Cloverleaf Farms

Home From Maryland

Finally unloaded and back in NC.  It was a good festival.  Not too hot, no rain and good crowds.  My sister Karen was there to help keep me in line and organized, I couldn't do it without her.  This year we sold some felt related items and they were well accepted.  While I always run into people from NY (where we used to live) this year I ran into people from NC, and from Felter's Fling.  I also had some returning Felters!  It was so cool to hear from previous customers who are now avid felters and to hear what they are up to.  I told my sister we may not have the most customers of anyone, but we have the nicest (and I think get more hugs than anyone).  I appreciate it more than I can say.

I bought some garments to sell and received positive feedback.  Two women bought this piece together to share - a first for me, and I am thrilled two people can enjoy it!

Convergence Entries

I made "A Felter's Quilt"  using felt pieces, beading and hand stitching.  It is something I had in my head for a while.  It got rejected, but I am glad it gave me an excuse to do the piece.  I was happy with it.

 

The background was hand dyed and felted.  All of the little squares were felted and hand stitched on.

 

The 'borders' on the quilt were embellished with french knots and lazy daisy stitches.  

 

Beads were added in various locations

 

Convergence Entries

I can't believe ACC in Baltimore is now less than a month away!  And convergence entries are less than a month away!  Awk ... collision course ahead.  thanks to an independent study at HCC last semester I got a great start on my Convergence entries, but now it is finish up time.  I am working on a contempory felted wedding dress with a skirt overlay of organza with some beading and 3D organza flowers.  I have finally started sewing everything together.  It is coming.  The bodice, skirt and corset are done.  I made a little tulle gathered skirt to go over the lightweight felt skirt and underneath the organza over skirt.  The hat is started!  I'll post pics soon.  

I have made a yardage piece that is felted (18" X 3 yards) so that is done.  I am working on a small expressions piece that has a felt background with small felt patchwork pieces and embellished with beads and embroidery to resemble a felter's impression of a quilt.  

So I need to fit the remaining work in as I work on my felting for ACC,  In the end, I got accepted to both wholesale and retail ....  awful big jump!

As I finish my convergence pieces I will start to post pictures.

I attended one of HCCs Small Business Seminars - Splash without Cash - lots of suggestions.  The funniest to me was a tattoo of your logo - that goes with you anywheres!

Back from Rhinebeck

For the first time in years - the festival time was free of rain and freezing weather!  Of course it rained during set up and take down, but Karen and I set up around the roof leaks and did ok.  One of the things I really like about this festival is that it is usually weather for people to wear their handmade creations.  At Maryland it is usually way to warm.  All day long people walk by in their finest, it is so cool.  All I bought though was the new 500 Felt objects book and a few knitting patterns (I am not sure why, I never seem to get to them)

This weekend is the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fest - close by.  I am going to teach a few short classes and help booth sit for friends.  It is also the Southern Highland Guild Craft show so lots to see.  Autumn is so beautiful here.  

Have to go do some felting!

More Good News!

I also just got accepted at Paradise City Arts Festival in MA. for late spring - so Sherry I may visit after all.  I also met with a gallery owner today - she called me - so that is also exciting.  Now I better get busy!

Two recent pieces:

Hand Dyed,

Wet felt front edge and Nuno felted body of vest.

French knots on front band to secure and add texture.

 

Of course it didn't start out looking like this!  The neck edge was originally a scarf, but as the scarf and the nuno felt fabric sat together in a pile, I needed to put them together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mostly wet felted garment.  Collar is nuno felted.  All hand dyed, with hand dyed silk accents.  The back has similar accents.

 

This too has changed form the original.  It was initially longer, but after sitting on my mannequin for several days, it was was not the right proportions - so it was shortened - much better!  Also with slimming darker sides!

 

 

 

Got to get to work.  Rhinebeck is coming up soon.  I have some more dyeing to do.  I hope it warms back up by then!

Hemlock Fiber Fest

Finally home again.  Went to Western NY to the Hemlock Fiber Fest.  I taught a dyeing class on Friday and set up for the festival.  I taught a nuno felting class on Tuesday and Wednesday - and they did great.

Wool and silk at Hemlock!  Lovely weather!  Perfect for sweaters and wool.

ACC Show

I am so excited! I got juried into the ACC wholesale show in Baltimore. I am wait listed for the retail show. I never expected that! Now I have to get ready!

Hemlock Fiber Festival

I am finished with the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival, ended up doing it myself. All the hard work is done. I taught a dyeing class on Friday for the Rochester Area Fiber Arts group. That was great fun and their dyeing turned out so well. Then I set up for the fiber fest! It was a long day but everything went ok. The festival had great weather tho way to cold at night. I see so many people and catch up with so many people! It is always so nice that I can see so many people in such a short period of time. Too much sad news, but wonderful people. I always come away feeling so lucky to know such nice people. It is nice to see an ever increasing number of felters. I still love spinning, but I am in the exploring stage of felting yet. It is fun to see what comes out. I got a lot of feedback on my felting this weekend which is very helpful. I will also be teaching a niño felting class later this week. I am looking forward to it. I have worked with most of the group before and they are great felters and so funny to work with! I am going to try to come back in the spring and teach some classes I think, if I can arrange. I had a number of requests today, and I really enjoy seeing the great pieces felters create. I appreciate all the positive comments and support I had come my way this weekend. It helped me through doing it alone!

Sarah and Alex's Anniversary Quilt

Sarah and Alex have been married a year!  For their wedding I gave them a picture quilt with pics of Sarah, Alex and his daughters.  Thanks to pics of theirs on facebook I did it without them knowing.  For their anniversary I gave them one with wedding pictures, it came out nice.

Gallery Opening

The official end to my most recent school experience.  Graduation was last Friday.  Today was the opening of the gallery show.  It was very exciting.  We are so fortunate that the Folk Art Center of the Southern Highland Guild, on the Blue Ridge Parkway opened the exhibit our our graduating classes' work.  There were 16 of us in jewelry, wood, pottery and fiber.  The show will be on exhibit until mid July and visited by tons of tourists.  It was so cool.  Pics attached.

Me and my flower girl dress.  The top is woven and the bottom is painted and beaded.  The center of the flowers are all beaded, as well as beads to tame some of poufs of organza.  

 

In choosing my grad show pieces, I wanted to try new things, while still in school and having support, so many of the pieces are different for me.

 

 

 

This is the three piece wedding dress.  The bodice is built on a corset (one of the things I learned to do this semester) and is handwoven and beaded.  The shrug jacket is handwoven.  The skirt is dupion silk (purchased material).. Both the little girl's dress and this one have crinoline slips.  

 

 

 

 

Back of dress with row of buttons and train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final two pieces.  On the left is a crimp weave top with a hand dyed shibori dress underneath.  The vest on the right is handwoven with felted accents.

 

All in all a very exciting day!