Needlefelt - Seaform Studies

My mother and I have a wonderful partnership - I provide her with coordinating stacks of fabric and fiber, and she makes magic happen with her embellisher (needlefelting machine). The felted pieces then return to me for beading. Boy, do we have fun!

Shades of Autumn

Although a departure from the maples' brilliant red and orange Autumn hues, these capital pear leaves are just as intriguing. I love this time of year, never tiring of the childhood pastime of collecting leaves.

We are so fortunate now to have access to technology that enables us to digitally preserve these treasures of nature. These beauties will be finding their way into a fabric collage soon...

ATCs

The fairy image in these two ATCs is from one of my favorite antique cabinet cards; the teal wings are available for download here. Backgrounds for these two cards are reduced collages.

The scarab image is from my collection of personally handcarved stamps.

Good Fortunes

Two of my favorite fortune cookie fortunes!

ATCs Gone Bad

Sometimes, you just have to be a little silly! Cow Pi was my very first ATC years ago; I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Elsie. Poor Marnie and Collette were the result of a late-night crafting session for a "What Not to Wear" swap. You have to admire them; if you're going to dress unusually, do it boldly!

Purple Palette

Although the felted piece was created before seeing these beautiful cabbage bouquets at Pike Place Market in Seattle, it's remarkable to me how similar the colors are.

My mother whipped up this felted piece using bits of cotton batik, wool roving, velvet, silk, dyed ribbon and various fibers. She first machine needle-felted the fabric pieces onto a felt base, then machine stitched over all of the fabrics to permanently tack them down. Lastly, various fibers were added using decorative threads.

Quest for the Great Pumpkin...

Although a bit pale in comparison to its brightly colored, 281 pound competitor, this lighter beauty tops the supermarket scales at a whopping 594 pounds - and sports a 132 inch waistline! Pie, anyone?

Upcoming Artists' Flea Market

Our art group is having our first Mixed-Media Market soon; if you're in the Bremerton area on November 7, we'd love to see you! We'll be selling our own handmade items (mixed-media artwork & holiday gifts) as well as vintage treasures (embellishments & flea market finds). There will be refreshments and a free gift for the first 20 people through the door! Check out our Market blog for more info... we hope you can join us!

Mixed-Media Market
"The Artists' Flea Market"

Created by and for Mixed-Media Artists
and those that love pretty, vintage things

Saturday, November 7, 2009
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

at the Westgate Community Center
1550 Rocky Point Road
Bremerton, WA 98312

Free admission and parking
2.7 miles from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal

"Sea Maiden"

Once again, I've chosen Rossetti's lovely Fair Rosamund (1861) as the centerpiece for a mixed-media collage.

My initial inspiration was the aqua and brown "scales" print, which I purchased with the intent of creating a mermaid art doll. I soon realized that it would be difficult to realize my vision with this particular fabric, and gave up the idea of making a 3-D doll. I decided to re-interpret the mermaid theme and create a Sea Maiden mixed-media collage instead.

I'm still working out the details, but think she needs a grotto of some sort - perhaps as an archway overhead. There may be a wall below as well; I have a beautiful piece of Gothic pierced metal that I'm anxious to incorporate. The netting in the photo is actually a vintage hair net, and the shells on her crown are vintage lucite beads.

Bird Collages - Part II

These collages were a joy to work on - nothing like sweet bird images to brighten the day! The main layers and embellishments have been completed - now just the backings, bottom trims and bindings left to do.

"Violet"

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's painting, Fair Rosamund (1861), provides a beautiful focal point for a sampler collage using shades of lavender and purple.

I haven't decided whether or not to use all of the inspiration fabrics shown here; things have a way of evolving, and the initially chosen fabrics and embellishments often don't fit the final piece. So far, I've embellished her necklaces with seed beads and have given her a queenly crown. I'm off to search through the cabinets again... will keep you posted on her progress!

Bird Collages - Part 1

I found some wonderful vintage bird images on Etsy last week. Armed with these pretty birds, I began gathering items for a few fabric collages. My first rummage through the cabinets yielded these beginning palettes.

Wings of Fire

Sometimes, during an otherwise bleak afternoon, the loveliness of nature can bring hope and renewal to a parched soul. After hearing of the passing of one of our family friends, I went for a walk in the backyard. Hiding in the midst of a cluster of beautiful, fiery maple leaves were the most stunning seed pods I've ever seen.

I often find green maple pods on the ground earlier in the season, scattered like tiny fuzzy-headed Luna Moths congregating on the walkway, but never have I seen them in such brilliant red hues. Seeing these wings of fire brought peace to my soul. My hope is that during the midst of your own fire, you will find wings.