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! 

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"

Felting Vessels :: Free Video Tutorials Coming Soon!

I just completed videotaping the making of this polka-dot bowl from start to finish — and will be editing the recording into shorter videos this weekend. This series of free demos will support my online workshop participants in their learning, as well as be available to any creatives who might benefit. I've learned so much from other artists; I'm excited to be able to give back. These video tutorials will be uploaded to my Youtube channel and I'll post the link here as soon as they're live.

Black Felted Wool Rabbit

Look who showed up in the field of rabbitbrush this morning! Specs: Exterior: Wet-felted wool; Interior: Local Pima cotton, silk, and river stones. 28" (h) x 7.5" (w).

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.)

Talisman :: Felted Sculpture

The house is filling up with my felted wool Sentinels and Talismans, and we may soon run out of space to store them :) I suppose this work is in response to the pandemic, and the desire to create strong (and sometimes quirky) protective "dieties" for the world. I will continue to explore these themes in the studio and see where things go. Wishing you all strength, protection, and hearts full of hope and joy.

Talisman I (felted wool sculpture), exterior: wet-felted wool; interior: pima cotton, glass beads, netting, 23" (h) x 6" (w).

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

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.

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.

2014 Flagstaff Fiber & Wool Festival

A darling little Navajo Churro sheep waiting to be sheared.

Great book on crochet by talented and sweet Yumiko Alexander.

Kind and thoughtful Jacque Howell had some lovely mohair, angora, and llama fiber for sale. 

This gentle shearer learned the trade at the age of 8 from watching his grandmother. He shared his wonderful stories with the crowd while taking small breaks from his hard work. 

Photos © Mike Buchheit
This year was truly an exceptional one for Flagstaff's Fiber & Wool Festival. We spent a few hours and lots of dollars at the event: beautiful fiber artist, Yumiko Alexander, autographed her book of original crochet designs for us — and we gobbled up bags of gorgeous mohair roving from Jacque Howell (Arivaca Angora Goats) including some of her award-winning curly mohair locks. My husband and I look forward to this event every year not only to purchase local fiber, but also to meet the wonderful people who work with fiber at various stages in the process: from sheep, llama, alpaca, and goat herders to spinners, weavers, and other artisans. Loretta Flatrock and Vanessa Begay-Lee were just two of the amazing weavers we chatted with, and two artists who may be collaborating with me on future fiber workshops (felting and weaving) — so stay tuned!

Layered Felt Bangles

Design and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; © 2013
Snowy Saturdays are simply the best days for felting in the studio with good company, fresh coffee, and lots of yummy fibers. These layered-felted bangle sets are the result of today's undertaking. I spent quite a bit of time experimenting with how to cinch the bangles together, and decided on using silk "hankies' tied in single knots. The two natural fibers play nicely off one another and the silk, once tied, made the elegant decision to bow itself up like a flower. Thank you, silk :)

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. 

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.

2012 Flagstaff Fiber Festival

Burying hand-dyed, handspun Churro wool yarn from artisan Loretta Flatrock.

Gorgeous Churro sheep.

Gently sheering an alpaca.

Local smiley spinners (right: Kari Usher, Dancing Weaver).

Photos © Mike Buchheit
Had a fabulous time at the Fiber Festival in Flagstaff, AZ yesterday! Bought some scrumptious Churro yarn from some talented ladies including Betsy Miller, Loretta Flatrock, and Zuni Ishikawa (Wanowa Studio, Flagstaff, AZ). My husband and I so enjoy talking with the interesting people that participate in this annual event — we learn so much and are so grateful to them. The festival ends today at 4 pm so get on over there if you're in the neighborhood (learn more).

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 :) 

Bling in the New Year

Available in my Etsy shop.

© Kim Buchheit. Designed and handcrafted by Kim Buchheit; photo by Mike Buchheit
My final felting projects for 2011 included two more plush purses in dark cocoa and cinnamon — yum. Thought they'd make nice holiday gifts and coordinate perfectly with a sparkly New Year's Eve dress. Begin 2012 with a little good-luck glam and have a lovely holiday season!
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