AAACCCKKK! Oh, it's just Halloween

Thought, in addition to Christmas ornaments at the Alamance Studio Tour this weekend, I would include some Halloween ornaments....

©Christie Minchew 2013

approx 5"-7"

wool, wire, hand felting

Three of Four: the beginning of a new series...

...or should that be "mini-series"? The first two will be at Stop #26 of the Alamance Studio Tour this coming weekend, October 12 and 13.  See here for directions.  The third one below is at the preview exhibit at the Graham Library, Graham, NC (next to the Alamance Arts Council).

 Impression of an Impression I

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, paper, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

  Impression of an Impression II

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, paper, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

   Impression of an Impression III

©Christie Minchew 2013

15" x 15"

wool, silk organza, dryer sheet, hand felting, hand dyeing

Frame of local walnut by Charles Minchew

Ta Daaa!

 No.3 Vessel is finished and mounted.  Here is a sneak preview...

 The Unique Effect

©Christie Minchew 2013

11" h x 9" w x 26" long

I think it's easier to really "see" it in person, but this give the idea.

Wool roving and black yarn are going in the left side...

©Christie Minchew 2013

detail

Handfelted objects are coming out the right side, close up of one below:

Come and see it from all angles this Saturday, August 24th, at Come Out and Play Sculpture and Art Show.

And take the shuttle bus from Storybook Farm (just 1 mile north on the same side) - it's free and easy!

Vessel Series no.2 is off the needles!

Vessel number 2 is finally off the (knitting) needles!  It's about 24" long.

(Vessel number 1, of copper wire, is crying out to be something different.

 And I was anxious to do this in silver-toned wire and make it bigger.)

As it doesn't sit on it's own, I put a hammered wire along the back center.  

After doing that, I realized I can hang it, too.   

There is still more to do to complete the concept.  So you'll see this at least once more.

I've started vessel number 3 which will resemble this one.  I am working on the shaping a bit. But, in general, I'm happy with how my idea is progressing :).

The knitted brow, I mean vessel

 I'm in the middle of knitting the first (and second, below) in my vessel series.  Stay tuned to see them progress from limp-ish messes to, hopefully, something closer to my vision :).

I added 2 colors of thread as I knitted part of the neck of the silver.  It drove me nuts as I tried to keep the thread from getting tangled up in the knitted wire, so I stopped using it. I like the effect but the aggravation, not so much.

Stay tuned!

I got it!

Here is the final prototype that I started here. I'm excited! It may not look like much, but it's just what I needed to do to see the possibilities of crocheting wire for a 3-D object.  I messed around weaving in a little dyed silk organza just to see the effect and added some of my felted pieces plus a washer as I crocheted.

The heavier wire ring around the bottom and the vertical wires were added after I finished crocheting in order to give it structure.  

Next: Knitting with wire in 3-d to see the difference.

I'm getting it...

(yogurt cup with 24 and 28 gauge steel wire)

It may not be pretty, but I'm getting it!  In my effort to really expand my three-dimensional and more sculptural objects, I am experimenting with crocheting wire.  While at the Surface Design Association conference earlier this month, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing an exhibit of, and talking to, Naomi Wanjiku.  That conversation got me all fired up to try this technique again, but for a 3-D effect.  Once I get the wire crocheting/knitting thing downpat, I'm hoping to incorporate felt and cloth...and whatever else strikes me.  Yea for experimenting!