a life of felt

I don’t want to let go December 9th, 2011

I’ve finally finished the last of my Christmas commissions and can begin to concentrate on all that noise in my head of new things to do. I couldn’t take any photos for the last few days as it’s been so dark, wet and windy but this morning, the wind has dropped slightly and the light has improved somewhat. The river has broken it’s bank and if it continues to rain it’ll flood in more places and the journey home will be circuituous but here are a few pics before the items go.

It’s a while since I made a brooch in this style but it was a special request. The back two layers are Merino and the top layer is hand dyed Blue Faced Leicester.

Just like a firework in bright red Merino with gold, pink and orange silk fibres. Orange seed beads exploding from the centre outwards.

I just LOVE this fabulous ruffled heart shaped wreath. Do I really have to let it go, I do wonder if I could say I didn’t have time to finish it and keep it for myself. But perhaps, it would be better just to make another one.

Perhaps a red or pink one next for Valentines day.

Tags: handmade, heart, ruffled, wreath
Posted in Felting | 7 Comments »

Frilly scarf workshop 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.

Tags: handmade, scarves, wet felted
Posted in past workshops | 2 Comments »

At Home December 2nd, 2011

Last night I held my annual ‘At Home’ event where people can call in and buy direct from me. It was a lovely night with a great chatty atmosphere even though there was nore tea than wine being drunk – weren’t we good. This year I had one or two new items on offer. These are felted soaps based on pebbles / rock.

I so enjoyed making these that I went on and made more using handmade soaps with essential oils.

Below are a few needlecases.

I’ve always put sparkly thread on the seams of hearts before but decided upon red this year. They’ve found a little spot in my heart.

Food on the brain!

These birds are so much fun. I love them and had to keep some for myself.

I only made one reindeer which I’ve kept for myself but I then had the thought that there was something of a llama about the body shape, now that’s all I can see!

Tags: christmas, handmade at home
Posted in Felting | 8 Comments »

Calendar Girl December 1st, 2011

It’s true I’m now a calendar girl. I was a featured artist on the World of Wool site earlier in the year and they recently asked permission to use an image of my work for a calendar. Of course I said yes and although I’m waiting for the post to arrive with my personal copy you can see it right now on the World of Wool website.

Tags: calendar
Posted in Felting | 2 Comments »

Fabulous! 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.

Tags: 3D. wet felt, pod
Posted in past workshops | 2 Comments »

Knitting and Stitching Show November 27th, 2011

I spent a very pleasant day at Harrogate on Friday. In the morning I looked around the exhibition and was blown away by some of the work on show, especially the quilts. So many hours must have been spend on them but they were superb. Here;s are a couple of pics of other artists whose work was featured and struck a chord with me.

The knitted upholstery is by Marisa Sanvito – fab colours and very very well executed.
I enjoyed Carole Waddles work too.

Barbare Jepsons use of colour is inspiring.

There were more but too many to show here, definitely visit next year if you get a chance. The quilts were so brilliant that I may just have to make it to the Festival of Quilts exhibition next year. I was well behaved and didn’t cave into temptation to buy more than I need. Well, not much!. In the afternoon I helped out on the IFA stand demonstrating feltmaking and talking to visitors. Had a brilliant time and saw lots of friends.

Tags: knitting
Posted in General | 3 Comments »

Aha! and Ta-dah! November 25th, 2011

Every time I’ve run a flower making workshop recently I’ve searched in vain for a sample of a wired flower that sits on its stem. There’s no way I would have thrown it out, could I have left it somewhere. I found it this morning tucked behind the sideboard. The culprit? cats.

Fortunately it’s so well felted that even the cats playing with it hasn’t damaged it. I also found a necklace, two brooches and a ball of paper. How do you stop these little thieves? They don’t listen to admonishments and I’m not very tidy.

The ta-dah part of this blog is my first skein of spinning, on a proper wheel no less!

Spinners amongst you will have spotted it’s flaws but to me it’s a thing of beauty. Blue Faced Leicester, tiny bit of Jacob, with which I struggled and some carded Shetland.

It would have looked better for it’s photo shoot if I hadn’t wound and unwound the skein many times to touch and admire it before washing it to set the twist. Should have set the twist first, but I just couldn’t leave it alone. Not sure if I’ve been bitten by another bug but would really like to try a double treadle wheel before I go ahead and buy one, so I’ll have to make an effort to get along to a guild meeting sometime soon. Meantime I’ve already started eyeing up books about spinning.

Tags: spinning
Posted in General | 2 Comments »

Guess the character November 23rd, 2011

I don’t think this is going to be a particularly challenging competition, just a few seconds of fun. As part of her Children in Need fundraising efforts, my daughter was involved in a sponsored three legged walk around Ilkley. Having chosen her partner they then needed to decide on what they’d wear. I suggested they go as St.Trinians, how easy would that be to create! It wasn’t what the girls had in mind though and their final decision required matching cloaks.

Dressmaking is just so not my best skill, I was dreading making them but fortunately for me, good friend Yvonne is a whizz at it and spoon fed me. The hood seemed they key part of the cloak as my daughter wanted it large to look like this. You’ll probably recognise the Scottish Widows advert. Not only did Yvonne explain how to draft the cloak pattern using one of C’s t-shirts she also planned out two hood options.

The option I followed had a paper pattern for the back of the hood and a size written out for the other piece. Yvonne also explained where on the cloak to attach it to ensure it draped correctly. I admit to not drafting the cloak properly as I figured I only had a finite amount of material for 2 and as long as the hood was right the cloak would be fine. It worked for me.

And here is the finished garment on my daughter with the hood pulled too far forward.

I didn’t do it full length as they were in a three legged race and I didn’t want them tripping up.

It could have been fuller but the hood makes a triumph of it.

I felt quite pleased with myself for the rest of the day, it’s just the ticket for Red Riding Hood – told you it was too easy.

Tags: cloak
Posted in General | 2 Comments »

Mixed media workshop 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.

Tags: felt, past workshops
Posted in past workshops | 2 Comments »

Swapsies November 21st, 2011

So exciting, my first swapsie. Tracy and I agreed ages ago but it’s taken us quite a long time to finish the pressies. Here;s mine to Tracy.

I know Tracy likes bug hunting so this is inspired by a Rose Chafer Bug. The shine is angelina fibres.

Here’s my pressie from Tracy.

Isn’t it great? A fabulous wool scarf, very, very cosy.

As Tracy doesn’t knit or crochet she came up with this clever idea to knot the wool. I’ve no idea how long it took to do this but I appreciate every minute. There was also some locally made fudge (already eaten|) and some local Perthshire Shetland fleece. Thank you Tracy.

Tags: swap
Posted in General | 3 Comments »