Superb Mothers Day for all
What a cracker of a day sun shine, minimal wind and lots of happy people surrounded us for the day. My day started with a chilli awakening in the valley of the Lost World, a very excited daughter beckoning me up for Presents and Pancakes… standard breakfast for such occasions ! Happy me with perfume , chocolates and soap and more to come during the day…I had lots of lovely customers and encouragement from like minded souls.The hardest part of having a stall at such a wonderful event is not being able to wander at will and soak it all up.
happy purchase ……up- cycled handbag
Christopher Trotter’s handy work
Getting ready for Mothers Day
Well I’ve done it again only days to go and I am busy stitching and dying … I have a new top in the dye pot as I type..and I hope to wear it on Sunday. After my visit to Wendy Bailye’s Studio I have re discovered Lichen, my results after soaking the lichen in cloudy ammonia then adding the liquor to the dye bath.
I am not a pink kinda girl but bundled with purple carrot and autumn leaves I’ll give it ago. Above is the results of nuno texture felt that has been dyed with lichen the colour variation between the materials is stunning ! I have added some snap shots of bits and pieces that I will have with me on Sunday at Arts in the Olives.
Those Shrunken Jumpers
I am still at it……. can’t go past an op shop without a peek for a woollen jumper or a silk scarf. Ula and I had a crafty day, I made my first cut into the Wollies that I have tortured in the washing machine. The sleeves make great phone holders and we tried out a couple of Teddie patterns. One of the jumpers was an Aran in cream and I will get one handbag ans two cushion covers from it, all in readiness for my stall at Art in the Olives on May 13th.
I have nuno felted these two stoles in readiness for my busy months ahead … Three markets in Two months !!
Vilte Workshop
What a day… nine am till seven pm … but worth the aching feet and the rolling shoulders.
Vilte (from Lithuanian) taught 12 of us from novice to seasoned felt makers some techniques for texture in felt and WOW what a day, this was held at Wendy Bailye’s studio in Samford.
We all made four samples each and then attempted a larger piece using our favorite techniques that we had been taught, I got mine laid out and wet down, but with a 2 hour drive home in front of me I had to call it a day.
Knit Bomb
Oh what fun …. Bec has really started something here, her little studio was packed to the rafters.
We all signed up and are busily knitting squares to make a very big rug to go over a shelter shed !
See Bec’s web page on my blog roll for more info….
Open Studios
We had a great morning at Bec Andersen’s Studio at Mt Tamborine on Wednesday. What a great space she has… lots of lovely wool hanging up all dyed by her. We were there to make banners for the open studios of the Scenic Rim ( runs May and June ) Bec had us all doing a job each and the banners were created in no time .
Robyn from Wallaby Ridge Retreat did a great job with the screen print squeegee and we are going to have fun embellishing these banners for the Open Studio at Wallaby Ridge Retreat. I will be part of the open studio at Robyn’s on the 2nd and 3rd of June.
“Cardinal Convert”
Well it is finished and I’m about to deliver the ” Cardinal Convert ” table runner to Irene @ the centre.
The silk scarf that is the base came from an op shop and has been embellished with silk scraps, wool roving and thread then felted together, I also did some detail stitching and beading.
The exhibition opens for a month @ The Centre at Beaudesert from 29th February ….www.liveatthecentre.com
Nuno Felt on Silk and Cotton
I have been busy felting my little heart out. I had a special order (which has been dispatched ) but wanted to share with you.The use of re purposing an op shop scarf into the scarf. I am really happy with the result and it has given me some new ideas.
I have almost finished the piece that will go in the opening exhibition for the Open Studios ( Scenic Rim Council) It was to be a shawl/ stole but has shrunk too much…. so now it is a table runner / wall hanging, I want to finish it with some stitching and beading.
And lastly I have found a lovely soft green muslin cotton shawl that I have lightly embellished with wool and a little silk, a great look for a summer evening.
Back in the Swing
Ahhh…. so long since my last post ….. but I am back in the swing now the kids are back at school and the rain is pouring down so no excuses, other than being distracted by my work room. I am waiting on some Red wool roving to arrive, so I can start a new piece for an exhibition @the Centre for The Open Studios in the Scenic Rim Shire.
But in the mean time I have bought the latest Art-wear publication “Felt” and “Embellish” they always have great articles to inspire me and this month it is Liz Evans article on “Pots of Felt” and they are such fun
I have also found this great book at the local Library
So I have been searching through my drawers for old jumpers as well as the local Op Shops, thrown them in the washing machine on a hot wash to felt them, but that’s as far as I have got ……
Keep you posted
Great day out at Darlington
Tam and I set out this morning for our market day at Darlington. Two girls in the back and out the Kerry valley we go, it is a bit of a haul from Beechmont but well worth the drive as it is a lovely setting for a market.
The girls had fun big and small , we both made sales which is handy as I bought a few nice foodie things ( Dukka and Olive Oil) and some lovely Nettles Natural soap. All the products came from the surrounding area.
Our two model helpers
Arm Knitting
I have noticed a some interest in arm knitting (I mentioned it in an earlier post) well I got my hands into action.Teresa Dair was at the craft/ quilt fair in Brisbane(I have put her link in my blog roll).
I went to her work shop and bought the instructions , it is a bit tricky to get you head / hands around but once you get it it’s fun and quick.The instructions talk about felting the scarf so you need to use a wool that will felt/shrink and one or two more that won’t , I have not felted this one yet ….. am undecided about changing the look
New fun stuff
Back from the trip and taking a bit to get back into the groove …
For a bit of inspiration a couple of us went to the Craft Fair in Brisbane I discovered a couple of new things Arm Knitting with Teresa Dair and Crochet bowls with Jenny King
Lots of fun … have also added a couple of pics of some scarves I did on the road
This neck lace is knitted with 20mm needles over breakfast
This is merino wool, hemp and bamboo nuno felted onto tissue silk
Silk from the trip ” The Channel Country”
A little friend in our tree
my new basket
Jasper and I did a workshop each on the Saturday before the Art Festival . It was a great way for me to zone out of panic mode and have some fun . I made this basket and along with 9 other like minded woman we sat on the banks of the Albert river and twined away …thanks to the guidance of Therese Flynn Clark
Jasper on the other hand played with hot coals and iron, he made he and his sister a Marshmallow spike for camping and a coat hook . 
