Personal Statement
My passion is for animals - their beautiful forms and colors absolutely fascinate me. I love watching how the muscles work together as they walk across the field or corral. I try to copy what I see using many types of fiber. These sculptures I make are truly one-of-a-kind, and are an expression of my feelings for the animal. They are free standing, made without frame-work, and are not sewn or stuffed. They are solid wool, felted to keep their shape. Other felters may make a sculpture, but it is wool wound around a wire frame or other shape and then lightly top layer felted, using hand or needles. They are not able to acheive the fine details that are so obvious in my own technique.

I’ll use sheep wool and fur from rabbits, cats and dogs, and exotic fibers from alpacas, llamas, goats - even horses. I felt these together first using hot soapy water and my hands; felting is by feel. Then I do all the detail work. The faces, manes and distinct muscling I needle felt with different needles and fibers to get the effect I am looking for.

Largely self-taught, I researched the history of felt and discovered that felt is globally important as the first clothes, boots, hats, mats, bedding, toys, and even housing of many cultures. So I couple ancient techniques and modern tools (and many fibers) to felt. I have felted as a livelihood for seven years now, and have been in many arts and crafts shows in California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Alaska.

I enjoy working daily with wool. Felting lets me be in touch with every animal personally, just as if it were being petted by me! And who wouldn’t like to get paid for petting animals?!

Enjoy - because I enjoyed making it.