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Description of my craft:
Unique functional and sculptural woolen felt made using a wet technique. Sculptural hats, vessels, jewelry, mittens, wraps, and installations.
Background Information:
I minored in the studio arts at the University of New Hampshire and work professionally as a pediatric occupational therapist. With experience in figure drawing, knitting, quilting, beading, basketry, and wool dyeing, I learned basic felting from a fiber friend in Maine. Advanced training was achieved with instructors from around the world at the American Felter's Fling 2003 and 2005. I am a co-founder of the River Roads Artisans Gallery in Skowhegan, Maine, a collaboratively administrated fine craft gallery.
Current 2010 Show Schedule:
- New York Sheep and Wool Festival. Rhinebeck, NY. October 2002-2010
- Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival. Grand Lake Stream, ME. July 2010
- Maine Crafts Guild MDI Show. Bar Harbor, ME. July 30-August 1, 2010
- (possible) Common Ground Country Fair. Unity, ME. September, 2010
Past Juried Craft Shows:
- Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival. Killington, VT. September 2001.
- Vermont Hand Crafters Holiday Show. Burlington, VT. November 2001, 2002, 2003.
- Champlain Valley Folk Festival. Ferrisburgh, VT. August 2002.
- Artrider Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst. Westchester, NY. May 2003.
- Crafts at Rhinebeck. Rhinebeck, NY. June 2003
- Solarfest. Poultney, VT. July 2003-4.
- Artrider Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst. Westchester, NY. September 2003.
- Artrider Fall Crafts at Park Avenue. New York, NY. October 2003.
- Art Fest for Wolfe's Neck Farm. Freeport, ME. June 2007-8.
- Maine Crafts Guild Portland East End Show. September 2009.
- New York Sheep and Wool Festival. Rhinebeck, NY. October 2002-2010
- Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival. Grand Lake Stream, ME. July 2008-10.
Juried Gallery Exhibits
Present:
- Salt River Artisans – Boothbay Harbor, ME – 2006 to present
- River Roads Artisans Gallery – 2004 to present
- Maine Crafts Association, West Gardiner Gallery – 2009 ongoing
- Island Artisans, Bar Harbor – 2009 to present
Past:
- Northeast Kingdom Artisan's Guild – St. Johnsbury, VT – 2001 to 2004
- Artisan's Hand – Montpelier, VT – 2002 to 2004
- The Silver Dragonfly – Plattsburgh, NY – 2002 to 2003
- Frog Hollow – Middlebury, Burlington, Manchester, VT – 2002 to 2004
- Foundation for Fiber Art – Amherst, MA – 2002 to 2004
- The Society of Arts and Crafts – Boston, MA – 2002 to 2004
- West Island Gallery – Georgetown, ME – 2002 to 2004
- Portland Fiber Gallery and Weaving Studio – Portland, Maine - 2002 to 2003
- Margie's Muse Handweaving – Jamaica, VT – 2002 to 2003
- Western Mountains Alliance – Fiber Exhibition November 2006
- River Tree Center for the Arts, "Fabulous Fibers" – October 2007
- Maine Fiberarts – solo exhibition September 2008
- Julie Artisans, New York, NY November 2009
Publicity:
- Interweave Knits magazine, Summer 2003
- Frog Hollow – Burlington's Featured Artist October 2003
- Fiberarts Design Book 7, 2004. Lark Books, Ashville, NC.
- Knit One, Felt Too, 2003. Kathleen Taylor. Storey Publishing, North Adams, MA.
- How We Felt, 2007. Carol Cypher. Interweave Press. Loveland, CO.
- 1000 Artisan Textiles. Quarry Books. May 2010
- Cabin Life Magazine, February 2010
Affiliations & Memberships:
Process:
My vessels are fashioned by felting wool batting or roving around an inflatable form in hot soapy water. The forms are stretched and shaped to suit the design and function; some become pot-shaped, and others more shallow baskets. Felt fabric is especially tough and durable. The baskets are given more form and structure with a coiled-wire weaving technique on the rims. No-rust, aluminum wire is used. Wool yarns, fabric strips, beads, and other natural materials may be woven in and around the wire. Other sculptural pieces are made from a resist technique using wet felting method.
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