Belfast, ME My Bachelor of Fine Art degree is in fiber, but I also studied fashion and textile design. I have been making a living as a jewelry artist for almost 15 years, during this time I have continued to explore new fiber techniques and make work in fiber. My silver and gold jewelry also contains silk and fiber techniques. When I took a felting workshop two years ago I found the fiber/textile technique that spurred my creativity to express myself as an artist in fiber. Although I make a living working in metal I prefer the tactile quality of fiber and I am always drawn to it. The qualities I especial like about working with wool and making felt are: It is low tech, renewable, sustainable, and a versatile material, it can be two and/or three dimensional, soft and pliable or ridged, and there is no limit to the color pallet. The tactile experience of working with fiber is important to my sensibilities. Since the tactile experience is important to me as the maker, it is of equal importance that the felt pieces that I make are touched. Although the work samples are sculptures, the book can be opened and “paged” through, the boxes are touched when opened, the pouches are made to be opened, and the parts inside them can be assembled and even worn as adornments. Lastly, the tick tack toe games are meant to actually be played. While I am fortunate to be able to support myself as an artist, as a practical person I must continue my jewelry business to keep a roof over my head. Since I started working in felt I have been exhibiting pieces in both juried and invitational gallery shows, including a two-person show. I do plan to continue to make and exhibit work in felt, and as my work evolves and hopefully sells, fiber will become the primary focus of my work. I hope to be a homeowner some day, and perhaps, if nothing else, I could buy some land and felt myself a yurt as my life’s work.