Last week I was fortunate enough to take a three-day workshop with Pamela McGregor. And it took every bit of the three days get our vessels into shape. Before class I had struggled with what shape to make but in the end I decided that I would make a vase because 1) I had some sequins bits (the sequins look so interesting when felted) cut off of an upcycled dress that reminded me of flowers (you know how I love them) and 2) I wanted to learn how to make a stopper that fit. Now how many vases with stoppers have you seen? - not many, I didn't have the color of wool that I wanted to work with (aqua) so I used the green that I usually love but am a little tired of at the moment and I knew it would be a little weird (vase with a stopper?) - well, by the end of the second day when I looked around the room at all the very gorgeous and artistic shapes and then at my piece, I had to burst out laughing and I wasn't the only one - it was resembling something that I hadn't planned and didn't really want. Of course all the clever felters in my class did wonderful sculptural pieces that were just amazing under Pam's watchful eye and careful instruction. That night was a restless one - could I save it? Every time I thought of it, I got a chuckle so I decided I needed to take drastic steps and out came my trusty Embellisher (and the scissors) the next morning to the rescue. At the last day, and after some work, the top of the vase began to look like a strawberry jar and I did learn how to make a fancy stopper that fit. I began to really like it and what great memories are incorporated into every rub (thousands, believe me!)
I finally got a few pictures of my nuno felted coat that won the Best in Show at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. When the weather was gorgeous this past week/weekend, I was very busy and didn't have a spare minute so this morning I took some but it was rainy, rainy and deary outside so they are not the best.
I don't admit it to many (in fear I'll be stoned) but I do love the rain, dreariness and all - I guess growing up in Scotland, it feels cozy and comforting to me somehow; besides living in the woods where the tall oaks soak up all the moisture, this beneficial rain makes everything so green and luscious.
I've been busy creating large pieces of fabric for a "Flutterby" coat! Promise to post pictures soon. It took a lot of work prefelting two very large pieces of butterfly nuno felt before cutting them up (yikes!), designing the coat around the fabric, stitching it all together and then felting really well -- a lot of work, but I'm so pleased! Pink silk inside/pink, black white on the outside.
Here is the latest Fascinator just to tweak the interest of those who have signed up or are considering signing up for my two-day workshop at the MFS - easy peasy, fast and fabulously FUN to decorate!!! You can see this at the Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend - never entered in the hat category before, but I will this time. It is felted from the softest Alpaca and incorporates some silk organza, silk waste, silk rods . . . and cruelty-free feathers -- I'm in love with feathers!!! This is special enough to wear to a wedding.
Since getting a huge table top, I'm now able to make really large felts and this one is no exception; still a lot of work to do but I'm soooo pleased with the colors! I'm excited about the detail possibility on this!
I made this Fascinator for Susan to enjoy - it has all of her favorite colors which don't really show here - chartruese, purple and mauve. If you want to see how fun and easy it is to make your own special design, be sure to sign up for the Fabulous Fascinator workshop at the MFS in Madison, Wisconsin, July 30 - August 5.
After reading about dyeing eggs with onion skins I just had to try; I loved the idea of wrapping them in silk prints but their dye is toxic. I also had some natural blue food color (from flowers and fruits) dye on hand so I experimented with making them blue before wrapping them in onion skins (and a few shallot skins as well). They just turned out so amazing; I couldn't stop gazing at them - the light is bouncing off them in the picture because I rubbed a little oil on them right afterward but I think you get the idea. They are the most gorgeous marbleized blue, bronze and golden brown (included a little parsley under the onion skins so a little "frilly" silhouette shows here and there) - each one of them with a unique beauty. I had some of the blue and onion skins left over that I couldn't stand to go to waste so I did the same with some silk gauze (no picture here but trust me, it is just as gorgeous!) This experience just makes me want to do more with nature's bounty.
I've changed the workshop name "Gown Fragments" to "Textured Embellisher Nuno" because in essence that is what it is all about - learning the techniques to creat FABULOUS texture using your needle felting machine and wet felting - in this case the Baby Lock Embellisher. Baby Lock is once again kindly providing machines for students to use; this time at the MFS in Madison, Wisconsin, July 30 - August 5. Internationation felters will teach too -- I'm so honored and excited to be part of this event and have the opportunity to meet more of you! Imagine, you'll be able to felt feathers and dupioni!!! - not easily done with wet felting alone
This past weekend, we had a blast at Judy Gula's Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, Virginia, and I had the best and most fun students. My friend Pat Smith, who is my personal cheerleader and the most talented driver yet - will drive through hail, snow . . . . . . anything just so we can felt! (just kidding but it was really raining cats and dogs) We made quite the fashion statement wearing our Fabulous Fascinators that, although unplanned, somehow matched our jackets perfectly; we had to remove our hats at one point to protect them from the nasty downpour!
Here is the latest Fascinator just to tweak the interest of those who have signed up or are considering signing up for my two-day workshop at the MFS - easy peasy, fast and fabulously FUN to decorate!!! You can see this at the Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend - never entered in the hat category before, but I will this time. It is felted from the softest Alpaca and incorporates some silk organza, silk waste, silk rods . . . and cruelty-free feathers -- I'm in love with feathers!!! This is special enough to wear to a wedding.
