Where
does ones creativity begin?
I believe it is there from birth.
For some of us it
is nurtured as a child, for others it is a struggle.
My memories as a child, are of being creative, always brewing potions in the garden with gum leaves and mud (and sometimes mum's precious flowers!), making dolls furniture and origami.
As I grew older it was crocheting and needlework.
Knitting and I just didn’t have much to say to each other at that stage of my
life and much to my mothers dismay (she is an amazing seamstress!!), sewing and
I couldn’t even sit in the same room with each other!
During the years that followed, as I grew into an adult, I learnt many things.
My job as a manager of a community college taught me the skills that I needed to be a good tutor as well as introducing me to spinning and feltmaking.
A craft group I established gave me the opportunity to test out those new skills and explore what I wanted to do.
Many creative mentors crossed my path sharing their wisdom.
Looking back at the time I thought these were just stages in my life journey, little did I realize that they were the beginnings of my creative metamorphosis.
The caterpillar was finally spinning its cocoon to begin the journey to a butterfly.
I now know my great passion is teaching others, there is something magical about journeying alongside another human being as they discover that they can create.
It is a great privilege to be part of another person’s creative journey.
With fibre, in particular wool I find a medium that talks to me, encourages me.
Fibre is just magical!
The humble felting needle is the tool that helps me to express
myself as I explore that medium.
For until we create we are never fully whole!
Sandie O '
2001
Attended Fay Wilkinson workshop - Creative Cocoon
2002
First Canberra Royal Show (Non Professional) - Monarch of the Forest
2003
First Canberra Royal Show (Non Professional) - Arethusa the Sea Witch
Wrapped in the Highlands - Group Exhibition SHTFN
2004
Canberra Royal Show - The Forest Whisperers
1st - Wearable Art Feltmaking Professional Section
Champion Feltmaking Professional Section
Champion Feltmaking Section
Australian Alpaca Association National Show - Alpaca
1st felting class
Champion felted Exhibit
Manipulation - Group Exhibition SHTFN
2004-2005
Tutoring workshops in needle felting - Stitches & Crafts Shows Syd/ Melb
2005
A Fine Body of Work - Group Exhibition SHTFN
2006
Attended 3 day Birgitte Krag Hansen workshop
2007
From the Eastern Edge - Group Exhibition SHTFN
Needle felting patterns published in Dolls Bears & collectables magazine & Bear Creations magazine
Needle felting pattern published in Designer Needle Felting (Lark Books/US)
2003-Current
Tutoring workshops in needle felting & wet felting