The wonderful world of hand-dyed wool and felt

I recently bought my daughter a beaded felt wallet... it instantly triggered a flashback on my own felt making days. Years ago, I became fascinated by the amazing hand-made creations of Michael Gretch, who would turn natural wool fiber into hand-felted no-sewing kimono-like coats and whimsical accessories. I had to know how he did it...
Labor of love to say the least... I would spend hours with Michael, dyeing the raw wool fibers in huge cauldrons in his dye splattered kitchen, stomping on the dyed wool in his bathtub, then sitting on the floor for hours surrounded by mountains of colorful felt. With a burnishing tool, he would intricately carve his patterns, while I, the novice, would make simpler creations,  endlessly rolling beads, experimenting this way and that way to make larger than life necklaces and bracelets.
I did a lot of fashion photography back then, and between the exotic model, the boldness of my pieces, I treasure my memories of those fabulously messy and creative afternoons.

I decided to photograph the necklaces and bracelets close-ups just recently in homage to my friend.

I photographed Michael in many of his coats, 

and will be posting them soon in this digitized world... 

stay tuned... it's good for the soul.

San Francisco...circa 2012

A New Year's eve outing on the San Francisco Bay...

The early morning light softly lit up the bay; the waters were peaceful; the sky was painting its own beauty, the skyline slowly etched itself, waiting for me to get closer.

On one side, the many islands, the famous bridges, the proud pyramid, the seasoned sailors and surfers, the beautiful Mount Tamalpais, the lazy houseboats.

On the other side, a farmers' market... old wooden crates, loosely woven baskets, rusty buckets, colorful trays, used canning jars, all filled with a myriad of fresh seasonal produce, locally made cheeses, sweet temptations, raffia wrapped flower bouquets...

Angel Island, Treasure Island, Alcatraz Island...each one with its own legend, 

and just a few fingertips away

an unexpected farmers' market bounty

a Happy New year it is bound to be

no resolutions • only more of the same  •  it is good for the soul   

Pure magic

A Christmas Day drive turned into a magical day.... For over an hour, I stood in the same spot  as the water, the sand, the waves, the light danced and glowed all around me... a sunset that went on forever... truly magical.

Before I decided to post these photos on the blog, I sent the first photo in this set to a dear friend in Europe; this is what he wrote: ... "This photo looks like the hidden step between the evolution from the water to the land...it looks like a being had the idea to change his life from water to the land..I know it happened 300 million years ago but that's only a theory; but this photo is the missing link"... 

Since then, I have looked at it in a whole new light and a wide open mind...

Earlier in the day, the calm light of the rolling hills of the wine region took me in.

In a few days, the magic of a New Year's Day outing.

It's not quite 2012!

Guess who's coming to town?...just four days away from Christmas eve...

My love affair with the Instagram app continues. I love the mood of the filters, and the symmetry of the square format. I often gravitate to a nostalgic dreamy effect in my photography...
So for this last post of the year, I shall indulge with my favorite muse, Marie Antoinette, who just keeps appearing in my art work...Here I have her all dressed up for Noël, on a set of art gift tags ready to be wrapped on an extravagant gift, or tucked in an envelope with tender holiday wishes written on the back.

Joyeux Noël and Happy New Year!

Rejoice in the goodness, indulge in the gratitude, delight in the compassion, 

be blessed by Iove...

Joyeux Noël!

NOEL... a favorite time of the year to transform different corners of the house into a dreamy world... a feeling of an 'Old Europe' .... a snow white Christmas perhaps...

 to finish...a cluster of simple glass ornaments ~ green of course ~ hung from a vintage inspired candle sconce found in San Francisco many years ago...

... I will have another Christmas posting in a few days...

Stay tuned