I’ve been working on rebuilding my artistic practice in 2019, with the help of a good friend and artist, Sharon Ohmberger, and after getting good responses to postings of my work over the year on Instagram, I decided to take the plunge and get a table at the annual craft fair at my workplace.
Based on the work that I knew others were bringing, I brought a number of eye pillows filled with lavender and flax seeds, which I thought would sell well and I was happy with how these were received. I used rescued fabric from other items and remnants to create the pillows, and they are made with a little pillow case which sets them apart from others I’ve seen. The lavender and flax both food-grade – If I’m putting something on my eyes, I want it to be high quality!
I had planned to bring some hand decorated cards that I had worked on earlier in the year, but I knew some other tables were going to have those items, and I didn’t want to be in direct competition.
Instead of the cards, I brought some of the felted wool items I had been working on over the past couple of years. After taking some classes from Leslie Granbeck, I felt ready to move into working on my own with felting. I love the texture of the wool, and the elements of serendipity that are part of the felting process. When I was studying art in school, back in the day, I really enjoyed fibers and fiber art, and I like to make something that is not only beautiful but useful as well. And while I didn’t sell any of the items I brought with me, they did result in receiving a commission for a custom handbag, shown below.
The finished bag is about 8″x8″ and made with Corriedale wool.
