Profile- Elyse Feldman

For longer than I can remember, one of my most favorite groups on Yahoo is the International Freeform Fiber Artist’s guild.

I have made many friends on the list, and love the ways in which the group members express their prodigious and exuberant creativity.

For several years now, one of the list moms, ( the brilliant), Myra Wood, has been the driving force and executive director, producer and editor of a book of collected images and words created by the group. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to an international charity in support of women in the third world.

Here is the link to the book, and an opportunity to view it: Link to Somewhere in my world

When I was looking through the images from this year’s book, I thought that it would be fun to interview a few of the people who contributed to the book.  So I will be chatting with them over the next few months, and sharing those discussions with you.

I love Elyse Feldman’s whimsical little chair , which was her contribution to: ‘Somewhere in my World’.

I also clicked on her link for her etsy shop and was dazzled by the neat yarn she is making for freeform.

And, here is my list of questions for Elyse:

My questions are in GREEN and her answers are in black…

1. How did you come to be a fiber artist/artisan?

I’m very blessed in that I’ve always been able to work well with my hands. I’ve sculpted, painted, learned paper engineering, photography and off loom weaving but it wasn’t until about five years ago that I chanced upon a freeform crochet site and there was a photo of a marvelous scrumble, done in monochrome . It was an instant case of I want to learn how to do that! I spent about an hour just staring at it trying to figure out how it had been made. The idea of working without a pattern was so freeing and I loved how “painterly” freeform could look. So I set out to learn all I could about it and it soon became a special part of my life.

2. Do you have a favorite product or aspect of all that you do?

I have had a shop on Etsy for a couple of years and I have tested out many different types of items and I find that the product that sells the best is one I make myself and that really pleases me. I call them “mystery twists”, made for people who want to see how it is to work in freeform.

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I also got a kick out of

doing my crocheted rocks.

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3. What aspect of your work is most challenging to you?

Being a businesswoman does not come naturally to me. I don’t sell myself or my work well, I price things too low and give up on ideas too soon. I do better when I can make believe that I’m a client of mine.

4. What part of it is the most rewarding to you?

I am a very curious person and I love having the freedom to explore the different paths that working with fiber has opened to me.

5. How long have you been designing and crafting your fiber arts ?

I’m relatively new to fiber arts, three years. I think had I more room to play in, or my own studio with space for sewing machines, spinning wheels and cubbies for organizing yarn, I would have gotten involved much earlier.

6. What triggers your creativity? What is most inspiring to you?

I like fooling around with “what ifs?” It keeps ideas coming.

Because I work alone I am not bothered with putting my work up against anyone else’s, and although I’ve done some of my best work with tight time constraints, I am more peaceful just playing. It’s really hard to say what is most inspiring to me…it isn’t something I think about…perhaps because being inspired is almost just a matter of asking myself “ what if….”

7. Are the fiber arts your main focus?

That, and a couple of books I’d love to see in print.

8. What is your favorite way of getting your work out into the world?

I’d love to see my neck pieces

and bags showcased in craft shows and shops.

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9. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

I’m sure it does. New York City offers endless opportunities.

10.  Where can people buy your work?

Right now people can visit my shop at Etsy. (www.aqualight.etsy.com) Some of my work can be seen on Ravelry ( aqualight) and some of my art work and Polaroid photography can be seen on Flickr , pages 3 & 4( aqualight17).

I can be emailed at elysefeldman@yahoo.com.

11. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences or is important to you? Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I have been a sometimes member of a crocheting society,

a watercolor pencil group, and a popup book society. Right now I’m winging it on my own, but I do think it is important to talk with people who have the same involvements you do and who are willing to listen or answer questions.

12. Do you have an all time favorite thing that you’ve designed?

There are a few.

The hand made doggie

in the crocheted air balloon

was done as a tribute for a friend

who had just lost her beloved pet

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and the woven basket remains a favorite

because it was my first finished off loom piece.

14.  Is there a project that has just flummoxed you and just refused to work out?

I like designs to be beautifully integrated. I don’t like clothes with designs in the front and not the back. I don’t like bracelets where the catch is completely different than the rest of it. It has been a major frustration for me in designing my wearable yarn pieces to come up with findings and endings that carry out the feeling of the rest of the piece.

15.  Is there anything I’ve missed that you would like to share?

What I would like to add here is to thank you for offering this opportunity for artisans to share their ideas and their work with other artisans and art appreciators. Hurray for the appreciators!