The fiber artist is Aileen Clarke, and I found her on Etsy....dangerous place, Etsy. Aileen lives in Scotland and makes a variety of things using fiber and woven felted wool from her region. (you have of course heard of the famous Harris Tweed) This piece has fiber (or fibre, as Aileen spells it) from Orkney incorporated into it. She was nice enough to agree to use a brooch base I also found on Etsy - Marco Suarez - Artbase. Is represents a small flock of sheep on the heather moors, with hills rising in the background and blue sky above.
Aileen couldn't have been nicer, and in the "small world" catagory. she knows Nicola Brown fiber artist, whom we are in negotiations with, to be an instructor again at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival in May. Through Aileen, I have hooked up on-line with all kinds of artists - in Scotland especially. I would love to be able to get them over here for KSFF!
It's hardly buying local, but I couldn't resist. I often troll Etsy looking for inspiration - never to copy directly, but to get ideas for new and different ways to incorporate my interests in fiber and also jewelry making. In this case, both.
I have a small pendant made by Aileen. It has a tiny house with grazing sheep all around and people always comment on it. I love her things. Oh, to visit Scotland - the land of my dreams!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Im just learning how to felt myself! Its so much fun!
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