The Rat and The Rabbit

I'm continuing with my series of puppets based on the animals of the lunar zodiac. So far I've made The Rabbit (mostly because that is my sign) and now I'm working on The Rat and The Ox.
I'm hoping to start adding some woven fabric to these puppets. I like the Rabbit but it's a little bit to "easter bunny", I might have to "weird" it up a bit!
After this series, I'm starting on some puppets based on important people in my life and incorporating their personal mythology into their likeness as puppets! We'll see how all this goes....

Summertime and My Ukulele

So far, it's been a HOT summer!  I've been involved in a bunch of fun stuff though and I'm looking forward to heading down to Hodgepodge Farm in a few weeks to get my hands dyeing and weaving some stuff! 

Farmer Fern Craft Time.

Since April, I've been involved in this amazing program called, The Farmer Fern and Friends Puppet Program.  Farmer Fern is the invention and a wonderful young guy (18 years old!) who invented this program to help and empower children through learning about gardening, nature and the importance of ecology and horticulture!  I'm a puppeteer for the program (often playing the part of Cousin Cassidy).  We have done several performances this summer.  Last Monday, we were able to perform at the Silent Voices Summer Camp in Toronto and this week we performed for a group at the Guelph Enabling Garden!  It's been a wonderful experience and I'm having a ball working with such a creative group of artists. 

Farmer Fern and Cassidy!

A butterfly puppet.

I've also been participating in an abstract quilting class that has been a great experience.  I've never quilted before and this approach has been a great way to introduce me to quilting and it feels very natural to me.  I have one more class, then we will be having a show at the end of the year of all our quilts.  I'm piecing together my quilt now and I've hung it on the wall to piece so it feels very much like putting together a puzzle.  

My quilt so far...

Ukulele is my new obsession!  I've been taking lessons and it's been great!  My first song is, Here Comes The Sun and it's F-U-N!

Here comes the sun little darlin'

I also finished my Coquille Shawl.  It's made out of Kauni yarn which was amazing to work with - so amazing I went an bought another colour way....  now I have to find something to make out of it!

Coquille Shawl!

Dip, dip, dip - dry....

By the way... this is the first puppet I ever made. I was maybe 5 or so...

Lock Washing

I started washing fleece for my hand-spinning programe.  There are several different kinds and the students have to decide, based on the end use of the wool, how to wash and prepare the wool.  Some of it, I washed in a bag in the sink and some I lock washed.  


Lock washing is my new favorite way of washing fleece.  It's very time consuming but also very meditative for me...  basically, you separate the greasy fleece into individual locks then dip each lock into very hot, soapy water, rinse in hot water and lay flat to dry... 

The Set Up

At first, I kept burning my finger tips in the water, then Boomer gave me her surgical forceps. They sound scary but are really just small, tightly locking tweezer-y things.  I could grab onto the wool and tightly lock it and dip away without burning my fingies or having the lock fall apart. The whole purpose of lock washing the fleece is to keep it all organized as far as the tip of the lock vs. the end that was attached to the sheep. 

Washed and Drying!

Now I have a whole pile of different fleeces all washed and ready to go! Romney, Lincoln, Corriedale and some Merino - maybe some other stuff too!

Bags-o-Wool!

I'm getting ready for my Hodge Podge Farm Residency too!  Lots of natural dyeing will take place as well as some weaving. This will kick off a new body of work for me!  Well, actually, I'm hoping a class I'm starting tomorrow will kick it off!  It's an Abstract Quilt class.  I'm going to get all surface design on that quilt!  I just can't decide on a theme....  hmmmm.....


I have a Granny Square Class coming up at Greenwood Quiltery that will be a blast!  Get in touch with them to register!


OH!  The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is amazing and everyone should sponsor a donkey there!

A Sheep Friend for the Donkeys

Boomer Brushin' a Donkey

Yes, Puppets and Stop Motion Animation!

I also make puppets, marionettes and enjoy shooting stop motion animations...