Eco-Crafting

As a
handcrafter, I always strive to make eco-friendly art. I work with wool
and natural fibers. I scour thrift stores for old sweaters and silk
flowers which I recycle and re-purpose. I remove invasive plant species
like dried teasel flower heads for making magic wands, and European
beach grass roots for birds’ nests. I make needlefelted wall hangings
that celebrate the beauty of outdoor places, and hope that my work will
help remind folks of their connections with nature.  My hope is that the
things I make will contribute positively to the world, while having
minimal impact upon it.

On
an outing with my children to the woods this week, I brought along the
Lady of the Forest I had just finished needlefelting so I could
photograph her amongst the trees for listing on my Etsy shop. As we
drove along the BLM road to get to the woods, we passed through this
clearcut. I was suddenly struck by the idea of photographing the Lady of
the Forest on a stump in the middle of the clearcut. It felt as though
this little woolen lady had something to say. The idea and the image
said a lot to me,  and I wondered what it would say to other folks out
there. I think that art says a lot all on it’s own, but when we set it
against the back-drop of real life, it can say a lot more.  I’m sure
we’ve all seen a clearcut, and I’m sure we all have our own feelings
about them, but perhaps through art, we may see things in a new light,
or at least give them more thought.

And here, the Lady of the Forest stands in her home of moss, ferns, salal and trees…

saying something entirely different.