Below the surface

This piece was inspirered by the felt united theme of water and the ideas conjured up by the word drift. Many things floated into my head when I was contemplating what to make and I do not know why this idea came to the top

I wanted to imagine the water lily pads which look so beautiful and peaceful with their quiet regular overlapping shapes, from the underneath. I had seen a beautiful pool in the Netherlands in spring of this year.

But I was also reminded of something I saw many years ago where a swimmer was picking beautiful water lily flowers , by swimming in the pond and holding the blooms in his teeth.

I also thought it would be a way of trying out the technique of felting I learned from Miriam Verbeek at Feltfull 2013. Here you needle felt the fibres into your fabric, making a new feltable fabric that can be cut into complex shapes, which in turn can be joined together. Perfect for water lily pads.

Here's my sketched idea and a sample , alongside by needle felted felt fabric made from some home dyed cotton lawn and merino fibres , ready for cutting.

Having made all the individual lily pads I felted it into a single piece . It is about 1 metre long.langamL

After felting I stitched some small beads for the bubbles that I think must be there? As usual I had not really at the start decided how I would display when I started, but I knew it needed to to free, drifting. I choose in the end to back it with a clear blue sky mounted on canvas stretcher bars.

The finished piece will be on display as part of the drift exhibition organized by Lagom Felt Studio in Crieff Scotland.

 

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Miniatures

My current task is to make some minature felts. They can be anything , flat or three dimensional. There are so many options to choose between I have found it really difficult to focus and decide what to make.

I have had a go at some miniature pictures that could be used for cards. First I thought of the biggest picture I could imagine related to my theme. Satelitte images of rivers. They are actually really wonderful colours.

This is part of the Ganges.

 

Converting these images to miniature felts is quite a challenge as the examples below show. I think without the images above no one would know what they are supposed to be. Even with them it's stretching the imagination. But does that matter? I am not sure.

Back to earth I am experimenting with a technique learnt at Feltfull , making jewelry. Here are a some bracelets.

Then I have gone a bit more three dimensional. I experimented with making a small felted sculptures, but I need to explore the technique a lot more before I am happy with it, so I am making bowls. Here again I am experimenting a bit trying out layering colours and cutting holes to give different effects. I have also tried to make two bowls the same - which has worked out reasonably.

I hope by the end of this weekend I will have 12 miniature felts , made up of jewelry and bowls and then I will have finished my miniature assignment . This is my target anyway and then I can go wild with some new ideas at Woolfest next weekend.

 

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What is it?

Last week at Feltfull I was supposed to make jewelry. Something went a bit wrong on more than one occasion and it has had to be made into something else.
My brooch was far too big and might have to get turned into a hatinator. I am reliably informed this is a cross between a fascinator and a hat. Before a do this I need to get some long feathers to give it bit of height and help me to make a statement . If I ever have an occasion to wear it. These photos give a bit of an impression of its future .

MY field of wild flowers necklace was just too long . Made assuming I will grow taller which is never going to happen. So I think it might be able to be converted into a belt. Still need a bit of work but it has possibilities. Any other ideas welcome on what is could become.

My inspired by a fly catching plant necklace is a bit of a show stopper. So much I could never wear it. It is Unlike any jewelry you have ever seen. So it has been converted in a garden installation , just a small one. Large necklace makes small garden ornament !

I am looking forward to seeing it in all weathers from my bedroom window and hopefully some small insects might find a safe home in its fibres.

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Feltfull

I have had a wonderful time at Feltfull. I met many wonderful people from all over the world and I learnt so much about felting . I can't really write it all down its just too much !!!!!!!. So here are some photographs of the people that were there and their work .

Just a few of the amazing felt works of art that were made during this fantastic week.

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Preparations for Feltfull

Well I am so excited , because on Friday TOMORROW I am off to Feltfull. Feltfull is a whole week of felting, how wonderful is that going to be. So I am preparing , this requires quite a bit of thought and I am sure I will forget something vital.

First there is all my tools , my pens ,crayons and paper my scissors, my soap, my felting needles, a tape measure and and ..... the list goes on and on.

Then my felting materials. This has really required the most thought. I needed to think of colours and I wanted to have two different colours for my two workshops. So I have collection of purples and pinks and a collection of oranges and greens. Fibres, fabrics , yarns , and threads.

 

I also have made a piece of felt in my star style for a bit of a show and tell.

 

First workshop Ornament lead by Miriam Verbeek and then a workshop Halszaken- translated to Capital Cases by google which cannot be correct lead by Claudia Burkhardt.

 

Trains are sorted , packing is on its way and so shall I be soon. I can't wait!!!

 

 

 

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