Inspiring Yarns

Illustration Friday: Double

2010-07-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Double ruffles, all around ...

Illustration Friday: Diary

2010-07-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

What enigmatic tales this little book must hold...

Wonderland

2010-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

"She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labelled `ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past it. "

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

For the ADO Wonderland Challenge, I was struck by this little detail of of the marmalade that Alice takes off the shelf as she's drifting down the rabbit hole. She is so curious, always hungry it seems, and sweetly thoughtful (being careful to find a spot to stash the empty jar, rather that let it drop and perhaps mortally injure someone below).

paperclay, watercolor, cotton and silk fabric, soy fiber, 7.5 inches

Fish on their way...

2010-06-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

paperclay, soy fiber, hand stitched cotton, watercolor
9 inches tall

Illustration Friday: Cocoon

2010-05-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Having just emerged from a woolen cocoon, the clouds seem familiar and enveloping.

Illustration Friday: Ahead

2010-04-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Staying just ahead...

Illustration Friday: Detective

2010-04-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Detective on the trail....

Illustration Friday: Linked

2010-04-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

with arms linked...

Illustration Friday: Dip

2010-04-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

If only we could curl around tender seedlings and protect them from sudden dips in temperature.

Illustration Friday: Rescue

2010-03-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Waving, not drowning in a sea of yarn.

Illustration Friday: Expired

2010-03-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

This sweet milk carton has sprouted legs and wisps of hair and is set to run off to new adventures now that its milk days have expired.

Illustration Friday: Subterranean

2010-03-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

Yarn in Camellia and Quince

2010-03-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here's some of my recent hand-dyed yarn

It is reminincent of flowers in bloom right now,

(Camellia)

(Quince)

These are not pale pastel flowers, but are bright and rich pinks and reds. Slowly the color is filling back in after the gray of winter.

Illustration Friday: Brave

2010-03-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday: Perspective

2010-03-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

Floating amongst the stars allowed for quite the unique perspective.

Illustration Friday: Propagate

2010-02-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

Quite the formal gardener, she propagates orchids in a glassed-in hot house.

materials: paper clay, coffee-dyed cotton, watercolor paint, alpaca fiber, paper

Illustration Friday: Adrift

2010-02-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

So adrift in thoughts and dreams....

Illustration Friday: Muddy

2010-02-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

All my walks have been accompanied recently by the squish, squish, squish of spring. And it makes me think of this great children's book.

beautiful marvelous mud

Illustration Friday: Focused

2010-02-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

Both are ever so focused on viewing the performance. So much so they seem to be unaware of each other's presence.

One World, One Heart Giveaway

2010-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome! This event created by a whimsical bohemian helps form connections between blogs all over the world all of whom are offering wonderful assorted giveaways. Click on the image above for the full listing of participants.

I am offering to a randomly selected commenter, the following one-a-kind necklace.

I have been making colorful sculptures and vessels with stiffen fibers, and was interested in the challenge of translating the textures and colors of this medium into wearable art. I started with two types of white fiber roving, flax and soy, each of which offers different qualities. The fibers were then saturated in glue and the form inherent in the twisting of the fibers teased out. I refined the shape, added layers of watercolor washes and backed the piece with micro suede fabric for comfort and stability.

There are nestled beads and gemstone chips in the curves and ridges of the fibers and a dyed green pearl at the apex. A delicate citrine and seed bead chain and simple clasp complete the piece. With the translucent beads and airy cutouts balanced by the rich colors and textures I think this piece alights nicely between earthy and ethereal.

From clasp to point the necklace is about 9.5 inches and accentuates the curve of the collarbone.

To enter to win this piece, you just need to comment on this entry. Make sure your comment links back to a way to contact you or include your email. The winner will be selected by random number generation on February 15th so be sure to comment by noon (Pacific Standard Time). And then this necklace will be taking its own magic carpet ride via mail to its new local.

p.s. Were you expecting yarn? Understandable. Well, I do dye yarn but I also see my art as a way of inspiring yarns, as is stories. Pieces that really work I think, draw you in and make you wonder at the subtle and sometimes profound stories they tell.

* Congratulations to the winner of this giveaway, Sharon of SharDon Exclusives!

Illustration Friday: Wilderness

2010-01-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

A quiet sort of intimate wilderness, of hushed snow and gathered animals all under a delightful red coat.

Illustration Friday: Confined

2010-01-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday: Renewal

2010-01-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday: Undone

2009-12-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday: Hatch

2009-12-17T21:29:00.000-08:00

Sailing

2009-12-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

Shiny Mushrooms

2009-11-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

In the damp and rain, glistening mushrooms are popping up all over

... even in the most unexpected of places.

Little Bear Gathering Acorns

2009-11-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

Candy Corn

2009-10-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the dyepot: hand-dyed yarn that matches the bright striping iconic colors of Halloween candy corn.

And... homemade candy corn! Made from a recipe on Cakespy. So much more flavorful and less waxy!

hint: if the candy becomes hard to work with, a couple seconds in the microwave will soften it again and make the last layers easier to roll out.