Count down to Felt United…

We’re getting close to the return of Felt United so I decided to share some images from last year’s festivities during les Journees de la Culture from my shared studio in the Mile- End. I was impressed by the group’s willingness to participate with no reservations- a quality that I adore in students. Our multi-generational cast asked lots of questions, tired out their forearms and left with a rich experience of how it felt to work with raw wool and other mixed fibers. Here is a shot of our creations before color:
and after:

Please join in again this year at 1pm on the 30th of September at the same location:
Fiberalley Shared Studio
135 Van Horne, suite 209
Montreal, Quebec
Love to see you there!

 

Simple pleasures

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.” – Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891, Irish dramatist, novelist, poet (1854 – 1900)

wow….it’s the middle of the afternoon and I just finished a hot bath while my little boy quietly sleeps in a warm stream of sunlight flooding through the front hallway. Playing on my speakers is a new Tony Rebel album called Rebellious that I picked up for a buck on St-Viateur during the Bon Voisins street fair. Outside I can hear children calling in the playground and leaves rustling with each passing gust of autumn air.

With the hands on the clock seeming to spin on fast forward these days….school daze blending into weekends….work blending with family…family joining in work….it feels like I rarely get a chance to stop, hear my thoughts and reflect on how it feels to watch the children grow, share my life with a “hands-on” partner and do work that I love. It feels like most of the time I’m either pinning down the baby to change a stinky diaper, sweeping the floors for the um-teenth time or hassling the girls to finish their dinner, put on pyjamas or brush their teeth. Life has handed me such a curve ball over the last 5 years that I never could’ve seen it coming! But to be honest, with the rise of chaos in my daily routine has come a sort of clarity, that has lifted me out of the haze of my early twenties and placed me on a lookout for the quiet pleasures that are all around. Sooo, I’ll keep prodding on keeping an eye out for those simple pleasures that are truly the fuel in my lifeboat.

 

Extending a hand

Over the last few weeks I’ve had helpers in the studio preparing these super long cosmic extensions for all sorts of fantastic felt functions. My latest favorite: hair wraps instead of rubberbands. I have been experimenting with this idea for some time gradually felting, testing and photographing stock for Etsy. Regretfully, I forgot to carry them to the Roxham Woolgathering last weekend and it turned out not to be the only thing I forgot. Can you believe: no camera and so no photos! I’m bummed…but at the same time Sue Heller’s farm is ever so surreal, that part of me is relieved to escape the pressure of wanting to capture the beauty and mood of her cozy cultural event in freeze frames. Special thanks to Pandora Hobby for extending a hand with all of Fiberalley logistics this weekend. It would not have been possible without her. In the next few weeks I will be extending a hand to a group of 27 Montreal school kids as they learn about the transformative powers of wool as we participate in les Journees de la Culture and We Felt United. Keep in touch for more details on these events coming soon…..

 

In my Mother’s garden

All sorts of curious creations are starting to bear in the most unexpected places! After an extended maternity break and shift in focus as I supported the new career choice of my partner Tony (Island Organix), I am finally regularly back to the studio putting my hands to work! Upcoming events include the Roxham Wool Gathering, Journees de la Culture and Felt United. Let’s kick off the season with one of my favorite events, the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts this Saturday and Sunday in Buffalo, New York in the heart of the Elmwood Village.

 

New digs!

Here we are well into the summer months…the days are hot and the sun is strong with plenty of time left in the growing season. This year is especially exciting because the fam and I moved to Villeray, otherwise known as the land of large trees, kids parks and community gardens! With much of my energy still devoted to establishing the homestead, I fixed up a nice batch of coco peat and Pro-mix and started transplanting some old & new beauties to liven up our new living space. Next mission: on to the edible garden!

 

Crafty reminder…

NEW! Gift Auction & Door Prizes …Super Supply Swap (let go those old supplies, and find something new to inspire you)….can you tell that we’re ready to Party?

PLUS! Button Making from vintage fabric, Needle Felting surface embellishment, Spray painting & stenciling on recycled fabrics, Crochet Basics and DIY Silkscreening with refreshments provided by Bake Sale Girl.

We want to see you! Bring your smiles and don’t forget your supplies. See you this Friday:)

 

It’s a craftparty…Mile-End style

We won’t promise you a disco ball or fireworks, but we can promise you an open door invitation to our historic warehouse building nestled along the tracks in the most northern reaches of the Mile-End to celebrate the various forms of creativity taking place within its walls. We represent Montreal as students, parents, fine artists, crafters and experimenters in the spirit of skill sharing and exchange. Listen to the murmur of the fast running freight trains and the buzz of industrial sewing machines as the ladies of Joliette Design give you the how-to’s on clothing alterations and reparations. Plus introduction to needle felting, crochet basics, fabric button making and more TBA. We thank Etsy for inspiring us, and we thank you for joining in!
Details:
June 10th, 4pm- 8pm
135 Van Horne, Studio #209
Montreal, Quebec
H2T 2Y3
(514) 618- 1709

 

Spring daydream

 

Recipe for fun

Mix 1 part polka dotted party dress + 1 part watering can + 3 parts wild flower seeds + 5 parts coco peat + 8 parts big sisters & friends = 1 happy 3yr old. “We’re gonna make a big mess!!” in the words of apt Annaka (aged 2). Toss in a rock n’ roll dance party + a wide open sunny loft space + plus a DIY ice cream sundae finale and don’t mind the clean up- you’ll be thankful when tired eyes drop on the pillow early! What’s your favorite recipe? Do tell!!

 

Spring release

…the birthday month has begun, my daughter and partner are away in Jamaica to see family, and I feel like spring is about to break loose! I was feeling so freakin’ excited yesterday that I decided to geek out and make a video. It’s a glimpse into the Fiberalley Studio, and my jewelry & accessory making process. On any given day I’m likely to see fellow Etsians Joliette Design or Coucou Salut working away in our artist/educator/craftswomen shared studio. Catch the release of my NEW spring jewelry & accessory collection this Friday the April 8th in my shop.