Fiber Sculpture, 10"x12"
Fiber Sculpture, 18"x24"
Fiber Sculpture, 10"x18"
Soft Rocks Series
Rocks are supposed to be hard. --- Mine aren't.
Fiber Sculpture, 18"x10"
Fiber Sculpture, 24"x48"
Fiber Sculpture, 30"x48"
It all started with a simple question.
What if rocks weren't hard?
From there, the puns practically wrote themselves.
Every piece in this collection has a title that somehow references rocks, stones, pebbles, or cobblestones. The title always inspires the artwork.
Either way, I couldn't resist seeing just how many "rock" ideas I could turn into art.
More about the Soft Rocks Series
Why I Created This Series
Every piece in this collection began with a simple challenge: take something we think we know—a rock—and completely change the way we experience it.
The rocks began as loose wool that was needle felted into shape. Before the finishing work begins, the wool is partially felted in the washing machine to give it a firm foundation. From there, each rock is shaped, refined, and detailed entirely by hand until it looks surprisingly realistic.
Some of the rocks even have tiny "tattoos"—words, symbols, or images permanently felted into their surface.
Once the rocks are finished, I design and build a custom wooden base or frame to complement each piece. The woodworking becomes just as much a part of the artwork as the needle felting itself.
When I started this series, I realized the English language contains an astonishing number of rock-related expressions. My notebook quickly filled with possibilities.
The result is a collection of whimsical sculptures that challenge one simple assumption:
Do rocks really have to be hard?
Behind the Scenes
Needle felting a rock isn't quite as simple as it sounds.
The wool is first partially felted to create a dense core before each rock is individually sculpted and refined. Once enough rocks are completed, I switch hats—from fiber artist to woodworker—and build a custom base or frame designed specifically for that piece.
It's an unusual combination of textiles, woodworking, and just a little bit of wordplay.
Every Artist Needs a Studio Assistant
Photographing larger pieces isn't always easy.
One of them was too large to hang anywhere in my house, so I placed it on the floor and climbed up to the loft to photograph it from above.
Apparently my cat decided the composition needed one final touch.
Sometimes art direction comes from unexpected places.
Tattooing a Wool Rock
Once a rock has been needle felted and shaped, I can personalize it by adding words or simple designs directly into the surface. This short video shows me needle felting the words "You Rock!" onto one of the finished rocks.
