Divinely Crafty

Last week the spirit of the season blew through me as I surrendered to a most intense fibromyalgia flare. With a good mystery audiobook playing on my laptop on my nightstand, cup of tea placed within easy reach, and my supplies set before me neatly on my bed I began hunting and pecking through beads and baubles for inspiration. The result was several pairs of glass and stone earrings that were bundled up and sent to their new homes before I had a chance to take pictures, and this lovely necklace that I made for our friend Sabrina. Made from orange/red/yellow rolled felt beads that I made last spring and colorful glass beads which I bought in a fabulous bead store in Barcelona.

I also made this divine hat for Stephen to wear with his once again long hair ponytail. It is cold in the mountains of Italy where he lives but it can be a real pain trying to find a hat that works with ponytails. Hopefully this will do the trick and keep him warm and in style. Made with handspun single and the pattern can be found here.

It was good to get some creative work done. I have been in such a drought lately, putting my energy mostly into daily needs, but also attending to other calls that have been demanding my attention. When I opened my box of beads and tools there was a sense of apprehension with my eagerness to get started. Knowing that I was in the midst of a bad flare, I also knew it was entirely likely that I wouldn’t be able to finish what I started. Another thing that keeps me from my creative pursuits is the lonely trail of abandoned projects that are evidence of good intentions gone the way of dreams. But not this time. Once I got going the momentum built on itself and I began to get as much energy from making them as I was putting into them. More even. What a joy and a delight! ‘Tis the season to be merry and bright!

Tags: felt and fiber, inspiration, knitting

bags bags bags

Originally uploaded by Divinely Crafty.

I just uploaded a bunch of pictures of my recent felt work to my flickr. I am loving working with fibre and have several projects in the works. There has been a huge creative surge bubbling up in me. It is bringing with it major self-awareness and enormous shifts.

Its intense and right on schedule. When I left Oregon 2 years ago, my good friend Spicy-T said to me “See you in three years.” I have this pattern of leaving for 3 years and then returing to Portland for 3 years and leaving for 3 years… and so on. And in perfect synchronicity things are getting stirred up. I come at it from a place so intensely different than I have in times past. I don’t see this bringing me back to Oregon. But if there is one thing I have learned it is that I can never say never.

Tags: felt and fiber

Interesting phone call last week… Apparently someone has been talking. Talking about my felt work and they are saying good things. Which has led to my being invited to exhibit my felt, teach some workshops, and sell my goodies. Yes, please, may I?! Wow! Do you see that on my face? Its an ear to ear grin. Don’t be alarmed if I also appear taller because I have noticed a change in my posture as well.

The local Steiner school, which enjoys an international reputation in the Steiner-world, has an artist’s fundraiser where artists and artisans are invited to exhibit their work. If we happen to sell anything ( the crowds arrive with cheque books open at these things ) we donate a very reasonable percentage to the school. Thats it. No space fees, and any workshop tuition profit is not subject to donation. Not all artists are asked to lead a workshop, but those of us who do things such as felt which are fun to do at home yourself (and has appeal to a wide age group) have been asked to do a workshop if they want to. I had such a great time leading a quick workshop on making felt at the Sewingmamas Sew Expo Retreat near Seattle last month. What a thrill to come home and have a chance to teach again! And what a thrill that I was sought out and didn’t have to go hunting it down. I wish all opportunity came to me this easily!

Tags: felt and fiber

A couple new things for my etsy shop…

These were originally made for my littlest daughter, but alas they are not pink enough for her liking. (The girl knows her mind, and her mind says PINK PLEASE!) So into my etsy shop they go.

Hand felted with resist and needle felted decoration of flowers and vines. Super sweet. These were my practice for a pair for myself that I am hoping to get made before I head off to Seattle and Portland (yippy!!!) for a couple weeks. (We’ll see how that big idea goes as I launch into my traditional week-before-trip sewing and knitting frenzy. Why I wait until it is crunch time before I get my rear in gear is beyond me!)

Next up is a knitted felt bag with needle felt button and flower for a little extra groove factor. Made with handpainted wool yarn I got in a swap.

Yes, there is a color theme to my work this week. I figured that if the sky is insisting on being gray then by golly I am going to add a little of my own color and brightness to my world! Anytime the heavens want to follow my lead is fine by me! (hint, hint oh Universal Powers….:)

Tags: etsy, felt and fiber, knitting, wool