
Boxing Day – Year End Round Up
We don’t celebrate Boxing Day in the US so I didn’t have any idea really what it is. I looked it up and Wikipedia says that it historically in Britain was “a custom for tradespeople to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.” So Happy Boxing Day to anyone who had to work on Christmas Day!
Each year I like to look back over the blog here and on my personal site and see what I might have accomplished over the year. Sometimes it’s easy to forget all that you have done in a year and that is one reason I really like to blog about what I do. It keeps a record of my fiber art.
I started the year by taking a couple of online courses from Gail Harker about circles using your sketchbook. And after looking back through the year, I worked a lot in my sketchbook. I sketched a bunch of flowers, made lots of circles, collages and made some stamps and stencils to use on my sketchbook pages.
Here’s a recent page that I made with snowflake stamps and stencils.
My local fiber group is still going strong and we made everything from Ukrainian eggs, discharge dyeing, gradation dyeing, mixed media paintings, soy wax batik, shibori to clamped dyed felt. But the thing we did the most often was silk screening. That seems to be one of our favorite activities.
Here at the studio, we had four great challenges based on artists including Jackson Pollock, Stewart Stephenson, Claude Monet and Land Art. We had some great entries from everyone and I did manage to complete all four challenges this year.
Other felted items I made this year were phone sleeves, slippers, cup cozies and a Holiday postcard for the Felting Forum Christmas Exchange. I also made a Wensleydale felted lamp shade and a piece of cut shibori felt.
I completed some machine stitched pieces including “Ice Flowers” seen above and a piece for the Totem Exhibition. I also stitched up some clamp dyed felt into zippered pouches.
I started a collaborative project with my friends Nanci and Deb. The “girls” is an applique piece that was based on one of Nanci’s sketches of people who visited my store. We will be having an exhibition and we’re also making a book. So you’ll hear more about that in 2015.
In February, my husband, my friend Paula and I set up the yurt at the Mini Maker Faire at FVCC College. It was a one day event and was tons of work to set up the yurt but it was great to educate people about what wool is (no sir, it isn’t made of dryer lint) and demonstrate felting. I also taught three classes to high school students in how to make a felted phone sleeve in April. Other miscellaneous things included dyeing wool and cheesecloth as well as making numerous cat toys to sell at the store.
Another thing that I have been working on is developing an online class in surface design techniques on felt which will include paper fabric lamination, using thickened dye for stamping and stenciling, soy wax batik, screen printing techniques and hand as well as machine stitching on felt. It’s taking a bit longer than expected but hopefully will be ready to go in 2015. So keep your eyes peeled for more information here.
So as usual, when I look back, I have done a lot more than I thought. Here at the Felting and Fiber Studio, all of us have had a pretty busy year judging from all our posts. Also, Marilyn joined us this year and has been a great addition to the team. Thanks Marilyn!
We’ll soon be posting about what’s going to be happening in 2015. We’ve come up with a great idea for the challenges and I hope you’ll enjoy them. All our best to everyone and we wish you happiness, good health and as much time as you want to play with fiber! Thanks for supporting us here and on the forum. We really appreciate you all.
23 thoughts on “Boxing Day – Year End Round Up”
I love boxing day – it’s relaxing and even if you have guests there’s no food to prepare because it’s traditionally ‘leftovers and make-do’ day.
I’m looking forward to the four challenges in 2015!
Thanks Lyn – it is relaxing just to be through the Christmas season. Best wishes for the new year!
You’ve certainly had a busy year Ruth – no surprise there! 🙂 I really enjoy reading about your work and challenges, even if I don’t have time to post or take part. Wishing all of you the best for 2015 – keep up the good work!
Thanks Kim! Glad you enjoy the blog and hope you have a wonderful new year!
Hello Ruth, it looks like you had a very creative year with many lovely projects made..I will look forward to seeing what the Forum will challenge us with in 2015..
Thanks Judy – the challenges for 2015 should be a lot of fun. I think everyone will enjoy them. Happy New Year!
You have had a busy year and you didn’t even include, travel, football games, skiing and running your store. It has been a good year on the blog and forum and I am sure we have a good year to come. Boxing day at my house is being thank full we are not out shopping for bargains like so many crazy people. It’s a little like Black Friday.
Thanks Ann – it has been a good year and I’m sure that next year will be even better. Yes, the shopping here today is a little crazy too. Happy New Year!
Im new to wet felting and your blog and have very much enjoyed both. I’m from Phoenix AZ and am searching for like minded makers and a felting/fiber art community. If anyone out there knows one near me please share. Thanks,looking forward to your 2015 projects,especially classes
Hi Mary, Welcome to the felting community. Have you joined our forum? (click on forum button on the right sidebar) That is a good way to meet people from all over the world that share your felting enthusiasm. You can learn a lot online too. I don’t know any local groups in Phoenix but you should check to see if they have a weavers and spinners guild. Many times, felters will have joined or members will know someone who felts. Also, many yarn stores that sell felting supplies would be able to help you meet others who enjoy felting. Best of luck and Happy New Year.
Thanks so much for the welcome! Ill do those things you mentioned and find my “tribe”!! Happy New Year to you to Ruth!
You accomplished so much this year, Ruth; and even though I’ve been a forum member and following your work–I had forgotten some of those fun projects. When things settle down from the Christmas festivities, I plan to go back and do the same; that is, review my year of felting.
Looking forward to new challenges in 2015, and many thanks to all for a wonderful year!
Thanks Cathy. It is good to go back and review what you’ve done and where you want to go in the new year. It kind of keeps me on track of what I want to achieve. Happy New Year!
You did a lot of interesting and colourful things this year, Ruth 🙂
Thanks Zed – it is kind of funny when I look back and find things that I had forgotten. Hope you have a wonderful 2015!
Thanks for the highlights, it has been a busy year! Another week and we’re off to a whole new start. Ready, set go…
You’re welcome! Yes, 2015 will be here in a blink. Happy New Year!
Lots of different projects there Ruth. I love “The Girls”. 🙂
We have a big family ‘do’ on Boxing Day, it’s great fun. The children usually put on a show or a little play, which can be quite hilarious! 😉
I received books by Moy Mackay and Andrea Hunter together with a voucher for craft supplies, so 2015 may see me trying something new.
Wow – sounds like you hit the jackpot! Have a great new year.
I took my first felting class on January 10, 2013 and soon after stumbled upon this group. I wish it was possible to meet each of you in person and thank you for making me welcome and sharing all your knowledge. You have made it possible for me to expand my skills – the one felter who taught me moved away so I am on my own except for what I find on the computer. My plans are to continue learning and creating in 2015. Again thank you for including me in the community. Hope all of our creative juices continue to expand!
Frances – it is good to hear that we are appreciated! I too wish I could travel the world and meet everyone in person. Best wishes for 2015!
It’s so interesting how we tend to think we’ve created less things than we did. My favourite of yours is definitely the rocks, Ruth! They would make a great puzzle-type game for children.
I have met some great fellow fibre aficionados in this group, and feel very grateful for that. You make me want to do more, and be better.. Here’s to an even better 2015!
Thanks Leonor and we love having everyone in the community participate and be more creative, that’s why we’re here 🙂