Friday, May 30, 2014

Transforming Fiber into Fun

 It is really exciting to plunder my stash in order to card up a bunch of fibers to create an art batt that will one day may be spun up into yarn or added into a felted piece.




Sunday, May 25, 2014

Dye Workshop: Playing with Colour

 Dye Workshop: June 21, 2014

Changing the colour of fiber is a magical experience. It is so much fun to to watch the fiber absorb the colour and transform
This workshop is about the basics of immersion  dyeing using commercial acid dyes. We will be experimenting with vat dyeing and overdyeing.

The workshop runs from 10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. and includes materials. Each participant will take home a sample of the colours dyed.
Cost: $90, includes materials
Registration at coloursparks@gmail.com


Thursday, May 22, 2014

Dye Day is never long enough

 Dye day never seems long enough. No matter how much wool I have prepared, I always end up wanting more.
This time I split up a skein of Cascade Eco Wool in natural and tried to make approximately the same amount in each skein. The yarn took the wool beautifully and I was glad to add a chunky yarn to my stash of hand dyes.
Once I get enough colours, it will perfect for a fair isle baby sweater or something. Maybe a log cabin blanket...the possibilities are endless.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

What Would it Take



What Would It Take
This work is a collaborative between Judith Mueller and Candace Giesbrecht designed to express the community that supports Mental health here in Kelowna
What Would It Take is comprised of many layers of wool fleece, at least 8 different breeds of sheep, that when intertwined become one piece of art.
Just as there are many different people in the world there are also many varieties of sheep not all of which produce the soft fibers we like to wear against our skin and are thought to be the “best”.  When we combine the differences in each breed we create an integrity and strength that can only be achieved through the
 acceptance of the abilities of each individual quality.
The leaves have been hand stitched on after the felting process and contain the initials of the individuals who have chosen to support mental health here at this event.


Thursday, May 15, 2014

A Tree for Mental Health

This is the beginning of my layout for the tree piece I am doing for a fund raiser for Canadian Mental Health at Bottega next week.  At the event, the participants will be able to add leaves to the tree using a variety of materials and they will have the option to write words on their leaves. I am very excited about the project and I look forward to see the tree completely felted and fulled and full of leaves.
At the end of the evening the tree will be auctioned off.
My studio isn't big enough to make a pieces this size. So don't tell my kid, but I used one of his old paintings as a board to create a surface for the lay out. I did cover the painting with plastic so it wouldn't get wet.