Is there such a thing as an anti-rain dance?

Or maybe a patron saint for weather?   This weekend is the first outdoor show of the season (Elmhurst Art in the Park) and the weather report is iffy.  As in rain, strong winds  and possible hail.  I just spent the afternoon waterproofing the tent (thanks, Mary!) and I'm figuring out ways to supplement the weights for my tent.

The other night  I had dinner with some artist friends of mine --all more seasoned than I--and was regaled with stories about tornados and hurricanes at art shows: tents blown away or twisted beyond belief; artists suspended mid-air Mary Poppins style as they try to hold the fort down,  so to speak.   So I'm a wee bit freaked out.  Last year I did just three outdoor shows--this year I am scheduled for nine.

But on the bright side,  lots of my artist friends will be there along with many folks I don't know yet. I'm looking forward to meeting  new artists and customers at this new venue!

I Need One of These

Well, "need" is not really true.  It's more like "really, really  want".   I was at Dick Blick art supply the other day (between art stores and hardware stores,  I can spend a lot of time perusing the aisles....) and this item stopped me dead in my tracks.   They had several styles on a table and instead of photos,  they had construction paper flowers hanging from the clips.   Looked really cool and I immediately thought of using one for my felted flowers.  I've seen a few jewelers at shows using  these for their earring cards and it makes for a really eye catching display.

What do you think of using it for these?

First Show of the Year and $5 Coupon

This Sunday is my first show for the 2010 season.  Stop by Architectural Artifacts between 10:00-5:00 for a cool selection of fun artists. This is always a fun show, because you get to see what we all have been working on since the holiday rush: new items new designs, etc.  And the setting of course, is amazing.

For details on the show, check out the listing from Time Out Chicago

I've been working on new capes and shawls and  lightweight nuno felt scarves for warmer weather. Dyeing silk, fiber and playing around with new designs. I've added to my scarves made from vintage sari silk. And make sure to check out the new ribbon felt scarves, which can be worn so many ways.  My schedule is shaping up--check it out on the right.  I'll be busy this year!    As soon as I hear back from a few more shows, I'll make sure to post them.

Mention this blog and get $5 off your Felt Inspired purchase! 

What's Cookin'?

More likely than not, it is fiber of some sort (as in silk fabric or wool roving, as opposed to a high-fiber dish)  I've been busy in the kitchen cooking up silks for nuno felting and experimenting with space-dyed wool roving.  The beauty of dyeing for felting, is that it doesn't have to be  perfect.  The fabrics are even prettier when imperfect-I intentially let portions of the fabric bubble up to the surface where they don't get as much dye--the uneven color looks great for nuno felting and adds another dimension to the design.

Looking at these photos reminds me of all the kitchen things I use for fiber arts (I love repurposing items).   The list includes: a stock pot for dyeing, hot dog tongs for handling hot stuff in the dyepot, whisk for mixing dyes, salad spinner for drying fibers, electric knife for slicing felt,  pasta maker for clay and a toaster oven for clay.

Nuno Felt Class this weekend!

Ok, it's been waaay too long since I've last posted. January-March is generally my "rest-after- the-holiday-rush" and "research and development" period (playing around with new designs). Lots of fun new designs to introduce--right now I'm working on taking photos of everything.

In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know about my nuno felt class this weekend at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center. I'm always amazed by the work produced by the participants--come and join us!

Jury Photos

This is art show application season--the rush of the holiday season is quickly followed by the rush of due dates for most of the major shows. While I'm grateful that the digital format is taking over from slides, I'm not as keen on the online application format. These systems are all about the photos, with little or no room for information about the artist or previous awards/recognition.


My jury photos are 4-5 years old and my work has changed so much in the past few years, so I am in desparate need of new ones. I have used Guy Nichols in the past and really like his work-thanks to his shots, two of my pieces were featured in the Crafts Report. But I know that there are others out there who specialize in jury shots with models. And now that I'm doing larger pieces like shawls and capes, I think I may need to pony up for more jury shots with a model.

Anyone out there have any recommendations for photographers in the Chicago area specializing in wearable art?