CATCHING UP! What's happening with Josie's Colourful Journey!

Hello everyone,

It's been months since I last posted.  Now that the annual Lincoln Center's Autumn Craft Festival http://www.craftsatlincoln.org/index.html is behind me I can get back to a regular schedule.   Really!  More on Lincoln Center!

This year's event was less foot traffic mainly due to a forecast of bad weather (Matthew looming above us), and Lincoln Center closing us down on the final day of the show (also due to inclement weather).   Naturally we were disappointed, but this is the risk you take when vending outside.

Nevertheless, all was not lost.  My team and I were happy to greet the customers including many return ones who shopped for themselves and others.   The colorful scented felted soaps continued to be a good seller as a great gift item, as well as the felted scarves.  Of course, losing that one day left me with a more inventory than anticipated but I already have plans to take part in 2 more events during the holidays.   I will host an event in Jersey City on Dec 10th, and take part in a local holiday event in my town on Dec 11th.  Stay tuned for more details.

You can also visit my online shops at  www.josiescolourfulart.etsy.com or  www.josiescolourfuljourney.com.

My 2nd collection of Josie's Cloth Collectible dolls was a big hit again for the 2nd year so if you're in the market to buy a gift for a "doll collector" or someone who appreciates cloth dolls check my work out.  The dolls were a big attraction  and got people into my booth even if they were not spending money.

Felting with Katia

Last weekend I took a 3 day workshop with Katia Mokeyeva (www.feuer-und-wasser.com), a textile felt artist and clothing designer.  Katia creates one-of-a-kind wearable art that are highly embellished and uses original detail techniques.   This was one of the most interesting felt workshops I have taken in a long time.  Katia is a very sharing artist, whose attention to detail is amazing.  My fellow students and I were amazed on how dyed fiber and fine hand dyed silk could create a wearable vest using various techniques.

The workshop was very demanding but I am pleased because I learned a lot of new techniques and have an almost completed vest.  There are some finishing details I need to do for shaping the armholes and neckline.  I am also thinking of modifying the hemline and adding either machine or hand stitching to further bring out the 3D elements incorporated in the vest.

Take a look and let me know what you think.  To see my new fiber art pieces, please visit www.josiescolourfuljourney.com and www.josiescolourfulart.etsy.com.

Thanks to New England Felt Supply (https://www.feltingsupply.com/) for hosting yet another great workshop.
   

FIBER FUN WITH KIDS - OH WHAT FUN!

If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would be teaching a fiber art class to kids, I would have said "who me",  "no way".  I was always the quiet reserved type who preferred behind the scenes as opposed to front and center, but that all changed when a friend asked me to consider teaching an after school enrichment program last year.   If you're passionate about something why not share it with others. 
It's been almost a year now, and with each class we're still having lots of fun playing and learning with fiber.  We started out making very basic items, and sometimes depending on the grade we're moving into more complex projects.  All driven by what the kids want to learn.

Ultimate goal -learn the art of felting while having fun doing it.

Repeat students are now starting to happen, and this means I'm surely going in the right direction.

Below are some new photos from the winter 2016 session.  We're having a great time in these classes, making felt earrings, key chains, snake and even a bunny rabbit which I worked on with one girl and an assistant due to the felt needle.   I've also introduced the felt flower to some of my older students based on a special request by one of my male students.

In the Spring I plan to offer a class geared towards embellishments with beads, and other found objects!  Stay tuned for more exciting fun with fiber.

FELTING INSPIRATIONS

Last week, after weeks of beautiful weather it finally hit me that we were almost into winter and there was still no signs of real fall weather or snow.  As I sat at my window looking outside at the bare trees and the leftover leaves I decided to create a new scarf.   Instead of using my standard bright colors I pulled out fabric, fiber and embellishments reflective of a fall landscape.

Come and take this journey with me.

the layout

the layout-fringe

the layout-embellishments

finished scarf before pressing (front)

backside of scarf -silk after shrinkage against wool on front side

the finished scarf-silk base with merino wool top + embellishments

embellishments-merino neps, mohair fringe, synthetic ribbon trim

cuttings of silk for embellishment,

closeup -wool yarn, silk cuttings

Last Day - After School Enrichment

Last week was the end of the after school enrichment program for the fall session.   During this session I taught the fiber arts program at 3 different schools,  up from one when I started in the Spring this year.  The students ranged from 1st through 5th, depending on the school. 

During the last day at each school the kids were excited and anxious when I arrived, in anticipation of starting a new project or finishing up one.  This ranged from girls small purses, bracelets and ornaments, etc.   All the kids expressed how sad they were that we were finishing for this session, and in some cases said they would take the class again if I taught next session.  Well I'm on schedule to start with 2 new schools in the district, and repeat with another so hopefully there will be some returning students along with new exciting projects.

For those of you following my blog you have seen some of the projects we did.  If not I will share below a short summary.  Thank you for taking this journey with us and stay turned for the next one.

This was a 2 part class where we made purses, and embellished them with beads.

In this class we had lots of fun making beads, key chains, bracelets, bookmarks, ornaments and even one snowman requested by one student.

This themed class was by far the most popular with pumpkins, pilgrim hats (at the request of students), and ornaments.

 Making jewelry including earrings/bracelets and faces was very popular in this class with students from 3rd to 5th grade.  One student even made a snake with an open mouth.