Call for Entries - 500 Felt Objects by Lark Books

I received an email from the editor a few days ago inviting me to enter my work in the 500 Felt Objects publication by Lark Books. It's an open call for entries for feltmakers, so you can also take this wonderful opportunity and enter your best felt work. Please share this info with other feltmakers around the world ! Deadline: Feb.13, 2010. More info here.

Felt on Runway Spring 2010

Calvin Klein Spring 2010 RTW






Images via Style.com

"Melt" is chosen for the exhibit "The Climate Is Changing !"

My work was accepted in the exhibit "The Climate is Changing", a juried traveling exhibition of felt textile art on the impact of human actions on the environment. The exhibition will be opened at the Museo del Tessuto (Textile Museum), Prato, Italy on May 7, 2010 and then will tour Germany and the United Kingdom and possibly other countries during 2010 & 2011.

Etsy Front Page

Absolutely stunning treasury created by Gretchen from PolyCritters that features my "Magic Noir" scarf made it to the Front Page on Etsy today. I happen to be at the right time at the right moment on Etsy to witness it, perfect timing. It's my 2nd time on FP and both times it happened around midnight. Click on the photo to enlarge it and if you're interested in any item there's shop's name under it.

Harper's Bazaar Gift Guide Features My Scarves

I have some very exciting news I'd like to share with you all. I just found out yesterday that my felted and shibori dyed scarves are featured in HARPER'S BAZAAR online 2009 holiday gift guide - "Luxury gifts for women who have it all ". You can find the gift guide here .

Call for Entry - More Than Fiber: A Creative Approach to Material

Deadline December 15, 2009 (postmarked).

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA Cohen Gallery March 7 - April 18, 2010. Juror: Warren Seelig.
Open to all artists who design and produce their own original work. Work must have been created within the last three years. All media welcomed.

Download prospectus here.

Fabulous Trade

I saw this absolutely fantastic necklace on Flickr and immediately thought that I wanted it so bad. I absolutely loved the design. So I wrote to the artist asking if this necklace was available. She replied to me saying that it is in fact available and she would love to do a trade. "Perfect..." I thought, I couldn't thought of a better idea. The trade was in my head too, I just wasn't sure if that's appropriate to ask. And she happens to live in Austin, TX (I'm in Houston,TX), small world...it's almost like shopping local. She wanted me to make a Nuno Felted scarf for her daughter in pastel green/blue/lavender colours. So I went with lavender, I thought it's perfect for a teenager who probably wears jeans all the time ( I might be wrong here...). It was a perfect trade, my first ever. So, if you ever see something that you like, don't hesitate to ask if the artist is willing to do a trade with you. He/she might agree or not, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Visit Randee's Etsy shop for more of her beautiful work.

Industrial Strength Necklace by Randee M Ketzel
Lavender Nuno Felted Scarf by me.

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my journal with felted cover created by Mireille from mireilles. Visit it here.

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created by Tunde from tolltunde.

Call for Entry - Inside Out

Juried. Deadline November 9. An exhibition of fiber art for a human form June 4-July 10, 2010, at the Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN. This is a portrait of the artist's soul, figuratively, the artist turned inside out. All pieces must be designed for the human body and displayable on a standard mannequin. They must be original, completed after January 1, 2008, and not previously shown at the venue. For more info go here.

Happy Halloween !

Here are a few of my scarves that fit right in today's holiday. Boo...:))) Hope that everyone is having a fun day !

"Magic Noir" - Nuno Felted and Hand-dyed Scarf
"Ilze" - Felted and Shibori Dyed Wrap

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created by Ginny from ginnyhuber. Visit it here .

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created by Laurence from LaurenceCollection . Visit it here .

White and Purple Nuno Felted and Shibori Dyed Wool/Silk Scarf from Light and Airy 02 Collection

My recent creation.

The Climate Is Changing !

Coordinamento Tessitori, in collaboration with International Feltmakers Association, Filz Netz Werk and Fondazione Museo del Tessuto is organizing a juried traveling exhibition of felt textile art on the impact of human actions on the environment. The exhibition is the result of collaboration between the three European organizations that are dedicated to the promotion of the art of felt, in order to create opportunities and opportunities for interaction and cultural exchange.
The exhibition will be shown in different locations in Europe during 2010 & 2011, a catalogue will be printed in three languages, illustrated in colour.
Deadline is November 1st. More info can be found here.

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created by our Houstonian Linda from LindaGJ . Visit it here .

Felt United Day-my installation "Tree Huggie" at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Finally the day came. So much have been done from washing the wool fleece to dyeing and finally felting. The idea to make a "Tree Huggie" came to me exactly a week ago. I was at the Craft Center and looked at the garden. I saw this beautiful pine tree, just reminded me of my home country, Latvia, there're so many tall beautiful pine trees there and if you go to the woods the smell is absolutely wonderful. Immediately I've decided I wanted to make something special for that tree. When I needed to take some measurements a friend asked me how I was going to do that without a tape measurer and I said: " I'm just going to hug it." So that's how the idea came to life. The look I was going for was something wild, unpolished, natural, not perfect, organic, raw and I really love the way it turned out. The piece measures at 77"x30" and it looks just as it belongs on that tree. There were other feltmakers at the garden demoing and educating the public about this ancient craft (it's older than weaving) and I think kids really had so much fun and they even took their finished works with them home. The day was definitely a success and I can't wait to do it again next year. I'll post more photos to my Flickr page soon.

Preparation for Felt United Day October 3rd PART 2

So far very productive day. No washing wool today, may be tomorrow just in case I need more. Have been dyeing wool the whole day, I don't think I ever done that much washing and dyeing in 2 days, call me crazy :) The wool has been drying slower than usual, well it's fall and why do I expect the sun to be very strong ? Well because it's Texas and we usually get plenty of warm weather on and off till January. As the matter of fact usually for New Year's we're in T-shirts, can you believe it's that warm. It was supposed to rain today, but the weather has been very cooperative with me, I really needed the sun. Tomorrow is the fun day, felting all day long till I drop and want to do some washing in between felting, multitasking....the brake is not for relaxation, but for doing more stuff :). Should be fun :)

Preparation for Felt United Day October 3rd PART 1

If you've been following my blog, not long ago I wrote a post about Felt United Day, which is going to be October 3rd 2009. Feltmakers around the world are celebrating this day by exhibiting their works, making demonstrations to public etc. Here in Houston local feltmakers are bringing their feltworks to Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and will display it in the community garden, so If you're local make sure to stop by and check it out.
At first when I learned about this event I knew for sure I wanted to do something, just wasn't sure what exactly. So finally, a few days ago I got an idea, but for now I'll just hold that thought. Back home we don't tell details until it's completely done, just for good luck...I guess it's a Russian thing. For my installation I'm using raw fleece, which came straight from the sheep with all the extra "good stuff", you know what I mean... I love the organic and natural look you can achieve with raw stuff. Today I've been washing it, about 6lbs so far ( I think I chose the dirtiest fleece possible, but who said life is easy ?) and dyeing in the colours from the colour wheel slice from yellow to red, that's the only requirement. I'm using all the local fleece, by that I mean from USA sheep growers. Merino and merinoXcorriedale are from Colorado and I also have some mohair locks and rambouillet from Texas. I'm trying to use my stash, which grows constantly and out of control, so I got the perfect project for that and I'm thinking not a small scale too, at least that's the picture in my head, hopefully I can get there.

Etsy Finds: Foray Into Fall

Recently my felted scarf was featured in Etsy blog Storque. Get ready for fall, find out the hottest trends by reading the whole post here.

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created my Linda from LindaGJ . Visit it here .

Contemporary Handweavers of Houston Annual Sale Event

Weaving and Beyond, the 2009 CHH Annual Sale, will be held September 24 - September 26, 2009 at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. For more information see our Sale Page.
Hours:
Thursday, September 24, 2009 - 6 pm - 9 pm
Friday, September 25, 2009 - 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 10 am - 5 pm

At our annual sale event CHH Guild members offer beautiful and functional hand-woven, hand-spun, hand-felted works of fine craft: fashions, linens, tapestries, baskets, jewelry, baby items, toys, gifts and decorations. CHH members use the finest materials from silk, wool and cotton to tencel, bamboo, wire and willow.
If you're local or just happen to be in Houston these days, please stop by at the HCCC for a great chance to get some one of a kind hand-made items. My hand-felted work is going to be there.

The Power of Green

This scarf is absolutely one of my favorites (I probably say it about all my scarves). The colours are just gorgeous...it was a mix of different green colours that mixed at some point into this gorgeous shade. Lately I'm drawn more to nuno felt, because probably of the climate I live in. It's really hard to wear scarves here which are made of wool only since we don't really get a lot of cold around here, in fact it's hardly can be called cold at all. When I explain to someone back home about the weather here I usually say it's summer all year round: there's cool summer (winter), hot summer (spring), very hot summer (the actual summer) and warm summer (autumn), so you get the picture...This scarf was dyed using resist method, which gives you a truly one of a kind look. So check it out...

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created my Monica from Monicaj . Visit it here .

Etsy Treasury

Etsy treasury that features my scarf created my Mary from vantidesigns . Visit it here .

FeltUnited-International Day of Felt-October 3rd 2009

2009 is the United Nation's International Year of Natural Fibres. On October 3rd, 2009 - feltmakers from around the globe will celebrate by joining together and displaying their felt. It will be the first annual International Day of Felt. The theme for this year will be a slice of the colour wheel, yellow through red. See call for artists for more info.

Product Design by Takehiro Ando

Takehiro Ando is the designer of wide range of 3-D objects, interior products and art space. The products he designs are very simple and functional. His designs are made of laser cut industrial felt. You can order a kit and create something of your own. I absolutely love the lamps.





Photoes courtesy of Takehiro Ando

Stidoc Textiel Festival 2010

Deadline October 1. Juried. International textile competition on the theme of Sporen (Tracks, traces) to be held at Pieterschurch, Leiden, the Netherlands March 24-28 2010. Tracks are visible references or remainders of something that once was. Open to all techniques and materials, format is limited in size to 20"x20" (50cmX50cm) for 2-D work and 14" (35cm) in any direction for 3-D (both including finishing). For more info and registration email at textilefestival@kunstfactor.nl or visit the website here.

My Felt Piece from the Workshop with Karoliina and Rod

Here're my works that I made during the 3 day felting workshop with Karoliina and Rod. When I first heard they're comming I signed up right away. I thought it's going to be fun to meat such wonderful feltmakers. I got familiar with Karoliina's work long time ago and was really admiring it. I didn't expect to learn that much during the workshop to tell the truth, it's amazing. So if you ever have a chance to take their workshop don't even think twice do take it, it's so worth it. We used finn wool, which I think is so great for felting, it felts like a dream. Also we were required to have design ready, surprisingly I started thinking about the design right away as soon as I signed up and had the sketch ready with colour selections. It really helps when you make sketches, usually I don't, just go with a flow.

sample 11"X12" (28cmX30.5cm)
the actual piece 20"X32" (50cmX80cm)

Studio Dror: Peacock Chair for Cappellini

The Peacock Chair is Studio Dror's first collaboration with Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini. Designed by Dror Benshetrit, the chair's form is created out of three sheets of felt and a minimal metal frame. The folds of the felt are woven tightly to form a structured lounge chair, with no sewing or upholstery involved.
Looks like industrial felt to me gathered together to create those folds.
Photoe courtesy of Cappellini

Etsy Finds: Live and Let Dye

Recently my hand-dyed scarf was featured in the Etsy blog Storque. The whole post was about hand-dyed finds wheather it's yarn, fabric or leggings. Read the whole post here.

Karoliina Arvilommi Felt Design Finland

The first time I saw Karoliina Arvilommi's works I was so amazed. Such distinct designs, you really can't confuse them with anybody else's. I'm very excited to take her 3 day workshop tomorrow. It's going to be my first ever workshop that I take, since I'm a self taught, should be fun...




Photoes courtesy of Karoliina Arvilommi.

Tyvek Magic

Tyvek is the tough-to-tear plastic used to make mailing envelopes and also is used in construction. It feels as delicate as paper, but is far more durable. Carol-lynn Swol creates jewelry by monipulating this material...she dyes, burns, tufts and stacks the tyvek to create various forms, colors, and textures. She says:"With each piece I strive to create something that will arrest the viewer’s mind. Once the mind is arrested, then the visual and tactile experience, formal qualities, and wearability can be recognized and appreciated."

Fiesta Bracelet: dyed tyvek, sterling silver

Gradation Brooch: dyed and cut tyvek, sterling silver

Wave Brooch: dyed and cut tyvek, sterling silver

Interruption Bracelet: dyed and cut tyvek, sterling silver

So, is your mind arrested yet ? Mine certainly is, I love that her pieces are so sculptural. The fact that she uses materials which are not really meant for is pretty amazing.