Ideas Studio
Hi. My name is Karen and I am a fibreholic. I called my studio the ‘ideas studio’ as I love giving others ideas for their own addictions! I now love living in Bluff after spending most of my life in the North Island. My five sons are spread around the world and I have six grand children, three in Christchurch, one in Auckland and two in Arkansas, USA. I visited the American connection this year.
Study & Qualifications
I studied Visual Arts at SIT in Invercargill in 2004, to find out if I liked anything better than fibre, but no…I really love fibre-related art. My teaching background gives me the skills to pass this knowledge on. From teaching knitting in Mongolia in 2001, to teaching at Invercargill WEA (starting in 2003), I’ve gathered a wealth of inspiration from the best tutors around. The felt tutors I have been instructed and inspired by are:
- New Zealanders: Angela Meecham; Tracy White; Raewyn Penrose; and Shona Schofield;
- From Japan, Jorie Johnson;
- From Norway, Mae Hvistendahl;
- From Australia, Helen Stumkat; Catherine O’Leary; Waltraud Reiner; India Flint
- From America, Lesley Hansard, Sharon Costello, Jean Hicks; Renata
- and from UK, Liz Clay
I’ve learned lots about colour from Kaffe Fassett’s (UK) workshop in NZ, from watching his video “Glorious Colour” and also from a Creative Fibre Colour Correspondence Course I completed in 2008.
Fibre
The whole process excites me. I dye the fibres, imagining how they will look when felted, then I watch as the students (or I) interpret them. It’s all a fantastic process!
I have a wonderful studio here in Bluff and spend as much time in it as our busy accommodation business allows. The spinning and knitting I used to be addicted to have taken a back shelf, as felting is soooo much faster.
Awards
I have been selected for National Exhibitions and Fashion Parades for several years now. In 2008, I won my first awards, both the National Colour Award with this felted ‘Cascade Falls’ wrap; and the award for using more than 50% handspun wool with a series of three hand knitted ‘Waterfall’ scarves.
In 2009 I exhibited at both the exhibitions and fashion parades at Timaru National Creative Fibre Festival and at the Riverton Arts Centre in May, as well as at a second National Exhibition in Hamilton in August.
News
We decided to close the business for August and September 2009 and I booked my flights almost immediately. I left on August 6th for LAX and then boarded a flight to Conway, Arkansas. I stayed with my family there for a couple of weeks and then I went to ‘Felters Fling’ at Snow Farm in Massachusetts. I attended a workshop with Liz Clay for three days, learning how to capture the essence of a photo in felt and then framing the resulting felt and photo together in a frame.
Wall Needing Paint
For the second three days we made our samples into a book. I then went up to Maine to Deer Isle to attend ‘Haystack’, felting hats with Jean Hicks for a week. How spoilt is that? It was a great way to spend our winter – escaping to the northern summer! When I got back, I had about nine days to get ready for another trip. This time it was to the Southern Felters’ Convergence in Masterton, New Zealand. My contribution was a photo presentation on my trip to USA and sharing the IFA’s DVD on their 25th Anniversary.
My work has taken on a new direction since India Flint’s workshop in June 2009. We learned a way of dyeing with plants that really excited me. I sold my sample ‘Landskin’ wrap at Convergence, even though it was originally not for sale. I put a ridiculous price on it to deter the buyer, and she paid it! Since my return I have made another and exhibited it in Invercargill at the end of October.
Topaz Wrap
Workshops
I am opening up the ‘ideas studio’ to all felters. ‘Friday Felting Frenz’ will welcome anyone who wants to come and felt on a Friday, starting 20 November 2009. Bring your own projects and food for the time you are here (10am-10pm). Koha or donation welcome. There are a few dates that I won’t be open, such as Good Friday, so call (03) 212 7106 to check first.
Emerald Isles
The scarf-making and hats and bags classes will be held after March 2010: Watch This Space!