Showing posts with label surface design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surface design. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

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

                                                   Dyed silk cocoons provide a jolt of color...


                                                       ...and a felted-in mirror gives sheen.

                                      

                                                          There are color contrasts...


                                                             ...loads of texture...



                                                     ...and a patchwork quilt of felted-in fabrics.                                      


                                           I prefer the more 'aggressive' corriedale to the merino...


                                           ...because of the wonderful texture it provides!




                                                               The finished sampler.

                                                        (Looking at it just makes me happy.)

                                     

Sunday, March 23, 2014

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!

                                             

Friday, March 21, 2014

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.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

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'.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Fiona Duthie's Surface Design Class-Felter's Rendezvous 2014

   
                                             For the surface design class at Felter's Rendezvous...

                                                     ...our studio was spacious and well-lit...


                                                 ...with loads of yummy supplies on hand.


                                           The absolute highlight of the workshop for me, though...

                                ...was finally getting to meet my long-time blog friend, Fiona!! :)


                                               

                                              Her expert teaching style and friendly personality...                                 


                                  ...enabled each student to fully express herself in shape and color.


                                               Using a combination of exciting techniques...

                                    ...we fashioned felt 'samplers' during this intensive 2-day workshop.


                                      The finished work can now be installed as wall hangings...

                                      ...used as table runners...or even sewn into purses (my fav!). :)

                                                    

                                                   It was exciting to see all of the finished pieces...


                                      ...as each student's own unique project was revealed...


                               ...created with different kinds of wool roving, cotton and silk fabrics...

                                 ...non-textile inclusions (like beads and mirrors)...and lots of love!


                                             Felter's Rendezvous was an absolute joy for me...

                                      ...and much of the credit goes to my instructor, Fiona Duthie.

                                    If she's not headed to your neighborhood anytime soon...

                              ...consider signing up for one of her online surface design classes, here.

                           The weekly modules contain gorgeous photos and wonderful, clear directions...

                                        ...and the projects are quite inventive and fun to try!

                         In the online course, she answers questions and comments on all posted work...

                                    ...a sure way to take your feltmaking in wonderful new directions!!

                                                      Next time: Fun with felting friends in Boulder!