Morna Crites-Moore * Wicked Waif

http://www.mornacrites-moore.com

There is a soft spot in my soul for old and worn items, especially textiles. I find great pleasure in recycling abandoned articles of clothing into new works of art. I have a special kinship with old woolens, particularly old sweaters, which I turn into felted wool through a fulling process of repeated agitation in hot, soapy water. The resulting wool felt is thick, luxurious, and available in all the  rich colors which seem to find their way to me via thrift stores, yard sales and caring friends.

My household motto, passed down from my grandmother, through my mother, and now from me to my daughter, is waste not, want not.  I find it very difficult to throw anything away because I can imagine a potential use for almost any object. My studio overflows with stuff waiting, ever so patiently, to be used. It can be overwhelming at times to have so much in the way of raw materials. I actually work best when I have a limited amount of materials to work with. Nonetheless, when I handle my many vintage textiles - velvet, silk, lace, wool - often incorporating found objects, metals, jewels, and antique buttons into the creative process, I am quite happily in my element.

The making becomes a meditation and I become lost in the process.

The outcome runs the gamut from small art quilts, to penny rugs, garlands, ornaments, flags, purses, pincushions, scarves, cuffs, small samples of sewn folk art, dolls, and so on. I never know what direction I’ll head for . . . it’s a mystery.

Artist's statement:  I'd like to set dreams free - yours or mine. I'd like to create things which are so meaningful they may just break my heart, or speak to your soul. Through my work, I hope to know us both better ..... to become closer to my core truth, to meet you (and you, and you), to learn about and honor this earth we all share.

I like it when my work speaks as well as when it listens.


Location:  Redding, Connecticut, USA
Online shop:  Wicked Waif Fiber
Blogs:  
   mornacrites-moore
   mornacrites-moore (tumblr)
Social Media:  LinkedIn
Memberships:
   SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates 
Languages spoken:  English

FLYING GEESE - recycled wool sweaters 

and vintage buttons, 16” x 16.5”

Tags:  "recycled sweaters" "felted wool" "vintage textiles" "buttons" "flags" "dolls" "little quilts" "penny rugs" "make do" "wicked waif"

Indra

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Indrasideas

From childhood I loved art. I love to draw, paint, embroider, felt. I mix the different techniques together to achieve a goal and then I am pleased. The idea surrounds me until I have implemented it or I will not have peace. I enjoy making special projects for custom orders.  I see this world as a beautiful garden, in full bloom, bright in winter and in summer. So are my creations - bright as paint, showing the strength from the earth and the spirit of nature.

I am inspired by lands, where I have been, the people I met and the seasons!

I opened up an Etsy store and it fascinates me - my creations have traveled to so many countries!. I love this way of traveling around the world and I hope that this is just the beginning of my journey...  And who knows?  Maybe my creations will travel to you!

Artist's statement:  With my creations I try to make people closer to beauty of nature!  I enjoy flowers, fog in the meadow, dew on a cobweb, rhythm in trees... I try to use it all in my work!  I like to be close to nature - it inspires me to create things which reminds me about beauty of nature!

I embroider and felt, sew by hand and with the sewing machine. I like to experiment with embroidery by using freehand embroidering techniques and I like to mix different styles and materials (felt, beads, wool, linen etc.).

Location:  Latvia

Online shop:  Indrasideas 

Languages spoken:  Latvian, Russian, English

Needle-felted pillow cover by Indras Ideas

Tags:  Needle felted; journal; book; embroidery; fiber art; appliqued; accessories; pillow; wall hanging, box

Lente Julcsi

http://kovacsnejulcsi.blogspot.com

My name is Júlia Lente.I live in the heart of Europe, in Hungary with my family.

I inherited the love of sewing from my Great-grandmother: she was a seamstress. At first I made toys and blankets.  Today I mainly create jewelry, bags and other accessories.  My creations are usually made from fabric and felt and are embellished with embroidery, beads and crocheting.  I love to have a needle in my hand and a thimble on my finger and I am delighted when I can create. I like bright colours, soft lines, the shiny and smooth surface of beads and the touch of yarn and fabrics. My work is inspired by nature, colours, shapes and feelings.

I think recycling is very important therefore I often work with used but high quality materials, thus protecting the environment.

 

Location:  Maklár, Hungary, Europe

Online shop:  LenteJulcsi

Blog:  kovacsnejulcsi

Languages spoken:  Hungarian, English

Embroidered Jewelry and Accessories by Lente Julcsi, Hungary

Tags:   needlecraft, recycling, handmade, wool felt, freeform hand crocheting, free machine embroidery, home decor

Feltwerker

http://www.feltwerker.com

Fiber Artist – recycling wool sweaters into wool felt; flower pins, fingerless gloves, scarves, pincushions, etc;

Felt making maniac since 2006. Denise has been drawn to making things since she first learned to knit at 10 years of age.

With an old washing machine, simple sewing machine and crochet hook she creates a myriad of felted objects with the intention of marrying beauty to function.

Denise can be found exhibiting her work throughout Chicagoland.

Artist's statement:  To create beautiful functional everyday objects.

Upcycling sweaters into felted objects satisfies Denise's desire to help the planet and work with beautiful natural fiber.

She strives to minimize waste and packaging in her business and uses recycled paper whenever possible.

Location:  Chicago, Illinois, USA

Online shops:

   feltwerker  (Etsy)
   feltwerker  (Artfire)

Blog:  feltwerker
Social media:  Twitter

Languages spoken:  English, Spanish

Recycled sweaters into accessories by Feltwerker.

Tags:  recycled, fiber, wool, felt, accessories, flower pins, brooches, felted wool, fingerless gloves, flower pin kit

Wooly Boulevard

http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolyboulevard

Working with wool rovings set me on a journey that started by learning to wet-felt a perfectly round, solid bead.  Soon, I was stringing beads together into jewellry, and adding embellishments, incorporating single needle felted yarn as well as glass and metal beads.  

Graduating to flat felting allowed me to incorporate my old embroidery and crewel techniques. Every creation has taught me something new, both technically and aesthetically.  I now find myself thinking in terms of much bigger pieces, incorporating more detail and other materials.  

Through this new group of gifted artisans I hope to gain the encouragement and mentorship I need to progress to the next stage in this wonderful uncharted adventure.

Artist's statement:  Like so many others, I was brave and comfortable about my creativity when I was younger, but misplaced that understanding as I became an adult.  A diagnosis of cancer re-ignited my passion through a wonderful program called Art as Medicine, offered by our regional cancer care facility to patients, health care professionals, and their supporting friends and family. I had been a professional musician, and re-discovered my love of singing through the vocal music program, but also my love of creating things with my hands.  I am deeply involved now in building a cancer wellness and support facility called Wellspring that will supplement our overburdened cancer care system, where I hope  to help others touched by cancer to express their feelings through arts-based programming.

Location:  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Online shop:  woolyboulevard

Social Media:  Twitter,  Pinterest

Memberships:

   Handmade Mafia
   Make It! 

Languages spoken:  English

Needle-Felted Brooch by Wooly Boulevard

Tags:  Felted wool bracelets, necklaces, brooches and framed flat-felted vignettes

knitonefelttwo

www.knitonefelttwo.etsy.com

I am a keen knitter, felter and a real fibre enthusiast based near Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsular in Victoria, Australia. I'm a working mum, and have a wonderful daughter and husband.

I love fibre and creating wonderful things in knit and felt.   I started knitting when I was around 12 and then started to knit again around 5 years ago. I like to knit and felt scarves, hats and bags.  I was introduced to the wonderful process of felting in 2010 and love it.   Every felt item in my shop is made using Australian merino wool and is handmade by me. I am a member of the Victorian Feltmakers. 

-Jo

Artist Statement:  I enjoy using a broad spectrum of colour in fresh and bold designs which you can see in my items. In my felted range of items, I use good quality Australian Merino wool which is very soft (15 - 19 micron) and source my supplies from local farms where possible.

All items made are one of a kind. No one piece is ever the same.

Knitonefelttwo, handcrafted knit & felt for you. :)

Location:   Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Online shop:  knitonefelttwo

Memberships:

   vicfelt
  dustteam (Etsy)

Languages spoken:  English

Knit Noro Silk Garden Blanket by knitoneflettwo

Tags:  knitting, felting, fibre art, colour, australian made, local produce, unique, merino wool, creating

HandBEHG Felts

http://www.handbehgfelts.com/

Hand-felted wool balls, adornments and kits are a whimsical touch of fiber for art quilt projects, jewelry and bead, mixed-media art, wearable fiber art accessories and more.  HandBEHG Felts....a project waiting to happen!

We sell thru our shop on Etsy and through independent resellers. 

Location:  St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Online shop:  HandbehgFELTS

Languages spoken:  English

Felted Wool Balls and Kits available from HandBEHG Felts.

Tags:   felt balls, felts, fiber, fiber art, ball, wool, bead, embellishment, adornments, kits

FeltedPleasure

www.FeltedPleasure.etsy.com

My name is Marina Shkolnik.
I live in the capital of Russia, Moscow, with my husband and cat, Tigra.

I am self-taught fiber artist, and I spend all of my time felting or thinking about new projects.  My favorite technique is nuno felting because it offers such potential in producing a variety and richness of texture.

I have been a vegetarian for quite a long time, and last during two years I have tried to follow a raw foods diet.

I love yoga, cats, sunrise, a sense of humour, handmade, vintage, watermelons, avocado, bok choy, turquoise color, white sand, sunbathing, snowboarding…  I don't love cities with their regular crush and would like to move to a lonely place in mountains or forest someday...  And most of all, I don't love it when somebody copies another’s ideas without permission, and are not ashamed of selling absolutely poor-quality products.

Artist's statement:  My main goal is to attract people's attention to unique and beautiful handmade accessories.  The most attractive in felting for me is the absence of any restrictions, models and standards - just follow your imagination and enjoy process!

I make my items using felt techniques using the best materials only, such as extra fine Australian merino wool (maximum is 18,5 mic. -  a low count of micron is more suited to items worn next to the skin since it doesn't 'prickle'), cashmere, silk, tencel, bamboo and many, many other wonderful fibers from all over the world!

Where do I get my inspiration? I have tried many times to answer to this question ... the inspiration comes by itself.  I take the wool in my hands, I touch it, breathe in its smell, look over different colors and an image of the future product appears before my eyes. My inspiration also comes from the beauty of surrounding world, as well as the unique color combos which were created by nature.

Location:  Moscow, Russia

Online shop:  FeltedPleasure

Memberships:  SDA

Languages spoken:  English, Russian

Felted Accessories by Marina Shkolnik.

Tags:   felt, felting, nuno, nuno felt, nuno felting,  felted scarves, unique, FeltedPleasure, textured felting, fiber art

Zamirte - Natalie Magnin

http://zamirte.blogspot.com/

I'm Belgian and live in the South of FRance since 2002. I love the peaceful nature here!!

I studied textile art and that's how my passion for felting started. It's the whole process of deying the wool, choosing the right colour combinations, materials, and the creation itself that I like.  I adore the brightness of silk, the texture of fiber, the colours of nature in spring, all of the nuances in the sky, and the colour of rust. I like to try out the effects of plant dyes on different fabrics and I especially love the rust dying.

I have a great respect for Slow Cloth!

Location:  Aude, France

Online shops:  

   zamirte (Etsy)

   zamirte (A Little Market)

Blog:  zamirte

Networking:

   feutrearttextile
   spiritcloth
   felt-and-fiber-women

Languages spoken:  Dutch, French, English

Hand-dyed and felted accessories by Zamirte

Tags:   wool, wet felting, wearable art, natural dyes, stitching, needlework, nunofelt, creative felt, fiberfusing

Barbetta Lockart Contemporary Art

“Silent Witness…No More”

recycled mannequin, misc. recycled fabrics, twine, wire, acrylic paint, gel medium

26"H x 15"W x 12"D

©2010 Barbetta Lockart

“We can no longer sit by silently as we witness atrocities, genocide, abuse, man’s inhumanity to man, destruction, starvation and corruption. We must speak out ...we must demand change, and we must become part of that change.”

www.barbettalockart.com

I am a contemporary artist with a fondness for fiber in all its many and varied forms.  I create 2D and 3D mixed media fine art pieces, and fiber in some configuration or the other can usually be found in my work.   Fiber speaks to me because it is so basic and because it seems to have the ability to do things artistically that other materials cannot:  I appreciate its ability to be flexible both in application and appearance, implying or creating movement in one piece, yet being strong and robust in another piece.  I find its chameleon-like qualities to be well suited for my work and vision.

I maintain a working studio in Sacramento, California, USA, where I create, display my work, teach classes and mentor other artists (realizing, of course, that I learn every bit as much from them as they might from me---artistic and professional growth is wonderful, as are the personal connections made).

My work is available to individual art lovers, collectors and corporations, as well as to galleries that share my fascination with and appreciation of, fiber in contemporary art.

My studio, ITSA Studio, is at 4330 24th Street, #2, Sacramento, California, 95822 USA.  Visitors are very welcome at the studio, whether they want to look at or purchase art, shop art supplies or the other treasures offered on my ITSA Studio site, or just have a leisurely visit discussing art and fiber. A cup of tea is always ready for you, but I ask that you contact me through my website(s) to make an appointment so I will be available when you wish to visit.

Artist's statement:  My work is my visual response to the world around me, whether it is the political, social, natural or ethereal world. Whether I am troubled, happy, perplexed or enchanted by something I see, hear or experience, my feelings and reactions to that event will eventually find their way into my art.  To me, art is communication at its most pure, whether it is in the form of dance, music, the written word, the visual arts, or some other artistic format, it is a way to be authentic, honest and real, and above all, to be heard.  

Location:  Sacramento, California, USA
Online shops:  barbettalockart, itsastudio
Social Media:  LinkedIn
Memberships:  Surface Design Association 
Languages spoken:  English, Spanish (somewhat)
   Fiber-ese…it is its own language, isn’t it?

"Para los Desaparecidos"

floor fan 'cage', misc. fabrics, mirror, yarn, thread

20"Diameter x 4.5"D

©2006 Barbetta Lockart

“Para los desaparecidos del mundo. Nunca olvidaremos

sus corazones, sus almas, sus caras. Uno podrías serlo

tu... uno podría serlo yo.

 For the 'disappeared' of the world. We will not forget

their hearts, their souls, their faces. They could be you...they could be me.

Tags:  Fiber mosaic, FiberScapes, collage, recycled, textile, threads, felting, mannequins, stones

DreamWoven

http://dreamwoven.com

DreamWoven provides an uncommon space for your head.

I am a designer with a penchant for hats. My items have been sold to every type of person imaginable. From Divas to Drag Queens, Fashionistas to Home Grown Dread Wearers, to women of Pristine Condition and men of Worldly Charm. Runways to Festivals, from next door to 7000 miles away.

We all need a special place for our head.

My work can be found at Fine Craft Studio, Paso Robles, California.

Location:  Paso Robles, California, USA

Online shops:

   DreamWoven.com
   DreamWoven on Etsy
   DreamWoven on Facebook

Blog:  DreamWoven

Other Social Media:  LinkedIn

Memberships:   

   Studios on the Park
   Paso Robles Art Assocation
Languages spoken:  English

Art For Your Head by DreamWoven

Tags: hat, hats, headwear, couture, accessories, dreads, wool, felt, handmade, milliner, hat designer, dreadlocks, hand dyed wool,

Meg Hannan - Rag Sky Art Studio

 

www.meghannan.com

My journey into the microcosmic world of Fabric Jewels, coincided with my arrival at Artwood Studios in Seattle in 1985. I have made my home and studio here in two former school classrooms since then. Every bit of it is used in the course of this little rodeo. I share my life with my princely cat, Mister Mustafa, and the other artists, and their families, who work and dwell in the school with me. I have been assisted in the studio by a chain of spectacular young interns who help me grow and keep me focused. It’s a lively and fertile ground for shared art inspiration, lessons in community and opening of hearts.

Making and selling my original fiber millefiori jewelry has been my full time profession for over twenty-five years. To create my Fabric Jewels, I fully saturate fabrics and fibers with glue, roll them up and when dry, slice the roll cross-section. It’s about getting inside the heart of the fabric through the window on the edge and painting little paintings inside that view. Color is key. And fiber, well, what’s not to love? The process is ever challenging and evolving. I investigate, contemplate, and intend. There are surprises and rewards. You can learn much more about it on my website.

I sell my work nationally at Quilt, Fiber and Bead Shows and through Museums, Galleries and Shops. The link between the creator that flows through me and the audience who appreciates my work is crucial. I am truly grateful for all the energetic support given me over all these years. This connection brings value and meaning to what I do, that greatly enhances my personal joy in the work’s creation.

As I circle the building’s property on my late night 2 am walks, I fall deeper and deeper into this plot of earth. I do not own it, but it is mine. The dark edge of the treetops sways with spirits and calls me to wake and feel this earth, which with all its woes, still astoundingly continues to be paradise here and now.

And so it is too, that as I circle and rustle through the vast and verdant fabric heap I have amassed, even with the struggles to manage all the pieces of my business, my soul finds stillness and peace diving deeper every year into the mystery of the simple and complex act of spinning fabric into jewels.

Artist's statement:  My mission in life is to be and see the Bhudda everywhere, to ever grow in kindness and love and make the passages of whining less and less frequent. Also, I really like it when I can make others laugh and jiminy cricket, I love to laugh too.

Location:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Online shop:  MegHannan

Blog:  meghannan

Languages spoken:  English

Carnival Night Beaded Diamond Pin by Meg Hannan

Tags:  fiber jewelry, millefiori, fabric jewelry, fiber art, wearable art, hearts, recycled art, Meg Hannan, Fabric Jewels, Rag Sky Art Studio, textiles, unique jewelry

EKOHAUS

www.ekohaus.etsy.com

I am a wool artist, working in Vilnius, Lithuania in Europe. I am from the same country as the Men's Basketball players Arvydas Sabonis, Darius Songaila and Zydrunas Ilgauskas :) 

I make giant-sized men's shoes as well as the normal-sized men's, women's and children's shoes. My felted shoes can be worn outside and inside, you can choose them with or without water-proof soles.

My felted shoes are made from 100% natural wool. For excellent performance of the wool, my shoes are very soft, lightweight and comfortable. In addition, wool naturally resists microbial proliferation, protects from bacteria and neutralizes odors. Since ancient times it was believed that the wool is similar to acupuncture: it has pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and body-enhancing properties. 

The wool felting came into my life only few months ago when I was visiting my countryside. Once I entered the attic of the house, opened the my great-grandmother's antique chest and saw clouds of old gray wool. The spinning wheel was standing beside it. My Dad remembers his childhood when he wore very warm felted shoes made ​​by his grandmother. My Dad's stories have inspired me. From this it all began.

My felted shoes look little bit different from those ancient ones or those made by my grand-grandmother. Here, Tradition meets Modern. I'm interested in new trends, fashion colors, and in making innovations. I have a very high priority on quality. 

During the last twelve years I worked in the various companies. This experience taught me a lot. Now I am doing what I really love. I create alone and strongly believe that everything is possible to make, if you put all your mind, creativity, experience and efforts in it. 

I sincerely hope that you will like my designs and I will do my best to provide quality pieces and good service. I also want to mention that I can accept wholesale orders.

-Dovile

Location:  Vilnius, Lithuania, European Union

Online shops:  ekohaus on etsy, dovilart, ekohaus on bonanza

Blog:  ekohausstore
Other social media:  Twitter, kaboodle

Languages spoken: English, Russian, Lithuanian

Felted Wool Shoes from Lithuania by EKOHAUS

Tags:  traditional felting,  felting art, Lithuania, wool horse, felted miniatures, felted shoes, slippers, warm, comfortable, regulate body temperature, national traditions

Botanical Colors, LLC

Botanical Colors: your source for natural dyes.

www.botanicalcolors.com

I am a textile craftswoman with 25 years experience in creating beautiful color from plants and other natural materials. I sell premium natural dyes and supplies through my online store, Botanical Colors. I have traveled to Africa, Turkey, Southeast Asia, India, Central America and Europe in search of the historic and traditional colorants of these cultures.

I love color.  I am happy every day that I have my hands in a dye pot and never tire of the magic of  indigo.  I abandoned a corporate position in Silicon Valley to relocate to Seattle and follow my dream of a life in the textile arts.  I worked for over 6 years at Earthues in Seattle and honed my skills in color, design and production dyeing in one of the most beautiful and inspirational textile arts studios and the epicenter of natural dyeing in North America.  In addition to dyeing, I spin, weave, knit and felt and am busily making sample swatch books of the hundreds of colors that I have dyed over the years.

I live in a small cottage in Seattle with a huge organic vegetable garden and share life's adventures with my heart's delight, Richard, and our sweet rough collie, Rio. We support community endeavors including the Coalition of Refugees from Burma and share our bounty by providing fresh, organic food to our local food banks.

Artist's statement:  I strive to provide natural dyes that are beautiful, sustainable, environmentally friendly and support farming communities and small producers.  I have personally visited a number of my major suppliers to ensure that their working environments and processing methods are humane and economically and socially responsible.  All of the dyes that I sell are personally tested for quality, light and washfastness and are the historic dyes that have been used for centuries by textile artisans all over the world.

I hope someday to create a sustainable enterprise that leverages the textile skills of my Burmese friends so that they can thrive and prosper in their new home.  I am optimistic that the success of Botanical Colors will help establish this new enterprise in the near future.

Location:  Seattle, Washington, USA

Online shop:  botanicalcolors

Blog:  botanicalcolors

Memberships:

   Natural Dyes International
   Coalition of Refugees from Burma

Languages spoken:  English, Spanish, Japanese

Naturally dyed yarns with Botanical Colors extracts.

Tags:  Color and Culture, Fair Trade, Textile arts, weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, dyeing, printing, quilting

IngerMaaike

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ingermaaike

I am IngerMaaike and fiber is my medium. All kinds of fiber: from silk to leather, from cotton to wool and everything in between. 

I sew clothes from my own designs, knit on my very old and trusty knitting machine (again designing everything myself), felt luxurious scarves and home decor, spin yarn, dye fabric, silk and wool and have even been seen to construct leather boots, which I still wear to this day.   :)

In all of my endeavours one thing has always been the main focus: the very best materials. This is what drove me to start creating for myself:  I could not afford what I desired, so there was no option but to learn to make it myself.

Over the years, my skills have expanded to cover a range of fiber which gives me the chance to combine and expand the knowledge further with each passing moment.  Each day brings me new joy in creating.  I love what I do as well as sharing the knowledge I have built up over the years.

Artist's statement:  To learn and to always be open to new experiences, to share beauty and smiles.

 

Location:  SørFron, Oppland, Norway

Online shop:  ingermaaike

Blog:  ingermaaike

Other social media:  Tumblr, Twitter  
Languages spoken:  Dutch, English, Norwegian

 Felted shawl by IngerMaaike

Tags:  fiber, felt, wool, fabric, silk, handdyed, nuno, scarf, art, nature