August 14, 2011

Felting Workshop and PO Bags Trading

I had a fabulous time at felting workshop today with Elizabeth Armstrong at the Studionfelter I had felted before years ago and love the feel of felt. Today we did nuno felting. Nuno felting is a technique worked over cloth. I used a piece of silk I found in a bargain bin at the Geelong Fibre forum years ago. I'm glad I've finally got to use it.



I didn't have a preconception of what I was going to make today. I just let the day take me. I knew I wanted to use the whole piece of silk and to use the wool I already have. I started putting in some stitches around the motives. I hope to do all of them.  This is not a scarf, it's large enough to use as shawl. I'm glad because I don't actually own a shawl. It's still cold here so I might get to use it this year!


I would like to show you the reverse side of it. It's a piece of silk and it's now married to the wool and felted  together into one. It's magic how felting works. Love it, love it...!


This is the wall of Studiofelter. What delicious colours on the wall and all the gorgeous felted pieces on the shelf next to it. Elizabeth does beautiful work using felting technique. I now remembered where I've seen her work before. Her work had been published regularly on  Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Arts magazines. 


Here is Elizabeth and Jacky posing just for me. Sorry Dot your photo didn't turned out well and I hate posting bad photo. I will make it up to you Dot (with more indigo fabric, maybe!). Ladies, thanks for a great day! I think I'm hooked and I will be back!


Here is Jacky with her masterpiece. Jacky worked on a more precise patterns on hers scarf. I would try something like this on my next piece. The result was stunning. You have to check her blog for photos of the finished pieces. 


Now for my post bag trading. You know social networks work wonders for me. Yes, I know I spend far too much time posting, chatting and sharing on the world wide web, but I just love meeting people from all walks of life. On my blog post about Japanese parcel bags a friend on Facebook commented that she has two Dutch post bags. I have two Japanese post bags too! So I asked if she would be happy to trade one with me.  She took a photo of her bags and had already seen mine on my blog. We agreed, and the trading took place.


These are her two bags. I even had a choice which one I would like. I choose number 87 because it has the three colour bands across it. My bags (yes I send her an extra surprise) arrived and she was happy with the bags and a piece of indigo fabric from Japan that I dyed myself. 

Not all is lost on social networks. I even feel that it will take over blogging eventually. On social networks you don't have to spend hours writing, uploading photos and continually coping with how to use new features of the software that Blogger and other blogging providers adopt from time to time, often without warning. Social networking software on the other hand is simple to use, fast and fun...Lately I have been enjoying the forums put out by different art and craft groups that are just as interesting as following blogs. So let's wait and see which one will survive longer out there in the world wide web! 

Please visit: Japanese Textile Study Tour blog! 






22 comments:

deanna7trees said...

oh i just love that piece you felted and Jackys is gorgeous as well. i was surprised seeing the reverse side of yours. great trade of the PO bags. i prefer the blogs to facebook. it's much more personal.

Morna Crites-Moore said...

OMG, what gorgeous nuno felt ... I love it.

Terry said...

Nice nuno felting. How much shrinkage did you get? My last large pieces had almost 50% silk chiffon, merino tops and silk shawl that covered the kitchen floor.
Reminds me of felting with Rachel. Time flies for both of us.

Nice Dutch post bags

Bev C said...

Hello Nat,

Your felting looks divine, the colours remind me of looking through a leadlight window. Aren't computers and technology changing at such a rate. Though the last week I have been in the real world,my kitchen rather than being on the net.
Hope the weather is just right for your to showcase your scarf this week.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Jeannie said...

What a glorious shawl you created! It is beautiful.

antique quilter said...

I love your shawl, its just so original and unique. I love the way the two just blended together, amazing.
oh now how lucky are you????? can't wait to see what you make with these bags, I LOVED the messenger bag you made .
keep us posted ok?
Kathie

MulticoloredPieces said...

The colors you put in your felted "shawl" are divine, a one-of-a-kind piece. And what a fun class!
best, nadia

Simone de Klerk said...

That must have been so much fun, the felting! Looks great once again, what you made.
And what a fun swap (o:

Kim said...

Here in upstate NY is a huge sheep and wool community where you can buy wool in every stage of processing, from hot off the sheep to roving to yarn or clothing. Once a year there is a huge gathering called he "Wool and Sheep Festival" and every wool craft is taught, this is one of them.
The designs that come from these workshops is just awe inspiring.

I love how you took your love of silk into the wool workshop.......stunting.

Happy Sewing

Needled Mom said...

The felting project is wonderful. I subscribe to both of those magazines so I have apparently seen her work too. I will have to look through some of my old ones to check it out again. Her work is stunning.

I would say that you made a great trade for the post bag. I love the colored bands.

Moon Goddess said...

Natima your shawl is stunning! Absolutely gorgeous!

Els said...

Aaaah Nat, you did a great job with the nuno!!! But be careful: you might get bitten by the felt bug again!
I love the post bags: immediately recognized the words ;-)

Anonymous said...

you go to a workshop a turn out a work of art! need to see a picture of you wearing it. my workshop pieces are always scrappy samples. oh,so beautiful.

Carmen Eva said...

bellisimo!!

Dot said...

Lovely post Nat - you did a gorgeous job felting. It was lovely to see you creating and using such beautiful colors. Wasn't I there as well though?
Thanks for the lovely fabrics you gave me. I love them. Very generous of you to give them to me.

Janet said...

Your felted piece is gorgeous Nat, I didn't know you could blend the fibres. It looks like it was a lot of fun. The bags are great, good swap there.

Lee said...

Nat, is there any textile art that you haven't tried your hand at! Your felted shawl looks simply amazing - the colours you have chosen are gorgeous. It sounds like you, Jacky and Dot had a wonderful day at the felt studio. Lee xx

Ro Bruhn said...

What a great piece of felt you made. A day spent with Elizabeth in her Aladdin's cave is so inspiring. Glad you got to spend it with Jacky and Dot too, I'm looking forward to seeing their creations.

Peggy said...

I always learn something here at notjustnat! Your new shawl is so very beautiful and it must feel so great to have used materials you already had, too! Wool and silk together, how luxurious. Interesting about social networks, haven't spent much time there yet...just when I get the hang of one thing, something new pops up!

Anonymous said...

This is stunning! Nat, if I lived closer we would be doing these fun things together. I love to try different things, too. Nuno felting is next on my list...love it.

Unknown said...

The shawl is amazing Nat! I'll have to do some reading about the felting technique. As it stands, it's a very mysterious (though wondrous) process to me.

I would have chosen the same postal bag for the same reason. The stripes really add something special to the bag.

It's interesting to hear your comments about the various social networks. I will have to keep all that in mind!

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Hi Nat...by you have tried just about everything...this is just beautiful...and good tradoe too...Happy Friday to you, yippee it's nearly the weekend...Dzintra

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