That is the title I have given to a new series of sculptural crochet covered stones. I have had these sketched out in my idea moleskin for months now but it seemed like I just never had the time to start working on them. I somehow managed to find a little bit of time yesterday to finish the first one. My idea behind this series is how wonderfully tactile spending time in the forest is. Even if one had all their other senses paralyzed temporarily and only retained the sense of touch the experience one could have would be amazing. This work is inspired by the soft carpets of mosses and lichens in the forest and also growing on my kitchen table in my terrarium. I took some pictures of these little microcosmos this afternoon.
These little works are meant to be touched and to accomplish this I used little bits of some of my most wonderfully tactile fibers and not just the vintage crochet cotton that I normally use. For this first piece I used pure cashmere, alpaca silk, handspun cashmere merino and vintage crochet cotton. Some of the pods are filled with little vessels of living moss. I have asked you in the valentine giveaway to tell me what you love most in the natural world, and for me I think it is moss. There is nothing that delights me more than lying down on a warm summer day on a green, soft, subtle earthy smelling bed of moss.
I am taking part in the poppytalk affordable art market that goes live today. I am also very excited to have another inspirational interview for you tomorrow with one of the most amazing crochet artists in the world.
I love your new piece so much! Totally unexpected... completely unique... utterly exquisite in it's details and lushness. I wish I could reach into the screen and touch it. Hurray for your terrariums! Yeah for you on Poppytalk!Have a great week... I will be dreaming of summer days lying on a bed of warm moss. I have a favorite mossy spot, I bet you do too.
Posted by: mayaluna | February 16, 2009 at 12:17 AM
You lucky gal you that you have
a bit of the forest right in
your kitchen, yet I should not
be surprized by you. And now your
bit of forest is portable!!!!!
Wow! This reminds me though of a
under ocean view. They *your pods*
look like ocean flora and fawna.
Thank you once again for
impressing me! I love them. What
will you do with these? Can they
be took apart or are they
made together?
Rane
~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~
Posted by: Rane | February 16, 2009 at 12:30 AM
http://foothillhomecompanion.blogspot.com/2009/02/winter-berries-tutorial.html
Have you seen this? It reminded
me of you!
Rane
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~
Posted by: Rane | February 16, 2009 at 01:43 AM
Oh oh oh ! Such a genius Margie !
I guess Fern's (your adoptive snail) face when he will discover it : his horns will turn in all directions and he will break his speed record to climb on, thinking he has found the Wonderland of Alice ...
Posted by: nanou | February 16, 2009 at 06:35 AM
What beauty! I love it!
Posted by: susie | February 16, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I have seen so many wondrous things coming from you, but this is by far my favorite... I, myself, have always been overtaken by the beauty of nature, and mosses never cease to amaze me.
I am wanting so for spring and green and the loveliness it brings, but have of late seen only gray. However this little creation of yours has lifted my spirits like i thought only spring could.
So thanks Margie...
Posted by: chrisi | February 16, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Not at all what I expected, and totally lovely.
Posted by: Holly | February 16, 2009 at 11:35 AM
These pieces are just absolutely inspiring and perfect.
Posted by: Barbara | February 16, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Very cool! I think this piece is really wonderful.
Posted by: Rachel | February 16, 2009 at 09:45 PM
I am in AWE of your world!
Posted by: Betty | February 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM
The concept of making these beautiful pieces focussing on the tactile experience is so wonderful Margie. I have re-discovered the tactile world through Diego. I haven't seen anybody who enjoys textures more than this little boy. One thing that he loves is grass. He gentle puts his little hands on the grass and then he looks at me and smiles. The little feeling of the glass "needles" touching the surface of his hands is something that he seeks all the time.
He also loves hair, if you hold him the first thing that he will do will be to touch your hair and feel the texture. He would enjoy touching your pieces so much. You could have a whole solo show with tactile pieces one day. Imagine people coming into the gallery and experiencing all the tactile surfaces, I would spend hours in the place.
The invitation for the show could be a card with something that you can touch, a little advance to the bigger show. Yay!!!! I am looking forward to the opening!!!!
Elsita :)
Posted by: Elsita | February 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Gosh, that Elsita is one of the most intelligent women I have ever had the pleasure to *meet*! The solo show idea is an inspired one, I would definitely buy a ticket to Canada to be there. I guess the nature feels are a very natural development in your work, everything you make just begs to be touched and explored with the finger tips. Me and Ishi love the transition from yarn to stone on the Merfish. Stones feel so good againt the lips too, ask Ishi, he is an expert stone explorer! Congratulations Margie, another aesthetic triumph, oh and yay, you are on Poppytalk, some other friends there too, you are in good company.
XXX
Posted by: lisa | February 18, 2009 at 06:26 PM
As a fellow moss-lover, I'm so glad I found your blog! I just wish it didn't take so long! :)
Posted by: Summer | February 20, 2009 at 11:51 PM