Funk Shui Felt

The job that nearly broke me…

In the deep, dark, covid winter of 2021, I was given the opportunity to work on Peter Pan and Wendy - the Disney remake of the classic Peter Pan film. Working with Academy award winning costume designer, Ngila Dickson, and the incredible local costume crew that was tasked with this tremendous job, I created all the felt fabric for Peter Pans costume.
For four months, I worked day in and day out; dyeing and felting two different types of felt for the Peter Pan costumes. I say costume(s) plural because there needed to be multiple copies of his costume, as well as for his stunt double. Hence the months of work. In the end they also wanted some fabric to embellish Tinkerbells costume, so the work went on, even when I was ready for it to be done.

Not only was this an exciting film project to be a part of, but it also provided me with an income and purpose during one of the most bleak periods of my life/career.

Unfortunately the repetitive stress on my body finally took its toll, and I could barely make it through the day without lying on the floor in pain. I was getting weekly massage and adjustments, but my body was telling me to stop. Unfortunately I couldn’t stop, until the job was over, and being a big budget production, it went on longer than I hoped 🤣
I then had to wait two years for the movie to come out! So it seems kind of anticlimactic to make the announcement now, but here it is.
I will expand more on my injuries, and the healing path that I am still on, in another post.

I’m so happy to be working on a fascinator commission similar to this one, for a special client. Wrapping up the last of my commissions in February, and then packing up 18 years of studio life in March. 😳🥹 If we’ve been talking about a custom piece now is the time to make it happen! After March I will no longer have a studio and will be taking a break from Funk Shui Felt. (If this comes as a surprise you can read more details in the previous post that says “grow”). Photo : Model

48 years of birthday Halloween shenanigans….. can’t stop won’t stop!!!

Exciting news! 🥳🥳🥳 After 17 years on Granville Island, I will be closing my studio in the new year. Rest assured that this is a decision that I am happy about, and have been moving towards for some time.

I’m going to take some time to recalibrate and reimagine my creative practice. I look forward to revisiting mediums I explored in art school, like weaving, natural dyeing, paper, basketry and embroidery, to name just a few. I have no shortage of inspiration, and feel that I need to take a mid career pause; to free myself from the constraints of running a brick and mortar store, and to allow myself space to grow in other directions. I’m not sure what Funk Shui Felt will look like in the future, but i do know I will always be an artist.

I also need to give my body time to heal, as i have caused some damage over the past 25 years of full time felting. I am working with some wonderful practitioners to reverse the disfunction, but it is slow and humbling work.

I will share more about future plans in coming posts, but I needed to let y’all know before my time on Granville Island is up! I’ve had a bit of a block about sharing this news as there is so much to say, and I don’t have answers to all the questions. Change can be scary, and I don’t know exactly what the next chapter will look like, but i think there is potency in that. Change is inevitable; growth is optional.

Will there be a sale? I’m sure there will be a sale of some sort, but I honestly don’t know what will be left when the time comes. My limited inventory is selling well, and I am currently working on custom orders and completing all the half finished projects I’ve accumulated over the years. Apparently I am really good at starting and not finishing things!
If you have been dreaming about one of my pieces and thinking “one day”, now is a great time! If you aren’t able to make it into the studio I am happy to send photos or do a video call to show you the inventory I have. Payment plans are always an option.
I know this isn’t exactly exciting news to all the wonderful clients who have told me how much they love my work and love visiting my store, but I hope you follow along!