May the first already! It's seems unbelievable - Summer has arrived and we've completely missed Spring! I'm afraid I have rather neglected things here with a terrible two month gap between posts. It's been a hectic time as I've been managing workshops alongside 'the day job' - a really exciting publishing project - more about that very soon...
Meantime recent workshops have had a distinctly 3-D theme - lots of bags & bowls, slippers and an advanced 'textured vessels' day, so I'd like to try and include as many photos as possible...
For me the most satisfying aspect in explaining how to create a seamless 3-D form by felting around a resist, is that once the method is understood it can be used to make ANY form - it's only the shape of the resist that determines the end result. So bags, slippers, hats & gloves can all be made using the identical process with maybe a few adjustments.
Laying out fibres around the resist can be tricky at first. It's good to watch bewildered faces at the beginning of the class slowly gain confidence as the day progresses. I can see them thinking "I'm never going to get this" - yet they do - and everyone goes home smiling, with a piece of felted work, and a great sense of achievement!
I must just mention Soosun who took up the 'gauntlet' challenge laid down in the last post and actually made this wonderful pair of matching grey gloves and slippers (called 'Winter Weather') in one workshop.
The 'Textured Vessels' workshop was another step forward and gave some experienced felters the chance to experiment with shapes and textures. The results were spectacular! One of my students Greta has gone on to study textiles and is incorporating her felting skills into her course work - here is some of her amazing work...
This all shows that once you have felted a shape or vessel it's just the foundation for so much more experimentation, stitch and embellishment - you just have to be brave and take the next step!
The 'Textured Vessels' workshop was another step forward and gave some experienced felters the chance to experiment with shapes and textures. The results were spectacular! One of my students Greta has gone on to study textiles and is incorporating her felting skills into her course work - here is some of her amazing work...
This all shows that once you have felted a shape or vessel it's just the foundation for so much more experimentation, stitch and embellishment - you just have to be brave and take the next step!
These are just some of the results at the end of the days - some still wet and soggy, and some still in need of finishing but all tremendous, individual pieces of work!
For details and dates of all the new felt making workshops at Oliven in Newport and the Alpaca Farm in Wellow click on the names.
For details and dates of all the new felt making workshops at Oliven in Newport and the Alpaca Farm in Wellow click on the names.
Just to finish by saying that I'm getting ready for my first craft show of the year. I'll be exhibiting with a group of friends on the 11th & 12th May in the newly refurbished Village Hall in Shalfleet. It's such a perfect venue, just behind the church. There'll be tea & homemade cakes on offer, as well as some very nice craft work...
Hope the weather continues to stay dry and sunny for us!