My future retired artist puppet takes a break. Yes, I do dream of making art all day, every day... Fun, easy, making anything conceivable, colorful, tactile-y satisfying, soft (that’s right--wool can actually be soft!), meditative...
Can you tell I am hooked?
I was first introduced to felt when I toured the Austin Waldorf School. My friend, Bridget actually taught my daughter and I how to wet felt on my kitchen floor during a playdate. I believe our kids were about 4 or 5 years old. She began dry felting puppets and once I saw the results, I realized I had a new medium. Dry felting enabled so much more control and ability to add detail, at least to my less than skilled wet felting hands! Since then, I’ve made dolls, puppets, masks & hats. I’ve introduced the medium to many of my individual clients and led workshops with adults. I felt in chairs, on the sofa, the chaise, in bed (yes, I’m very careful with my needles! and I’m a good sleeper!). It helps clear my mind. A failed hat may become a purse--we’ll see. Now, if I can just stay clear of the moths, I’ll be just fine. Below is a sampling of my felting experiences:
Can you tell I am hooked?
I was first introduced to felt when I toured the Austin Waldorf School. My friend, Bridget actually taught my daughter and I how to wet felt on my kitchen floor during a playdate. I believe our kids were about 4 or 5 years old. She began dry felting puppets and once I saw the results, I realized I had a new medium. Dry felting enabled so much more control and ability to add detail, at least to my less than skilled wet felting hands! Since then, I’ve made dolls, puppets, masks & hats. I’ve introduced the medium to many of my individual clients and led workshops with adults. I felt in chairs, on the sofa, the chaise, in bed (yes, I’m very careful with my needles! and I’m a good sleeper!). It helps clear my mind. A failed hat may become a purse--we’ll see. Now, if I can just stay clear of the moths, I’ll be just fine. Below is a sampling of my felting experiences:
Left: The “Super Cats & Muki”, inspired by my husband’s stories he has told our daughter since birth about our cats. They have since passed away, thus they sprouted wings. Middle: "Muki" , our family friend's dog , and some funny dolls I made with my daughter. Right: The flamenco dancer and owl in the hollow.
L& M: The reverse-able hat. Right: Hat making workshop! It's exciting to see how everyone's creative self emerges!
L: The Marie Antoinette chapeau. M & R: Dry felted hats get wet felted. While they shrink and are a little less cozy/soft, they're a lot more durable!
The evolution of a very cosy, but oversized hat to what I've dubbed "The blur". Doesn't it look like I'm running really fast?
L & M: The making of an eagle mask. R: The Eagle & intern, Sarah's Day of the Dead Masks.
L: The eagle, fox, and wise Chinese ghost, in various stages of completion. M: A wolf, giraffe and an armadillo walk into a bar... . Fun times at a mask making workshop. R: The wolf is finished! Great job!
The evolution of a “Ghost lady” mask I created for local Puppeteers, Trouble Puppet Theatre Company’s fundraiser. www.troublepuppet.com
I love my slippers.
The "art" begins! The start of a felt relief mural, with some help from interns, Jennifer and Youhjung.
Details...
I'm not sure when I'll "finish" this. Perhaps never. Or, it will just grow bigger! It's fun to see it change over time and I've always enjoyed the scale--it feels like I can step inside and become a part of the piece. Playing between two and three dimensions is something I've always yearned to do. It's definitely easier to work on this piece now that I have acquired enough "eco-friendly" furniture foam, which I mounted on the wall. It's pricey, so it took a few sales at the fabric store!
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