Creative goings on

shrinky dinkin'   .... Son made this one by tracing and coloring over a picture in the book.  Amazing. 

another silly sweet hat in progress.  I've got a bag full of candy-colorful washable knitpicks yarn to choose from.

Drawer Pulls done

 

Felted Crochet Beret

In between metal studio work, I finally made myself a cushy luxury hat to match my well worn sheepskin coat. I crocheted it with some thrift store Bucilla tapestry wool, by feel rather than pattern. Here it is before and after felting. It looks better in person and feels thick very thick and rich.

At first I started to hand felt in the sink. After about 3 minutes, I thought I was going to lose my mind. So I quickly stripped some sheets from the beds and ran a hot water heavy duty load in the front loader to complete the felting process. Yes, a GE front loader can indeed felt if you use hot water, the longest heaviest wash cycle, and a full (but not overloaded) load of dirty laundry.

Now I am going to be using my in-the-house time to crank on some crazy cute kid hats.

Positive and Negative - Studio Update

Negative

Positive

You know what that means....  More of these are coming, oak and grape leaves this time, no branches.  Fyi- These pulls will be available on Etsy later today, priced at $20 apiece if purchased as a set of 4.  Follow the link near the top of the page to my online store.

Progress Report
 

Studio Update- Chasing & Repoussé

Here is an in-progress shot of a copper chasing I've been working on - about 8 inches wide at its largest dimension.  It's a bit of an experiment, working with an open flower, making the petals look dimensional.  I haven't accomplished exactly what I set out to do, but it is lovely nonetheless.  I'm pleased with the progress overall and can keep going with more flowers. 

 

I've got an exhibition lined up in Hudson, Wisconsin from November 2007 to February 2008.  This year's one-of-a-kind work will be focusing on wallpieces for that goal.  I'm planning larger wallpieces with flowers and birds, using a lot more copper and bronze.

New Chasings

  Finally.....some metalwork....

I did finish the bronze railing, but I don't have any photos that I can post publicly yet.  In between commissions, I have been finishing up a few chasings.  Both are in the 6 inch size range, made in steel.

I am thinking of using this 2nd one as part of a larger collage or sculpture.  I've been having these visions of some fabricated cube/staircase sculptures, beaten up, textural, full of edges and nature.

Candy Poof Hat

Here it was in progress.

Here it is done on daughter.  Again, I had planned to give it to some unsuspecting adult as a gift, but daughter decided that she must have it.  I hope that my children save their big collection of eclectic hats to pass on to their own children, or at least to hang around their homes.

Originally I had a cupcake in mind when I started to crochet.  Then it turned more into a cake castle.  If you google "cupcake hat", you'll find a free pattern for a very cute and much simpler child's hat that really does look like a cupcake.

I've gotten quite a few compliments on daughter's hat, and will be making a few similar hats to sell.

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In the Metals studio....
I just finished a large bronze railing, am working on a single design element in the studio, am designing some new potential projects, and will be starting on some leaves next week.