Moxie is a Seattle-based self-taught fiber artist who creates clever sculptures with wool: in her own words, she “likes to make wool do impossible things.” I recently took a private class at her studio to learn needle-felting.
Her organized and quirky workspace was accessorized with metal lunch boxes, doll heads and numerous felting tools that looked a bit dangerous. Moxie enthusiastically demonstrated how repeatedly punching through a bundle of wool roving with a barbed needle, will cause the fiber attach to itself. After a few minutes of ‘stabbing’ it turns from a fluffy blob to a very firm-to-the touch 3D object. It was like magic. No water, no heat, just lots of patience.
While we worked on our projects, I asked her to share a few of her favorite sites: Craftzine , Make and Meaning, and Kung Fu Grippe. She also gave me a list of her favorite musicians to listen to while crafting: Jonathan Coulton, Richard Cheese, The Who, The Tigerlilies, and the Mills Brothers.
Most excitingly, Moxie has an instructional needle-felting book coming out soon! In the meantime you can find her marvelous sculptures in gallery exhibitions, local workshops, and of course Etsy.
Update: 12/2010: The wait is over: Moxie’s book “I Felt Awesome:Tips and Tricks for 35+ Needle-Poked Projects” You can purchase your very own copy on Amazon or in Moxie’s etsy shop.
Leave a comment