Off to the gallery!

Heading over to Fountain Hills Artists Gallery this holiday weekend with three new felted friends in hand. If you're in the neighborhhood and looking for a nice way to spend the day, come on out and walk around the fountain in the early morning while the air is still wonderfully cool, grab a yummy breakfast at one of the cute restaurants across the street, then pop in the gallery to see all the delightful new creations made by local artists! I’ll be there all day Saturday, and look forward to meeting you.

The Basics of 3D Wet Felting (Free Download)

Hello, felting friends! We get a lot of questions at the gallery about my work such as: what exactly is wet felting?; what is the difference between wet and dry (aka needle) felting?; how are felted sculptures made?; etc. In response to these inquiries, I put together a flyer that outlines the basics of creating 3D forms using wool fiber, along with some care instructions. I thought readers might appreciate it too, so am posting a high-res file (.jpg) here for you to download, print, and share. Note: This is not a step-by-step tutorial, but rather an at-a-glance overview to 3D wet felting. I do have a step-by-step printable tutorial that I provide to workshop attendees, and plan to make available as a free download here soon. Enjoy and happy making! 

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!

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).

What's Inside Rabbit?

I'm often asked what I use to stuff my soft sculptures and why they are heavier than expected. Well, years ago I was gifted with a huge "marketing sample" of processed Pima cotton from a gin in Yuma, Arizona. While the fibers were too short for a novice spinner like me to spin, I saved this generous gift knowing that it would be useful some day. For the past few years, I've been able to use this lovely cotton to stuff all of my wool sculptures. To weight my Rabbit sculptures, so they sit up tall and have a nice heft, I use a hand-sewn silk bag of small river stones. After inserting the bag of stones inside the sculpture, I stitch the bottom closed with wool thread, and sew on a label. My hope is that buyers appreciate all the handwork and the natural materials used in each piece.

Felting in the Studio

Making making in the studio this past week... felted rabbits and talismans. Thought it might be nice to share some work-in-progress pics. My plan is to create some online workshops in the near future, so photographing some step-by-step process pics helps me think more linearly too. (Photos, top to bottom: Felting rabbit head shaped around a resist; wetting down the loose fibers; dry fibers laid down and felted dreadlocks for talisman; checking rabbit ear to ensure strong enough to remove resist; final felted rabbits, stuffed with Pima cotton and weighted with a silk, hand-sewn bag of river stones.)

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).

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

Residency in Mendocino, CA

Boy, time sure does fly! I'm just now getting around to posting some of the pics from the 4 weeks I spent in glorious Mendocino (at the Mendocino Art Center, MAC) during an artist residency this past February. It was such a gift to be able to have a beautiful, huge, well-lit (with a view of the ocean!), and well-appointed (thanks to the wonderful Linda Cloonan) fiber studio all to myself, 24/7. My time on the headlands allowed me to begin a new body of work combining clay and fiber, which I'm currently scaling up in my studio. It truly was heaven on earth. Artist residencies are incredibly valuable, and possibly necessary, in order to have uninterrupted time to bring ideas to fruition. Also, I met some amazing people — fellow artists, Art Center staff, locals/neighbors, and workshop attendees. The opportunity to teach a Botanical Vessels using Pre-Felts class was a bonus. Thank you to all the people at MAC for this incredible opportunity and for your deep commitment to artists and art making. I hope to teach another workshop at MAC in 2021, so stay tuned!

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.)

Wet Felting :: Best of Show

The last time I was awarded a ribbon was probably back in high school for track — and, I assure you, it wasn't blue... not even close. So I wanted to toot my own horn a bit and share a photo of me with my big, fat, felted bowl and its shiny, best-of-show ribbon. Thanks to all who voted — and thanks to everyone at the Flag Wool & Fiber Festival and The Arizona Historical Society for another wonderful year and perhaps the best festival to date. So much work goes into these events and so many talented, hard-working people make it happen. I was thrilled to be able to teach a workshop this year and hope to be invited back next year for same. If you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next.

Experimenting with Surface Resists

In preparation for an upcoming workshop, I wanted to do more experimentation with surface resists. This 14"(w) x 10.5"(h), wet-felted, white-on-brown wool bowl is the most recent result. Kitty was hoping it was a cat cave, but alas, it is not. The slits were made using crescent-shaped pieces of plastic which were removed midway through the fulling stage — thereby allowing the cut edges to "heal" during the final fulling. Some stiffener was used to keep the soft vessel from denting when roughly handled. I've a few more experiments to do prior to the next Vessels & Votives workshop, so stay tuned.

Embellished Felted Vessel

Using trimmings from a larger project, I embellished a small, felted bowl by needle-felting the wet-felted remnants all around the outside. The finished piece somewhat resembles a cabbage — which made me smile while photographing it during a fresh snowfall this afternoon.

Felting Workshop in Sedona, AZ!

June 28-29, 2014
Wool Workshop in Sedona, Arizona
Learn to nuno felt in beautiful Red Rock Country! Join me and fellow fiber artist/art educator, Jen Marshall, for a wonderful wool workshop in one of the most inspiring venues in the world! This 2-day class will teach you the basics of felting with wool and silk so that you can confidently create even more lovely things when you go back home. Sign up now for this fun and informative workshop hosted by the Sedona Arts Center. Space is limited. Tuition: $300 (+ $30 materials fee). For details or to enroll, go to: here
or, call 928-282-3809.

Felting Workshop at the Grand Canyon

October 13-14, 2012
Wool Workshop at the Grand Canyon
Learn to nuno felt in the sublime wildness of Grand Canyon National Park! Join me and fellow fiber artist/art educator, Jen Marshall, for a wonderful wool workshop in one of the most inspiring venues anywhere! Enjoy sunrise discussions on the rim and classroom instruction on felting with wool and silk (other techniques will be taught as time permits). Sign up now for this 2-day workshop hosted by the Grand Canyon Field Institute. Space is limited. Course fee: $195 (includes all supplies). For details or to enroll, go to: here
or, call 866-471-4435

Woolly Woven Boho Bowls

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit © 2011 and 2012
This summer I was able to complete two more woven boho bowls to add to the collection (the two on the right in above photo). I recently purchased some more strong, course, hand-dyed and handspun Navajo churro from local artisans Loretta Flatrock, Betsy Miller, and Zuni Ishikawa (Wanowa Studios in Flagstaff, AZ) — and, it's these strong fibers which form the firm architecture of the bowls by way of the warp and the edge treatments.

Each bowls is actually two bowls in one: an inner tapestry made on a handcrafted loom with churro, merino, and other wool fiber along with jute, raffia, and some cotton/poly pompom accents; and an outer shell crocheted in wool fiber and custom fitted to the woven work. While it does take quite awhile to create each piece, I love making them. Each vessel is unique and defiantly refuses to adhere to any pattern, no matter how hard I try. Some of my pieces have sold in galleries and some directly to customers via my Etsy shop. If you are interested in a commissioned piece, feel free to contact me by email. Thanks.

Felted Pom-Pom Purse in Lemon Meringue

Available here

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit © 2012

I just put the flourishing touches on a few more round felted purses and put them in my Etsy shop. This lemon meringue one is a favorite! Call me crazy, but summer is here and I still want to work with wool. A batch of black silk arrived in my studio and I'm itching to nuno felt with that next... stay tuned :) 

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.

Silk and Wool Chemise

Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; Photo © Mike Buchheit
Sheer femininity, this light-as-air chemise is fit for a woodland nymph. No-sew construction, the piece was nuno felted with just wool fibers and silk — the seams were formed through felting alone. Before summer ends, I'd like to make a matching camisole to be worn underneath this one-of-a-kind piece.