Saturday 17 July 2010

Felty Frida and Her Monkey

From a strange misshapen lump of wool....

to a face......


to Felty Frida and her Monkey. The Monkey is called Fulang Chang. The monkey symbolizes death and the clown, and is also a symbol of vitality. Frida magically binds the monkey to herself. It offers protection against loneliness. So it tells me in the book-all most interesting. I made this yesterday for ADO's mini monthly challenge. I really enjoyed it-especially the speediness of the process. It is great to have a finished item in just one day-no waiting around for paint to dry or anything!


19 comments:

Ariana said...

Oh my. The monkey is sort of like a daemon, if you think about it. Have you read any of the His Dark Materials trilogy?

Unknown said...

An excellent tribute to Frida & interesting details about the symbolism & making of this felt piece. Thank you for sharing it with us!

→lisa said...

Oh, you are so clever!! In the first photo, the wool hardly looks like anything at all. What a transformation!

Really, really well done, Sarah. I really like Frida's monkey portrait, too. About a hundred years ago, I read a biography about Frida, by Hayden Herrera. Is that the book you have too?

Unknown said...

Wow, Sarah,that is amazing. You have turned that bunch of wool into such and amazing piece of art. And you did it in a day!!

aimee said...

felting amazes me! that you were able to fashion into the likeness of frida kahlo is even more amazing - so cool! great job!

Kathryn said...

That is such a great transformation, well done!

I just began working with felt a couple months ago and have been amazed with the quick results! I haven't made any figurines though, but I might just have to give it a whirl now! :)

Anonymous said...

Fabulous work, you are so creative!!

snoopydogknits said...

Such clever felting.... really beautiful! You are so clever at creating a real sense of character. Have a great last week! Ros

BonnyBadger said...

felty Frieda is great!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

i am always amazed at the way you create something artsy out of the simplest things.

rebecca said...

you are full of delight and surprises!!!

Hey Harriet said...

That's amazing Sarah! I just can't imagine being able to create anything like that from a blob of wool! You're very clever!

Rattling On said...

What a beautiful woman Frida was, and your felty tribute is amazing. Love the way you incorporated the leaves as well-very authentic!

Tracy said...

That is absolutely FANTASTIC, Sarah!! Felt is incredible stuff... from loose fiber to a woman's face... Such a fun projects & post. And love seeing the glimpse from your sketchbook/idea-book. :o) Happy Week ((HUGS))

Together We Save said...

Wow - great transformation!

Kat Mortensen said...

My goodness! You have SUCH an imagination! I have a book that instructs in how to make little felt animals, but that's as far as I've got—the book. They are really cute though.

Love that unibrow! Did you get my e-mail?

Kat

Lynne said...

Hi Sarah,
Thanks for finding that word for me. 'Bokeh'. I must remember it. The only way I knew there was such a word, was that I heard Chris Packham, or someone on Springwatch explain what it was, then I promptly forgot the word! When Mike read what I had written he said,'out of focus'!
Frida has such character. What a transformation from your first photo of her to the last. I also like the glimpse of your sketchbook.
Have you finished school now, or is it this week that you finish? My grandson finishes tomorrow. Apparently he doesn't want to move into his new class next year, (Year one). His mother says he was disappointed to learn that he won't be able to dig in his new class!

kendalee said...

That's like magic - a gorgeous Frida emerging out of a blob of feltywoolstuff - amazing! You are a doll-making magician.

I'm off to visit some of your links below now... thank you :) x

Bimbimbie said...

Frida and her monkey, she looks so wistful or is she dreaming up her next painting I wonder. Amazingly clever*!*