aRt cHiCk in AcTiOn

dRyEr LiNt

2011-10-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

This is a small piece I made
for the
Surface Design Association show
Current Threads 2
in Ladysmith, BC
on Vancouver Island Canada
Title:
To: Rose
From: Blu
with love
The piece represents
society
and the human nature
of emotions and love.
It is my comment
that people need to love
each other more
and to be more sensitive.

The piece is made with layers
of dryer lint.
This was my third foray
exploring the possibilities of
the fluffy medium.
: )

GiGaNtiC sPoOL of tHrEaD

2011-08-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of my
3D art
pieces for the
Surface Design
Association
show at the
Waterfront Gallery
this month.
I'll blog about
how I made it
later.
: )

CuRReNt tHrEaDs sHoW

2011-08-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

I hope you can check out this show where I am showing some of my art!

RuG tWiNiNg

2011-06-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

Recently,
on a road trip
to Salem, Oregon
I attended a workshop
at the ANWG con
on Twined Rugs.

Here is how
I strung
the warp.

Here is the
recycled fabric
I tore up.

Here is the
twining
in progress.

And Ta DA!
Here is the
finished
twined
sample.

It's pretty
cool!
: D
I'm
in
love
....
<3

LeArNiNg wEaViNg dRafTs

2011-05-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

I now know
how to read
weaving drafts!
WootWoot
Threading
Tie-ups
Treadling
Drawdowns
Yay!!
:D

aRt bRoOcHeS, nEcKLaCeS, & bAgS

2011-04-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Handweaving Handspun & stitchery

handspun wrapped pipecleaner

Handweaving Handspun & stitchery

making these as a donation
to the
ANWG conference goodie bags

sPiNNiNg cUt fAbRiC

2011-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Here is another step in my
ongoing exploration project
with spinning fabric
in a boucle yarn technique.
The last part
(in a previous post)
was
spinning cotton fabric
with sheep's wool
and binder.
This part I'm using
wool suiting fabric
and sheep's wool
and binder.
: )

Above is the herringbone wool suiting fabric uncut.
using an antique cutting machine

the fabric strips all cut

the wool fabric, the sheep's wool (spun) and the binder (red thread ; )

starting to spin
and oh, what a surprise!
: )

More spinning

Enjoy!
: )
I'll post a pic of the skein later when I take a good one.
Please leave me a comment if you like this!

BoXiNg dAy iN cAnAdA

2010-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

The year is coming
to an end.

Petals fall
where they may.

When you let them
go
where they will
it can be beautiful.

It only works
if you can trust.

I honestly
did not play with
the way these petals
fell to the plate,
after I pulled
them off the stem
and lay them
carefully
down.

2011
will be
the best
year yet.
xx

Bring on the love.

MerrY ChRisTmAs tO aLL

2010-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays
from the spirit of
Washington State
and wonderful memories.

my love to all. xx

pLaYiNg WiTh dRyEr LiNt & ATC's

2010-12-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

My favorite one (above)
Dryer lint
stacked
and cut
Art Cards
side by side
Getting ready to enclose
the dryer lint ATC's
in clear plastic
: )

Stiching the plastic
on the sewing machine

A couple finished cards
sent to kids and their families
in a trade ; )An experiment:
dryer lint and fabric scraps
for my new
Sistah.
xx

fRuGaL mAmA's ReTaiNiNg WaLL

2010-12-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

SooooooN it will be DONE!
Yay!

tHaNk yOu BuTTeRfLy & bUsH & aRt

2010-12-21T23:29:00.000-08:00

This beautiful butterfly
on butterfly bush
in my yard.
Thank you
my wonderful friend
Art.
The butterfly came to visit
your beautiful spirit
on the buddlea bush
you started for me
with all your love.
xx
miss you much!
forever.

iNdiE bOucLe yArN

2010-12-20T22:58:00.000-08:00

In the summer...there was fabric...

then torn fabric...

Then spun fabric
and spun wool
on 2 bobbins
on a lazy kate
; )

...then the two plied together
on their way to
boucle yarn
(lumps and bumps
that are special ;)
...on the spinning wheel's
bobbin
then the sewing thread binder
(see the tiny black thread
over my fingers?
; )
...the boucle yarn
off the wheel
and onto
the 'niddy noddy'.
...funny words, eh?
...the final skein
of boucle
'art yarn'.

If you ask
me what I'm
going to 'do' with it
you've missed the
point.

Take a deep breath
and assimilate
the process.
:)

i LoVe tHiS!

2010-11-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Aquarius (1/20-2/18)

Fixed ideas are never super-popular with you, and right now, they're very much on the 'out' list. What's in? Weird coincidences, seeming contradictions, random impulses, anything different and odd and rife with opportunities for pushing boundaries. This is how you learn, after all -- about others, about the world, about yourself. Push it even further, and remember that what seems to be an interruption could actually be the beginning of the main event.

FiGs 4 tHe fReEzEr

2010-09-22T23:30:00.001-07:00

I was the lucky
recipient of these
delectable figs.
OMG yum!
Any ideas
about
how to use them
other
than in
smoothies???
Fig newtons?
: D

yArN gRafFiti

2010-09-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

some fingerknitting,

flower petals,
a bodkin,
and some yarn

figuring out what to do...

threading the flower petals
on to the yarn
with the bodkin
then attaching
everything
to the
sign post
with
a crochet hook
single crochet
and chains.

My first yarn
graffiti
on my
business sign.
: D

WoW

2010-09-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Wow...
I haven't posted for a while....
so much to show and tell!!
I've had a wonderful immersion
into fibre and creativity
over the spring and summer!
I have a whole winter's worth
of material to post about...
how will I ever keep up with
the present life?
: P

My Saori weaving.
: D

WooL CoMbiNg

2010-05-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a bunch of llama & wool
fibre on a wool comb.
It looks like a troll's hair!
: )

I learned how to comb wool
on Saltspring Island
last fall.

I finally got myself going
to try it at home.

Now I just need to
get my hands on
a pair of my own
combs!!

This is the finished roving
after I pulled the fibre
off the combs
through a diz.
(small concave object with a hole ; )

This is the finished
fibre, as roving.
It sure is soft
and fluffy!

The pic above is a screen capture
from a video tutorial
I made
on how to do it all
Anyone want to see it??
: )

RiBbOn & bEaDs & mEsH

2010-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Spring is coming!
The buds are coming
into bloom.

Ruffles
ribbons and
bows..
that's what life is.
Some smooth
..others tattered.
All wonderfully
serving a purpose.

I worked on this
piece quite a while ago
for the Port Moody
Wearable Art Show.
I'm not sure I've
posted these pictures
here before.
I dug them out for
someone,
so I thought I'd
share. ; )
Lot's of fun
it was!
: )

An 85 year old customer
quoted the following poem
to me yesterday
in my studio.
(she called it a "field of love")
How right on she is!

Out beyond ideas of

wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field. I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other

doesn't make any sense.

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

Amazing!

sOcKs 'n fLoWeRs

2010-04-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

I learned to knit
when I was
about 12.
Mrs. Clay
taught me.
She was patient
and kind.
She taught me to make
angel food cake too
from scratch.
(of course)

I started knitting
a pair of socks
this winter.
My first.
I'm doing an
after thought
heel.
That means
the heel
can be ripped out
and re-knit
when it wears out.
That's my grandma's
influence on me,
I think.
Maybe my mom's.
She lived through
the depression too.

Here,
I am
working out
an original
decrease.
Snugging my toes
in as snug
as bugs in a rug.
lol

fLoWeR fAcE

2010-04-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Someone made me this felted purse
they knitted it big
then shrunk it in
the washing machine
to felt it.
..."full" it
if you want to get
technical.
: )

It was kind of
rollie pollie,
and every time
I put it down
my stuff rolled out.
So I added a zipper,
and a face
just for fun.
See the face?
: )

Quite
the interesting
eye,
wouldn't you
say?
: )

WeAviNG RuFflEs

2010-03-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

I'm weaving still...

not on cardboard this time...
...it's a 4 harness floor loom : )
Warp threads look pretty cool, eh?

Hem stitch... with a little variation...

I cut out some of the warp threads,
and where I did, the fabric weft looks like it is shirred!
Coolio!
The weave structure is called
Rep Weave, or Ripsmatta (Swedish)
...like my Grandma.

Going for a little twill structure... pretty subtle...
and a little eyelash yarn!
...some of the colours are a little weird here
photos taken on a Nintendo DSi
just a tad grainy.. lol
: )

sUrPriZe

2009-11-25T01:48:00.001-08:00

: )

sHiNe & mAtT

2009-11-02T14:05:00.001-08:00

Cracker packages
cereal bags
finger knitting
weaving.

I'm working with
a recycling theme
I was going to
do what I've
recently learned
is a "guerilla art" piece
but for now
it will all
stay in the
closet.
: )

mY fRiEnd aRt

2009-10-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

My friend
my best
friend
Art.
I'll miss you
so much.
Sorry you
won't make
your 90th
birthday
soon.
I'll love
you always
like a dad.
Always
in my
heart
and memories.
Please watch
over us.
Thank you.
xx

tHrEaD hOmE

2009-10-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

Recycled Threads
Recycled Candy Wrapper
A Unique Home

tHy LaCe

2009-10-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

Some threads
and fabric bits
laid out,
with a wee bit
o' candy wrapper
cut up.

...

my first attempt
at using the
water soluble
stabilizer
I bought
in 2006!
: )

I have been saving
all the threads
from my sewing business
to recycle into
fibre art.

Here,

I have made
some passes
with the sewing machine
using a
straight stitch
and a zig zag stitch.
The threads
and candy wrapper
are sandwiched
between
the water soluble
stabilizer.

This is a close up
showing the free
motion stitching I used
to attach
the threads
to each other,
and to attach
the chartreuse coloured
lace to the edge.
: D
Some of the stitching
was done with the feed dogs
up, and some with
the feed dogs
lowered.

Here it is pinned
to my wool coat.
(too bad
I didn't make
two!)
It was a LOT of fun.
And a great
almost FREE
recycling project!
Woah!
The potential!!
I hope you enjoy!

viNtaGe & rUsT

2009-09-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

Ain't this cool?
*_*

I did this
in the
backyard!

Vintage fabric
+
rusty candelabra.

Enjoy!!

bEaNs

2009-09-17T00:51:00.001-07:00

My friend grew
some beans.
I dried them.
Aren't they
beautiful!
Next year,
I am
going to
grow
beans.
Protein
for winter!!
: )

tHe rUsTy sMiLe

2009-09-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

Smile tho your
heart is broken
A smile
can make
your day
and maybe
someone else's
too
: )

rUsTy LoVe

2009-09-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's not like
I'm all
peace
and love,
peace-ing
out,
even though,
on another
level,
I am.
I explore
the notion
of love
and
what
it
means
every
day.
Then there is friendship.
..and how friendship and love
are related.
: )

rUsTy BiTs

2009-09-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm experimenting
with depositing
rust marks
on fabric
for my
art journal
group.
I'll post
my experiments
over the next
few days.

tHe FaLL

2009-09-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

I took this pic
today at the nursery
where I learned
all about grasses
well, not all
but a lot
I have discovered
winter gardening
too.
What a joy.
: )
PS I'm spinning again!!!!
woot!

mOsS

2009-08-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

I thought this
was a neat way
to decorate
underneath
a tree
with mosses
and bark.
: )

dReSS YoU uP iN mY LoVe

2009-08-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

This an ATC
(Artist Trading Card)

I made
while I was in
Portland.
It has so much
special meaning
for me.
Firstly, I was in a place
at that time where I felt
uncomfortable.
So I used
some of my favorite
colour.
Secondly,
I thought of Madonna's song
which I like.
Thirdly,
I thought of love
and family
and home,
of clothes and
protection.
Well that's more
things than
I've counted
here.
There are always
more thoughts
on things
than one could
count
or follow
or explain.
They all just are.
And they matter.

pLaStiC fRuiT

2009-08-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

I love plastic fruit.
I don't know why,
but my mom
had a bowl of green and purple
(her favorite colours)
plastic grapes
in a beautiful
fancy glass glass bowl
on our piano.
Maybe that is
where my fondness
for them originated.

The other day I got brave,
and washed these in soapy water.
They are all flocked
(that means the fuzzy stuff is glued on),
and I was afraid the water would ruin them.
But luckily,
they turned out gorgeously!
I was so inspired by them.
I wanted to string
them using beads or something
into a fibre art piece....
my brain started ticking
with some really cool ideas!
But for now,
I have them
in a fancy glass bowl
on my fridge.
: )

fiBeR aRtS & mUsiC

2009-08-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

That's my dream right now.
Well, it has been for a while.
If I think about it,
I'm slowly moving toward it.
Why "this" slowly?
Well, the universe
holds the cards.
I'm just doing the walking.
Walking the walk.
Talking the talk.
The best I can.
We all do the best we can,
in every given moment.
Life weaves a story.

tHe pRoCeSs & mE

2009-08-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

I posted the start of this project
Dec. 1, 2008
It's a process...
just goes to show
that I am not yet
living my dream
to create with fibre arts
to make our living
... processes take time
I guess.

On our travels

in the spring
I took my fibre arts along
I really enjoyed
working on them
away from my studio!
There was some freedom
in that.
: )

NeeDLe bOOk

2009-08-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is my tacky
little vintage
souvenir
needle book
The "Canada" signification
holds a special meaning
to me now!
: )

RiNg of GaRLiC

2009-07-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am a hunter, gatherer
: )
a scavenger
I collect stuff
free stuff
unwanted stuff...
Here is what I did
to hold up the soil around the garden
circling my apple tree
it became my garlic garden
this year!

I used pieces of broken cement
and recycled cement blocks
(after all the mortar was
carefully chipped off)

This was my first attempt at
growing garlic.

Nice, eh?
: )

LaCeY WiNdOw

2009-07-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hey,
I finally figured out how to
"mute" our view out to the street!
And it didn't cost me much either!!
: )

mAinTaiNiNg

2009-07-28T09:32:00.001-07:00

My fresh-air line

A BiG treeA clothesline downed

by a huge branch
broken and snagged
on the line

A BiG ladder

A lasso and some brains ; )

Some guts

And it's fixed !!
Go womanandkidpower!!!
What a team we make.
: )

nEw VieW

2009-07-27T09:52:00.001-07:00

Here is the new view from my design studio!!
There is so much going on
so many new additions
slow old additions
lol
looking through my pics
I see so much
to share with you
but I've gotten out of the habit
and google botched
up the counter
so I can't see if
you've been
in to visit me here
: (
I know you are though
so I will try to post
all about the really interesting
stuff I've been doing
soon!!
: )

sTiLL

2009-06-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hello!
I'm StiLL
here.
We've been traveling
and I've been creating
I'll share a lot
really soon!

Cardboard weaving
on a new shaped
loom I designed!!
: )

FrOm tHiCk tO tHiN

2009-04-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

Here is another bobbin of my handspun wool. I was still spinning thick... : )

Here are pictures from a spinning retreat I went to in February...

There were a lot of spinning wheels in one room!! It was a lot of fun!

Here are pictures of the process for my first "bobbin to skein" of handspun. : )

On the wheel

..winding the yarn around something called a "niddy noddy" to make the skein.

* _ *

More recently I took two handspinning classes
with the renowned Celia Quinn, from Alaska.
I now know how to spin fine, thin yarns.

I will you show you pics of the finer stuff
when I get some uploaded to the computer!

Enjoy!

mY NeW cReATiviTy bLoG

2008-05-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, I was talking to a friend of mine about the fact that it doesn't seem like many people are visiting my blog lately and that the counter isn't increasing on my profile... He said that the counter doesn't increase unless people view my complete profile (link located on the sidebar).

That got me thinking that people who do not go to my profile also wouldn't see that I started a new CREATIVITY blog.

So I'm letting you all know to check out my "Creation-a-Day" blog!

To get there: go to right hand pane on this page, and click the

"view my complete profile"

link right under my "about me" poem. Scroll to the bottom of the new page, and choose which blog you want to see (art chick in action, or creation-a-day).

I am going to post something everyday that I have created to get me focused on my creativity. I am still having computer woes so I cannot easily upload photos. I am being creative about this but... soon I will upload a piece that I created "that" day... I just can't wait to get this going. : )

Winter is over, and the rose hips have enjoyed their seaside location.

WeAve-A-dAy prOjeCt

2008-05-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

This is the weaving with the ribbing from socks as warp from my last post.

: D

love to weave

love to create

love life

love you reading my posts!

what would you do with these little weavings?

klozhausfunk@gmail.com

sOcKs aS wArP

2008-05-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

There is a mom at the kids swimming lessons that I have just met. We talk every week about such interesting stuff! She was telling me about how she used the tops of socks cut into strips to make braided rugs. Well I had cut the tops off my son's socks (not as pretty as "girly socks") to use for something one day... so I thought why not cut them into strips and use them for warp on these little looms. You know those little looms we used as kids to make Potholders? (how boring, eh?--and if I'd only had the type of carefree abandon I have today, I woulda made lotsa other cool stuff...)

So after my fibre arts class with the kids last week, I decided to sit in my studio for an hour and create something... Actually I decided I would start a "create something a day" project. ...I've also realized that my creativity IS MY LIFE! ... more on this postulation later... : )

So I cut the sock tops into strips, pulled them so they rolled and actually didn't look like the tops of socks anymore, then I strung the warp on the loom

*wink*

I seem to be only able to load 4 pics at a time from my picassa so I will post the finished project tomorrow...
Tonight is the opening of the kids fibre art show at the Oceanside ARt Gallery. The title is:

A wesome

R ighteous

T revor

Trevor is the "invisible shape shifting mascot" that also attends class. : )

tHe BoYbaG

2008-04-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

This wonderful cardboard weaving was made by a 9 year old boy who LOVES fiber arts! On this project he strung beads on the warp before weaving.

Here is the other side of the bag. This will be in the art show opening May 2, 2008 at the Oceanside Arts Council.

Have a wonderfully creative day!

love

GaRdeN InSpiRaTioN

2008-04-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

CarDboArD WeAvinG-tHe sTaRt & tHe FiNiSh

2008-04-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Choosing some yarn and beads to string the warp on the cardboard for the new BaG.

WoW, she wants a zipper in her bag!! Brave girl. : )

The ZiPs almost in. She's 10. : ) Very cool!!!!

FinGer KniTTinG

2008-04-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

The kids I teach fibre arts to love finger knitting!! They get a loop of yarn on each finger of one hand, then proceed to knit long, long, long lengths of I-Cord. It's the same type of cord that can be made on those little spool knitting looms that we used as kids. : ) The kids like the finger knitting better- it's faster! I didn't know how to finger knit as a kid.

I-Cord can also be made on knitting needles, as I found out last year at the Victoria, bC Fibre Arts Festival. It can actually be knitted right on the edge of knitting which encloses the knitting inside the I-Cord. This is Tres Cool!!

Here is the finished bag (that was woven on a piece of cardboard using strips of fabric as the weft), and below it is the brown finger knitting she made for the straps.

Here is the finished bag! She is carrying her copy of Nancy Drew around in it. : ) You can see the red beads she threaded on the warp threads. It was so fun to watch the process!!

If you know some inspired little being who would like to take Fibre Arts Classes with me, please contact me at: klozhausfunk@gmail.com

the GiRL K's bag- tHe MiDdLe PaRt

2008-04-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

The finger knitting all finished for the two handles. : )

the Bag wants just a little suggle up to the maker machine after the zip is in- a beauti job!!

Laying out the handle of brown finger knitting for placement. : )

2008-04-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

The pages are coming along. The letters are being sewn to the page on the sewing machine.

The drawings are being added.........

It's magical for all involved! : )

The artist is still 12....

tHe ReD bOOk

2008-04-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

Carefully cutting out each letter for the name of each spell. Each page of the spell book gets a spell and a drawing...so far. : )

The Genius at work... wow, it's complicated. Talk about multi-tasking. : )

More letters..........

The pages will be sewn together on the sewing machine, I'm guessing...

Only the maker knows for sure. : )

It's quite another world!!

He's 12.

: )

sPriNg iS cALLiNg

2008-04-10T00:09:00.000-07:00

Spring is coming soon, we all hope... The garden is ripe... Some great things are about to happen!!!

A major transformation on many levels. Full of rich, luscious, joyous and abundant LaaaaaaaaaahVe.

Many flowers bloomin' in all departments of my life, down to the earth and fibre of my soul and life.

Yay, I'm back in production mode here on the blog.... cool pics coming soon of kids and their fibre art! Tres cool!!
heart, heart, heart.....................ciao for now, baby. : )

InWooD

2008-03-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

I loved taking pics in NYC!!

This Pic is of the Cloisters (where the Unicorn Tapestries are) from the trail below. : )

I am experiencing some technical difficulties that are preventing me from being wonderfully creative with my posts. I am, however, creating, ...and so are my fibre arts kids. : ) I promise that I will have some fabulously inspiring posts with pics of art soon!!!

Love, live, and love some more. : )

FooD

2008-02-23T23:00:00.000-08:00

My suppa'

: )

CaRdBoArD KiDs

2008-02-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Painting with stitches. : )

These are all made by boys. On the sewing machine : )

gotta love it!

KidStuFF

2008-02-19T23:58:00.000-08:00

tHe pAth to HoMe

2008-02-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Today is my Birthday. : )

KiDs FiBre, STiTcH, ChAiN

2008-02-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

Nothing to lose but FeAR

2008-02-04T23:39:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have read my previous posts where I have talked about the gospel choir I joined this past fall. Now I have had this passion for singing, music, dance since i was a child. Unfortunately I was not encouraged much as a child, otherwise I think I really would have flourished. Too late to teach an old dog new tricks? Well, who knows. I can play guitar, piano, and sing, sometimes. Anyway at an open mike coffeehouse recently I was talking with a friend about how I really wanted to go on stage and sing my chant a la Thich Nhat Hanh. She said well, what have you got to lose? And I said Fear. We went on about that for a bit. All I had to lose was fear, what a novel approach. Is it that simple? And recently I thought, maybe I can give up this lifelong dream of music and be at peace with that. Part of me did feel relief. Now maybe I will suceed at it with less pressure on myself. And all I may lose is fear. : )

Would that clear the way for more love?