A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Through metalsmithing and wet-felting, artist Carol Tardiff creates warm, copper jewelry and textural wool felted items. Each creation is rich with symbolic meaning, drawn from myth and legend.
In 2009, with a casual jewelry background, Carol began experimenting in metals and sought to expand her skills through local classes, as well as a weeklong intensive at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. Late in that year, she began showing her work at local venues and Willowsong Studio was born.
In 2017, Carol embarked on a casual exploration into wool crafting after watching an instructional video on wet-felting. Soon after, a new collection of wool amulet bags, Spirit vessels and wall hangings were created bearing the mark of her mythical musings.
A self-proclaimed introvert, Carol’s pastimes are mostly solitary endeavors. Her imagination is continuously sparked by dabbling in other mediums such as crafting handmade journals, eco-dyeing, encaustics, and anything else that may intrigue her. She enjoys immersing herself in nature by walking in the woods, bird watching and gardening. Her bookshelves are crammed with books, interesting bits gathered from nature and small vintage collections.
Carol’s special alchemy of legends, symbols, and strong spiritual energy bring to life a mystical world of ancient amulets and talismans. It is her intention that these handcrafted artworks provide a tangible, physical container in which to hold one’s ethereal hopes, beliefs and aspirations.
EDUCATION:
Carol is primarily self-taught, but has also been privileged to study under the following teachers through various workshops:
March 2009 Fuller Craft Museum
Tricia Harding, Intro to Soldering
triciaharding.com
May 2009 Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program
Joy Raskin, Metal Working
metalornaments.com
Winter/Spring 2009 Not Simply Beads
Nicole Blanchard, various workshops
nickisilver.com
MEMBERSHIPS/ORGANIZATIONS:
CIA: Craft Industry Alliance
SAC: Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
Plymouth Center For the Arts
NEFG: Northeast Feltmakers Guild