Category Archives: Journal

I have been making stuff. Just not blogging about it. I think this could be because Riscy and I have some stuff going on and I really want to share it with you, but I can’t. Probably for a few weeks. (not a baby for those who would jump on that one).

I’ve made more hats. They are addictive.

This one I made a couple of weeks ago and I’m happy to report that it is very wearable in wet weather. Like today. I spent all afternoon out in the freezing rain and this hat kept my head toasty and relatively dry. This is a nuno felted hat. Which means I felted the wool with an open weave fabric which gets nicely enmeshed with the wool as it is felted. I love the bobbly texture… the wool is the dark blue and the fabric a yellow orange cotton muslin (gauze or chesecloth for those using different terminology)

On Saturday I ran a mini felting workshop for some friends. It was great fun to share a creative day with friends. Cassandra made a spectacular, firey coloured scarf and Kate made a felted landscape which ended up with fabulous textured elements. I didn’t think to take photos to share here.

The first bit of felt we made was from some unprocessed wool which we carded up ourselves. The results were so nice that I’m thinking of using up the rest of that fleece on a project. I’ve just got to work up the energy for all that hand carding!

 

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I’m right into felt this week 🙂 Last night I made this hat… which was an utter disaster (think scull cap) until I started playing with the creases.

Now don’t go thinking that I’m original or anything, I am lucky enough own a hat by May Hvistendahl of Norway (my hat is the first hat on row 4/last hat on row 3) obviously it did inspire me to try manipulating the shape.

The wool is a ochre yellow fading to black at the rim, overlayed with silk which also fades from Yellow to a dark khaki/green at the bottom. I’m playing hat model here and Riscy took the pics (thanks Riscy!!).

I’m getting more ambitious. Now I want to make a jacket 🙂 Might do it tonight!!

This week I found out that Fulvia Boriani Luciano has a blog. Fulvia creates wonderful art quilts but has also been branching out into wool with some felting, spinning and knitting.

LittlePaperBird is the blog of Sarah from Leeds. Paper, stitching books, lovely photos … it’s all good 🙂

My Art Grows Around Me is the blog of Marjojo (aka Marion Michell) of London. Marjojo is an artist who is currently working on project which involves crocheting tiny little hairy dresses. If you want to see more, check out her webpage it gave me a wider context for her current work.

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I’ve been meaning to learn how to make 3D felt for years, this inspiring tutorial on the blog Homework got me very enthusiastic and excited to try it out.

The red slippers are the first ones I did. I made the leg bit a little too narrow (ie I couldn’t get my foot in), so they ended up with the U shape at the front. Which I now quite like! They are very snug and soft. I think they need a little bit more felting as the inner white fibres are migrating out into the red and pilling a little.

This is the other pair I have made. Thse have a wrinkly look because I added silk fibre on top. As the wool felts, the silk scrunches up to give an interesting texture. These ones are more generously sized and I can get my foot in and out no worries. I never realised my feet were so pointy until I felted theses slippers!

I have recently replenished my supplies of coloured fine merino wool tops. I order mine from Nancy at Treetops Colours in Western Australia. I have been ordering from Nancy for years and she has always given great service. This time I ordered the Colour Nuances Sample Pack which is 400g chocked full of great colours, just right for little felting and spinning projects. This is in preparation for the felting day I’ve been planning with some friends.

I’ve been home sick from work today. I’m a bit fuzzy in the head and achy… I hoping like mad that I have not got the lurgy. Perhaps I’ve come down with a raging case of hypochondria LOL.

I’m hiding these photos right down the bottom because the photography is very ordinary… but I wanted to record a finished quilt:

This is the Lines quilt. I can see lots of possibilities with printing and I want to do heaps more 🙂 Riscy doesn’t like it. Too much white at the top, he reckons.

I hung it in our bedroom. This is an insitu shot with my attempt at a little bit of interior decorating styling inspired by some of the home dec blogs I’ve been browsing lately (ahem!)

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