A whole lot of stuff

Last week I bought some much-needed shelving for my studio.  Sounds simple, but you know how one thing leads to another... 

First, I moved all the bins and boxes that were stacked in the corner where the shelves would go.  Then (two trips to Home Depot later) my husband and I assembled the shelving.  Then all the bins, and more, went onto those blessed new shelves.  So far so good.
 

I also I wanted to move the desk and its hutch from their place, serving as sort of a room divider, across the room to sit against the wall near the shelves.  So of course I had to take everything from the hutch and the desk top and stash it somewhere in the meantime.  (Isn't that what work tables are for?)  Anyway, moving furniture was the easy part.  The hard part was coming face to face with just how much stuff I have in my studio:  books, magazines, papers, all kinds of aging art supplies, a decent amount of felting wool, and yarn, yarn, yarn. 

   

 



Before I became a felter, I had been weaving for nearly 20 years.  And if you're a handweaver, or you know one, you know that we are by nature yarn junkies.  Despite having woven only two scarves in the past year, despite my loom standing empty more often than not, I still have the most amazing yarn collection.  But why? (apart from the fact that I love looking at it all.) Clearly, I need either to part with most of it (NOOOOOOOO!!!!!) or to start weaving seriously again.  I'm pondering...

 

Here is a sampling - maybe 2% of my stash.  And below is my newly reorganized studio, almost ready to felt in again!  

    



Time flies in my studio

Yes, I'm still here!  I've been felting away, producing lots of new work for spring shows, and somehow the months have flown past.  


We're enjoying southern California spring in all its glory, which means it's summer one day, raining and cold the next - even had snow in our local mountains two weekends ago, followed by 90-degree temperatures this past weekend!  Keeps us on our toes.


My garden inspires me in all seasons, and right now it is in full bloom.  The last freesias are fading, the blue hibiscus and orange lion's tail are vying for attention, mountain lilac and pride-of-Madeira cover the back hillside, and Meyer lemon blossoms smell divine.  It all means lots of color in new felt. 

Last weekend's Artwear show was a success and a lot of fun.  It was my first time there as a guest artist, and I enjoyed meeting the other artists, new clients and potential clients.  The setting was a fantastic house and garden in Carlsbad, 40 miles north of San Diego.  Here is my booth in the "Secret Garden" on a brilliant morning.  The vessels really glowed in the sunshine.


I'm pleased to report that I've recently been accepted as a member of Spanish Village Art Center, located in our wonderful Balboa Park.  I'm exploring whether to associate with one of the studios there or remain a member-at-large; watch for a post about that soon.


New to my vessel collection this spring are mini vessels.  Each is a unique "treasure keeper" for your rings, a beautiful bead, a few handy paper clips...  Lots of fun to make, and a terrific way to use up bits of wool and silk that accumulate in my scrap drawer.  Come see the assortment in my booth at the Talmadge Art Show on May 6.