Keri Rounding's Wearable Felted Art

I've been coming across more and more artists finding inspiration where I have lately- the sea and especially on a microscopic level. Keri Rounding's felted, delicately colored sea creature have been on my "love to have one" list for awhile. I can see one of her petri dish brooches on a nice white coat.

Keri Rounding is a graduate of Sheridan Institute’s Crafts and Design Program: Textile Studio. There she learned that she had a passion for creating unique wearable accessories made using handmade felt and embroidery. She now strives to create what is new and unusual. Using science and the sea as inspiration, she creates a sense of humor, a story and a personality in each piece. Working out of her home studio in, she is now exhibiting and selling her work in person around the Toronto area and online through Etsy.

www.kerirounding.com

Can you tell me about your latest body of work?
I am currently working on a series of felted pieces inspired by the sea. I am hand making the felt from raw wool using needle and wet felting techniques. The pieces are becoming pins, hair pieces and necklaces. I am experimenting with lots of colour combinations and different shapes.

What inspires you the most lately?
I have always been inspired by creatures from the sea. But lately, I am looking into scientific images and working with images of amoeba, germs, and other microscopic creatures.

Can you describe the best thing you saw on your last walk?
Lately I have enjoyed visiting the local nature conservation areas and taking hikes through their paths. I see so many interesting root systems, trees and plants. Specifically, I came across a tree that was split into six pieces that seemed to have been hit by lighting. I stood there for awhile trying to figure it out.

What are five things that would happen in the perfect day of work for you?
- Wake up early without using an alarm clock
- I would be super inspired to create and new ideas would flow
- The lovely spring weather would not appeal to me at all and I would actually stay inside and work
- I would be packaging up lots of sales
- The studio would stay clean!

Can you describe the best pair of shoes you've ever owned?
I bought a pair of flats that cost less than $20 which were the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. They weren't pretty and I wore them until they were
just plain ugly. They finally fell apart on a camping trip.

What are you doing this weekend? (May 15 and 16)
I most likely be outside enjoying the weather, possibly a hike.

Poem for Monday

Is my soul asleep?

Is my soul asleep?
Have those beehives that work
in the night stopped? And the water-
wheel of thought, is it
going around now, cups
empty, carrying only shadows?

No, my soul is not asleep.
It is awake, wide awake.
It neither sleeps nor dreams, but watches,
its eyes wide open
far-off things, and listens
at the shores of the great silence.

~Antonio Machado

-Painting by Yangyang Pan

Fun Friday Design Crush

I have a serious design crush on Doshi Levien. Jonathon Levien and Nipa Doshi are London based designers who seem to work in every industrial design category. Shoes!? They've even designed shoes? I think they have a lot of fun. They remind me a little of Charles and Ray Eames. To get to their site go here.

Busy Bees at Beehive Kitchenware

I am so lucky to have so many clients that are friends or friends that are clients, not sure which comes first. And among those near and dear who make something beautiful with integrity and don't dent the earth very much are Sandy and Jim from Beehive Kitchenware. We've worked together for about ten years and they've entrusted me with designing their logo, website and marketing materials. Portfolio worthy pieces and many lovely practical perks that end up in my kitchen. I do love my sexy lemon reamer. Paul and I recently finished shooting photos for the new brochure they've asked me to design. Thought I'd share a peek inside the studio/factory they have in Fall River, MA. To get to beehive's site go here.

Opening the Kimono a Bit More

A few more beauties from Jenna Goldberg.

A Little Sun for Fun Friday

Yes, yes, yes, really happy the last week and a half is coming to a close. I feel like I may have a true weekend coming up. By Sunday we should be done with the bulk of the flood clean up and I can get back to the usual craziness. Some pretties for you with that yellow I've needed all week.

Top found on etsy here. Middle you can find here. And bottom piece here.

Poem for Monday

So Much Happiness 

-Naomi Shihab Nye

 

It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness. 

With sadness there is something to rub against,
A wound to tend with lotion and cloth.
When the world falls in around you, you have pieces to pick up,
Something to hold in your hands, like ticket stubs or change.

But happiness floats.
It doesn’t need you to hold it down.
It doesn’t need anything.
Happiness lands on the roof of the next house, singing,
And disappears when it wants to.
You are happy either way.
Even the fact that you once lived in a peaceful tree house
And now live over a quarry of noise and dust
Cannot make you unhappy.
Everything has a life of its own,
It too could wake up filled with possibilities
Of coffee cake and ripe peaches,
And love even the floor which needs to be swept,
The soiled linens and scratched records….

Since there is no place large enough
To contain so much happiness,
You shrug, you raise your hands, and it flows out of you
Into everything you touch. You are not responsible.
You take no credit, as the night sky takes no credit
For the moon, but continues to hold it, and to share it,
And in that way, be known.

Painting by Yangyan Pan

A Duck Named Teal

Apparently the color is named after a duck. The common teal, a duck who's eyes are rimmed with the color, would love my basement right now. As you've heard on the news, New England is a float. My basement at midnight last night had 14 inches as we began to set up the sump pump we'd scrambled for all day. The waterfall down the street, with the 15 foot drop, doesn't fall. It's one gigantic river. I'm skimping on the posts this week but find more of the beloved color squares of Josef Albers very soothing this am. Little windows of it's going to be ok. Some tea and teal will get me up and going again.  

"Abstraction is real, probably more real than nature." - Josef Albers

3.10.10 Color Swatch

P A N T O N E   N o.  320

Teal, Teal, Yeal 

you are the girl 

everyone wants to 

talk to at the party. 

Sophisticated but earthy, 

you enter the room

knowing a little secret 

about each and 

every one of us. 

But it's ok, 

we know you won't tell. 

Gawd your laugh 

drives us all crazy, 

deep and a tiny bit wicked. 

How do you dance so well 

in those 3 inch heels? 

You sassy peacock party girl. 

Somehow you pull off

the push and pull of 

hot and cold 

so seamlessly.

Image by Josef Albers

Poem for Monday

The castle project in process. Slotting, folding, curling and stapling. Oh and lots of thread and tape help. We use left over printing proofs but cereal boxes, oatmeal containers and paper towels tubes will get you there too.

As an actor, I find it helpful to do a little color study of the character I'm working on to help articulate who they are. My dear friend, director, and mentor, Pat Hegnauer got me started on this practice 10 years ago. We've collaborated often with these images, paired with her poetry. Here are a few I've created through the years- Stephanie from Tom Kepinski's Duet for One, Flora from Tennessee Williams 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, Lady Ninjo from Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Dull Gret from Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Mrs. Malaprop from Sheridan's The Rivals, Pope Joan from Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Constance from Shakespeare's King John, Sister Angelita from Ethan Phillips' Penguin Blues, and the fabulous Molly Bloom from James Joyce and Sheila Walshes' Molly and James.