hermit felt 

Who am I?

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I am Carmen Ditzler, (she/her) Creston, British Columbia, Traditional and unceded territory of the Yaqan Nukiy of the Ktunaxa Nation.

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In my work I try to replicate forms and textures found in nature.  I love both natural colours, dyes and shapes as well as a wild array of joyful intense colour.

 

I have always been an artist.  Fascination with nature is at the core of my art- noticing textures, colours, and weird lines. On a walk I poke into nooks and crannies and fill my pockets full of rocks and treasures.  I am inspired by the natural world around me, balanced with my grief and anger at the state of our planet.

 

My textile practice is a source of meditation, solace, joy, and activism.

 

My fibre journey began 30 years ago when I taught myself how to knit. From there I explored dyeing, spinning, wet felting, needle felt, eco-printing, and weaving. 

 

Wet felting continues to fascinate me as it involves some sort of alchemy through different stages.  It’s not totally predictable and is often surprising.  A humble material such as wool can be transformed with soap and water and hands to turn delicate wool roving into strong, flexible, warm, beautiful felt.  Wool can be combined during felting with different materials such as natural fabrics, paper, plant and animal fibres, cordage and yarn to create texture, structure and form.

 

Felt can be in sculptural, seamless, flat or sewn.  One of the unique properties of felt is that from design lay out it shrinks from 30-60% depending upon materials, thickness, and intention of use.  It can be “pre-felted” then altered and shrunk for different effects. 

 

Unpredictable mark making techniques such as rust prints, tannins, natural dyes and eco-printing add layers to create thought provoking garments and objects. The last layer of design is sometimes hand stitching, free motion embroidery, or needle felting.    

 

I am self-taught.  My art school tuition has been in the thousands of dollars and hours in experimenting.  A fibre journey with an infinite number of mistakes, ruined materials and wonderful discoveries. 

My practice has been nurtured through workshops with some fabulous felt artists in person and online.  These felt artists include: Lyn Pfleuger, Marjolein Dallinga, Fiona Duthie, Pam Degroot, Cat Bordhi, Melissa Arnold, Arianne Marianne, Maria Friese, Nicola Brown, Flóra Carlile-Kovács, Chris Lisak, Natalie Grambow.

I have been nurtured at different times by fellow fibre artists including:  members of the Sheep Creek Weavers Fibre Arts Guild, Handweavers Spinners and Dyers of Albera, felt:feutre Canada, Focus on Fibre Arts, and International Association of Felt Artists. 

 

An essential part of my art practice is teaching including knitting, felting, dyeing, and eco-printing.  Students refer to me as a funny, engaging, patient and skilled teacher.