Q U E L L E Z I N E
(what?)
The OnLine Magazine for
The New Mexico Fiber Arts Directory
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Susan A Christie, Editor/Publisher
Each NMFAD artist is listed in the Directory
Subscribe to Receive a Link to the Current Article
The New Mexico Fiber Arts Directory
BECOME A MEMBER
Susan A Christie, Editor/Publisher
Each NMFAD artist is listed in the Directory
Subscribe to Receive a Link to the Current Article
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Published Articles:
February 2022 To... KAREN WATERS #21 CHERYL JANIS $22 QZ ***EXTRA***
JENNIFER DAY QZ ***EXTRA*** March 24, 2022 |
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Q U E L L E Z I N E
Number Twenty Two
Number Twenty Two
March 17, 2022
Cheryl Janis, Taos, NM
Modern Felt Maker
cherylrjanis.com
Represented by Alchemy Studio, Madrid, NM
www.alchemystudiomadrid.com
Cheryl Janis, Taos, NM
Modern Felt Maker
cherylrjanis.com
Represented by Alchemy Studio, Madrid, NM
www.alchemystudiomadrid.com
Visit The Cheryl Janis Exhibition at Alchemy Studio's Spring Jubilation
Alchemy Studio
2859 State Hwy 14
Madrid, NM 87010
828-246-5899
lucy@alchemystudiomadrid.com
Alchemy Studio
2859 State Hwy 14
Madrid, NM 87010
828-246-5899
lucy@alchemystudiomadrid.com
From the Editor: A visit to Cheryl Janis thru her studio website in Taos, NM, a visit to her exhibition at Alchemy Studio in Madrid, NM (on line), and a conversation with her on the phone is a soothing experience. Cheryl and her husband moved to Taos from northern California where she has found a new way to attend to her inner nature.
Cheryl’s textile art is a radical act of healing; a return to nourishment and self love. Through the alchemy of wet felting, transforming the individual wool fibers into a solid cloth, the pain of separation is transmuted and we are returned to the unconditional love of the Mother, akin to the drop of water who is finally reunited with her ocean. The integration of dry needle sculpting the feathery fibers into the work evokes the soft iridescent qualities of nourishment—the clouds, the rainbows, the heavenly realms of all that is—into a unified structure.
"I prefer drawing outside of the lines so to speak, by not following the tradition of European wet felters.
This means I wet felt the base in a thicker more organic way and I embrace the natural lines that result
from the process... The lines are deeply meaningful as they represent the lines in the earth.
Then I wet and needle sculpt the wool and plant fibers to create the “feathers” you see
in the wool’s natural form. This creates a feeling in the body
that is not unlike a cloud or a rainbow or a sunset."
Cheryl’s textile art is a radical act of healing; a return to nourishment and self love. Through the alchemy of wet felting, transforming the individual wool fibers into a solid cloth, the pain of separation is transmuted and we are returned to the unconditional love of the Mother, akin to the drop of water who is finally reunited with her ocean. The integration of dry needle sculpting the feathery fibers into the work evokes the soft iridescent qualities of nourishment—the clouds, the rainbows, the heavenly realms of all that is—into a unified structure.
"I prefer drawing outside of the lines so to speak, by not following the tradition of European wet felters.
This means I wet felt the base in a thicker more organic way and I embrace the natural lines that result
from the process... The lines are deeply meaningful as they represent the lines in the earth.
Then I wet and needle sculpt the wool and plant fibers to create the “feathers” you see
in the wool’s natural form. This creates a feeling in the body
that is not unlike a cloud or a rainbow or a sunset."
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“Art heals. It is an invitation to transformation, deep nourishment, and joy; a path to our center. Art heals.” — Cheryl R. Janis | Modern Felt Maker |
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Archangels Uriel - Fhelyai - Zadkiel
Natural, cruelty-free, Teeswater fleece and natural New Zealand Merino wool. Polished agate stone infused with angelic frequencies. 17" x 32" 
Archangels Uriel - Fhelyai - Zadkiel
Detail With a background in color and interior design, Cheryl became a certified Feng Shui Designer in
2001 and opened her firm, Sacred Surroundings. It was here she devoted her work to creating nourishing and healing environments for her residential clients, and later her healthcare clients in the private sector. |
Angel - Serenus
Ethically sourced natural New Zealand Merino wool and US Polwarth wool. One sliced and polished agate crystal embedded with the frequency of Angel Serenus. 35" x 36" 
Angel - Serenes
Detail 
Passion Flower
Organic, ethically sourced natural white New Zealand Merino wool, natural sliced agate geode infused with Reiki energy. 16" x 16" |
Spiritual Sovereignty
Natural white, organic, cruelty-free New Zealand Merino wool. Natural white, cruelty-free US Polwarth wool. Hand dyed blush and mink Corriedale wool with ecologically-safe Oeko-Tex compliant dyes. 29" x 60" 
Spiritual Sovereignty
Detail Cheryl began to notice her designs played a significant role in helping her clients and their patients heal from stress, anxiety and physical pain. Seventeen years later, Cheryl began her journey into the tactile world of fiber arts after her niece introduced her to the art.
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Q U E L L E Z I N E
Number Twenty One
Number Twenty One
From the Editor: During the summer of 2018 we visited fiber exhibits, studios, shows, trails – following maps thru New Mexico cities, into the countryside and to outliers along the northern border. The first year of the Fiber Art Trail, sponsored and organized by the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center in Española, NM, was on our list. We met the delightful Karen Waters and were fortunate to spend time with her to learn about her work. Since that time we have been in touch often as I have followed along with her artwork and her Santa Fe Wool & Supply Co, which I, myself, and friends have
found to be a friendly and superb supplier.
found to be a friendly and superb supplier.
Karen Waters
February 17, 2022
Karen Waters Art
Santa Fe Wool & Supply Co.
www.karenwatersart.com
www.santafewool.com
February 17, 2022
Karen Waters Art
Santa Fe Wool & Supply Co.
www.karenwatersart.com
www.santafewool.com
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Contemporary
Handmade Felt Working with wool, soap, and rainwater, I create one-of-a-kind wet felted vessels, wearables, and a variety of other art pieces. My use of rainwater not only reflects my stance on environmental issues, but the pH is perfect for wet felting,
as the wool responds to it beautifully. Making handmade felt is mainly
about tangling wool fibers. The wool has tiny scales on each strand that latch onto each other when moistened and agitated. The more they’re agitated, the tighter they tangle, creating a strong felt fabric that can’t be torn, and won’t fray when cut. |
I love working with wool because
it’s sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable, with a very low environmental impact. If I have any leftover bits, they go straight into the compost without a second thought. Workshops
Traditional Feltmaking for Beginners is an online course that I’m currently offering. It teaches the fundamentals of 2D and 3D feltmaking, and is designed for those who are new to wet felting. |
Fiber Art Supplies
I also sell supplies to fellow makers through my studio-based business, Santa Fe Wool & Supply Co., which specializes in eco-conscious non-mulesed Merino wool, specialty fibers, and felting tools. I feel honored to have had my
wool featured as scene props in the movie ‘The Harder They Fall’, made into mats for children at The New Mexico School for the Deaf, and most recently at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Online orders for shipping and curbside pickup are currently available on the
Santa Fe Wool website. |
