My 'Very Heather' Surface Design Sampler- Part 2 of 3

                                                Since it was essentially a large 'test piece'...

                                                         ...I tried different methods...

                                                       ... for making 'cracked earth' felt...

                                ...and observed the coarser fibers migrating through the finished felt...

                                                ...(excepting areas with thick inclusions).

                                In the merino section, the effect on the inclusions was quite subtle.                       

                                        I cut fringy pseudopodia when I removed this foam resist...

                                                                ...made craters here...

                                                       ...and cages when removing others.

                                    Trapped beads look like bacteria growing on a culture medium...

                                                               ...(to me, anyway!)...

                                      

                                                 ...and remember the bullseye from Part 1?                                                   

                                                   The shock of pink silk makes me smile.

                                                      Next time: more close-up details...

                                                        ...and the finished sampler!

                                             

My 'Very Heather' Surface Design Sampler- Part 1 of 3

Laying out corriedale and merino roving...

                                                            ...in colors that I love!

                                                             Adding fabric elements...

                                                        ...and dyed silk cocoon snippets...

                                                                 ...then wetting it out.

                                                        I hid things under foam resists...

                                              ...or trapped them under pieces of silk gauze...

                                                                ...for a later reveal.

                                            With the many, disparate elements finally in place...

                                     

                                                               ...felting has begun!

                                                           I took the title for today's post...

                                    ...from a comment that my instructor made about this piece.

                                                     For those of you familiar with my work...

                                     ...I think you'll agree with Fiona that it's a bit more 'me'! :)

                                                    Next time: close-up details of the finished project.

Surface Design Sampler Using 'Difficult' Colors- Part 2 of 2

                                              Multi-colored felt striations and open bridgework.

                                                           Raised pre-felt 'sentries'...

                                                          ...with a venus fly trap pocket!

                                                                Silk and wool posies...

                                                             ...with beaded centers...

                                                          ...and a little disco shimmer! ;)

                                                       This four-layer bridging section...

                                                      ...was constructed on a dare! }:-)

                                  The pre-felt 'scalloped edge' is one of my favorite Fiona techniques...

                                          ...and I'm sure that it will find lots of future application!

                                       Overall, I'm sure you'll agree that this project is 'a bit much'...

                                      ...but once in a while, like here, the insanity actually works...                                         

                                      ...and I'm mad for the crazy wool yarn ends on this shibori bit!

                                 This is actually my second sampler from Fiona's surface design class...

                                              ...but it is, by far, the odder of the two...

                                         ...so I thought that I would get it out of the way first!

                                         Next time: a surface design sampler in 'my' colors! :)

Fiona Duthie's Purse Class- Felter's Rendezvous 2014

The women in my class didn't shy away from hard work.

On the contrary, most of them made enormous bags!

                                                        As in our surface design class...                                       

                                          ...each student was given the techniques and tips...

                                                         ...that would enable her to realize...

                                                             ...the purse of her dreams!

                                                      I love how each bag is so different!

                                                        The student's choice of shape, color...

                                                                          ...and design...

                                                 ...resulting in something unique and special!

                                           We had several very new feltmakers in our class...

                                   ...yet under Fiona's expert tutelage, their finished projects shone!
 

                                                    I really love these geometric pre-felts...

                                                     ...an elegant design for a very special bag!

                 
                                                  Next time: the first of my own 'Fiona' projects...

                                                  ...a cacophonic surface design piece...

                                            ...deliberately made with colors that I 'resist'.

Pre- and Post-Felter's Rendezvous With Friends!

Here's Cathy with one of her newest 'babies'...

                              ...and this sweet Mama is quietly getting ready to add to the tally!

                                     

                                Tylar and Marsha couldn't resist these adorable newborn twins.                                

                                              Cathy's farmhouse is a lovely and peaceful place...

                                                            ...filled with color and art...

                                         ...and containing warren-like passages to hidden rooms...

                             ...where she keeps shelves-full of wonderful fiber reference books!!

                                                                           (drool)

                                     

                                   The view of the mountains from her front door looks like a postcard...

                               ...and who wouldn't love spending time with these curious creatures?!?

                                 Of course, we do have a couple of stories that can't be shared in this blog...

                                            ...but 'what happens in Boulder stays in Boulder'. ;)

                                      

                                            One of the things I like best about being a feltmaker...

                                                     ...is being friends with other fiber people.

                                          Several of us spent a few days before- and after- the Rendezvous...

                                            ...hanging out, making felt, eating, drinking and laughing. Pure bliss!

                                                        Next time: Fiona's bag class!