now & ZEN

I’m teaching a Ribbon Felt Scarf workshop at New England Felting Supply in Easthampton,MA on February 14, 2009. It will be a really fun Valentines Day!

Sign up on line at New England Felting Supply.

Check it out!

A workshop with fiber artist Nancy Dorian at New England Felting Supply

Join us for a workshop inspired by Christine White’s Ribbon Tunic project from her book: Uniquely Felt. Using Nuno felting techniques, be prepared to be elated as you transform the layers of silk, wool roving, ribbon and novelty yarns into gorgeous flowing fabric. Bring a selection of yarns to work with and choose from an abundance of roving and hand-dyed silks to make your own wearable art.

February Sat., Feb 14, 9am-5pm:  Ribbon Felt Scarves with Nancy Dorian www.nancydorian.com $69 + Materials (TBA) Beginner Friendly

That’s right folks .. there I am dumpster diving!!  I have been experimenting with dyeing with rusty objects.  It is sooo cool.  You find a bunch of stuff that will rust and lay it on your silk, add a little vinegar and voila … beautious fabric.  The reaction time is as little as 24 hours.  I didn’t think this up myself.  I had heard of it from reading about nuno felting with Polly Stirling.  This process was used at one of her retreats.  I can really see myself doing workshops on dyeing with found rusty objects.  Stayed tuned for a workshop near you.

So anyway, I did a few tests to find out what I liked and didn’t like and then did a body of work that reflects what I came up with.  Still not sure what these fine silks will become.  Something flowy and layered no doubt.

Doing this has triggered a whole theme of dyeing silk with objects from the Mill River in Haydeville, MA.  A dam broke up stream and washed away a brass foundry in 1874.  I spent the better part of a day last summer collecting items from the river that are obviously from the ruins.  But that’s a whole other blog post!

One of the most exciting thing to happen to me this year was having my work featured in Preview Massachusetts, a local magazine put out by the Valley Advocate.  Every month they showcase local retail talent in the “window shopping” section and my work appeared in the October issue.  The hand painted shibori dyed poncho and nuno felted string scarf are but two of the many items that emerged from the now & ZEN studio at eastworks this past year.  It is in part due to the retail exposure there that has really helped my work take off.  AND don’t forget to visit Snow Farm during the next 3 weekends in November to see my fiber art in person!

Been busy this past week getting ready for the sale at SNOW FARM in Williamsburg, MA.  Many fine artist will be offering their wares for 3 weekends in November.  I’m honored to be in the company of such talented people as Josh Simpson and Luann Udell. For more info and directions click here.          

Artists’ Seconds Sale 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

 November 14, 15 and 16

November 21, 22 and 23

 November 28, 29 and 30

It’s a great place to get all your handcrafted holiday gifts …. and a beautiful place to visit.  Hope to see you there.

now & Zen rated a mention in the business “People” section of our local daily paper here in the Pioneer Valley recently. Which is kind of cool, and I was happy that they also mentioned Benji’s Boutique on Nantucket and the local galleries at which one can see (and buy) my work.

– nancy

Shipped off an order of scarves to the Island ….. these are nuno felted with some using different fibers on the felt to give a woven look. Beading on the ends. Love all the color! They are at Benji’s Boutique 27 Easy Street Nantucket, MA …. get them while they last.

Benji wants to keep the white one for herself. Thinking about doing a whole series of whites. It starts with a delicate layer of silk gauze, then some fine wisps of merino wool/bamboo blend and topped with railroad ribbon accents and natural silk fibers … and of course beads.

Check out her spot on GenoTV!! Benji”s on TV

Since I got back from the Island, I’ve been working on a very colorful series of serti painted scarves on china silk. More like the laugh -in scarf and some really cool under water stuff! This is a close up of part of a jellyfish.

That’s it for now. Need to get back to making. Just took some yardage out of the steamer. What to get back to doing some felting next. And … try my hand at fiber etching!!! Inspiration is everywhere and the ideas keep on coming. Which reminds me … you have to check out Chris White’s book Uniquely Felt for great ideas and tons of info. Her ribbon dress was inspiration for the string scarf series.

Stay tuned for fiber etching pictures ….

Happy Making!

Just back from a great weekend visiting our new friends Rob & Carol Benchley. They are full time islanders, he a photographer, she a teacher. We had a wonderful work/play break of visiting galleries and boutiques and glorious bluff walks with the sweetest puppy … Rose.

And …………… I’m in on the island of Nantucket!!!

Met many wonderfully creative people. Beth English of Current Vintage, a great new vintage boutique and wine shop at 4 Easy Street, sent me down the street to a new place called Benji’s Boutique and we hit it off. Benji has a really funky mix of chic and sassy clothing. My stuff fits right in. Finally somebody who’s not afraid of color! She has a great location right off the ferry docks at 27 Easy Street.

And … before I hopped on the ferry, I had to stop in to see Cheryl Fudge’s new place at 23 Federal Street. She has the coolest stuff. Fun and unique fashions all created by her from thrift store finds.

Cheryl sent me across the street to Eye of the Needle. Then I dashed up to 25 Centre Street and popped into Ceri. I wish I didn’t have to catch the ferry, cause I could have spent the entire afternoon in theses places. Absolutely gorgeous stuff.

I didn’t get a chance to post about the workshop I taught at the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke. We had 9 silk scarf painters! Everyone had a great time and went home with 2 completed scarves each. It’s amazing how the artist comes out in all of us when given a chance to play. There aren’t any rules at my workshops. I tell everyone to let the scarf become what it wants to be. That let’s them off the hook and takes the pressure off. The scarves are always beautiful. I worked with Melissa and Marjorie at the museum to set up the workshop as a fund raiser. They had us in a wonderful, sunny room in the mansion and it went so well, the plans are to repeat it each spring and fall. Check www.wistariahurst.org for more.

Spent all day Saturday at a great workshop learning some of the possibilities of nuno felting. Amazing! Jean is a natural and I feel so fortunate to have crossed paths. The workshop was held at New England Felting supply in Easthampton, so we had all that luscious merino wool and beautiful hand dyed silks to choose from. Owner Chris White is a renowned felter and author and a wealth of information. Now I’ve been bitten by the nuno bug and have all sorts of ideas brewing. Can’t wait to stop documenting and start playing! I love the way the felt gives way to the windows of shear silk. My first nuno scarf is at left. I used my hand painted silk for a canvas and then “painted” with merino wool. Reminds me of stained glass only softer.

I never really know what a piece of silk that I’ve painted will look like once it becomes a garment. Sometime I think maybe the colors don’t work or something and then I get done sewing and WOW. It’s transformed into lusciousness … graceful and flowing. It amazes me every time. Here are some of the latest works.

I’ve been experimenting with some stretch rayon I had. The turquoise top is hand painted and then I did a shibori pole wrap with it. The result is a gorgeous texture. These tops are great to just throw on with jeans or look stunning with a simple black dress. So comfortable, so elegant and one size fits all! Can’t wait until I start working with Nuno Felting.  Stay tuned!