"Fern and Flower" Drawstring Bag- Part 1 of 2

Covering the pencil roving design with hand-dyed merino roving.

 

Fulling the piece after felting.

 

The finished bag...flower side...

 

...and fiddlehead fern side.



 Stuffed with cloth placemats during blocking and drying.

 

Pinning satin ribbon to the inside of the bag prior to stitching...

 

...and afterward, with one buttonhole drawstring opening visible.

 

You may remember the first bag that I made this way...

...using a quilt design as the bag's inspiration.

I used the same wonderful book of modern designs...

...to inspire this birthday gift for a friend, as well!

Working inside-out, I spread soap glue on the resist...

...then laid out my designs in pencil roving.

Next, I added layers of hand-dyed merino roving...

...and rubbed and rolled the piece until it was done.

After it was fully felted and dried...

...I stitched in a casing , made from two pieces of wide satin ribbon...

...and sewed and cut buttonholes for the drawstring 'exits'.

Next time: the finished bag!

More Minneapolis 'Wonders'!- Final Trip Post

One of Nick Cave's fabulous Soundsuits...

 

...made from vintage toys and crocheted hot pads...

...at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

 

The MIA also has more 'traditional' fare...

 

...in their galleries of Ancient works, and collections from the Americas, Asia and Africa.



Here, at Open Book...

...a home for literary and book arts... 

 

...we drank excellent lattes, shopped for unique books and paper supplies...

...and saw a terrific performance of Shakespeare's "As You Like It"!

 

At the oldest collectively run business in town, Seward Cafe...

 

...the food was so good, we ate breakfast there...twice!

 

It had been over 30 years since I last visited the Minneapolis area...

...and I'm sure I won't wait as long for my next visit!!

My blog friend, Becky, and I thrilled to the wonderful art in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts...

...and feasted on "Surly Chocolate" cupcakes from the Salty Tart bakery!

My daughter and I saw a performance of "End of the Rainbow" at the Guthrie Theater...

...a heartbreaking 'play with music' about the last years of Judy Garland's life.

We also enjoyed a stellar version of "As You Like It" performed by Ten Thousand Things Theater...

...a group known for bringing "lively, intelligent theater to non-traditional audiences"...

...that regularly stages performances in prisons, shelters, nursing homes and drug treatment centers.

We also spent an hour or so digging through mountains of used clothing at the Goodwill Outlet store...

...where, for a mere $1.49 per pound, we acquired tops and jackets for my daughter to wear...

...and quite a few silk blouses for me to use in my felting!

Minneapolis is a beautiful, clean, vibrant, bike-friendly city...

...filled with stylish 'hipsters' and eclectic shops, bars and restaurants.

 I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time there!! :)

StevenBe...A Yarn Garage Workshop

StevenBe's enormous, beplumed, crystal chandelier.

 

Many unique and wonderful products are available...

 

...in this yarn and fiber-lover's paradise!

 

One of Steven's young, hip, staff members wearing a dyed, full fleece 'vest'!

 

The 'Yarn Garage' hosts lunchtime fiber lounges and knitting classes...

 

...'escapes' for urban knitters and trunk and fashion shows.

 

I think you could search far and wide...

...and not find a place quite as fabulous as StevenBe's!

 

On our fiber extravaganza day together...

...my friend, Becky, and I took a trip to StevenBe's Yarn Garage Workshop...

...a LYS (local yarn shop) like no other!

Featuring over-the-top decor and an insane variety of commercial and novelty yarns...

...StevenBe's is also a place for glamour and fun!

We felt instantly warmed by the kind attention of his terrific staff...

...(when was the last time you were brought a cup of coffee while you shopped)?!?

We saw luscious silk ribbons and wonderful buttons...

...and hand-spun art yarn made with antique Christmas tree balls or feathers!

It's the kind of place that just draws you in...

...and I think that if I lived in Minneapolis, I might just have to learn how to knit!! Giggle.

"Textile Center" Minneapolis, MN

The beautiful ambiance of the Textile Center.

One of Morgan Clifford's wonderful woven works.

She uses hand-dyed, hand-woven linen and silk in her pieces...

...and some of her works even feature hemp and handspun nettles!

 

One of the delightful quilts on display...

...this particular one is lovingly hung in the lending library.

Here's another...

...and, yet, another.

"Ooohing and ahhing" over Becky's incredible, fleece-in-the-grease Border Leicester blanket are...

 ...Nancy Mambi (Librarian) and Carolfaye Meadows (Shop and Event Manager).

(Becky is in the middle.)

 

The Joan Mondale Gallery: featuring "Constructions in Concert"...

 

 ...an installation by Joyce Melander-Dayton featuring pieces which are all stitched...no glue!

It's quite remarkable!

 

For those of us without easy access to a facility like this...

...it's hard to believe the 'abundance of riches' available in this remarkable center!!

It's a mecca for all things textile-related...

..housing galleries for group and individual exhibitions...

...classroom facilities and meeting rooms for groups and Guilds.

It has a state-of-the-art, stainless steel dye lab...

...and a marvelous gift shop, featuring member-made works.

I think my favorite part of the center is the lending library...

...featuring a thrilling collection of books and fiber-related magazines...

...all available to those lucky enough to be local members of the center. 

My friend, Becky, and I spent a few enjoyable hours there while I was visiting...

...and boy, do I wish we had something like this, here at home!! :)

More Walker Art Center- Trip Post #2

One of the fantastic glass chandeliers seen hanging in the Walker.

 

This piece looks like the entrance to heaven to me!

 

Texture and wonderful color.

 

Verisimilitude, baby!



Can you guess why this one appeals to me?!? :) 

A piece from the Walker's eerie "Midnight Party Wunderkammer" collection...

...called 'Dowry Cloth'...

...made from felted sheep's wool and human hair!!

A very strange and wonderful selection of works were displayed in this particular glass case...

...several by Sigmar Polke, and a few by the amazing Joseph Beuys!

 

This cast iron piece by Beuys (next to a pair of plaster shoes by Huang Yong Ping)...

...is called "Backrest for a Fine-Limbed Person (Hare-Type) of the 20th C. A.D.".

 

Ok, ok...I know what some of you are thinking...

...but, strange as some of this is...for me, there's nothing better than modern art!!!!! :)

I admit that their "Midnight Party" collection is a little bit creepy...

...and a little bit of a 'head-scratcher'...

...but still...oh, how wonderful it all is!!

I was diligent about only photographing the permitted pieces...

...and my only real regret is that I couldn't share the Joseph Beuys "Filzanzug (Felt Suit)" with all of you!!

It's hanging in the Walker in all it's glory, though...

...for one day in the future when you might have an opportunity to travel to MN to see it, too! :)

Next time: our 'virtual tour bus' stops at The Textile Center...

...and I promise that you will not stop salivating!! :)

FiberPhiladelphia & Walker Art Museum- Trip Post #1

Pieces by Mary Smull...

 

...observed while walking through the Philadelphia Airport...

 

...as part of FiberPhiladelphia's biennial this year.

 

Mary takes 'found', partially completed needlepoint pieces...

 

...and rescues them from oblivion by filling in the unfinished areas with white yarn.

 

FiberPhiladelphia is currently up and running in my city...

...and I was pleased to see these wonderful pieces while walking through the Philadelphia airport a couple of weeks ago.

FiberPhiladelphia is a biennial festival showcasing innovative fiber and textile arts...

...with disparate exhibits on view in 40 different locations throughout the city.

This particular work is by Mary Smull...

...founder of the 'textile welfare' organization, SPUN (The Society for the Prevention of Unfinished Needlepoint).

Their projects are collaborative works begun by anonymous artisans...

...and completed (with white yarn only) by members of the society.

You may want to consider this idea yourself, the next time you find yourself in a thrift store or at a garage sale...

...and create your own mini 'rescue society' for long-ignored partial masterpieces! :)

*********************************************************************

Next stop: the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN.

 

Wonderful, saturated, retina-blasting colors...

 

...and beautiful patterns.

 

My very first stop in Minnesota was to visit the Walker Art Center...

...a truly wonderful modern art museum.

This is only the first of two sets of photos for you from the Walker...

...since there were so many wonderful things, I didn't want to leave any out. :)

Next time: Trip Post #2...

...with more modern art!!