fiber.  They just get turned into purses or clutches so they are no longer in evidence. Cause I am sneaky that way..soooo sneaky...

The other piece is a question as to "eye or not to eye, that is the question".  There is something missing..can't decide if its an eye or simply need more detail in the background..maybe some indication of scales..mmmm.....

And of course gremlins have stolen my phone.  And so the photo of the eyeless fish, who may or may not need eyes will have to wait.

Finally decided to put an eye on it..looks soooo much better.  And the day I did that, it found its home.  There is a satisfaction level of finding that piece missing and knowing that it completed the whole.

A year gone by...

Well, it is official, I am the worst blogger ever.  It was a year ago this month that I last posted what was happening in this felter mom's life.  I shall blame it on the being pulled in too many directions something maybe all working moms and stay at home moms can understand.  I hope to revive this ancient blog :)  So my end of the summer resolution, to post something I am working on at least once a month...did I already make this resolution?

Well anyway, here is the latest:

Winter Solace



I have been playing with painting with fiber and felt...mmm, it needs a catchy name like feltscape, or paintfelt, or maybe it should be hyphenated: felt-painting? 

 Anyway, even without a catchy name I have had some great feedback from people at Yankee Peddler this year and in fact, sold 2 pieces. 

Blossoms

 

"Blossoms" has found a new home with a lovely art fanatic.  It was great talking with her and her friend.  They even took home the large flower (did not get it's photo before it left me) and the clutch that was made from the part of "Blossoms" branches that had shifted over to far and looked out of place.  It took me 3 months to convince my mom to just cut it out and use it for something else.  The clutch was awesome, very Japanese inspired :) 

 

And the current pieces being worked on:

 

 

 

I put in allot more detail than I usually do, I wanted to test out the belt sander method.  I like it, it really kept the design work in place, and felted the piece nicely.  I think it takes me about the same amount of time if I roll it in the plastic but that could be wishful thinking on my part.  The saving grace with the belt sander is that it allows me to add in some of the shading that I would have to normally do with the needle.  I will still go into the flower to add detail work but maybe this method will help me cut down on some of my time, and the cost of the pieces as well.

 

Next up on my table is a larger piece that is a 'typical' landscape.  Trying out mountains and pine trees for the first time...whhoooohooo..

 

Then onto a wish request by a sister, a very large winter solace picture..shhh, don't let on that its for her.

 

Oh, and one last tidbit, I have been working on spiraling with ruffles in my scarves...they look awesome!  Photo's to come (they are all packed and awaiting new scarf homes) when they are unpacked and put on racks at Yankee Peddler this coming weekend.  Fingers crossed the photos will upload right side up.  LOVE technology!



 

 







Yankee Peddler Festival

YPF is finally here, I can't believe it.  I still have so much to complete, from adjusting my business cards, putting together the educational boards to being sure I have everything needed for the first day. 

And here is my dumb behind, I took a photo of the building but can't get it to load the correct way.  So here is the pic, when I get to a real computer I will fix the photo.

ACEO's...had to try em

I have had this idea banging around my head ever since I saw some ACEO cards (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) at Peninsula Art Academy.  If I had known about these little 3.5x4.5 cards in college I would probably have a huge collection and am finding it very hard not to start nabbing up these little cute pieces of art.

What my idea is to blend this creative little outlet with another one that has me fascintated; zantangle.  I was all ways getting into a little bit of trouble doodling in school.  I still find myself doodling little people, animals, etc.. when I have some down time at work (as if that happens) or I just need to do something different from my current creative outlets.

So here is a start:  tell me what you think :) 

swirls - cant wait to make this into a scarf

 Garden flowers

Green Doodles

watching and waiting

Ever feel like your being watched?

The countdown to Yankee Peddler Continues.  Finally finished the design of the price tags.  The less yellow really makes it pop :)  I shall have to get on the other computer and post a copy of it.  I will definately redesign my card to reflect this change and then incorporate it onto my etsy page.

The "breaktime" from wet felting right now is playing with the kids and getting together my birthday swap partner's gift.  Just can't wait to get that to her:)

playing hookie

yes that's right..although i should be felting in all my spare time, or at least while the little one is napping, I instead spent it playing with needle felting...and here is the result:

the elusive felted bee

 Having done a few of them, I am thinking that if I wet felted a few ovals it may indeed speed the process.  But then again, after a night of complaints at work, sticking a needle into some wool just might be a nice relaxing thing to do.

OK, enough play time, off to the real job and then back home to get some felting done for YPF...although, I do believe these bees might just need a little bee skep for themselves.  And please, no one show the little amigurami thief, I believe he might just go after these as well..

ACK

Once again, too much time has passed since I have been on here to post.  I have bitten off so much, I wonder how to stay sane and then I am reminded that 1 week till Crooked River Fiber Fling and I only have a few more things to accomplich before Yankee Peddler Festival is here.

Yes, that is right, I was juried into YPF about 4 months ago.  Since I was awarded with a booth this spring and summer has been a mad dash to get as much created, sewn, and finished before the festival begins in september.  My biggest fear is that I will not have enough items (best version of my current fear) or that I will completely flop and will be left with all the stuff in boxes. 

I will begin posting more photo's of the stuff made.  Thanks to my mom, the booth space is paid, the purses are being finished with flair, and little things like a makers mark and tying on the flowers to pins are being accomplished.  I would love to know if there are any artists in this festival that do all of it themselves cause I am surely not one of those artists.