New Works at Artichoke Gallery & Collective

Since I last wrote, I have switched creative gears from fibers to wood collage, and have been really enjoying this new-to-me medium. Unexpectedly, 3 of my new works have been accepted into a collage show at Artichoke Gallery & Collective (http://artichokepdx.com/).  The opening reception is tonight from 7-10pm.  If you happen to be in SE Portland, please stop by, have a drink with us, and see my work in person.

"this way and that"

"nowhere to go but up"

"there might be something to this"

 Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

Modified Style

Modified Style is an annual fashion fundraiser held here in Portland, OR.  Designers are given bags of scrap fabric and have to make a wearable outfit for the big runway show.  Proceeds from the event are then given to local nonprofit organizations. It's alway a blast, and I enjoy the challenge of making within certain restrictions. This year I opted to participate in the 24 hour challenge, which meant that not only did I need to make something (hopefully) beautiful, but I also only had overnight and the next morning to do it.

Me hard at work in the studio.

Leading up to the day, I had sketched out some ideas of what I might like to make, but without knowing the types of fabric I would be given.  I thought I wanted to make hot pants or some sort of leggings, so I was banking on getting some sort of stretchy knit material, and I did! Score.

My cutting table, a.k.a. the hardwood floor.

I ended up making a pencil skirt instead, as my outfit was quickly taking more of a tribal chic feeling, over the urban street style, as originally intended.

Me on the runway. I was the show opener!

A shot of the back side. Sorry for the blur. Guess I was strutting too fast!

Close up. Dig the war paint?

The runway show closes with a silent auction of all the wares.  Perhaps someday I'll see someone strutting down the streets of Portland in this one of a kind. Who knows?

Rescuing sad, yucky fibers -- Part 2

Here's a look at the next step in the felting process--wet felting.  I prefer to use Kiss My Face Olive Oil soap and warm water. The tray I use is like a large baking sheet, but I think it came from an auto parts store. The back textured mat is just a section of plastic no-slip flooring material from my friendly neighborhood hardware store. It's striped texture is just enough to effectively felt the fibers...with plenty of rubbing and elbow grease.

Here you can see the the fibers are starting to meld together and the batt is getting denser. But it's not done yet!

photo by Alyssa Kail

Now it's done! Amazingly, it shrunk down to about 1/3 of it's original size.

photo by Alyssa Kail

So, I rinsed it and hung it up to dry.  It currently resembles a misshapen animal pelt, and I'm not sure what I'll make with it at this point, but I'll be sure to post the finished product.

Rescuing sad, yucky fibers. Step 1

photo by Alyssa Kail

Exhibit A: a mound of mangled, sad, yucky fiber. Stored improperly, dirty, and all mashed together, this fiber mass is about as appealing as dryer lint. But I see potential! Hard to believe, but true.

photo by Alyssa Kail

The first step is to pick and card. Literally, pick out the debris of grasses and other organic matter and then card (comb) the fibers into soft tufts.




I then laid out the tufts into a rectangular shape creating 3 batts with 4-5 layers of roving.  I lightly needle felted each of the batts, but will rely mostly on the wet felting process, which is the next step.

photos by Alyssa Kail

Stay tuned for Rescuing sad, yucky fibers - Step 2, wet felting!