A trip to New Zealand in 2000 exposed me to felting…a return trip in 2004 got me hooked.

Felting is an ancient craft dating back thousands of years. It is the actual making of the fabric from wool by using a little soap to change the ph, water and agitation, commonly known as elbow grease.  Once the fabric or piece is partially made, it is then worked and molded, called fulling, to strengthen and harden the fabric.  Wool is the only fiber that will do this.

Each piece is unique and sometimes it seems to have a mind of its own.  I love the feel of the wool in my hands and working with it until its final form is something that brings pleasure, awe, joy, question or just plain laughter to me or someone else.  There is never crocheting or knitting involved but the laying out of wool roving in fine layers until the desired thickness is ready to be worked.  What happens next is up to the wool and my own ability to be flexible when the creative design ends up going a different direction than planned.  There’s the joy, the surprise and pleasure in the final creation.  I hope each piece you see and touch brings you that same kind of feeling.
 

The intense intimacy of weaving fascinates me. Each thread passes through my fingers several times in the completion of a finished piece, endearing it to me. The weaving process, in which I respond to the unique voice of individual threads, is rewarding and peaceful. I weave what I love, I sell what I can, and then I weave some more.

I work with variegated threads, hand-dyed by three different dyers. Overall color mixes include Bolds, Neutrals, Pastels, with specific color overtones of Blues, Greens, Reds, Browns, Purples, Blacks. Metallics are frequently used in the rayon chenille and mohair/wool mixes.

James “Bud” Bottoms is a native Californian who lives in Santa Barbara by the sea, where he has spent his life swimming and diving. His art education began at Jefferson Machamer School of Art in Santa Monica from 1947-48 and continued at the University of California-Santa Barbara from 1948-52.

Although much of his sculpture is of sea mammals, he often combines them with humans to express our essential inter-relationship. He has the unique artistry to capture their playful spirit in everlasting bronze. In particular, his admiration for the intelligence and beauty of dolphins and whales have inspired his work.

He also delights in using his grandchildren as models frolicking with dolphins, sea lions, and turtles; they express the joy he wants to achieve in bronze. His fascination for and love of earth’s creatures lead him to sculpt snails to condors, wherever he finds beauty.

Oscar Bucher has been widely exhibited and collected in the U.S.A., Europe, New Zealand and has been selected as an American Master in Clay. His work is also represented in many publications.

He was educated in Switzerland and came to Santa Barbara in 1961. He established the Ceramics and Glassblowing Programs at Santa Barbara City College and continued teaching as head of the Ceramic Department for 30 years.

Currently he enjoys creating his unique porcelain and stoneware artwork in his studio in the Santa Barbara foothills.

“The excitement of the creative process leads me to strive for a delicate balance between pure form and glaze, smooth surface and texture. The possibilities are so extensive that for me there are always new avenues to explore.”

“In my high-fire ceramic work I purposely select glazes and surfaces that could be termed experimental rather that predictable in effect. I am intrigued by the mystery fire adds to the process. As flames are in direct contact with the piece, the fire becomes a participant, creating, in effect, a metamorphosis by fire.”

“My jewelry is an expression of my love for color, shapes, textures and design. I begin by combining the elements together until I find a design that works. I like my jewelry to be worn to enhance your personality and beauty.”

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Janey has followed her passion for design. She brings her skills as an interior designer and art enthusiast to create original and innovative works of art. The artist likes to give each piece its own originality by combining stones from around the world, treasures from the waters, fine crystals and metals. Many jewelry techniques are used to achieve the design.

A seasoned painter, I’ve studied art all my life, painting professionally over 30 years. I feel fortunate to have lived and raised my family in Carpinteria for the last 24 years. Always appreciating the surrounding beauty of the area and its wildlife, I try to capture these elements in my paintings.

My art educattion includes Santa Barbara City College and UCSB Extention in the late 70’s, early 80’s with teachers Robert Frame, and Ron Robertson among others. Later painted for other companies and artists. Now I’m painting in my Carpinteria Studio recording the beautiful surroundings we all enjoy here in Santa Barbara County.

Awards include Best in Show to benefit the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, First Place Surf’s Up Show, among others. Public and private collections include B. Eric Rhodes of Plein Air and Art Connoisseur Magazines, CEC at Arroyo Burro Beach, and private collections worldwide.

More about Kim's Fabrics

Kim Snyder’s Collage Purses and Hand Painted Silk Chiffon Scarves.

I collect fine fabrics such as antique kimono silk, fine cotton, Japanese shibori fabric, as well as hand painting my own raw silk and other fabrics. The purses are basted on silk sandwiched with batting then collaged fabric design with temporary basting glue. I free motion machine stitch the fabric down leaving raw edges. The raw edges fray and soften with time. If you like a crisper look you can trim loose threads and iron with spray starch.

I like to embellish the purses with stones such as turquoise, fresh water pearls and sterling silver wrapped sea glass and hand stitched on.

The approx. 14x72 inch hand painted Silk Chiffon scarves are elegant sheer a loosely woven fiber with a soft beautiful drape and crepe like texture. They float like a feather on the summer breeze!

See Kim's Fabric Designs
with prices and order info.

At the age of thirteen, I moved in with my uncle, a sculptor, who had a studio in the basement of his home in Washington state. I’d watch him take natural objects – wood, clay, and stone – and peel away the layers to reveal what only he knew would lie underneath. I’m reminded of my uncle when I create a new piece of jewelry; I try to let the raw materials present themselves naturally, almost as if they are whispering to me.

After a couple of years in college studying the things I was supposed to study – I began to study art, first in Italy and then at the School of Visual Arts in New York, before rounding out my education at Otis Parsons in Los Angeles. My uncle’s voice was always in the back of my mind.

Shannon Len began experimenting with jewelry at the early age of 6 years old. She has vivid memories of collecting shells, beach glass, and beads while on a summer trip with her mother and sister in a Volkswagen bus traveling to Vancouver, Canada. She created jewelry throughout the campgrounds, on the beach, and anywhere she could set herself up to string. Her passion for jewelry remained with her, but while studying art during college, she found herself fascinated with many other mediums including sculpture and painting. After taking a jewelry course at San Diego State University, she fell back in love with this art form in a whole new way. Soon after college, she moved to Hawaii to paint large murals in private residences throughout the islands. Currently, Shannon Len is residing in the Central Coast of California where she is inspired by the natural beauty of the ocean and her tranquil surroundings. While creating out of her home studio, Shannon’s interest in jewelry throughout the history of exotic cultures is continually fueling her next adventure to far away lands in search of beautiful jewels.

• Attended public schools in Santa Barbara, California

• Served in Navy as draftsman illustrator, 1955-57

• Santa Barbara City College (AA) studied with Charles Atkinson, sculpture with Paul Lindhardt

• California teaching credential in graphic arts

• Taught at Adult Education and local schools

• Participated in art advocacy positions: YES Store 1969, Noh Store 1986, and Art Soup 1995

• Whamo Disc Designer of the Year 1979

• Represented in many private and corporate collections, including Phoenix Art Museum and Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Personality, culture, history, and art are woven into the vintage material that Georganne Alex has chosen for her line of accessories and clothing. Nowhere is this more apparent than in her use of the Japanese kimono, a primary source for inspiration and design in Georganne’s work.

“Every time I unroll a kimono or take apart a garment to reuse, I am inspired by the texture, color and story the garment tells. For instance a kimono can reference a person’s age, sex and class as well as the season and occasion on which it was worn. I believe something of the original wearer’s soul has been imbedded into each garment”.

Her years spent as a Marriage and Family Therapist have given Georganne a unique perspective on social and personal relationships. “Much is revealed by what a person wears and how they put it together”, she believes.

“In addition to the inspiration drawn from old garments collected with care, I am often inspired by the natural world. Color combinations, the juxtaposition of textures woven together, hidden compartments and fastenings have all been inspired by nature and translated into my work.”

“The Goal of my ceramics is to bring art into peoples everyday experience. I enjoy putting the Funk back in Funktional!”

Danny Dastrup currently lives in Marin County, California.