Felting Tools (Or - how to be a teacher's pet)

As I think about my workshops this year, some reoccurring themes float to mind.  And even though I give handouts, I always get calls and e-mails looking for some specific things.  Fiber Supplies, The Fabulous Felt-O-Matic and other needle tools, so this post is for your quick reference.

I have New England Felting Supply listed as a link to the right of the blog here.  I have been getting much of my fiber this past year from Chris White for teaching. 

The Fabulous-Felt-O-Matic, which I try to show in classes, because well, heck, it is great!  Small enough for the hobby felter and not a huge chunk of money for this cool tool.  Diane Stott is great for bringing it to us!  And here is a video of it's spectacularness.

Felting Needles, either New England or Sharon Costello of Black Sheep Designs

And lastly I have a small multi-needler which I brought with me to Vancouver,(Can't remember where I bought it) pulled it out of my box to show and let people try...it was a sad 6 needle hand-held needler, which used to have a top that screwed into it to keep the needles in place, and at that moment just red duct tape!  One of my students Ty Schultz, who apparently is a master of molding (moulding?), he and his wife Marcia do these very cool cast mold journal covers (It's a workshop!), and whom I think never sleeps, but sits in his casting studio all night trying to figure out how things work, and then makes them!  He very gently asked if I mended if he took it home over night to fix it for me.  Embarrased, I agreed.  He brought it in the next morning with a new fastener atop and in a traveling case!  (Pill bottle with foam inside for it to sit nicely snug into) He then made a mold of it and will be selling them!!!  You go Ty!!!

 

So as a souviner of my time in Canada he added a couple of coins to hold the wing nut into place...So Cool...

Felt for Interiors in British Columbia

My trip to Maiwa in Vancouver BC is over, we have returned home from a great class and a stunning trip through the Canadian Rockies, and I now have a moment to think about how great this class was.  Firstly, the folks at Maiwa are spectacular.  The founder, Charllotte Kwon has quite a vision, and her textile connections around the world not only are creative and rich but her vision and partnerships are uniquely sustainable for those communities involved.  I would like to thank Anne Babchuk who moved and grooved everything so my being at Maiwa was seamless and perfection, Charllotte's daughter and son who were my video tech gurus and Tim, the master of ceremonies, who spins words like a chef stirs a pot.


I turned this Felt for Interiors class, which I had done once before for Felter's Fling, (in three days) into a four day class and with 15 students (Yes 15!)  There were folks from Vancouver, the Yukon, New Brunswick, and other parts of Canada and the States.  We used correidale fiber from roving so laying out our backgrounds was definitely more time consuming than in my classes where I use my dyed batting.  But the colors were great and the fiber makes for great heavy use fabrics.


The way I structure this class is so gently progressive.  Day One is Color Theory.  My style of Color Theory is approachable and intuitive, rather than scientific, and based on my many years in the textile industry as a colorist, designer and design director.  It builds from ones personal style and helps in identifying why certain colors work well together and others less so.  With six specific exercises and individual critiques (Think 6 x 15) everyone sees so many interpretations of color use.

Day two is pattern design, a little bit of the history of the use of pattern through the ages, and then getting into the nitty gritty of what it is to stylize and create stylized motifs as well as creating a dynamic and well balanced design or composition.  

 

We did a fun coloring exercise that played with the effects of making a design look different by changing the colors in each position, and then stepped into day three by designing 3 coordinated fabric designs.  The student's designs were rendered on paper for me to see and guide them in the best way to achieve their concept in felt, and the rest of the day was spent laying out their trio of fabrics.  

 

Day four was a frenzy of felting and a HUGE group critique at the end, where everyone enjoyed not only seeing their accomplishments but everyone elses.  I feel so proud to do this class, and can see even more time spent of each days' element! 

The final critique!  FABULOUS!! And also thanks to my Maiwa Angel, Jenny, you were a great right hand through the four days, and to Tom who came in on day four to make sure 15 students all had hands on attention for the critical felting day.

Art Is...You Cromwell CT

Well the studio was packed, bags of fiber filled to the gills, and boxes packed with kits for my three classes.  I taught Felted Flowers, Felt Fiber Collage and Felted Pouches.  I headed down the Interstate for Cromwell Connecticut and was on for three days straight!  This course event was a true gem.  Very unusual and the producers are indeed angels. Anyone interested in mixed media of fiber, paper and metal should definitely check out this event.  The gals who produce it theme it for each year, this year was Taking tea with Alice.  Alice in Wonderland.  I even designed a felted Tea Cup to teach but in the end that course was canceled, not enough students.

We felted all classes pool side!!  Talk about hot and steamy, well - really humid, though by the second day I did run out and buy a skirt and tank top to wear instead of jeans.Our first class Felt Flowers

everyone working on their flowers, we make the bits of felt first, the cut and shape, assemble then bead.

Day two was making POUCHES.  Fiber is laid out specially, the design is added on the surface the the pile is felted and shaped.

 

 

The Fiber Collage Class, the evening between the two day classes was fun too, take a gander at so much imagery and creativity, just a few of the creations:

 

 

 

And some Creativity in action shots!

 

 

Fall Inspiration

As many of you know, I have been known to say Fall is my favorite season...maybe it is because my birthday is the beginning of October, maybe it is because I adore WOOL (Felter, knitter, designer) or the smell of mulled apple cider on the stove (which reminds me instantly of the Niddy Noddy(more about that and Irene Preston Miller later), a textile crafts shop where I grew up in Croton, NY.)  Well, in my spare moments this week, Tom and I are running out an do anything fun and fall-y, we had breakfast at a local nursery called Harlows Farm Stand.  The breakfast joint inside is called Cafe Loco and all very tasty.  We wandered amongst fall flowers and even a koi pond and a buddah with a pumpkin. 

 

 

 

Felt on the Cape

Look at what three beautiful creative and talented students did!

 

 

 

 

As I explain on the workshop description on my website, the Patterned Felt on the Cape is a 3 year long tradition.  I met Ginny Boylan about 4 years ago, she fell in love with me by stepping into a booth of my work at a show in Massachussets, and I could tell she and I were of like spirits.  BUT!  The moment I stepped into her studio and home I completely understood our connection.  Just so you understand more fully, she hosted me on this trip and I slept in their "Sunshine Suite".  Ginny is a decorative painter, mostly furniture, she gives classes on the Cape, and she will decorate just about anything.

The "Sunshine Suite"

Here's my fiber in her studio

coffee cups for Ginny's painty students

Her living room, new red walls and felt pillows made from our class 2 years ago!

 

Such beautiful attention to color and detail

Ginny's current seasonal project with for her Decorative Painting Class

So we also celebrated our birthdays during the class, Ginny's the day before and mine coming up.  As a treat Ginny made a very decadent cake, a  Chocolate Stout Cake whose recipe is from the Barrington Brewery, Great Barrington, MA

and then Nancy brought a plate of some very delicious ginger molasses cookies , all too very delicious

 

I love what Barbara wrote to us all when she got home, "Today I see my felted projects in a whole new light.... can see the progression and similarities of those done 2 years ago to today and must say that not only was the class extremely educational for me, the good company of so many Libras in one room  was wonderful for this pioneering, yet "following" Ram, AND the cookies and cake were sensational!!!"

 

and Nancy had some equally nice words to say, "Thanks for a fabulous day today!!! It’s a real luxury for me to have the entire day  to — create something I love, spend time with engaging and talented women and eat orgasmic chocolate cake!! Happy Birthday to you both and thank you again!!!!"  Ladies I hope you don't mind that I quoted you!  Thank you