"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 4

Making a grid with painters' tape...

                                                         ...and covering it...

                                             ...with layers of white merino.

                                                     Wetting out the project...

                                                    ...and flipping it over.

                              Covering the 'lacy' side with additional layers of wool...

                                        ...and gently rubbing the project surface.

                                                    As the felting progresses...

                    ...the design of the resist becomes visible as a raised element.

                                               After flipping the project over...

                                                     ...felting continues...

                                       ...and the relief of the painters' tape grid...

                                                      ...is also slowly revealed.

                                           Next time: felting continues in earnest.

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 3

The 'lacy' resist...

                                        ...is covered with a layer of white merino...

                                                          ...and wetted out.

                                           After flipping the project to side two...

                         ...the overhanging wool at the mouth of the bag is folded in... 

            ...and the white wool from side one is folded up and around the resist.

                                              Layers of dark roving are added...

                                                          ...and wetted out...

                                         ...and lengths of variegated wool yarn...

                                           ...are applied to the project surface.

                         The pieces of yarn are covered with strips of painters' tape...

                                                      ...except at the very ends. 

                                                 Next time: I make a tape grid.

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 2

Applying a layer of silk gauze...

...to the surface of a bubble wrap pocket resist.

                                         Folding down the top (for a neat edge)...

                                ...and covering the silk with layers of wool roving...

                                   ...leaving the top edge of the bubble wrap bare.

                                            After flipping the project to side two...

              ...the pocket is placed wool-side down on the surface of the bag resist...

                               ...and the whole shebang is covered with 'hairy' wool.

                                                    Wetting the project out...

                                        ...and adding an additional layer of wool...

                         ...and a layer of silk gauze at the top (for 'handle support').

                           Folding in the overhanging wool at the mouth of the bag...

                              ...and covering the project surface with merino wool...

                                                   ...in a slightly darker color.

                                    Centering the lacy resist on the project surface.

                                             Next time: layers of white wool are added.

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 1

Sketching an idea that came to me in a dream...

                                  ...and reproducing it with a permanent marker...

                                          ...on a piece of thin foam underlayment.

                                       Carefully trimming away the excess foam...

                                            ...to leave the desired cut-out resist.

                   Crafting a solid tote resist (just slightly larger than the 'lacy' one)...

                                        ...and covering it with layers of hairy wool.

                                  Applying a plastic pet screen to the wool surface...

                                    ...and wetting out the project with soapy water.

                                                  A length of silk gauze is cut...

                                         ...and placed at the top edge of the tote...

                                                     ...for 'handle reinforcement'.

                                        Next time: An internal pocket is fashioned.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid!

                              
                                          I spent a few weeks in Spain, recently...

                                            ...and got to visit a lot of museums! 

                                         Some of them didn't permit photography...

                                                                    ...drat...

                    ...but some of the time I wanted nothing to come between me...

                                                  ...and all of this incredible art.

                 These photos are from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid...

                                    ...and they're some of my colorful favorites!