I Felt the Sky

Some of us are risk takers, diving straight off the high dive, not even thinking to look if the pool below has water, let alone considering if the pool is more urine then actual water. The trick is not to think about it and just do it.  I always thought I was in that risk taker category. The high dive kinda gal, but as each day passes I realize I may not be a risk taker and more of a planner. I started thinking too much. My latest proof is in the handbag. My handbag is full of band-aids (in case I get a blister), bug spray (in case I get stuck in the woods, I live in a concrete jungle), tissues (in case I ever encounter a toilet without TP), Benadryl (in case I get stung and go into anaphylactic shock, I am not even allergic to bees), my list could go on. My point being, I have spent so much time preparing, planning and working toward having a solution for every scenario I left out the part where I used to be a risk taker. At some point something changed, all defenses went up to decrease the risk of failure and humility. Maybe it is simple. I want a roof over my head and a pay check, but I like to think it is something more. I am at a point where I want to step away from the tissue, Benadryl, bug spray, scenario strategizing, and take a vacation from planning to embrace the just do it now philosophy and ignore the fear. Going forward this would entail abandoning efforts to change the unknown, accept failure and humility. It is time to start jumping in without so much planning. People do it all the time and even when they do fail, they are better for it.

I alone have been setting my own limitations and I wholeheartedly believe the sky is the limit, I have been poor at practice in years of late. A little bit of desk jobbery has gotten in the way.  So, why the title – “I Felt the Sky” I am a new convert to fiber art, in particular needle felting. It is the process of taking what looks like “raw” puffs of wool and using different gauges of needles to shape the wool into a variety of forms and figures. It has limitless potential as craft and art, hence the name – I Felt the Sky. Through the amazing wonders of wool only you are setting your own boundaries, the sky is the limit with felt.

I was an art major as an undergraduate. I loved it. I graduated. I panicked and got a job with benefits and a career ladder. I started planning, strategizing and getting the failure bug. I have always kept up with my artist pursuits on the side. Recently I have been increasing my efforts due to my love of needle felting. Coupling this with the advancements of technology it makes it easier to reach out and connect to other people interested in the same medium.

So there it is, this is my little blog to share my felting story, post pictures of my journey with felt and not over think it, post bits and pieces of life, keep making felted funkiness on a regular basis and fill my etsy shop, which I encourage you to visit as I try to fill it.

Cheers!

-IFS