Friday, October 1, 2010

3-Season Scarf

Handcrafted by Kim Buchheit © 2010
Lightweight and silky next to the skin, this hand-crocheted scarf can be worn all year round, indoors and out. This is the first item in my new Wildly Woven collection; made of non-wool fibers for wool-sensitive types. I love the feel and drape of this bamboo/acrylic fiber — sumptuous: it's like giving your neck a spa day! You can grab a cozy custom scarf for yourself — just go to my Etsy shop. Currently available in light taupe, periwinkle, and butter.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Woolly Bangles

Handcrafted by Kim Buchheit © 2010
Cozy wrist-warming bangles hand-felted from spicy-speckled wool. The intertwined design means the bangles fall just so, while the yummy fall colors mean you fall in love. This one-of-a-kind set is waiting for you in my Etsy shop.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Wool Hanging Cluster Sculpture

© Kim Buchheit. Hanging sculpture; 100% wool, 42" (h)
Lots of places for little critters to hide and nest! I think this piece was inadvertently inspired by cliff swallow mud nests. I did some research on them today, and there's much similarity. The cliff swallow's nests have slight bottle-necks at their openings, however, and are usually clustered horizontally-ish under a cliff or eave. Okay, now I've got my next project outlined :D

Sunday, June 6, 2010

2010 Flagstaff Wool Festival

alpacaMelanie Sharp's yarnPhotography by Mike Buchheit
Despite the 90 degree temps, the 19th annual Wool Festival in Flagstaff, AZ this past weekend was a hit. Handspinner Melanie Sharp had lots of her gorgeous acid-dyed skeins for sale. The friendly people of Purl in the Pines showed off their lovely wares (if you're a local, you must visit their up-to-the-minute yarn store!). Many weavers, artisans, herders, and spinners were selling their natural fibers including Kari Usher (Dancing Weaver) and Stephanie Rockford (Crazy Sexy Wool). And, of course, there were several shorn four-leggeds (Churro sheep, alpacas, and llamas) on display looking too cute for their own good.

We left the event arms loaded with Suffolk wool, Llama, and Churro wool roving, as well as three different colors of hand- and acid-dyed Rambouillet wool bats. Winter can't come soon enough!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Summer Giveaway!

© Kim Buchheit
PRIZE
Vintage-style Rose Hair Clips :: Set of 2
(as shown above; view
detailed pics here)

HOW TO WIN
4 Ways to Enter: Be sure to leave a comment here and let me know which way(s) you entered.
1. Twitter this giveway — copy/paste: Win Vintage-Style Hair Clips from @wildlywoolly. To enter, visit: http://www.wildlywoolly.com
2. Heart my Etsy shop
3. Follow me on Twitter (@wildlywoolly)
4. Follow me on Facebook (Wildly Woolly)

WINNER ANNOUNCED
Entries will be accepted through Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Winner announced Wednesday, June 9, 2010. UPDATE: The winner of the give-away is Joyce Ramsey. Thank you Joyce and all for participating!

Mark Your Calendars

Photo © Mike Buchheit
2010 Flagstaff Wool Festival: June 5-6, 2010 at the Pioneer Museum, 2340 N Ft. Valley Rd., Flagstaff, Arizona; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This is an event I look forward to every year! Great prices on wool and interesting people who generously share their stories and know-how. If you're in the area, you won't want to miss this.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Vintage-Style Hair Clips

Hand-crafted by Kim Buchheit; © Kim Buchheit
On my upcoming summer get-away, I want to just pull my hair back and not spend time fussing with it. To that end, I created these romantic vintage-style rose hair clips. The rich sable color keeps them "grown up" — and the snug alligator clip keeps them in place (even in my fine hair!). If you'd like a set for summer, you can order them in my Etsy shop!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Felted Amigurumi :: Woodland Pals

Design and hand-crafted by Kim Buchheit; © Kim Buchheit
Wee bear and his woolly owl pal have teamed up to enliven my Etsy store. They were first hand-crocheted in the Japanese amigurumi style using my own pattern. After being felted in a hot bath, the facial features were applied via needle felting and the safety eyes were added. Come visit them for tea and snacks — you might just find yourself adopting them on the spot.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

"2000 Breaths" Meditation Mats

Design and hand-crafted by Kim Buchheit; © Kim Buchheit
In my on-going effort to live more in the present moment, I recently incorporated breath work into my textile making process. While creating these thick warm-and-woolly meditation mats (or table accents), I made two stitches on the in-breath and two on the out-breath. The total number of breaths per 20-inch round mat is about 2000. My hope is that this practice not only makes me more conscious, but also imbues my work with some sense of peace that is bestowed on others. My 2000 Breaths® felted wool textiles will soon be available in my Etsy shop.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Felted Votives with Woolly Branch

Design and hand-crafted by Kim Buchheit; © Kim Buchheit
Oh, I am just so happy to have finished this piece! I was experimenting with assemblage of the ropey branch... first sewing, then binding the pieces together with embroidery thread. Then, after deconstructing it all, I settled on needle-felting the pieces together after binding the joints with a bit of cormo wool. In the end, I just wanted to use only wool in the piece. But I do love mixing wool with other materials, too. Maybe next time :)

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Felted Wee Bird on Juniper Branch

Design and crafted by Kim Buchheit; © Kim Buchheit.
I really enjoyed developing this little sculpture today. Initially I had hoped that the long-legged birdie would stand on his own... but, alas, he simply couldn't (poor fella). As I looked around my cluttered studio I spied a nice weathered piece of juniper wood, and that was the aha moment. I think he turned out cute, and the wood base makes him more substantial and stable. Yay! He is now hanging out with the other woolly wonders in my Etsy shop.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Something to Light Up the New Decade...

Design and crafted by Kim Buchheit; © 2009, Kim Buchheit.
Hand-felted, flame-free woolly light pots! These night owls will light up your evenings with their sweet soft glow. Also available in a contemporary polka dot set. If this is any indicator, I think 2010 is going to be way too much FUN!