Little Giraffe, felted fuzzy by Liza Hamilton, photograph by Kara Q Lewis

You can pet my spots. They’re bumpy! I am made of wool, so I am a little bit scratchy, a little bit soft.

Hold me in your hand – I bet you’re surprised how light I am. I might feel delicate, but I am tough.

The artist who made me built my wire frame, twisting and forming it with her nimble fingers. Then she wrapped and pressed wool round and round the metal, encasing it in my woolen skin and muscles. I took shape with each push of her felting needle. She created the details that show my personality and spirit.

From my tiny hooves up to my dainty ears, you can tell who I am: proud, intelligent, aware, calm, and kind.

Turn me over in your palm. Move my legs and neck and I can run, do a silly dance, pause, and look away haughtily.

Did you smile when you saw me on the shelf? When you touch my spots, I can see your thoughts. Are you thinking about your childhood stuffed animal friends and pets; the pure joy you felt squeezing your fuzzy loved ones and pushing your face into their fur, hair, or fluff? Let’s play! Reconnect with your younger self: all smiles, make believe, and wonder.

My spots tell more than my story, they tell yours, too.

I wrote this for a writing workshop I attended at Ashland Art Center called Writing Sparked by Art with Deb Holmes. She asked all the students to go out into the Art Center, find a piece of art that inspired us or caught our attention, and to write about it for 15 minutes. I love the felted creations of Liza Hamilton, so I naturally gravitated to her studio space. Little Giraffe was so cute and I loved that the bumps were bumpy, like dotted fabric.

It was fun sitting with the felted creature in my hand while letting whatever thoughts came to mine, come to mind. :)

All 11 students created short fiction and non-fiction pieces about a variety of art, including ceramic vases, mono prints, photographs, and oil paintings. One of AAC’s Studio Artists, Dale Muir, photographed the writing students at work as well as a photo of the art that inspired the writing. Deb and Dale put together a wonderful show at the Art Center for a featured art wall during the month of May.

Deb Holmes, left, at Ashland Art Center

Here’s Deb at the opening reception on First Friday Art Walk. Check out the students’ writing and the art that inspired them at Ashland Art Center, 357 E Main Street, this lovely month of May 2014.