I was particularly taken by the two very large shrouds and the ecological concept behind them. This piece, about eight foot in height by five foot in width, is just stunning. Carmen feels strongly that we need to do away with the lead-lined coffins and the crematoriums so prevalent in this country, purely for the damage they are doing to the environment. Utilizing a cotton winding sheet and a shroud would ensure that our bodies are integrated back into the earth.
Another shroud resembled a fallen log from the forest, texturally inviting, and rich with lichen and pods. It was next to impossible to keep from running my hands over the soft felted 'log'.
There were small items too - felt-covered books, purses, table runners, and more.
Another beautifully rendered series are the rain flags. Inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, this series was started last summer while we were experiencing drought and under weeks of wildfire threat. While we were all praying for rain, Carmen was felting rain flags and rain drops, and they're beautifully rich.
If you're in the area tomorrow, do stop in at Puffin to see Carmen demonstrate between 11 am and 3 pm. And take in a fabulous show while you're there!
I'm excited to be attending Carmen's workshop this coming Wednesday evening where it will be all hands on deck for playtime. If you'd like to join us, please do so. You can register at Puffin Design while you're checking out the show and demo tomorrow!
Carmen's a fabulous instructor, and we're going to have a blast!
Hope to see you there.
