Creative Felt Gathering 2011- Impressions

Sue with her wonderful 'complex resist' bag.

 

The lovely and delightful Amira Mudfaery at work.

 

Our raw fleece and complex bag studio.

 

With my friend, Dawn...wearing our raw fleece bags as hats! :)

 

Resist dyeing tools.

 

A Camp Dainava totem pole.

 

Our 'graduation ceremony' with Pam MacGregor, Chad Alice Hagen, Elis Vermeulen, and Jone Rakoski presiding.

 

I spent last week in Manchester, Michigan at the 2nd Annual Creative Felt Gathering...

...and, as usual, it was awesome!

I had a chance to catch up with dear old friends, make some new ones...

...and learn lots and lots of felting tips and techniques!

Everyone there was a talented feltmaker in his/her own right...

...and the energy and creative 'aura' of the group was palpable!!

I returned home filled to the brim with good will and fellowship...

...and inspiration enough for a thousand new projects!!

Next time: What I made at camp! Giggle.

Wrapped Feltbook and Fused Glass Buttons

 

Some of the bookmaking tools used to make Chad Alice Hagen's 'feltbook with limp binding'.

 

The spine of my feltbook---sewn with waxed linen thread.

 

Glass that I'd cut and glued...awaiting firing in Jone Rakoski's glass kiln.

 

Finished feltbook with bone clasp and leather thong closure.

Fused glass buttons (some with drilled holes and some with button-backs).
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You may recognize the cover of my book...

...from my earlier 'woven flat felt' project!

I used a template to cut the felt to size...

...then covered it with a thin layer of matte medium.

A leather spine strip was glued to the felt...

...and sewing stations were poked through the leather and felt.

A text block was made with 36 sheets of paper...

...by dividing the paper into 6 signatures.

After stitching the paper into the felt cover...

...I glued a leather thong to the cover and wrapped it.

A bone clasp keeps its contents secure.
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For the fused glass buttons, we first learned to cut glass safely...

...then assembled three-layers of glass for each one.

The pieces were glued together with small amounts of white glue...

...and fired in a glass kiln.

Holes were drilled through some of them...

...and button backs were UV glued to the backs of others.

Neither project was one I could imagine doing on my own...

...but with step-by-step instruction and guidance, I ended up with quite respectable end products!! :)

Creative Felt Gathering--OMG!!!

 

This is me working on a scarf that ended up long enough to wrap around
an average football team!!

 

Jone Rakoski in one of her less outrageous moments! Grin.

 

The inimitable Chad Alice Hagen!

 

Elis Vermeulen...glowing with health and kindness! (inside joke)
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I've just returned home from an absolutely incredible week in Michigan...

...and I can't wait to share my experiences with all of you!!

I attended the first annual Creative Felt Gathering in Manchester, Michigan...

...hosted by the talented, generous and absolutely hilarious Jone Rakoski!!

Our other two teachers were the felting 'rock stars'...

...Chad Alice Hagen and Elis Vermeulen!!!

Our coursework consisted of felt journals, hats, glass fusing...

...and making lots and lots of scarves.

Each instructor had her own unique way of teaching...

...and method of working with fibers.

We worked very hard all week, and late into the evening several nights...

...but the joy, cameraderie and love between felters was absolutely palpable!!

People shared their special techniques, equipment that worked well for them...

...and even their food and wine at mealtimes!!

I came away with a head bursting with ideas, some amazing projects...

...and a new BFF (best friend forever!), Dawn Edwards.

Not to mention a new surrogate daughter...

...Elis' incredibly elegant (and CUTE!!) daughter, Rachael.

The rest of the week will be photos of our amazing projects...

...and some of my new felting friends!!