Content alert: There has been Not Much Knitting going on around here this week. As in . . . almost none.
We could say it’s been frustration-with-my-knitting (not the Hitchhiker; something else) (a story for another week, once I have the ending figured out), but really . . . it’s been Other Things.
In an attempt to start having FUN with my art (instead of irritation with endless watercolor technique classes featuring subjects I was never interested in painting in the first place), I signed up for something called “Fodder School.” (Please note: This post is NOT an attempt to get any of you to join me in Fodder School; rather it’s just a brief explanation of what I’m doing behind the scenes – in my “studio,” so to speak.)
“Fodder” . . . is all of those pieces of “stuff” you have around your “studio” that you can use to make art – or other projects. If we collected “fodder” in knitting, for example, it would be leftover balls of yarn, swatches, the ends from weavings-in, ball bands, etc. In mixed media art, it’s . . . bits from paintings or drawings or prints, etc. Or junk mail. Or interesting magazine pages. Or old book pages. Or doodles. (I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the point.) Fodder . . . is pretty much anything.
So in Fodder School, which is a year-long thing with monthly lessons/projects, we “make” fodder, and then we “use” fodder. It’s basically (what I call) dinkin’-around-with-artsy-stuff. I love it. And it’s been a really great inspirational-shot-in-the-arm for me this year. (I’m even ALMOST ready to take the “” out of my “studio!”)
This month, we’re pulling out all the stops in Fodder School. We’re playing around with eco-dyeing and rusty things and clay and rubber stamps (that we carve ourselves). I’m . . . really into it. I have no idea where it’s heading, but the trip is really interesting.
I thought I’d show you some of my fodder! I’ve been eco-dyeing with avocado. (Which makes a lovely pink color; NOT green.)
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I’m not sure what I’m doing with this . . . fodder . . . quite yet. But I can tell you that between all my weeding of late, plus the taking care of my seedlings, plus the eco-dyeing, plus the “rust creation” (not shown here, but happening all the same), my fingernails? A total nightmare! (And I love it!)
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How about you? What’s inspiring your “making” these days?
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PS. I’m also experimenting with some of my blog features, and I tried something new with the photos in this post. It may not work. I may change it if it doesn’t. Just sayin. [EDITED: So that little experiment did not work very well. So now you’re seeing something else. Experimenting is good for the soul. And keeps you on your toes.]
What fun, Kym! The encouragement to “play” is always a good thing! It opens your mind to seeing things differently! This 100 Day project is very much doing that for me! The best thing I decided to do this year, hands down! (and I think your dyeing and rusting is the perfect thing to do in the house where a scientist lives!) XOXO
Oh man, if there’s one thing I have a lot of… it’s FODDER!! I think I’ve checked out Fodder School before but the time wasn’t right. It’s still probably not right, but I’ll have to go take a look again!
One time Ali called me so excited about the beautiful berries growing on the vines at the coffee shop, certain that they’d make a gorgeous magenta dye for yarn. They stained my wooden spoon a gorgeous magenta but the yarn was a pretty ho-hum pale green!
This does sound like a ton of fun Kym! Experimenting with new stuff, playing around – always a good time and a good thing!! Currently I’m wrapped up in getting stuff DONE since retirement like medical appointments, financial appointments, clearing out some stuff, getting away – when I want to – not based on work schedules. I’m inspired to DO stuff because theoretically I now have time…but I’m finding that time is my problem (as in not enough!!). Things will settle down, I know.
Avocado dyeing sounds pretty cool, especially if it produces that lovely pinkish-lavender color. Have fun with the fodder and rusty things!
P.S. I’m not sure what you did with photos but I wasn’t able to enlarge any of the ones in that row on the bottom (and I really wanted to)!
Love everything about Fodder School! And how fun that someone thought to share the concept in a year-long forum. The best kind of play.
I’ve been away so am getting caught up—happy belated to you! And great haircut! New cuts always feel like a ‘refresh’ button to me. (Except for the few disasters I’ve had, of course.)
Entirely different directions are good for the soul. And good for creativity. I can “hear” the benefits to you in this post. Carry on!
Fodder sounds like fun! and those pink-purple dyed linens are so pretty … glad you’re getting your hands dirty in a way that feels good.
This sounds like a lot of fun! I’ve never heard the term “fodder” for this, but to me, it’s just adult play — something we should all do more of!
Listen. You are creating your own friggin’ fodder. You ARE an artist and you have a STUDIO. No quotes.
Fun stuff Kym! No fodder for me right now…just finishing an almost 2 year old crochet blanket that I want out. of. here. now. I keep forgetting how to turn at the end of the 4th corner (eye roll) as taking months off in between is of no help! I am motivated! Looking forward to seeing rusty things soon.
I keep thinking about taking Fodder School and am still thinking about it!
Interesting but how did you get purple? I have used the pits of avocado to dye linen, have a whole bag in my freezer. I have used the skin. I love Fodder school and have done a few short classes but the full year thing kind of overwhelms.
Fodder School sounds like all kinds of fun. Learning something new is inspiring some making today.
For inspiration, see if you can find an image of the life-size buffalo head mounted on the wall of a gallery in the New Mexico State House in Santa Fe. We stumbled onto this building looking for something else and were rewarded by a walk through a mini-museum along the rounded corridors of the second floor hung with various pieces of art, textiles and other New Mexico native artifacts. The buffalo’s “fur” is a shaggy brown collage comprised of all sorts of “fodder” that beautifully form quite a realistic creature including his long eyelashes. I think I remember reading that this round State House (I think in fact it is called The Round House) is unique in the United States. Certainly that buffalo is! Chloe
I did a little cyber-sleuthing and found a photo on Trip Advisor’s website. Also love that avocado-dyed color. Looks to me a little like lavender or a “pastel” fuschia or magenta.