a life of felt

Archive for the ‘past workshops’ Category

First workshop of the year

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Every time I run a workshop it’s fun and today was no exception. Good company, lots of laughs and some quite fabulous pieces of felt. So far this winter we’ve had very little snow, so why oh why did it have to snow today? Here’s a lovely winter scene from the village hall.

Isn’t it adorable. It’s not quite as out of focus as you think, it had started to snow. But enough of the weather, here’s a few of those bags you were all waiting to see – I did say it was a bag workshop did I?

This lovely bag was made by Jeni and has a pocket on the inside. I changed the workshop slightly today and brought Blue Faced Leicester fibres for people to use in oatmeal and black. It’s a brilliant British fibre and well worth trying for yourself.

In order, we have loveliness from Lindsay, Angela and Elaine. All handles and catches are felted in, the flashes of colour are provided by Merino fibres and Elaine’s bag also has vegetable bags included. A nice bit of recycling.

The top bag is by Cera with an all over spot decoration and internal pocket. The bottom bag is by Pauline and has Merino fibres and Wensleydale curls.

Top bag by Pauline, her first ever piece of felt, pretty good it is too, lovely solid felt. Bottom left is by Karen another first time felter who did a great job, you’d never have guessed it was her first piece. Bottom right is understated gorgeousness by Sue and it has 2 internal pockets. We tried really hard to finish early but what is this, a lone felter?

Yes, I’m sorry to say Lesley was naughty and had to stay behind. No, not really, this is what you call dedication and perseverance when all around you have left.

It was worth the work though wasn’t it and when the Wensleydale curls dry they’ll look even fluffier, what a fab bag. Thank you ladies for a great day and I hope everyone got home okay. Do please send photos when they’re dry and you’ve added buttons.

W.I.P. – not any more!

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

I’ve so enjoyed blending these colours.

Some of the edges on thn early strips weren’t really very good and when I began to sew the strips together it became a little obvious. This meant you could see the white cushion pad, so I used an old sheet which recently ripped to create a new coloured inner.

The sheet was the better part of twenty years old so it certainly didn’t owe us anything. There’s some green in the wools so it was a happy coincidence.

It’s 20 square inches of happiness :-)

To combine the strips I began by crocheting them together, it didn’t work for me so I used blanket stitch, that didn’t work and I eventually settled on a simple whip stitch.

Seams inside or seams outside? Seams outside was my decision as it gives extra texture. I chose a bright-ish orange to stitch the strips together just because I’ve a lot of that colour but it has worked well.

We all seem to prefer the first side I showed you with more obvious differences in the width of the strips. I’m so happy when I look at it that  I’ve started a smaller one to keep it company. There’ll still be left overs.

W.I.P.

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

I haven’t shown you a work in progress for ages. Under the bed I used to have 4 banana boxes full of yarns and textiles awaiting ‘projects’. Through good use and a firm attempt to remove some of the rubbish, coupled with all the squares I’ve crocheted for Japan, this is now down to 3 boxes and I’m aiming for 2.It’s really not possible to eradicate the stash entirely.

This is a box of Shetland wool yarns which need using up. No good for baby blankets as it’s far too scratchy so I’ve commenced on a project for myself.

So far, I think it’s looking rather scrummy and will show you pics as soon as it’s finished. This time, Hubby likes the colours so much I think this one will definitely be staying. It’s not so much crochet he deoesn’t like I think as much as granny square crochet. This is all plain treble stitch. As the yarn is fine I’m working with two together and it’s producing fab colours (mostly!).

I’m still going to have rather a lot left so if you’ve any ideas for future projects, suggestions on a postcard please or you could just leave a comment.

Frilly scarf workshop

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

I just can’t believe how busy it seems at the moment and how near Christmas is getting, I really must start shopping. However, here for your delectation are the pictures from Saturday’s frilly and lattice scarf workshop.

These are just the sample pieces we made before starting on a longer scarf. Some are long enough
for neck  warmers, I was hoping mine would make a wrist warmer but it’s too long.

Above, from left to right, is the work of Claire, Sue and Bev.

From left to right you can see the work of Anna-Louise, Jeni and and Ang.

Margaret’s scarf is on the left and the right one belongs to Liz.

Some people also had time to practice the lattice technique. The scarves were so beautiful on Saturday that I wanted to keep them all but no-one was willing to give theirs up. Nor did they want to wear a cold wet scarf for a photo shoot, I can’t imagine why! At least two people pushed themselves to work with unfamiliar colours and were pleased with how the scarf turned out. Claire was a joy to watch as the smile never left her face all day!

Thank you so much ladies for the help in setting up and putting away, I do believe ten minutes to clear up is a record and was very much appreciated. That’s the last workshop for this year, I’ve a few commissions to finish and then I can perhaps put together a new tutorial and work on a project for next March, more of which later.

Fabulous!

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Last month I ran a 3D pod workshop and showed you the results here. The red pod from Margaret wasn’t completed on the day but I just have to show you what it looks like now. It’s totally fabulous now but here’s a reminder of how it looked then.

The finished item

Inspiring isn’t it? Well done Margaret and many thanks for the photos.

Mixed media workshop

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Saturday was just such a lovely workshop, people were chatting away, organising tea runs and generally having a good time, it was inspiring to be around these ladies.

It was very much a play / experimentation day as we combined, rag rugging, weaving, knitting,
crochet and other textures with felt making.

Each piece is so individual. We were speculating on whether anyone would be able to tell who had made each piece from the colours and textures used. I reckon if you knew someone in the room you’d have a good chance but may not know without that prior knowledge. What do you reckon?

We also wondered what our felt said about each of us but perhaps it’d be better not to go there.

Some people pushed themselves on colour, some on technique but every single one is fabulous. the
worst part for me is that I don’t get to keep any of them.

 

p.s. Thanks for the cake Dawn.

I’m delighted to be able to show you Claire’s finished cushion. It looks brilliant.

Felt for Christmas

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

It’s been a little busy this week so I have posts backing up in my head. On Wednesday I held my Felt for Christmas workshop where we focused on creating felt with sparkle. Some has sparkly fabrics in it, some has metallic and glittery threads, some has angelina fibres and some had it all!

Lots of this felt is destined to be cut up into decorations for trees, garlands, gift boxes and the popular wreath from last week.We also made cords and covered balls to create hanging decorations but for some inexplicable reason I have no photos of those.

Thursday continued very busy and I made another trip to Sheffield to see Mum. Mum’s been in hospital for over six weeks and has now been in a nursing home for rehab care for two weeks. I thought Mum would would like me to pay a surprise visit. It was me that got the surprise as when I arrived she’d signed a disclaimer minutes before and taken herself off out for a visit to her flat. I searched in vain for an hour covering both possible routes and then gave up and came home again.

It caused havoc at the flats as she wasn’t expected and they thought she’d come home for good. I sorted that misunderstanding then finally discovered why I’d been unable to track her down -
she’d got lost!!

I am being busy, honest

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

It may seem like I’m not being very active but I promise I am. Taking a look in a much ignored basket yesterday, I found some scarves which I’d promised to send off to Scarves 4 Japan. Shame on me that they haven’t already been sent but I have been able to add two more to my total and will be posting off six.

Two are for children, the rest for adults. They ask you to include a handwritten letter / card with each scarf and I managed to find 5 cards which I’d made ages ago, such a pity that I couldn’t find 6 but I don’t want to hold it up any longer so I’ve used a bought card for the final one.

They don’t look very interesting like this but I hope they’ll be enjoyed just the same. AND just to prove there is even more happening here’s a picture of my latest crochet project in progress.

I am also working on a new felt project but I’m not quite ready to reveal that yet, more to come soon I hope

p.s. Put 24th November in your diary, I plan to hold an ‘at home’

What is it?

Friday, October 28th, 2011

I so enjoy workshop days as they always bring  good company and lots of felting. Yesterday we were looking at 3D shapes inspired by natural forms.

First up is this offering from Sylvia which gave us much laughter during the day. It’s a family blog so I can’t say what it reminded Sylvia of but I did think it looked gourd like at at one point. It’s to be a wacky prize in a raffle and the lucky recipient gets to choose how to use it., I think it could be used to store garlic, any other suggestions?

Heidi is returning to felting and this pod/pot although obviously based on a natural form has the feel of a landscape to me. Heidi wasn’t afraid to try a few new things and is intending to make two smaller ones to complete a group.

This is a large pod from Margaret that is just a short step away from being finished. It’s quite an exciting shape in a vibrant colour. Once the ridges are stitched in and there are more tentacles exploding from the opening it’ll look stunning.

Last but not least is this hanging indoor bird feeder from Ang. It’s a lovely solid shape with 25 spikes and 3 openings. Having gazed thoughtfully at her finished item Ang now intends to cut into it in two or three places to reveal an inner green layer. It should look really good.

Well done ladies and do send me a photo please if you make more or make changes. We’d love to see them finished.

Weekend wool work

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

A whole weekend of making great felted items from a variety of British wools with a very friendly group.
That sums up my weekend and here are the photos to show what was created.

Created by Alex using hand dyed Swaledale wool. I like using Swaledale fleece, it’s hardwearing
and takes dye very well as you can see.

Liz worked hard on this cute little pot. It’s Black Welsh Mountain  with Jacob and Wensleydale curls.

This characterful chicken (Betty, yes we do know it’s the cockerels that have long tail feathers)
is destined to be a doorstop in Cheree’s home. It’s made from Swaledale wool.

Liz tried a different style of bag which wasn’t quite as planned but was a great first attempt at this style.
It’s made entirely in Blue Faced Leicester wool.

Cheree’s Black Welsh Mountain handbag with bright red Blue Faced Leicester interior.
The plan is to decorate it further with crocheted flowers.

This unusual sculpture is from Alex and it’s based on a seed pod acquired on her travels. So sorry
the photo isn’t better but it’s the only one I have. Alex made it using Black Welsh Mountain and plans
to use french knot stitches to give it a textured exterior.

This fun sheep was made by Judith using Swaledale, Cheviot and Blue Faced Leicester wools.
It’s going to get  legs and an even shaggier coat, I can’t wait to see the photos.

Using the same shape as Cheree, Judith made this lovely bird for a very
special purpose – to keep her eggs in!
I’ve been promised pictures of it finished with more feathers around the tail end.

Over the weekend we had two clear winners on the wool tops front – Swaledale
and Black Welsh Mountain. Both are coarser wools from hill sheep
but it goes to show that they felt very well and can even earn places as favourites.
Go on, give British wools a try, you may surprise yourself.