fibre manipulator

Here come the adoring masses.

2009-04-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna be on TV!

Metropolis Metrotown is hosting an Earth Day event called Reuse Me on Saturday April 18th. I'm helping out by talking about myself and the lovelies I make, and for this I get some free press! I will be on Shaw Express TV this Tuesday with Andrea from Got Craft and others to talk about Earth Day and the Reuse Me event. Hee hee! More details to follow, I am quite excited! Please, please don't let me look like an awkward dork!

My turn, your turn

2009-03-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Carmen tagged me the other day and since I have resolved to blog more often I gave it a shot:

What are you wearing now? An army surplus sweater with a multi-coloured collar poking out and some black slacks. I find the word slacks quite amusing.

How often do you blog? I'm trying to blog once or twice a week and succeeding for the past week. What a roll!

Who was the last person you hugged? My best friend Debby.

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately? My new yellow spring cardigan. The best $3 I've spent in quite a while!

What's for dinner? Fennel sausages and salad with horseradish dressing.

What is the last thing you bought? A pitcher of margaritas at Debby's birthday party last night.

What are you listening to right now? Eric Satie. The stark piano helps me stay focused.

If you could have any super power what would it be? I don't know, something to do with motivation or making the people around me happy.

What is your favorite weather and why? The start of Fall when you can go outside in a sweater and scarf and smell the leaves in the wind.

What time do you usually get up? Around 7:30

What is your most challenging goal right now? To become completely self sufficient as an entrepreneur and to have my work shown all over the country. Oh and to get some press.

Say something about the person who tagged you. She is my mentor and someone I strive to be more like. She has so much drive!

If you could have a house fully paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Either on a secluded beachfront in Hawaii or the same on Saltspring Island. Or a flat in Paris. Or Berlin. This offer is too great, I can't decide. Any of those will do, thanks.

Favorite vacation spot? See above.

Name the things you can't live without: Wine, Coffee, shiny and pretty things.

What movies can you watch over and over? When Harry Met Sally, Ferris Bueller's Day off, and anything written by Wes Anderson.

What is your favorite tea? I used to love the Nutcracker Sweet Celestial Seasonings tea but I think they don't put as much tea in their packets anymore. My new favorite is one I tried at the Secret Garden the other day with Earl Grey and Lavender in it. I can't remember what it's called though.

Fait acompli! That was actually kind of fun. Now it's your turn Ana, Dragana, Celeste and Debby.....

In over my head as usual

2009-03-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Pardon the pun, but I have a tendency to throw myself head first into unexplored territories. That is the case with a workshop I am teaching this April at Swap-o-Rama-Rama. I know how to needle felt, but just the very basics. So why am I teaching a needle felting class you ask? Because that's how Stephanie does. I figured if I'm going to teach the stuff I might as well do some research on the subject. So off to the library I went with sketchbook and pencil in hand. There's not much info on needle felting specifically. I came away with three photocopy pages. There is, however, a great dvd called "Introduction to Needle Felting; Sculpting a doll with Sharon Costello" It has been transferred from video, the sound is off and it's a bit hokey but the steps are easy to follow, and the instructions concise. The result is my blue head in the garden.
Just look at that profile! I'm very happy with my little guy and feel much less stressed about teaching the workshop. Perhaps jumping headfirst is a good way to learn. For me, anyway. He'll have a body by the workshop, promise.
What a beautiful sunny day it is here, the Daffodils wanted to say hello. I've been tagged by Carmen of Melonhead Knitwear so I'll have to work on that next. Yikes!

Getting closer to my goal

2009-03-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

I gave myself a goal to have my work in 10 stores by Easter. I'm getting close, my work can now be found at 6 stores in the Lower Mainland.

Purr on South Granville,

Plush on Main,

Virgin Mary's on Commercial,

Tiger Tiger Vintage on Hastings,

The newest stores to accept my work are

Dream on Cordova and their new location

Little Dream in the Net Loft on Granville Island.

With just under 3 weeks to add 4 stores, I think I can make it! It feels great to say you'll do something and get to work doing it. These are photos of some new earrings I've made using a smaller circle and some bread I made yesterday just for fun. It's tasty.

Scoutmagazine.ca does an article about me! and three other people.

2009-02-06T09:51:00.001-08:00

So it started with a sentence and now Michelle Sproule of Scoutmagazine.ca has written an article about my portrait dolls. Yippee! She says nice things about me here: http://scoutmagazine.ca/2009/02/05/valentines-day-with-a-twist/
These are my portrait dolls. Above is the Debby doll. She has a pretty cardigan with brooch and fancy red satin skirt with gold lining. Her name is embroidered on the bottom of her foot and she carries with her a red embroidered purse with journal and pencil. I have so much fun making these precious studies of people. The subject (or the gift giver) fills out a questionnaire with a photo so I can make an accurate representation and each doll comes with a minimum of three accessories. Past accessories have included masquerade masks, books, beer cans and tiny iphones.
oh, and they're anatomically correct. Tee hee!

Sunny day, outdoor photos

2009-02-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

What a pretty day it was today! I've been lamenting that it's hard to photograph jewellery without proper lighting. The universe sent me a bright, warm day and here are my results.

Progress!

2009-01-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

You can now find my pretty fibre jewellery at Virgin Mary's at 1035 Commercial Drive! 4 down 7 to go for my spring goal of 10 stores. Yippee!

Starting the year off with shiny pretty fabric

2009-01-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays I was given the most beautiful fabric from Japan. There are three Obi, which is the belt of a kimono, woven from the most gorgeous metallic fabrics and silks. It took me a while to be able to cut into them because they are works of art in themselves but a lady's got to make a living so I've done it. For the most part the fabric will become fibre earrings though I think a thank you present for Emily's mom is in order. Perhaps a brooch highlighting the obis best patterns.

I cut the peacock fabric into strips and the checkered one into circles.

Then I coated them with protective waterproof substance for cheery Vancouver weather, and dried some letting the fabric curl itself some I manipulated for the perfect curve. I then added handmade sterling silver hooks and coloured gemstones to make a tiny piece of art for your ears.

Baby's first blog mention

2008-12-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

It started with a sentence.....

scoutmagazine.ca/index.php?s=fibre+manipulator

Can you tell where the heat vent is?

2008-12-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know this is supposed to be a blog about my fibre creations and what it's like to be an entrepreneur but I couldn't resist posting a photo of my ridiculous cats. Yes, I am that lady. A little more on topic; it was the Farmer's Market Holiday Market this weekend at Heritage Hall. What a huge event! I saw all my favorite vendors, did lots of trading, and sold so much I had to do some sewing overnight, and ran into old friends. I am so happy with the success of this past weekend and look forward to my last selling day this Saturday at the Blim winter market. Main and 17th at Cambrian Hall 12 to 5. I'll be busy making lovely things and doing (ugh) the remaining Christmas shopping till then. Last year I succeeded in not stepping into a mall but this year, I think I'll have to. The boyfriend is just not that into crafty things.

Holiday Season officially started

2008-11-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was FabFair at Heritage Hall where I successfully debuted my new fibre jewellery. I had a great time and the response was amazing. I'll never get tired of people oohing and aahing over my work. I love the craft fair season, so exciting and exhausting. I have met so many wonderful vendors over the last 3 years, many of whom I only see during this time. It's so much fun to catch up with everybody and see what's new on their tables. It's a room full of like minded people doing what they love and shoppers coming to support them. What an emotional high! The next craft fair is two weeks away at Heritage Hall again, and I'm busy making pretty things till then.

New Website!

2008-11-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

Yippee! New website launched and its a success! Now I need to get busy making pretty things for the holiday season. Luckily it's grey and rainy outside so it's easy to stay indoors.