Sloshin' around...

The oceanfront in Encinitas, San Diego, was certainly a treat to visit and stay for a first of several days attending Waldorf teacher training with WISC. The amazing patience and wisdom of Steve Spitalny coupled with the charismatic eurythmist Dean Pollard threw caution to the early childhood winds and inspired those present with their thoughtful insights in the realms of the 12 senses of the developing human. I'm still processing all that today...thank you!

Food for thought by Dean Pollard

A prelude to this amazing week was a trip to The Black Sheep Gathering in lovely and friendly Eugene, Oregon. The hippest of neighbourhoods there has to be the one where art is created at the roadside curb on every turn! This curbside garden came complete, with cycles aplenty and plumes of cabbage and runner beans climbing stakes.

This is not my garden

When the heat like a mist veil floats,
And poppies flame in the rye,
And the silver note in the streamlet's throat
Has softened almost to a sigh.
It is July.

–Susan Hartley Swett (1860–1907

Gathering, not hunting

fuzzy logic....well I couldn't very well leave the basket there could I?

I'm all of a dither while I pack for the wet and woolly Oregon, to experience the Black Sheep Gathering wool festival. Relaxing for me, is nothing to do but explore new territory, in the company of fellow fiber gal nerds; learn some new skills, meet some cool artisans and take couple of classes from the one and only Ayala Taipai, the elven lady who is my first inspiration to the art form of needle felting over 5 years ago!

Ayala, the original wild woolly woman!

update...
Upon my return last evening from a week long conference, I remembered that I had also spent 3 blissful days with friends making stuff and visiting sheep and never actually pressed the 'post' button, so it appears to me in a fuzzy memory when I see the beautiful wool, mohair and dyed felt, I can sigh happily and wonder when I may make something of it!

insert smiley face here

Moveable feast

the most dangerous place for visiting fiber fanatics...

'Making' part Ⅲ

Private Sphere
by Stephanie Metz
featured by permission

Hand made is a concept that seems to imbue quaint or folksy feelings in some people. It eats up time which of course is either a joy or mostly inconvenient, uses muscles you never thought you needed or had and may not turn out the way you had desired upon starting a project...however, it is a natural internal knowledge that this hand art is nourishing the soul, feeding my spirit and healing all sorts of wounds that I never knew I had.

I 'make' things in my sleep, going through the paces, processing an idea or forming a picture in my head before choosing to start something. Sometimes the work is complete in the dream world and it may never have tactile form. Other ideas are worked on and through for many months ( maybe years) before they are ready to be brought into being and where I'm ready to start the physical journey with an art project.

Terra Firma was started two years ago and stands today incomplete and a useless waste of space in my tiny woolly retreat until I had that ah-ha! moment. There was something lacking and I think now SHE will share half with HE and be true to the numerous first man and woman ancient mythology stories. We shall see shan't we!? I suspect some amusing surprises that may take hold when I get to work on her this summer!

This contemporary fiber artist was so gracious when I contacted her about ya'll enjoying her work...as she has popped up a couple of times now and I thought it about time to feature her here as another fabulous artist who is pushing the form of felt to it's edge!! Way to go Stephanie! Enjoy her site HERE!

Meditation by Stephanie Metz

In other news....

new rescue kittens came to stay and play this month..
Donovan Boy named the orange one Jupiter and Ray of Light's moniker care of Little Gandalf
hope they don't wreak my wool boxes!