"Checkered Openings"

Right, so its felted, but I'm not sure its finished.

Perhaps it needs some stitching, perhaps it needs a textile bundle in the loops; not sure yet.

Ode to Jude - checkerboards

This is a work in progress - a prefelt checkerboard falling off the right hand corner - been thinking about weaving checkerboards for weeks now thanks to Jude's fantastic vlogs on her work in progress 'Magic'.

I'll let you know how it progresses.

Felting in the Studio on a Monday

Recent Felting Activity

So those two above are of a very large piece of felt I made this week; dry and in mid rolling - I used some lovely 'Spring Green' plant dyed wool from Wingham Wool Works that I have been hanging on to for a while. The piece has now been posted to my talented sister who is currently making a surprise something for Mothers Day... collaboration of the creative daughters - will post a few pics when its done!

This is a detail of a small piece of merino felt with some skrim added to the surface.

This is an experiment with some white merino and some muslin.

And this is an experiment with contrasting colours and cutting shapes out at the prefelt stage.

Its been a busy felting week!

Hungarian Blue Printed Fabrics

Found a lovely online fabric shop who sell Hungarian Blue Print fabrics. I love this print here below, could be leaves or feathers. Thought I should share with you all.

http://www.kekfestocotton.co.uk/

Squares

Multiples of three..........

Squares.... stitching squares together, into and on top.

Windows looking in......... openings: digging & unearthing; going back in time.

Patching time back up, collecting, stashing and storing until a need arises.

Mending time.

V&A - Quilts 1700-2010

Ok so im really looking forward to seeing the new Quilt exhibition at the V&A this Spring (20 March - 4 July 2010)

They are even doing a special V&A range of quilting fabrics to buy! Check out some of these beauties which you can but online here:

artcloth......... cells and windows...... ongoing......

.... cells and windows...... musings on an artcloth.... what am I building with these stitches?

........................frayed edges, holes with no meaning, windows bursting with black drapes................................

Sewing Circle - Ive Been Thinking of You

This is work I was working on during the sewing circle organised by Katherine Eves. The blog of the work done by the sewing circle is here.

This piece is ongoing and unfinished. It is paint on canvas with machine embroidery and handmade felt. This is just the beginning.

stitch practice

Been practicing some decorative hand stitching on small piece of felt. I dont think I have quite got the hang of it yet! Also I think its a bit harder to make straight lines in felt, its much thicker than cotton or linen. Oh well. Practice makes perfect. Hand to needle, needle to cloth.

Felt Egg Cosies

Forgot to show you all my felt cosies I made just before Christmas. I intended them to be egg cosies, but the first one (the turquoise one) shrunk a bit more than I expected so it will only do to cover very small eggs, perhaps quail eggs?

Second one (no pic of that one) was better and I gave that to my sister for Christmas. Third (the red one) was the best size wise. Was thinking of doing a tutorial, but need to take some step by step pictures for that, so in the future...

New Embroidery Foot on my Elna

My new embroidery foot for my Elna 2600 has arrived! It is fantastic! Just been messing around seeing how it works. Writing my name, things like that. :)

Getting back up to speed - Workshops and Blogs

I have to say I have been a little slack in the blog world of late and am trying to make ammends. Which means several blog posts on the same day. So much to tell.

The Christmas Felt workshops went really really well. Here are a couple of pics:

I have been checking out some interesting blogs recently too and came across this exciting Sewing Circle called 'I've Been Thinking of You' who are organising a world wide sewing circle day on the 13th Jan 2010, anyone can take part anywhere, check out the rules and more info on their blog. I will definately be joining in:

Wise Words to bring in 2010

I have just been reading some of the blogs I follow and have found a post with the wisest words you are going to hear all year. Elizabeth's blog 'Studiofelter' is one I regularly read and thoroughly enjoy seeing her work, it is, as I am sure you will agree, amazing work. Her post reminded me that its ok to feel stuck when in the studio, but the trick is to 'just start'! And its the advice I needed to stop myself from worrying about getting it all wrong and making a mess of things. Thank you Elizabeth.

So now here are some images of some work I started on News Years Day:

I took an piece of abandoned knitting I did ages ago and added some orange embroidery thread, I just wanted to see what happened, and if I could reserect something that was long forgotten.

This piece is a new beginning. I took a piece of felt I had made a few months ago while demonstrating the technique in a workshop and cut it into a long thin strip. I played around with different bits and in the end added a strip of an old painting with machine stitching on, I secured this with a piece of scrim and some orange zig zag stitching. The green circle is yet to be attached. It is another piece of handmade felt cut into a circle, and although I think the colour works really well, I am unsure of the placement. Something to work on.

I hope everyone can benefit from Elizabeths wise words of advice. The need to make is there in all of us. Just start. Happy making everyone.

Trivets

Not very textiley I know but have been looking at Trivets all day and wanted to share my dilemma with you all. I got a wondeful 'on the hob' kettle for Chrsitmas (see above) and now I am looking for a trivet to rest it on to save the kitchen tops. So many trivets, which one to choose?

This one is a wooden one that doubles up as two. Fantastic from Soulful Toaster.

This one is pretty leaf design from Rockett St George.

This classic style cast iron one is available in Black and White and Powder Blue and is from Robert Welch.

But this one is amazing! Fantastic colours and a wonderful shape. This I found at Red Candy.

Which one do I choose?

Christmas Felting Workshops

Chrsitmas Felting Workshops

Picture above is from the last Fabrications felting workshop.

Come learn how to make a Christmas Felt Stocking or Fun Christmas Decorations with me!

Workshops being held at Fabrications, Broadway Market, Hackney, East London.

To book please contact Barley Massey at Fabrications.

Fabrications: 7 Broadway Market. Hackney. London. E8 4PH. Tel/Fax. +44 (0) 207 2758043E-mail : textiles@fabrications1.co.uk

Felt Stocking Workshop

Saturday 21st November

10.30 - 4.30pm

(with a lunch break!)

A more advanced felt making session in which I will show you how to create 3d shapes and a sandwich resist technique during which you will design and make your own felted Xmas stocking to take home.

The workshop will be run downstairs in the workshop, so max numbers for this session is 6 with a fixed fee of £45 per person (this includes colourful + natural 100% wool tops)

Christmas Decorations Workshop

Saturday 28th November

2 - 4.30pm

Have fun making some festive decorations whilst learning the brief history of felt, basic wet felting techniques and how to create 3d shapes and flat felt sheets.

All materials will be provided as well as take home info sheets. The session costs (£20. materials included. Max of 6)