Time to take a deep breath and assess the situation...the holidays are over, & sales were quite good. I am in a new studio in Amesbury, The Riverwalk Bead Studio & Gallery. This shop is in a renovated victorian train station in beautiful downtown Amesbury MA. Amesbury is becoming known as a great place for artists and fine dining. Next week I'll have to hustle to the galleries to replace holiday items with my signature wildlife pieces. There is one last holiday commission piece to complete and deliver to Wenham, a painted floor cloth of two adorable labs in the marsh. Next I need to create my piece to submit to Fiber College for consideration as a class next September. After that I have to set up my next few classes, I may also be teaching at the new gallery in Amesbury along with A Loom With A View in Newburyport. You may have noticed I am trying to avoid end of year bookkeeping, it really needs to be done next week.....
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!!!
Kim
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Holiday Art & Fine Crafts, Newburyport
Hello all,
I was offered a spot in a great show this Friday and Saturday being held at the Unitarian Church Meeting House on Pleasant Street in Newburyport, MA. Fri is 5to 9 PM, Sat is 10AM to 5PM, Friday coincides with the last Invitation Nights Shopping in beautiful downtown Newburyport. Check out the Chamber of Commerce web page for more invitation night information. Saturday I'll be skipping out to teach a class across the street at A Loom With A View, Betsy Martins great yarn and weaving shop. My better half will be standing in for me at the show for two hours, he is such a good sport. Fortunately the great group of artists I met at the museum show will also be at this one, they will keep an eye on him. I'll keep my fingers crossed that no one will need to use a credit card during his tenure, it could get dicey...
Come out and support local arts, I'd love to meet you!
Kim
I was offered a spot in a great show this Friday and Saturday being held at the Unitarian Church Meeting House on Pleasant Street in Newburyport, MA. Fri is 5to 9 PM, Sat is 10AM to 5PM, Friday coincides with the last Invitation Nights Shopping in beautiful downtown Newburyport. Check out the Chamber of Commerce web page for more invitation night information. Saturday I'll be skipping out to teach a class across the street at A Loom With A View, Betsy Martins great yarn and weaving shop. My better half will be standing in for me at the show for two hours, he is such a good sport. Fortunately the great group of artists I met at the museum show will also be at this one, they will keep an eye on him. I'll keep my fingers crossed that no one will need to use a credit card during his tenure, it could get dicey...
Come out and support local arts, I'd love to meet you!
Kim
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sleigh Bell Fair
The fair went well, it was a bit slow on Friday which made for a pretty long day (12 hours). Saturday was much busier, and in the end I sold all but eight of my ornaments. The museum asked to keep the remainin eight to sell in their gift shop, to which I glady said yes. I met some very talented artists, and spent some of my profits buying up their best pieces before they were all gone. Judith Klein makes jewelry from found objects mainly metals and adds semi precious stones. I snapped up a fantastic necklace, and my daughter surprised me with a pin that can also be worn as a necklace, very unique work, LOVE IT!
I spent the following week completing another herd of goats and some felted goats on pillows for my friend Yvonne at Black Locust Farm, the cashmere from her goats is unbelievably soft;it is practically weightless. Please check out her web site, there are some great photos of her herd and articles made from her cashmere available.
My very amazing husband sold a garden sculpture at the show as well, he is always surprised when he sells a piece, no one else is, just him. He is also creating a piece to put in next years sculpture show at the Pingree School, the ideas are flowing...
The next two Saturdays I am teaching felting classes at Betsy Martins beautiful shop A Loom With A View, there is only one spot left in each, can't wait, love to share the fun!
-Kim
P.S. My Christmas work is also available at A Loom With A View, or drop me an e-mail.
I spent the following week completing another herd of goats and some felted goats on pillows for my friend Yvonne at Black Locust Farm, the cashmere from her goats is unbelievably soft;it is practically weightless. Please check out her web site, there are some great photos of her herd and articles made from her cashmere available.
My very amazing husband sold a garden sculpture at the show as well, he is always surprised when he sells a piece, no one else is, just him. He is also creating a piece to put in next years sculpture show at the Pingree School, the ideas are flowing...
The next two Saturdays I am teaching felting classes at Betsy Martins beautiful shop A Loom With A View, there is only one spot left in each, can't wait, love to share the fun!
-Kim
Friday, November 5, 2010
Happy Holidays are on the way!
Only fourteen days until the Wenham Museum Sleigh Bell Fair, this is a big fund raising event for the museum. I have managed to put together a variety of items from paintings to decoys, and of course needle felted items as well. I am working twelve hour days to keep up with orders for felted scenes under glass.
I have been fortunate to find some really great antiques to blend with my work, the latest of which are two vintage 1950 flower globes that are now home to a couple of needle felted snowmen. So the lucky new owners are getting very unique pieces of art as well as cool antique glass. Each year I am creating ONE 3D St.Nicholas, it is a big undertaking and will go to one collector that can appreciate the work involved. He is signed, dated, and numbered 1of 1. In between I am filling orders from other vendors, and making ornaments so there will be something in everyones price range. In December I am teaching two ornament classes at A Loom With A View in Newburyport, all of the details are on their web site.
I hope to see all of you in a class sometime! They are fun and relaxing, and Betsys' shop is a great place to take a class and do some holiday shopping. If you are in Portsmouth check out Tulips American Handcrafts, they have a wide variety of artists, (including some of my work.)
I have been fortunate to find some really great antiques to blend with my work, the latest of which are two vintage 1950 flower globes that are now home to a couple of needle felted snowmen. So the lucky new owners are getting very unique pieces of art as well as cool antique glass. Each year I am creating ONE 3D St.Nicholas, it is a big undertaking and will go to one collector that can appreciate the work involved. He is signed, dated, and numbered 1of 1. In between I am filling orders from other vendors, and making ornaments so there will be something in everyones price range. In December I am teaching two ornament classes at A Loom With A View in Newburyport, all of the details are on their web site.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Christmas is less than three months away!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
2010 Fiber College
Hello!
Fiber College is over, it went by much to quickly. The location was beautiful, the people were great, it was without a doubt the most enjoyable art or fiber event I have ever attended. Astrig and her team did a phenomenal job of being there when you needed them and laid back at the same time. I have been to much smaller events where this was not accomplished. The ladies in my class did a great job, and made the time fly by; I hope they had as much fun as I did. My better half survived the four days, and even admitted to enjoying himself. Our daughter drove 3.5 hours up and 3.5 back to come for one day to cover my tent while I taught, she is the best! My son in law stayed home and took care of our three dogs, it makes it easier to be away if I know they are being cared for.
I am already planning my class for next year. If you have never been, you should go. If you were there this year, I hope you come again. I am NOT a camper, but I have been to other campgrounds, and I can say this is the cleanest, friendliest one I have seen; did I mention the scenerey is fantastic? It is.
Have a good one,
Kim
Fiber College is over, it went by much to quickly. The location was beautiful, the people were great, it was without a doubt the most enjoyable art or fiber event I have ever attended. Astrig and her team did a phenomenal job of being there when you needed them and laid back at the same time. I have been to much smaller events where this was not accomplished. The ladies in my class did a great job, and made the time fly by; I hope they had as much fun as I did. My better half survived the four days, and even admitted to enjoying himself. Our daughter drove 3.5 hours up and 3.5 back to come for one day to cover my tent while I taught, she is the best! My son in law stayed home and took care of our three dogs, it makes it easier to be away if I know they are being cared for.
I am already planning my class for next year. If you have never been, you should go. If you were there this year, I hope you come again. I am NOT a camper, but I have been to other campgrounds, and I can say this is the cleanest, friendliest one I have seen; did I mention the scenerey is fantastic? It is.
Have a good one,
Monday, August 16, 2010
The push is on!
Hi,
The push is on for my first fair in Wenham. My better half assisted me with a trial run of our set up. He devised a great way to display my paintings and floor cloths that is also light and easy to lug. I finished the tablecloths today I couldn't get into my studio as Gene is replacing the old steps and forgot I am a foot shorter than he is. Needless to say I'm not about to take a running jump onto the deck without incurring some personal damage. I did get four new canvases primed this weekend so I'll start a new design tomorrow. In the mean time I am showing my lobster at 95% done, the next ocean critter will be a striped bass and then who knows?
The push is on for my first fair in Wenham. My better half assisted me with a trial run of our set up. He devised a great way to display my paintings and floor cloths that is also light and easy to lug. I finished the tablecloths today I couldn't get into my studio as Gene is replacing the old steps and forgot I am a foot shorter than he is. Needless to say I'm not about to take a running jump onto the deck without incurring some personal damage. I did get four new canvases primed this weekend so I'll start a new design tomorrow. In the mean time I am showing my lobster at 95% done, the next ocean critter will be a striped bass and then who knows?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Fiber College
Long time since my last blog, busy,busy,busy. Helping my daughters friend with wedding "stuff", bed for the Yankee Homecoming bed race, float for her swim team (they won a trophy for most creative). Migraine yesterday and an hours sleep last night. The good news is my felted footstool class at Fiber College is almost full, last message said there are three spots left of the original twenty. Yippeeeee!
Liz from Riverslea Farm called this a.m. she is busy dyeing the felt sheets for the footstools,going to check on the progress this week. I know they will be beautiful, she always does a great job. They are a little darker than my original piece, that is the nature of wool.
I will be teaching a felted footstool class at A Loom With A View in Newburyport this fall AFTER Fiber College. I have completed a few more floor cloths, hopefully I will have ten or twelve for the Wenham Museum fair on August 28th, then the push will be on for Christmas!!!!!
I am posting a photo of my black lab floor cloth at 95% done, should be able to finish it tomorrow after I get some sleep. I decided using sharp objects today would be a very bad idea.
Have a great week everyone!
Kim
Liz from Riverslea Farm called this a.m. she is busy dyeing the felt sheets for the footstools,going to check on the progress this week. I know they will be beautiful, she always does a great job. They are a little darker than my original piece, that is the nature of wool.
I will be teaching a felted footstool class at A Loom With A View in Newburyport this fall AFTER Fiber College. I have completed a few more floor cloths, hopefully I will have ten or twelve for the Wenham Museum fair on August 28th, then the push will be on for Christmas!!!!!
I am posting a photo of my black lab floor cloth at 95% done, should be able to finish it tomorrow after I get some sleep. I decided using sharp objects today would be a very bad idea.
Have a great week everyone!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Success!
The good news is air conditioning takes the humidity out of the air, bad news is the fumes from the sealing process gives me a migraine! So after waiting for the drying process the first two floorcloths are done and the third is almost finished. I have started a fourth and, thanks to my better half I have two more stretching frames to use. Hopefully I will have ten or more finished before the fair at the Wenham Museum in august.
I can not believe how much fun this is! I haven't painted in ages and the design process is great, I found an excellent graphing notebook to carry with me which makes it easy to put down an idea as soon as it pops into my head. Inspiration can come at the oddest moments and places, it is best to be prepared. I have included a couple of pictures this time, I will be swapping them around as the work progresses. The swan is shown still on the frame, it has since been finished.
Have a good one!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Painted Floor Cloths
Hi all,
New project: Painted Floor Cloth
After convincing my husband to construct frames out of 2x2 pine for me I went out and purchased an entire bolt of canvas. I couldn't resist all of that pristine surface full of possibility!
After cutting four sections and pre washing to remove sizing my better half had to add an additional section of 2x2 to accomodate my new itty bitty canvas. Lesson learned, the amount of shrinkage the manufacturer said to expect was greatly underestimated by said manufacturer. Today I painted on the first coat of primer and given the humidity this week it may dry by August putting the project at a standstill for now, more info will be coming. I decided not to add a photo at this time, who hasn't seen tiny blank canvas?
Have a great weekend!
Kim
New project: Painted Floor Cloth
After convincing my husband to construct frames out of 2x2 pine for me I went out and purchased an entire bolt of canvas. I couldn't resist all of that pristine surface full of possibility!
After cutting four sections and pre washing to remove sizing my better half had to add an additional section of 2x2 to accomodate my new itty bitty canvas. Lesson learned, the amount of shrinkage the manufacturer said to expect was greatly underestimated by said manufacturer. Today I painted on the first coat of primer and given the humidity this week it may dry by August putting the project at a standstill for now, more info will be coming. I decided not to add a photo at this time, who hasn't seen tiny blank canvas?
Have a great weekend!
Kim
Friday, May 14, 2010
NH Sheep & Wool Festival
I went to the NH Sheep&Wool Festival last weekend and had a great time. Saturday it was pouring so I opted for a Sunday drive with my better half. He actually had a good time and ran into a fellow boat builder he hadn't seen in a while. No matter where we go he always runs into someone he knows, this has to be the oddest spot so far.
Anyway...getting back to the good stuff...I purchased an entire fleece at the Hodgepodge booth and it is gorgeous! It is also worth taking a drive to Sunapee to check out their shop, homey and fun,love it there. I picked up some nice black roving as well as some beautiful pale gray at a couple of booths, can't remember the names, they like checks made out to individuals in NH,can't blame them for that. I would suggest they have business cards to hand out if they want repeat sales. I also picked up some beautiful bronzed bamboo,don't know who though...think business cards people.
Dropped by to say hi to Liz at the Riverslea Farm tent, the roving display was vast and colorful, they are my favorite place to shop and fairly close to home. They are in Epping NH right off 125, check out their web site at riversleafarm.com. After showing Liz my finds we were off for more shopping. There didn't appear to be as many booths as last year and some prices were way up, for example an alpaca batt that cost 20.00 last year was up to 45.00, guess I'll stick with the wool. All in all it was a good time and I will probably go again next year.
Anyway...getting back to the good stuff...I purchased an entire fleece at the Hodgepodge booth and it is gorgeous! It is also worth taking a drive to Sunapee to check out their shop, homey and fun,love it there. I picked up some nice black roving as well as some beautiful pale gray at a couple of booths, can't remember the names, they like checks made out to individuals in NH,can't blame them for that. I would suggest they have business cards to hand out if they want repeat sales. I also picked up some beautiful bronzed bamboo,don't know who though...think business cards people.
Dropped by to say hi to Liz at the Riverslea Farm tent, the roving display was vast and colorful, they are my favorite place to shop and fairly close to home. They are in Epping NH right off 125, check out their web site at riversleafarm.com. After showing Liz my finds we were off for more shopping. There didn't appear to be as many booths as last year and some prices were way up, for example an alpaca batt that cost 20.00 last year was up to 45.00, guess I'll stick with the wool. All in all it was a good time and I will probably go again next year.
Monday, April 19, 2010
First needle felting tip.
I had intended to write a fascinating story about my trip to the Denmark Sheep Festival that I was supposed to have attended last weekend. Alas mother nature had other ideas and decided to cause a winter weather warning for Denmark. Needless to say I decided it would be prudent to skip the three plus hour drive and begin counting the days to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival on mothers day weekend. Instead I finished up a couple of projects, and started a few others.
Today I'm going to share an idea that others may or may not have already discovered when it comes to needle felting a two dimensional piece. After going through numerous sections of foam during my many projects and dealing with the inevitable bits that become attached to the back of the felt, an idea popped into my head. Why couldn't I be doing this on a hoop or needle work frame? So I tried it and voila! It worked great, and to my husbands dismay another side line was born. Hussex Meadow is now making free standing needle work frames, and they work great. (They will be available on the web site soon.)
Small projects under 12" can be done on an embroidery hoop with foam or a stack of newspaper between it and your table (don't do it on your lap!) Use caution and gentle pressure on the needle to avoid breakage. I would suggest using a plastic or better quality wood hoop to avoid snags, they are a bit more expensive but worth it in the long run. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Till the next time,
Kim
Today I'm going to share an idea that others may or may not have already discovered when it comes to needle felting a two dimensional piece. After going through numerous sections of foam during my many projects and dealing with the inevitable bits that become attached to the back of the felt, an idea popped into my head. Why couldn't I be doing this on a hoop or needle work frame? So I tried it and voila! It worked great, and to my husbands dismay another side line was born. Hussex Meadow is now making free standing needle work frames, and they work great. (They will be available on the web site soon.)
Small projects under 12" can be done on an embroidery hoop with foam or a stack of newspaper between it and your table (don't do it on your lap!) Use caution and gentle pressure on the needle to avoid breakage. I would suggest using a plastic or better quality wood hoop to avoid snags, they are a bit more expensive but worth it in the long run. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Till the next time,
Kim
Monday, March 22, 2010
Riverslea Farm
Our first choice for felting fiber.
Owned by Jeff and Liz Conrad, located at 362 North River Rd. in Epping NH.
Check out their web site riversleafarm.com, they are a NH Farm of Distinction.
The range of color in the roving,batts,felt sheets and yarn is terrific and very easy to use in any felting project. Liz hand dyes it all and she does a great job, she has done some custom colors for us when the need arose and they came out beautifully. As much as I love the color, I have to admit that I am a huge fan of the naturals they are amazing.
They will be at the NH Sheep and Wool Festival on May 8th and 9th, stop by and say hi and pick up some great fiber from some of the nicest people you will ever meet. We went last year and had a great time, I left with a ton of roving and an antique Canadian production wheel. My sister picked up a new Kiwi wheel and an equally large amount of fiber. We were psyched up until we remember we were in her VW bug and it was parked some where in the north 40. Fortunately the nice man at the gate let us pile our stash at the ticket booth while my sister retrieved the car. You would be amazed at what fits in a VW bug!
Have a good one,
Hussex Meadow
Owned by Jeff and Liz Conrad, located at 362 North River Rd. in Epping NH.
Check out their web site riversleafarm.com, they are a NH Farm of Distinction.
The range of color in the roving,batts,felt sheets and yarn is terrific and very easy to use in any felting project. Liz hand dyes it all and she does a great job, she has done some custom colors for us when the need arose and they came out beautifully. As much as I love the color, I have to admit that I am a huge fan of the naturals they are amazing.
They will be at the NH Sheep and Wool Festival on May 8th and 9th, stop by and say hi and pick up some great fiber from some of the nicest people you will ever meet. We went last year and had a great time, I left with a ton of roving and an antique Canadian production wheel. My sister picked up a new Kiwi wheel and an equally large amount of fiber. We were psyched up until we remember we were in her VW bug and it was parked some where in the north 40. Fortunately the nice man at the gate let us pile our stash at the ticket booth while my sister retrieved the car. You would be amazed at what fits in a VW bug!
Have a good one,
Hussex Meadow
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Fiber College
Hello fiber artists and others,
This blog is a work in progress, I am very new to it all...I would like to share my thoughts and ideas with others with similar interests. One thing I have discovered is that fiber artists are willing and eager to share with others, as am I.
I have just been notified by the Fiber College in Maine that they have selected my proposal for a class where I will show 'students' how to needle felt a footstool with one of my designs. I was so excited to get the news,and I look forward to meeting new people at this excellent event. Please go to their web site for more information. When you have the time you can check out my web site hussexmeadow.com to see our latest offerings, with many more to come. Hussex Meadow kits and finished artwork can also be found at Tulips gallery in Portsmouth NH, and A Loom With A View in Newburyport MA.
Please share your upcoming events and links,I look forward to hearing from you!
This blog is a work in progress, I am very new to it all...I would like to share my thoughts and ideas with others with similar interests. One thing I have discovered is that fiber artists are willing and eager to share with others, as am I.
I have just been notified by the Fiber College in Maine that they have selected my proposal for a class where I will show 'students' how to needle felt a footstool with one of my designs. I was so excited to get the news,and I look forward to meeting new people at this excellent event. Please go to their web site for more information. When you have the time you can check out my web site hussexmeadow.com to see our latest offerings, with many more to come. Hussex Meadow kits and finished artwork can also be found at Tulips gallery in Portsmouth NH, and A Loom With A View in Newburyport MA.
Please share your upcoming events and links,I look forward to hearing from you!
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