Red bellied Woodpecker and Nuno felting

Here is my newest hooked bird. I was inspired by our local woodpeckers which have been quite active lately. They have been storing their acorns in our wooden entry arch that says "Painted Cave" and anywhere else they can find. Our local woodpeckers have a little bit of red on their head and they are called acorn woodpeckers or downy woodpeckers, I'm not sure which ones they are. But I loved the look of the red bellied woodpecker for hooking purposes...the "Classic "woodpecker, so that's the one I used for a model. I have a little field guide to Birds of North America to help me out. Still need to finish up the Scrub Jay I made.

On Thursday we had a great Nuno felting class at the Art Clinic in Solvang. Barbara Carr brought all kinds of goodies for us to play with including already dyed silk chiffon scarves to felt. This was a new felting technique for all of us and so much fun! All turned out very different...you could use a little or a lot of wool and silk roving to decorate the silk base. We got wavy edges as the silk scarf base began to shrink with the addition of the wool as it felted. We all are anxious to make more of these fun felty fabric pieces. Trying to convince Barbara to teach at ArtFiberFest...2008. My first Nuno scarf is the one on the far right above. I made a second one in greens and blues on a different silk base.

And just want to say I hope all of our art friends to the North (Ore. and Wa.) are doing OK with all the rain and snow lately. Thinking of you and hope you are able to travel safely once again.