Obsessed With Lumps & Bumps

Enjoy a visit to Fiberpuppy Designs http://www.etsy.com/shop/fiberpuppy/ ,

 a wonderful etsy shop where they specialize in unique handmade natural fiber items. Fiberpuppy Designs carry a number of different felted and non-felted wool accessories that would be sure to keep you warm on those cold winter days, or even spice up that special outfit.

Fiberpuppy is currently donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the black cat hat to Doctors without Borders to help the earthquake victims in Haiti.

by fiberpuppy

I seem to be obsessed with texture lately, lumps and bumps or smooth clean surfaces. Most of my pieces are created by first knitting then fulling (or creating felt) using hot water and agitation in the washing machine. One of the ways that I can create texture is by tying a small object into the knitted piece before it’s fulled. This method among others is known as shibori felting.

Because of my love of shibori, I seem to have turned into a pack rat collecting all kinds of small objects of various shapes and sizes. I use nuts, bottle caps even hair curlers. This combined with the fact that I usually have between 30-50 balls of yarn and finished products floating around has created a bit of a storage nightmare for my one room office/guest room/studio.

One of the solutions I’ve found is to use one of those back of a door clear shoe holders. I can see all the little bits and pieces I might use without digging. Then I can close the door et voila it’s gone.

My actual work space is made up of two tables. One for the sewing and one for needlefelting or drawing or whatever else I might need. I guess I should also count the garage as part of my workspace. We actually have 2 washing machines there; one for regular washing and one for felting. I do spend a bit of time in there as well.

Simplicity, Texture, and Experimentation

Simplicity, texture, and experimentation are what drive Heather's gorgeous jewelry designs. She has sold through galleries and shops for many years. She personally designs all of her jewelry and her designs are hand-made using various techniques of metalsmithing. She is currently running a SALE on all items till Oct 1st with FREE shipping. Be sure to stop by her Etsy shop http://www.hgjewelry.etsy.com/

Heather Grandmont Jewelry 2009

Simplicity, texture, and experimentation are what drive my jewelry designs. I enjoy working with many materials but feel especially drawn to metal. Color is one aspect I miss most with what I do but jewelry does lend the ability to add color in the form of enamels, beads, and mixed media. Most of my designs are developed through playing with different forms that I already have made, and sometimes from my sketches- but mostly by putting pieces together till I like what I see. I love metal that has that raw, organic, makers-mark to it. The look of old, worn, time brought to the present. I studied art at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I was a double major in metalsmithing and painting. I was lucky enough to have received many awards, scholarships, and recognition while attending, both for my painting and metalwork. I haven’t painted in a long time but have managed to continue my focus with jewelry and design. Being an artist you have to get creative with finances which sometimes mean working a job other than your art. I’ve tried numerous times to make it full-time but because of health insurance or cash flow have found myself working at different places part-time such as The Cleveland Institute of Art, Kohl’s, and my current job as a dental receptionist. These jobs have provided me with connections and a group of supportive friends. Without them I might have become a hermit. About a year and a half ago I had a son with my husband Marcus.

I decided to take a short break from my business during pregnancy and right after because I wanted to focus all of my time and energy to my new family and health. I was still in stores during that time but had cut way back. It helped that I had a lot of inventory on hand. Now my little guy is a “little” older and I have been able to sneak down to my studio during his naps and at night. I have been getting that creative bug- you know the one that sticks in your head 24 hours a day till you allow yourself to play again! It feels great to be back and being a mom! Etsy has become a great place to find fantastic artists who are supportive and enthusiastic, not to mention all the great stuff you can buy! So if I find myself in the studio full-time again I won’t have to worry about becoming a hermit. Thanks for everyone’s support and encouragement.

Passion for Painting

Catherine's colours are simply irresistably vibrant and alive. She has return to her beloved roots in painting, enjoying an intimate relationship with colour, texture and pattern. Non representational abstract art is Catherine's passion. Enjoy a visit to her Etsy studio at
www.gutsche.etsy.com .

Catherine Gutsche is a mixed media artist in Ottawa Canada and works full time as a graphic designer and web master. She has paintings in private collections in Canada, the United States and Europe. She studied Fine Art/Visual Art at York University in Toronto, earning an Honours Bachelor of Fine Art degree with a major in graphic design. She worked after graduation for several years as a graphic designer in the vibrant downtown Toronto graphic arts market.

Since moving to Ottawa Catherine has return to her beloved roots in painting, enjoying an intimate relationship with colour, texture and pattern. Non representational abstract art is Catherine's passion.Travel has always played a role in Catherine’s life, beginning at the age of 16 with a trip to China during the period of Mao Tse-tung. China showed Catherine the importance in art of pattern. She was inspired by Chinese artists' ability to manipulate designs and colours to form intricate repetitions that are flipped or rotated to create artistic masterpieces seen on walls, floors, ceilings and household objects.

Exposure to the capitals of Europe during her university years, gave Catherine an appreciation for the great masters in all their glory – size, colour and textures – none of which translate in coffee table books. But it was in Australia that she gained a feel for the impact of colour where Uluru (Ayers Rock) changes from earthy reds to silvery-greys, with streaks of charcoal black algae. Nowhere else in the world are there colours that extend as far as the eye can see.Catherine brings all these experiences into her paintings, combining textiles, found items and paint, and finally allowing her joy of colour to spill onto every canvas she works on.