annavations

Welcome to annavations, a showcase of my work with wool and other fibers. The spirit of creation that informs my work--a walk in the light, the joy of discovery, the wonder of play--is one I hope can be shared with those who look upon and own these pieces.

This site is under reconstruction to incorporate my newest work and the use of a much better digital camera. Please be patient with me.

I strive to use materials which are gentle to the earth. I recycle wool sweaters into durable, fulled bags, and transform other garments into wearable art. I am learning to use plant materials and food grade dyes to create more of the colored wool for my needle-felted sculptures, and increasingly utilize local sources that use natural dyes.

The pieces I create are rarely planned as much as they are discovered through playing with the materials at hand. Sweaters and other garments find their way to me through donations and my trips through thrift shops and tag sales. Many grab my attention due to their unusual colors or patterns, but other simple pieces have also seized me. The same is true for the wool I use for needle-felting. I buy based upon the colors I like, which then suggest the objects I might make.

When I do discover a pattern I like, be it a handbag or small sculpted creature, I repeat it until the creative energy behind it is spent. And wonderfully, even an attempt to recreate a design or sculpture leads to minor variations that reveal new personalities within each piece. My goal is that each work will be created with the passion that will ensure that none of my work has the feeling of a mass-produced object.

I hope you will take the time to wander among these images and to let me know what you think.

Enjoy!