Labor of Love

I'm always on the look out for pretty vintage buttons that would make awesome halos for my Madonna and Child ornaments. I like to use silver and gold tone and even mother of pearl. I have almost exhausted my household supply.

So, as my own dear Mother taught me, "Neccessity is the mother of invention."

Since all of my efforts at needle felting are basically just doodling with wool and having fun while I create. I've added a splash of color to the halos in this new group of Madonnas. Also I started to add my name tag to the Madonnas now, as well as to all my other little creations. I think the tag gives my fuzzy, unfinished looking artwork a finished look. I could happily concentrate on this Mother and Child theme everyday and not get bored or tired of it. It's a labor of love. My goal is to bring to mind the beautiful, close relationship Jesus has with His Mother (Our Mother) and how it all began. My art is making it's way around the globe like good news!

A Telling ...Tail

Oh Dear...

This is my newest creation. I was inspired by a vintage plastic deer. She's needle felted from 100% pure wool roving. Now I'm working on a pretty little felted Christmas tree. Thanks for stopping by!

Making Madonnas

Making Madonnas...

....it's what I "do".

feel it

Antique Towel Rack

A needle felted chickadee perches on an antique towel rack.

Shadow Play

I Love You with All My Art....

Feel My Felt...

with your whole heart and soul.

Trying to get back on track...

...but it's so hard to get back. There are a lot of changes going on in my life. C'est lavie.

I find that art helps to soothe my weary soul. Needle felting is still my favorite way to express myself. Although - sadly I can't seem to get enough definition of detail without making it look like some sort of a cartoon. I can imagine my subject themes much better than my hands can create them. So I at least try to capture the essence of what I'm thinking.

The love between a mother and child is the strongest love I've ever known. I first felt this unconditional love with my own mother and then I didn't think it was possible but I feel it even stronger with my own children. As they grow and leave my arms I can't help but miss the years I held them so close. Is it any wonder why I am compelled to recreate this tender feeling in my art? As I was shaping this latest sculpture with my hands...the mother's head leaned, the child's head leaned and as they both leaned foreheads together it brought a smile to my face and I knew it was done.

When you calculate a math problem or a figure out a puzzle or something tangible like that you know when you're finished. But my art is something that ...honestly somethimes I never feel as if I'm finished with it. I want to tweak it here and there and ugh.... I have been witness to some things getting ruined right before my eyes. I've decided at least this time to just let it go imperfect as it is. Simply because it says what I want, much better than I can.

Something New ...

Please welcome Monica Monkey. Monica is needle felted with 100% wool rovings. She measures 6" long and has no wire armature. All day long she lays on her tummy with her legs in the air and reads a book that she just can't put down. (because it's permanently attached!) Monica is wearing a red short sleeved sweater with white peter pan collar, a pair of old faded blue jeans and colorful striped stockings. The title of this creation is "Many Hours of Enjoyment".....as reading a good big book is. Plus - I had many hours of enjoyment creating this O.O.A.K. doll.

***

That's what I put in my Etsy Shop today. I really need to start creating things that don't take so long. It took me a very long time to call this monkey done. For example... I gave her socks. That wasn't enough I wanted more. So I added stripes to them and that pleased me. I won't bore you with the details but there are many. If I figure out how much time went into making this one little monkey and then charged by the hour for my time..... oh ..... it's better that I can't even keep track. It's true that I enjoy needle felting, but I was so hoping that finding my niche would be easier. I suppose speed will come with more practice. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Behave or bee-have

This started out to be a cat but it looks very much like a dog.
Also, I tried to make him look scared. The bee skep is added just to give him something to be worried about,
but sometimes he seems to be saying...
I couldn't care less, it's a bead not a bee!
All depends on how closely you look.

The Holy Family

This came out blurry but I love it.