a return to stitching stones

I've been missing my daily stitching. A lot. I'm eager to come back to this work that I find so meditative. If you would like a stone of your own, I would be happy to put one in your hands. You can decide approximate color and let me know of any particular stitches you'd like, or if you'd like beads included. I will add my own creativity and send a sweet parcel off to you.

Each stone has been hand-gathered and felted with wool I've dyed myself. The wool cocoons the stone and becomes a canvas for stitches and beads. The act of creating these stones is soothing, almost healing for me. The finished object becomes something that has a pleasing heft in the hand, and reminds the viewer of patterns and textures found in nature.

Each of these stones will be 2.5" - 3" long and fit nicely in the hand.

The process of stone-making takes several days - I must felt and dry the stone before I stitch, and stitching may take a week. Because of that, your stone may take several weeks to arrive. I will fill orders on a first come, first served basis beginning in January 2018.

I've limited the number of stones I'll make for now, but hope to open up more orders in the future if there is interest.

a gathering of spirits

A mothering spirit was recently born from my hands.

A moon spirit and Autumn spirit soon followed.

These are made of wool and paperclay, and are meant for living indoors but now I'm slightly obsessed with the idea of making some that are fit for the elements and hosting a sculpture walk in my woods. We have a trail in our woods that's just short of a half-mile loop that would be perfect for what I'm envisioning.

My real life demands my attention so there's no telling if this will come to fruition, but it feels good to dream.

 

What have you been dreaming about lately?

a mothering spirit

Thinking about my role as mother and what it means to be the nest when your babies begin to fledge.

She has tiny wings, seemingly too small to fly. Like a bumblebee.

Rooted and flying at the same time.

I caught her in a quiet moment among the trees.

landscapes and beads ahead

I'm teaching a landscape workshop this weekend at the Franklin Arts Center. I hear the weather is projected to be 95. The building doesn't have air conditioning so this class may become something of a strip tease in an attempt to stay cool. Stories later! (but no photos, I promise)

This afternoon I'm giving a demonstration on simple wet-felting at our local library. I believe their space is air conditioned so we'll all be suitably modest, probably.

wool bead necklace

A little time spent arranging wool beads and braiding leather and I have myself a necklace to wear to my "how to make wool beads" demonstration this week at our local library. They feature a new craft/art form monthly, which I think is really cool, and June 9th it's felting courtesy of me.

In the Brainerd area? Stop by and get sudsy!

stitched stones for sale

A collection of stitched stones has gone to The Crossing Arts Alliance online shop. As you may know, TCAA is a lovely little nonprofit arts group that does good work in greater MN, for which I happen to work.

If you are interested, please have a look at their shop. There is some great work from fellow MN artists there that is surely worth an ogle.

Thank you!

finally, a red stone

Check that one off my list.

I confronted my fear of red.

A stone inspired by the crimson-hued House Finches that have been visiting my feeder. Apparently they lay blue speckled eggs, usually a clutch of five, but I got carried away and gave them a nest overflowing.

Adding this one to the little pile in hopes of a shop update soon.

Happy Tuesday. I hope you have a bright and cheery day, abundant with just the right things.

sleeping mouse

Shh...the mouse is sleeping.

A little project I've been envisioning for a while, tucked inside one of my favorite enamel cups.

I'm going to be the featured member artist at The Crossing Arts Alliance Gift Shop in September. I'll need to bring in some gifty type things so I thought this would be a good place to start. I feel so prepared! Though, if I run true to form, I'll be making the rest of my pieces in mid-August sometime.

forcing sunshine

I had the day off so in between doing my taxes and whining about doing my taxes, I did a little wet-felting.

I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I started laying flowers on top of the lingering bits of snow, I'd chase winter on out of here. Time will tell, but I'd bet that in a couple of weeks, I'll see if it worked.

True to form, my pal Charlie tried his best to help.

And by help, I mean get himself in the picture somehow.

But at least there's sunshine.

I'm on Instagram now

I'm a little late to the game, but I've finally joined Instagram. 

I'm looking forward to figuring out my way around there. I've already run into some old friends I don't see on other social networks, so, so far so good.

If you're there, you can find me HERE.

felted bunny workshop

There we go. That's a bunny I can teach. Cute, doable in under 4 hours, and introduces a few new skills.

For those that are local, I'll be holding two days of bunny-building where we'll focus on making firmly-felted shapes, blending colors, and incorporating glass eyes and bendable legs. It will be fun!

Please join me.

You can enroll through The Crossing Arts Alliance HERE

an opening sky

A return to self, via a different path.

Like the sky has opened.

Some of you will understand what this means, and what it means to me.

There is a stitched stone on my table, and in my shop.

There is gratitude in my heart.

rabbit practice

Rabbit practice, round one.

It's been a while since I've made a bunny and I need some practice.

This one will end up in my hand model's Easter basket, but there will likely be more to come.

eggs upcoming

Prepping for an upcoming workshop - felted eggs.

A great one for beginners; a simple shape with a few details and voila!

More details soon.

a peek at the heart workshop

What a fun weekend!

I taught two felting workshops full of seriously amazing women.

Here is just a peek at some of the lovelies and their lovely creations.

You can find a few more photos on my facebook page.