And here is some of my latest work....smaller scale, lower priced and wearable. This was my first attempt at a batch of felted brooches and I must admit I am pleased with how they turned out. I made these for the upcoming winter exhibition, Gifts from the Heart, at LUX Center for the Arts. This is an invited exhibition that I am pleased to partake in.I began with some sterling silver discs that I shaped into domes for the base (in order to hold the felted piece). Next I soldered pin backs pieces and shaped the pin to curve around the domed base. Be aware that when soldering onto the dome shapes...place the pin backs at an angle so they connect completely. I found working with silver to be a bittersweet relationship ...both for better and for worse. I found that yes, silver melts fairly
quickly and then there is no co
ming back. Although the destructive appeal to the melted silver parts makes me want to experiment further. For these I stuck with making pretty, non-melted brooches - I figured these would be appealing to the mass. The silver creates a beautiful frame for the felted centerpiece.Although the silver is clean, I have only ever worked with copper before this point, and I would really love to see more of it. I just need to find copper bin back pieces. The larger brooch has a copper dome base that looks beautiful against that mixed cranberry color. The copper has a more subtle appeal, which I always enjoy.
Anyways, the felted pieces have a touch of embroidery with small french knots. These are all made with felted wool - which I haven't been working with lately. The thread is bamboo and next I am planning on felting a few with soy. I don't want to to venture out too far away from my plant fiber phase, but I wanted to start out easy - with a fiber I knew I would have no troubles with.
These can be found for sale at the upcoming Gifts from the Heart wintershow at LUX Center for the Arts or on my etsy shop. Be on the lookout for my other artwork for this show as well as some earrings that are underwary!
