There are many forces in nature that have the potential to create stunning beauty through fierce, natural events. In life, we are the products of dramatic events that mold and shape us and create beautiful edges. I recently created a collection of dramatic nuno felt costumes to embody these forces in nature and life. The inspiration for this collection came through observing nature in all forms while spending a year traveling around the United States in 2012. Also, the inspiration came from some dramatic events that happened in my life that have shaped me for the better.

I created three heroine costumes; The Ice Queen, Lava Empress and Wood Fairy. Made of 100% natural materials, wool and silk, these costumes are hand felted without seams. Using an ancient textile creation process, felting, and all natural materials, unified my “Forces of Nature” theme for these wearable art pieces.

These Heroines of Nature were brought to life in photo shoots at US State and US National Parks in Utah, Idaho and Oregon. Photographers Ryan Housten from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kortney Peterson and Jim Harmer from Western Idaho did an incredible job capturing the heroines in their proper elements of nature. Models Stephanie Hooley, Jessica Ayn Lee, Elizabeth Montgomery and Heather Floyd brought each costume and character to life magically. Makeup artists Krista Ann Mua and the Paul Mitchell School students further brought these characters alive with their makeup and hair creations. It was incredible to see the power of collaborating artists bringing this collection to life. The pictures are stunning and I will release these photos at a later date when the time is right. Stay tuned!

The lava empress costume in the making

The pattern for a costume

One of the many techniques I use for felting

The lava empress costume in the making

The Lava  Empress photoshoot

Getting makeup and hair done at the Paul Mitchell in Boise in preparation for the wood fairy costume photo shoot

These projects really set me free as an artist and helped me push the boundaries of self-expression through art. I let go of limitations and boundaries I placed on these costumes and myself. I could go anywhere I wanted with these costumes… a true gift and curse. It was a very challenging, draining and enlightening experience.

When I started on the second costume, I nearly forfeited the rest of the collection, just settling on the Ice Queen. In less than two weeks, I had to finish two extraordinarily challenging costumes, the Wood Fairy and Lava Empress, travel 1,000 miles out of town to do photo shoots for these costumes and fulfill a large wholesale order for a client. For an hour, I paced back and forth in my studio thinking about ending the collection and what it would mean. Something told me to just keep going and that I could do it if I just gave it one last HUGE push. I put on some inspiring music, went back to the drawing board and took it step by step. There were many sleepless nights in those 2 weeks. The next thing I knew, I had finished what I thought was next to impossible.

I am glad I did not settle and completed the entire collection. After being so engulfed in the project, when I finished, I didn’t know how to feel about my creations. So many strong emotions and thoughts were flying through my mind. Is it good enough? Wow, I cannot believe I did that! I love them! I concluded that this collection was good enough and were some of my best creations. I have obtained a new level of artistic expression.

Fun facts about the costumes. The Wood Fairy has over 500 hand felted leaves all over the dress. The Ice Queen was taken in an Ice Castle in Heber, Utah. The Lava Empress was shot on a shield volcano at Craters of the Moon National Park in Central Idaho.  The initial layout for these dresses were 10 feet tall and shrunk to fit a 5’8” woman. Over 16 lbs of wool and silk was used to create these costumes.

This intense project is now finished. I am onto new projects and am excited to see where this collection will go!

Creating felt wearable art is far more than just creating something beautiful to wear. It has the ability to transform people, start conversations for the wearers and make the wearer reflect their unique personality and feel amazing.

After I first met felt and fiber arts as an organic farm volunteer on Vermont Grand View sheep farm and B&B, I knew this art was going to be a big part of my future.

After I completed my year of farming, I faced a huge cross road in my life regarding my profession. I could go back into my former career in Public Relations and Marketing which was very enjoyable and successful. Or, I could do what I loved most. I could do that one thing that I was so crazed and excited about, it literally kept me up at night. But, could I make a living off of this passion? Could I live the life of an artist, spending endless hours on art pieces that I had no idea people would even buy!?

Felting in my studio while watching the sun set

Over a few months, as I contemplated my path, there were many influential people who offered me their wisdom and encouragement. I spoke with a local fiber artist at the Boise Capitol Saturday Market who had sold her woven shawls for decades. Perplexed about my life direction, I asked her, “Is it worth it to do what you do and can I do it?” She replied “You will never know if you can do it until you try. Just do your best and it will sell.”

I took her advice and let me dreams take flight.

During summer 2013 at Boise Capital Market

In July 2013, I committed to 6 months of selling my felt art.  I drafted a business plan and set goals. If I met my goals by the New Year, I would continue my career in felting. If not, I was sure it’d be a great learning experience and I could do something else.

I was juried into the Boise Capital City Public Market in Idaho, one of the best Farmers Markets in the country hosting many accomplished local artists and farmers every Saturday along 6 blocks of downtown Boise. Thousands come to the market including locals and tourists. As I set up my first booth, EVER, of felt art, I was so proud of my collection of (maybe) 20 scarves and a few vests and blouses. The reactions from my booth visitors was overwhelming. Over 95% of those visiting my booth had never seen felt art before. They were in complete disbelief when I told them that this was all created without sewing, using the most ancient textile method of rubbing wool together with your hands, soap and water. My first day, I made several sales! I was beyond elated.

The months at market went on. I experienced 100 degree weather in the peak of summer and mounds of snow with 20 degree weather in winter. Surprisingly, wool sells better in 100 degrees than 20 degrees. Go figure.

Making my clients happy is what fuels my passion for creating art

I participated in other Boise art shows including Boise Art in the Park and out of town shows in Seattle, Washington and Sun Valley, Idaho. I met thousands of amazing people who have inspired and supported my work and fueled my passion for creating. Words cannot express my gratitude for each person I have met along the way and all of the life lessons I have gained. In the end, what gives me the most meaning and drive for creating are my customers.

Creating felt wearable art is far more than just creating something beautiful to wear. It has the ability to transform people, start conversations for the wearers and make the wearer reflect their unique personality and feel amazing. Many buy my work to celebrate important milestones in life such as overcoming cancer or losing weight. Most who buys my work have a special reason for buying it, as I have a special reason for creating it.

The New Year came and I exceeded my business goals. I continue my felt journey.

This year, I will continue selling my work at the local market in Boise and will also expand my audience in various corners of the United States. Stay tuned for details.

My last Saturday at the Boise Capitol Market of 2013.

My passion, thoughts and emotions all come through in my artwork. My inspiration comes from nature, travel, people I meet, my perspective of beauty and my general outlook on life.

My journey in felting began in summer 2012 in the Green Mountains of Vermont. After a six year career in marketing and public relations in Southern California, I did the unthinkable. I embarked in a yearlong adventure to learn how to grow my own food and learn sustainable living practices as an organic farm volunteer.  I had no idea the places this adventure would take me, the amazing people I would meet and the new skills I would learn that would transform my life.

On my third farm stay, I volunteered the majestic farm and Bed & Breakfast, Vermont Grand View Farm. This century old farm house was situated in the Green Mountains in Vermont among enchanted hard wooded forest and rolling green mountains. Here, I met Kim Goodling an accomplished shepherd and fiber artist.

Goodling taught fashion designers from New York City how to felt while they stayed at her B&B. Over the summer, I tended to her farm, sheep and fiber animals by day and felted by night in her fiber arts studio. Goodling graciously taught me all she could about felt and fiber arts. It was one of those once in a life time chances where I happened to be in the right place at the right time. From the first time I fused wool together by rubbing and shaping it with my hands, soap and water, I knew this was going to be a huge part of my life.

Bed & Breakfast, Vermont Grand View Farm

My journey continued as I went on volunteering at various farms throughout the US, learning all I could from fiber artists, shepherds and the sheep flocks I tended to. I learned about the intricacies of fiber animals by caring for them and reading about various sheep breeds and the properties of their fiber. I continued felting on whatever table or surface I could place a felting mat on at the farm houses I stayed at. I shared my felting knowledge with the farm hosts I stayed with and their friends.

Felting provided me a way to marry my three passions: nature, art and textiles. As a third generation artist, being surrounded by fine art since childhood greatly developed my passion for the arts. From childhood, I enjoyed designing and making clothes with my mom. However, I did not connect with sewing and thought sewing was the only way to construct garments. When I discovered that through felting one could create seamless, stich-free constructed garments, a whole new world of possibility opened up for me. Felting has endless possibilities. I enjoy the versatility of the medium. Starting out with accessories, I have now moved onto designing clothing, coats and costumes for clients throughout the country. Every day, I am constantly challenged and learning something new with felt.

One of my first times working with felt at Grand View Farm.

I love finding a way to create a canvas in wearable art form. Felting is my conduit of expression: each piece I create tells a story. My passion, thoughts and emotions all come through in my artwork. My inspiration comes from nature, travel, people I meet, my perspective of beauty and my general outlook on life.

Though much of my work has come about through my own self exploration of the medium, I cannot say I am a self-taught artist. So many people have given me gifts at every step in the journey that have contributed to my success. The gifts have come in all forms from teaching techniques to words of encouragement. I cannot thank enough my mentors, family, friends, clients, supporters and fans who have believed in me and encouraged me every step in my journey.

Had a great time at my first show at the Boise Saturday Market. I will be there every Saturday so come and check out my booth. Market is every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m on 8th St downtown.