3 Little Birds…

are at my doorstep. Actually, it's turning into a veritable flock around here! For awhile now I've been thinking about how to make a simple resist for chickadees -- and with just the right amount of internal pressure to put pesky procrastination on notice (e.g. the holiday shipping deadlines bearing down), I put my noodle on it last week and got the job done. While pleased with the resulting felted "feathered" friends, I am most satisfied with the elegant plastic resist design which solidified after a few definitely-not-so-elegant iterations (three, to be precise). Like many makers, I find the design phase (including making the prototypes) to be the most rewarding part of the creative process... and would much prefer having a team of little elves do the production of the actual inventory. But how can I complain when I get to fill any downtime with making suff -- it's like being a kid again. Note: The gift chickadees flew the coop, and these six stayed behind. If you would like to adopt one, go to the gallery in Fountain Hills to pick out your fave! Happy holidays to all!

Felted Drawings

In the Studio: Continuing to develop a series of wet-felted flat pieces that translate my pencil sketches into wool works. Whenever I cut shapes, Matisse comes to mind and it's difficult trying to keep him from over-influencing my hand and scissors! I started this work a few years ago and like the simplicity of the shapes, playing with white space and other design elements and principles, and introducing a bit of narrative too. I plan to matte a few and take them over to the gallery to see how others respond. Topmost Photo: "Catching Diamonds", wet-felted wool, 11"x13.5"; Lower Photo: "To Have and to Hold", wet-felted wool, 11"x14"

The Rabbits are Multiplying!

Two new rabbits join the fluffle this week (the grey rabbits with blue and gold polka dots depicted above). The grey base fiber is a Shetland wool roving from Outback Fibers. This wool takes a bit more muscle to felt than the brown mixed breed fiber (R.H. Lindsay), but the color is gorgeous and worth the effort. Rabbit sculpture specs: Exterior: Wet-felted wool; Interior: Local Pima cotton, silk, and river stones. 28" (h; to top of ear) x 7"-7.5" (w).

Talismans :: Felted Wool Sculpture

More felted Talismans join the fold. Felted Sculptures (Untitled). Exterior: Wet-felted wool; interior: local Pima cotton, netting, and river stones or glass beads. ~21-23.5" (h) x ~7-7.5" (w).

Sentinel with Crescent Moon

Completed another small (26" ht.) "Sentinel" last night — with crescent moon. Love the mixed-breed dark grey wool (from R.H. Lindsay) — it smelled very animal-ly while wet and contains a fair bit of vegetal matter :) This series of felted sculptures consist of 100% felted wool forms with glazed and fired clay bases

Felted Sculpture :: Developing New Series

Some snaps of work I'm continuing to develop that I started creating while in Mendocino. Working title of series is, "Sentinels" — guardians, watching over us; which seems especially comforting now during this global pandemic. I'm also exploring the phases of the moon; tethered as it is to our planet and to our individual bodies. Photos: The large sculpture is 43.5" (h) and the small one is 23.5" (h); both consist of hand-felted wool hollow forms, with concave (closed) tops; bases are either fired/glazed clay or painted terracotta. #wildlywoolly #feltedsculpture #feltedwool

Sacred Landscape :: Felted Wool Wall Hanging

For the past two years, I've been developing a body of work, entitled, "Sacred Landscapes". This collection consists of various size (3' to 7' in height) felted wool wall hangings which evoke the Grand Canyon's geological strata and its carver, the Colorado River. Each piece features a 3D "cut" to reveal a hidden layer below. The ovoid shape is inspired by the Shiva Lingam stones gathered from the Namada River in Onkar Mandhata, one of India's holy sites. The works' reference to the sacred is intentional, as Grand Canyon too serves as an inspirational site commanding respect and often reverence from those who gaze into its depths… and is sacrosanct to many who fight for its continued protection.

Photo: Sacred Landscape; Hand-felted Merino wool; 16.5" x 36.5". © Kim Buchheit

Sneak Peek :: 2018 Sedona Summer Colony

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Sedona Summer Colony artists' retreat. While there, I met some truly amazing, talented artists, and had the opportunity to work on projects that required some dedicated time. One of these projects entitled, Blanks (or, Untitled), addresses the subject of personal identity. It is a set of eight felted, androgynous figures (measuring approx. 24" x 6" each) thoughtfully grouped in relationship with one another. The completed piece has been submitted for consideration in a regional show and I'll share a photo of the set in the near future. (The posted photo depicts two, temporarily headless figures drying in the Arizona sun. Photo courtesy of Sedona Summer Colony.)

Vessels & Votives in the Valley of the Sun

We just wrapped up a super fun Vessels & Votives custom workshop in Glendale, Arizona. Class participants brought lots of joy and energy to the felting process and all seemed quite pleased with their final pieces. The fairy lights were a big hit and made the felted votives extra special. Upcoming workshops are listed here on the blog, but if you're interested in hosting a private workshop, simply contact me by email to discuss the details.

Sacred Landscape Series

I just completed another felted wall hanging for inclusion in my Sacred Landscape Series. Here's a close-up photo showing some of the textures and color gradations. One of the things I love about using pre-felt as a substrate is how those solid-colored base fibers migrate up through the top layers to create a tonal "glazing" effect. On this particular piece, the top layers are cut through in one area to reveal a "river" of turquoise blue below... a tribute to some of Grand Canyon's waterways (e.g. the Little Colorado River and Havasu Creek). Detail of felted wall hanging; 17"x 39.5"; 100% wool; © Kim Buchheit

New Felted Work :: Botanical Series

I just completed another piece in my "Botanical" series utilizing pre-felts. It's really fun to work with pre-felts as one can achieve an almost cut-paper-like design (ala Matisse!). With this botanical series, I like to work spontaneously laying down the cut-outs as I make them. However, I have also sketched out in advance ideas for other pieces and, while some details are blurred and/or lost, it's amazing how much the final felted work resembles the pencil skecth. I'll try posting samples of that soon so you can judge for yourselves. Cheers!

Nuno-Felting Demo & Workshop :: 2017

Dear Fiber Friends, I want to announce two upcoming nuno-felting events as follows:
1. FREE nuno-felting demo at Flag Wool & Fiber Festival in Flagstaff, AZ (Sat., June 3, 2017; 10 a.m.). Details here.
2. Weekend nuno-felting workshop at the Grand Canyon this fall (Oct. 7-8 , 2017). More info and sign-up here.

Felted Rope with Heart Necklace

Design and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; © 2012
Today is the Autumnal Equinox — the first day of autumn... yippee! I consider this time of year my heart season, as it's the time when I reflect more deeply on all of life's gifts and my heart nearly bursts in gratitude. With a cool breeze rolling in, I'm drawn to wool and to working in the studio designing gifts for the upcoming holiday season. My new design is a simple felted rope that ties in the back and showcases a spatter-glazed porcelain heart bead. I picked up several of these sweet beads while in Sedona, AZ last week... some barn red and some turquoise blue. And since they are exclusive to this particular bead shop, I think I'll be making a trip back to Sedona real soon.

Birthday Scarves

Design and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; © 2012 
Five dear friends celebrated their respective birthdays this past month and I wanted to make each one of them a special, handmade gift. I decided to make architecturally-inspired, woolly windowpane scarves in their favorite colors. I did end up making an extra one too (above)... for me, perhaps? Or, should I add it to my Etsy shop? Decisions, decisions. 

More Felted Pom-Pom Purses

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit © 2012
Spring is here and I have yet to get more pom-pom purses uploaded to Etsy... but, I thought I'd post a few here to prove I've been making making making :) I'm enjoying playing with various yarns for the crochet trim, beaded tassel, and detachable pom-pom brooches. And speaking of, I love making those pom-poms; reminds me of summer camp and my collection of "fuzzies." Top purse body made from felted llama; bottom purse body made from felted Corriedale. Happy spring to all!

Posh Purses

 

Designed and hand-crafted by Kim Buchheit; photos by Mike Buchheit 
Everyone who's come into my studio this past week has shrieked and cooed over these little posh purses. I've finally got them photographed and up for sale in my Etsy shop — and I'm guessing they'll go fast! These sweet wool, llama-hair, and feathered clutches feel so soft and sumptuous in the hand — adding a bit of everyday glamour to your life. Hope one finds its way to you soon!

Striped Silk & Wool Scarf

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; photo by Mike Buchheit 
I made several nuno-felted scarves to show at my fall workshop, but the class got cancelled... rats! The good news is that it got rescheduled for next year and we've already got several people interested. If you'd like to learn more about it, drop me an email. The other good news is that I've got loads of scarves to give away as gifts and to sell in my Etsy shop. Here's one of my faves — an eclectic mix of canoodling stripes. I hope to get this into my Wildly Woolly shop soon — let me know what you think. Happy autumn! UPDATE: Item has sold.

Nuno-Felted Clutches

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit.
Over the weekend I made these fun little nuno-felted clutches to carry art supplies, make-up, or other goodies in style. These purses were handcrafted of merino wool and silk, with no-sew construction. Magnetic clasps and felted flowers are the finishing touches. (Felting tip: For this project, I used an inexpensive resist material that you can pick up at the grocery store: freezer paper! It works great and you can use your sewing machine to create larger resists as needed.)

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

"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.