Art & Illo blog

What a beautiful day I've had learning to felt. I'm very proud to show off my very first felted pot. Pam de Groot master felter, based here in the Blue Mountains held a wonderful beginners workshop today. I didn't realise how much I could learn about felting in such a short time. The process is almost mesmerizing and seeing the results really excites me. I completed the felting of my pot at home and it is now sitting drying. I'm already contemplating my next felted goodie - more pots I think for now (gifts for the family).
Pam has more beginner workshops running in her cute studio, you can check out her work and get her contact details from her delightful blog page. http://www.pamdegroot.blogspot.com

With so much waste being created everyday and most of it ending up in our natural environment we need to educate ourselves and others ways in which to 'reuse, recreate and recycle'.

On Friday I am running art activities held in Rouse Hill shopping centre. They have a bit of an environmental theme going on and I was asked -through Zest Events- to create an art workshop. The theme was based on plastic. We will be weaving using old plastic bags and making flowers made from bags and other plastic materials.

Much of the material for the workshop came from Reverse Garbage in Marrickville and my collection of plastic bags (I'm not proud of it). Every participant will receive a "green" bag in replacement of their plastic bag that they have weaved.

The final weaving will be displayed somewhere in the shopping centre as a reminder to shopper to say "No" to plastic bags.

If you are in the area we love to see you.

Link: http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=5115

My Blu'bie creations are now also available online via an aussie handmade shopping website as well as my etsy shop. To search for these lovely little creatures you will need to search 'Blu-bies' under the user option. Alternatively you can look through the softies sections of the website. Website site link above.

Etsy (an American based website) you can find blu'bies at : www.blubies.etsy.com

Below is Phil the Feral Goat - a new addition to the Blu'bies range.

If you have a favourite animal that you would like made feel free to email me for cost and with your details.

Blu'bies are also available in The Nook, Art & Craft Cooperative, The Mall, Leura.

Link: http://www.artstart.com.au/CommunityProfiles/BlueMountains.aspx

Studio Outside Art workshops has just received some funding to conduct a series of art workshops for young people in the Blue Mountains. The workshops will help develops skills and concepts for the 2010 Art Street exhibition. This funding is small but a great start for assisting my project idea to provide more opportunities for young people to have access to art and be part of a fantastic community art event. Keep looking back over the next six months for details of the workshops and how to participate.

Workshops will be free for participants due to the Art Start funding.

Here's my newest piece of art for an e-book due out end of this month.