Panoply Conference

My nuno felt workshop took a road trip to Burlington, Ontario, where the Ontario Spinners and Weavers were hosting a three day conference.  They wanted a few other techniques for their members to try, and invited me to do a half day scarf workshop!
Here is half my gear rolling into the room.

Here we see one of the eight students, laying out the beautiful fibres onto the bed of silk chiffon.

 Another layout in amazing colours.

 Busy learning the joys of nuno felting!

 They even tackled the hard physical work with humour and grace.  I attempted to entertain with stories of large and unexpected felting successes.

 And after three hours each of them had a unique and completed scarf to wear home (although they were a bit damp).

 They are much more impressive in person, as the photos do not show all the textural details that you would see, and the way they float around when worn.

 Later in the evening, there was a fashion show, and a few of my pieces found their way in!  Here, a model really shows off the volume and the float of the soft nuno felt coat.

 A model in the black and red vest.

 Also very warm in the burgundy winter coat.

 And the finale of the show, my butterfly coat, worn by a delightful gentleman, who swooped around like batman and showed how big and dramatic this piece can be!

 Movement!

I had such fun with this group, and everything was well organized, with enthusiastic attendees, and energetic volunteers.  I thank them all for the opportunity to be involved.

Puesta de Sol

I give you a peak at the newest art project.  It is a vessel method three dimensional fish, representing the colours and culture of the Caribbean nations.  The brights remind me of the houses and decorations and whimsical style of the people.  The fun and humour and relaxed attitudes.  The dark is the clear, calm and magical nights.  I can hear the ocean and the music and the sway of the palms.

 The body is worked with a resist inside, and lots of design features.  Nuno felt and hidden pockets that will reveal white fibre underneath.

 I had to fold the piece to work with the tail, as the whole thing was too wide for my table.

 Everything was attached during the initial felting stage, two layers of tail, separated by plastic sheeting, each tail with resist inserts to allow ruffling of the colour over the black fibre.

 Hanging it for photos... 20 inches of snow to climb through on my deck!

 and it was -12C....

 so I came inside to finish.  Here it stays in my Florida room.
Puesta de Sol, means sunset in spanish.  The time when the colourful hot days turn into the warm beautiful evening.

Backpack Felting

Here is a quick photo ride through the making of a felted backpack....
First, start with the cords for straps, and spike details.

 Here is the backpack, showing lots of layers of felt and plastic.  The piece is made all at once (no sewing later) so the inside is made with plastic resists, and pockets and spikes are separated with more plastic so that they do not stick to parts that I don't want them to stick to!

 More loops are added for details to the outside.

 Finished backpack with button closures.  Main opening at top.

 and smaller front pouch can hold glasses or keys.

 see? Nice.  This should be available on my etsy site shortly.... Custom order in a colour you want!

Winter is well underway?

I have been busy making my winter stock.... nuno felt coats, and full size, winter coats!  New this year on Etsy, and at Pamela's in a few weeks are beautiful hand felted winter coats, embellished with silk, and beaded vintage sarees.  The photos look cool, but in person the textures really POP.

 Above is the spring, fall or indoor weight nuno felt jacket....  Below are two very warm winter coats (it is a hot summer morning, and I am modelling winter coats!!)

 yes, you can see they are all Aspen Approved, as great bird perches.

I have a burgundy winter coat in the works, and stock materials for a purple, denim, and two more blacks!  I also have several more complete sarees for the light weight coat, that already sells very well at Pamela's.

Please visit my Etsy store (upper right corner link) or Pamela's in early September. (Pam also has lots of scarves, vests and dryer balls for sale right now).  Let's everyone start WEARING their favourite ART!

Productive Sunday

I was on a roll.... started with a great round of golf in the morning, then hit the workshop.  I completed two pieces of fabric for the new winter coat.  I made 6 sets of dryer balls, as they are selling well at Pamela's in Jordan Village.  Then still not tired, I made a new nuno felt vest.  The vest is made in one piece (no sewing) using a resist.  I have made 5 of these over the last couple of weeks, and they will end up at Pamela's too.

 The vest has lots of beading and sequins embedded in the fabric.  Super light weight, and crazy warm.

 Here is the coat.  I assembled it this morning, and I love the finished product.  You can see it (and buy it) on etsy.

 Funny to model it in my short jeans and the warm sunny day.  Too warm to wear it today!

Monarch Butterfly Nuno-Felt Coat

Last photo of the butterfly pieces in assembly line....

 And the photo shoot on the front porch.  A lovely sunny day, perfect for the arrival of the first butterfly of spring!  I will be taking this one (size Small - Medium) to Pamela's in Jordan Village.  BUT, you have a chance to own one yourself, as I have also posted it to ETSY, where you can order a custom sized coat!

 I love these nuno felt coats (in all the colours that I make) as you can wear it almost all year 'round, inside in the winter, and outside spring and fall, or chilly summer nights.  Silk is warm and cool and light.

Butterflies

On my mind for quite a while, has been a nuno-felted Butterfly Coat.  I have made quick sketches at work, and while on vacation, but did not start the project until the wall art (in the background of the photo) was completed.  I started with some fine silk chiffon in white and black.  I spent a morning dying the white to orange.  Then I began the many segments needed to produced the effect I had in mind.  here is a quick peek at the work so far....

I am please with the first pieces.  I need 7 individual pieces of nuno-felt, then a few hours to sew it into the floor length coat.  It should be light and airy and kind of float around the body as I walk.

:)

At Eye Level

Here is the finished Felt Art Piece.
It is titled "At Eye Level", and represents the retina of the art lover's eye, with the rods and cones that allow the viewing, and appreciation of art.  Fibre art particularly is a "touchable" artform, but you must not touch.... so the eye takes in the texture, depth and colour.

 Aspen thinks it is a wall of birdhouses!

The retina has 4.5 million cones and 90 million rods!  Eyes are amazing

pods and art

My art project, almost finished, uses felt pods on a field of mohair curlylocks.  The whole concept will be revealed in a future post, but for now you can get a sneak peek.  I think it is coming along nicely and you can see in the first photo a section that is missing pods and locks.  I have only those to make now.

 The project is for a fibre exhibit hosted by the City of St. Catharines this year, and is a result of a call for fibre art entries. I will be presenting the project via photos and email within two weeks, and should know if it will be part of the exhibit by mid March.  Fingers crossed.  I still have to count the number of pods, but it felt (pun intended) like an endless task making these things for the last four months!

Christmas Market... my First Craft Show.

I am ready.  All the work from the last six months have produced enough inventory for my first craft show!  I will be at the Christmas Market, at Ridley College, St. Catharines, ON, on Friday December 6.  Open to the public, free admission, 2 - 7pm.
I hope to see some of my local readers there... 

 I have sock monkeys and monsters, hats, purses, bags, felted soaps, dryer balls....

 large bags, stockings, one cool large stuffed felted monster, and a zebra chair.....

and lots of small, and large scarves, in wool felt and nuno-felt featuring vintage silks.
All priced from $5 to $80.
There will also be a few coats, for purchase or samples for custom felting...

Please come and see me.  But if you cannot, you can also shop at my etsy site.  Link is above right.

Felting, monkeys and monsters

You may have noticed the absence of postings.  I have been so busy working on cool stuff, that I have neglected to talk about the cool stuff!  I have created a new felted item, the Christmas stocking, and have made several new nuno felt shawls.

 I have dressed some monkeys in felt scarves...

 and made a split personalitly monster, out of the coolest socks in pink, purple and yellow!

 Some of my new (vintage) sari silk has hand embroidery work.  wow

 and this one is just cute.

The reason I have been working this pace, is that I will be a vendor at the Christmas Market at Ridley College.  It is open to the public and takes place Dec 6 (friday) from 2 - 7pm.  I will post more about that later, but maybe save the date if you are in the Niagara area?!?  If not, these items are currently sitting on my Etsy site, and I would be happy to ship them anywhere....  cheers, chris