Brainstorming

Two things:

I finally made a scarf for myself, here's a sneak preview:

It's big and bad and mustard yellow.

Also, sometimes I like to make sketches only to find, months later, the inspiration:

Stocking Stuffer

Stocking Stuffer's internet doppelgänger:

and the internet's way of providing me with colorful organization. 

dream wall:

I HAVE BEEN ...

at the Cambridge Artists Cooperative for 11 whOOOOOOle days!!!!  I was thrilled to make my way up to Boston for the opening reception on Thursday February 9th and although I was perspiring more than usual, I held myself together. The exhibition looks absolutely fabulous and I am SO thankful to have been selected to join such an amazing group of artists and craftsmen and women ! Please check out my exhibition as it will be there until February 29th:

http://www.cambridgeartistscoop.com/exhibits/index.php

59A Church Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

A special thank you to Sasha Mishkin for her photography and wonderful support ! 

So apparently when there's a lapse between entries

I share many things. 

Some edible inspired jewelry:

I find the details in this one particularly mind blowing:

Unknown

I regretfully inform you that the architect of these wondrous pieces remains unknown.  

But that shouldn't hinder the ability to "oooh" and "ahhh" and enjoy these as much as I do:

* update *

Sometimes I like to hide things in stupid-smart places that I later forget.  Kind of like the folder I made in my iPhoto of Maurizio Galante who is the mastermind behind this creations.

Deconstructed Fruit Bowl

If I could define my ultimate inspiration, this would be it:

It's color coordinated fruit, just outside of a produce stand.

Iris Van Herpen

Apparently the theme of January is Iris and I'm not talkin' about the flower.

Iris Van Herpen is a contemporary fashion designer from the Netherlands.  Looking at her Spring/Summer 2012 collection, as seen on the Parisian runway, I thought to myself "she gets me."
She's got the whole sea anemone-foliage-mountain-apocalypse-anatomical design aesthetic down.  I'm not exactly creating felted spinal chords ... or am I ? ...
I was absolutely taken by her designs, the structure, the lines, the avant-garde.

Can't Contain my Excitement Anymore

http://www.cambridgeartistscoop.com/exhibits/index.php

At the moment this all feels pretty great but I gotta keep on making.

.black scarf.mustard yellow scarf.tan scarf.

And on a side note, I really like this wooly jacket:

An Iris Apfel original

Alright SO

It was early in the evening on Thursday, January 11th, 2012 when I finally made the plunge.  I took my broken wagon and two boxes containing the most important felted possessions I own into UPS.  "This will be the most important package you will ever handle, ship it like your life depended on it !" Perhaps it was my resolute tone of voice, or the contradictory light weight of the package compared to it's size and FRAGILE stickers - this statement certainly raised some eyebrows.

Anyway, they're gone, out of my house, out to face the world of Cambridge Massachusetts so BRING IT ON FEBRUARY.

Pretty, pretty, pretttttttyyyyyy exciting stuff:

Augustina Woodgate

This morning my friend introduced me to the work of Augustina Woodgate:

http://agustinawoodgate.com/

Some of my personal favorites:

 "Water Falling" (defective - she specifies - fishing line, chandelier, white noise - my favorite of the included materials - and light bulbs)

I especially like her title as this piece is not a waterfall but a visual representation of water falling.

"Skin Rugs" (recycled stuffed animal skins)

"Sleepers" (felted human hair slippers ... naturally)

And lastly, "Poetry Bombing"

I appreciate her creative use of materials and innovative compositions.  I especially like her integration of poetry into daily life, and well thought out excerpts.

Li Xiaofeng

Porcelain Laurel Wreath?

Porcelain Dress?

The progression from delicately painted porcelain cups, to rich, blue scallops of plates at the bottom.

The strategic contours of porcelain tableware used to conform to the body.

And the conceptual romanticism  of this classic, feminine delicate dress made from the classic, feminine delicate Chinese Blue and White porcelain ware.

Today

Applied to this today:

Can't stop.

Won't stop.

Alright

I came across Judith Klausner's work on the internet - http://jgklausner.com/

she's got embroidery on bread:

Cameo's carved from oreo cream:

and my personal favorite condiment wall paper:

Other materials she uses are bugs, teeth and nails which are not so cute but I think her works is great nonetheless and kind of hilarious.  

Kudos, Judith Klausner, for your certainly unusual materials !

Atypical Materials

(Unfortunately) Unknown Artist:

Iris Apfel:

To Do List

- 16 felted scarves (check)

- 26 button pins (check)

- 6 bead crocheted grape pins (check)

- 3 ... (and counting) felt beaded necklaces that have been embellished with more beads (check)

- and (for those of you who don't know me) 6 sugar skull pendants are making their first ever public debut ! (ch...eh almost)

The production list is thinning out, but I cannot WAIT to have these things en route to Boston.  Once they are out of my house I can begin my next series/projects:

- Birthday gifts

- A sugar skull ring for Shirley (who so kindly featured me on a blog she writes for: http://thesourmashblog.com/2011/12/06/what-the-felt/)

- A blue and black beaded necklace for me

- A scarf for me

- Personal thought collection and reflection

- See several exhibits at The American Natural History Museum (worlds largest diamonds - oohhh aaahhh), the MAD Museum (worlds most fascinating jewelry ... my unofficial title for the museum's typical collections), Brooklyn Museum (most surprising museum, I always come across pieces I unknowingly look for) and explore galleries in Chelsea (either gawking or mocking art that has entered the realm of the high-ceiling, white wall, thick rimmed glasses bored and aloof gallery clerk Chelsea gallery)

- Plan some trips

- Plan more trips

Aaaand now some images I've been looking at:

Hisano Takei creates architectural felted neck pieces:  

I absolutely adore her use of ivory-white wool in order to focus on one area - structure.

I love Julie Christie's necklace here: 

I think it would be suuuuuper interesting to create one using long felted tube shaped beads.

This is me in my room:

I know I don't look thrilled but that's probably because I am tired ... or the fact that I've been told I look (excuse my french) "bitchy"/angry (people constantly ask me if I'm "okay" - what's with that anyway?) I am absolutely OBSESSED with the texture and color of this scarf and I cannot wait for it to be exhibited and hopefully enjoyed by someone else as much as I have !

Here is a back view:

and side view:

(I apologize for the poor resolution of my Photobooth pictures)