Metal, Fiber and Chickens

It has been a busy first part of the year, and now spring is here it only promises to become busier! 
We have the addition of chickens, building a chicken coop, and working on fixing up the fiber studio.  Mark has been busy building the a fore mentioned coop and with other work related metal projects.  As the weather gets warmer, this next batch of rain passes the chickens will be released to their new permanent home and my studio will once again be mine (the chickens are currently residing under my felting table due to the cold and need for space)

I have started a new blog that is just for my making mania, mostly the fiber work. I am so excited for the spring, the studio evolving, and having the space for some large and more complex projects. My new Fiber Arts blog~~

Enjoying visits from friends and family. We have both signed up for the Fall Open Studio, and have a trip to Alaska planned.  Relearning about gardening amongst the deer, and taking delight in just how quiet it gets when it snows. Life is sweet.

Etsy Experimentation.

A few weeks ago I took the leap and opened an Etsy shop.  I have not really been proactive getting my makes out in the world,  not since closing my costuming site many many years ago.  I believe the motivation is generated by wanting to share some of the dye and other fiber work that I have become (yes) obsessed with.  I wish the thrill, amazing scent of a steaming pot of eucalyptus or pines needles could be captured and posted.  The entire process is intoxicating.

I am also continuing to have my work at NevaCo in Nevada City and now at the Riverside Studio Gallery in Truckee, CA where I am taking part in the Lion Heart Art Show with two botanical print panels.  Stop by if you happen to be driving though Truckee.  My friend Laura Morton is currently the featured artist at Riverside as well and her work is lovely.  

Still settling into the new home and fixing up the studio as time permits. My Sweetie has his metal studio up and running and my heart had a leap of joy while working in my studio and glancing across the way to see sparks flying about his space.  Life is an amazing journey!

Having Landed....

I have exciting news.. The makers have landed!

We have moved and are  getting settled into our new home at a comfortable joyous measure. 

And...This place has a studio!! I am so stoked! It needs work and will probably be later spring before it is even a partially functioning fiber studio, but it already has some of my newest fiber passion drying on a table amongst boxes of tools and materials.

I am looking forward to planning this space, bringing in more light and having everything in place, accessible and usable. Excited to know soon I will have a work area to lay out projects, walk away and return to them over however long it takes, not needing to scoop up the this and thats for fear of cat attack or to create room for company, allowing this sweet counterpoint in my life to bloom.

My Sweetie has been amazing, fixing, repairing, splitting wood for the cold, shoveling snow, and being supportive while creating his own workspace and studio (yes there are two outbuildings morphing).  So thankful~ he who’s bright smile is fuel for my soul~

Reflecting on this transition, oh so worth the work, and  I cannot underestimate my gratitude for my family and friends support in our search for a place to call our home.  A warm cozy space in my sister and brother-in-law’s home, my sweet supportive friends and family who listened to me go from excited, to unsettled, to the edge of loosing hope and back around the loop over again.  Quoting Alexi Murdoch..”In your love is my salvation”…

And now to get to creating!
 

Some of my new work with botanical dyeing:

 

Of Flux and Flow....

This has been a diversionary year thus far.  Events such as selling my home, searching for a new space (that I think we have finally found.. including an amazing studio space) Generously shared housing that has given me the most wonderful opportunity to be close to my sister and brother in law.  Exploring new creative spaces, and playing.  Excited for what is to come, sharing a space with my sweetheart, creating together, forming our nest and having the space to grow creatively and in spirit.

Below are some of my more recent play in fiber and metal that have kept my spirit dancing during this exciting & slightly precarious transitional time.

Felted wall hanging with bead-work 3'X3'

I had so much fun rediscovering Shrinky Dinks!  Fun to play with in a small space.
I have shared this with young members of my family as well as a very exciting project to share.
They just love watching them in the oven curling up and taking shape.

Metal class was much fun as always (going to be fun to have a metal shop at home soon!)
I made this aprox 3' dragon fly with rocks, gears from a bicycle, nuts,
marbles and plasma cut steel wings

I found this amazing chair at a junk store near work. It needed some repair and cleanup. 
I felted the upholstery fabric from some richly colored hand dyed merino wool.

More fun with shirnky dinks

Most recently I just completed this pine needle basket with an agate base and beads. 

Metal Fiber Amalgamate

Truly enjoying mixing two of my loves.. Metal and Fiber.

During my metal class last year I put together a bench that I gave to my Daughter for Christmas. I am working on a design for another combination for this coming fall. The possibilities are mind spinning.  Both adventures have unique allures for me.  The soft, pliable, endless possibilities of the excitement of fiber.. the amazement at what can be created with sparks, incredible heat and noisy tools with metal. Very much a delight for whatever the maker mood.

On a even more personal note...Summer has started out lovely, shifting, adventurous, but in an odd state of limbo...  Excited for fall and new classes, a much anticipated move.. curiosity and excitement for where this life shift will take me...grateful for making, creative outlets and beauty in all of it's forms and forces.

Lexie's Bench

 Bench created in Metal Art Class, using steel angle iron and bar.
Finished with a Ferric Nitrate heat applied patina.
Upholstery fabric made of Wool and Alpaca roving base with pre-felted shapes of merino wool.

 Collaborations With Mark

My Sweetie and I have also collaborated on a few pieces as well.  He is an amazing metal artist/maker and being able to work together is a heart and soul feeding adventure, to be sure!

 For more of Mark's amazing work Mark Oldland Art

Fiber, Art and Love

Excited.. Thanks to my dear friend Glenn I have discovered Yolo Wool Mills in Woodland.  Jane took me on a tour of the facilities and the next time I head there I will be sure to take photos.  The wool from this place is luscious.  I discovered her potpourri batting,  that is a mixture of a variety of wools and alpaca.  I have been having so much fun making Cat Caves and other creations with this wonderful fiber.

Life has gotten (for lack of a better word) complicated of late.. So thankful for fiber, art and love!!

Octo-Pod Cat Cave

 

Hungry Fish Cat Cave

Clam Bake Cat Cave

 

Tentacle Topper Cat Cave

The Magic of Millenery

In 2012, the year of fiber and felting I have been having so much fun with hats. To take fluffy wool roving and shape it into any type of  hat that I fancy has been creatively challenging, exciting and joyous.

I have also been able to facilitate a few workshops on hat felting that have been very enjoyable!

2013, well, just getting started! Blessed to have a warm home to play in, employment that allows me to do so, a loving family (miss you Vera), supportive friends, and my Love who shines like the brightest star in the galaxy.. Wishing all joy in this coming year.

**photos of my recent hat creatures: (they went on the page a little wonky, best to click on one and view the lot as a slide show)

Frankenbike

My Art Bike is finally to the point that it can be ridden and enjoyed. I do foresee some fussing with in the future.  This started as part of a workshop for our Makerspace and has been backburnered for some time, only to be moved to the forefront by a request to join my friend and fellow maker Jeff in a parade this coming Sunday.

The bike is a Raleigh 26" bike front end and a kids coaster 20" bike at the back.  Bent steel tubing in the middle.  The handle bars are extended with some galvanized pipe I found in the dumpster at work.  The "head" is an old schwinn bike seat...hard to see but it's teeth are tiny skull beads.  I wrapped the handle bars in silver craft wire and also parts of the frame. 

Here is the progression of my frankenbike.

Pieces Parts

Together, only one peddle and two flat tires

Handles bars are bent and I trust it to sit on....

Pretty much complete, rides pretty well, not too squirrely.

A view from the front

The "hood ordainment"

Update: The parade was so much fun.  Afterwards we brought the bike and the derby racer to a local music festival that our Makerspace had a booth at (MannaFest).  The bike and racer were kid magnets.  We let them sit in the racer, and wheeled them around on the bike.  Enjoyed the entire day very much!