Mini-workshop
Martien van Zuilen instructed us today on the principles of using inclusions to create interesting raised surfaces. She also demonstrated making a multi-layered ‘bowl’ utilising multiple resists.
Inclusions placed between layers of wool create a raised surface and can be left in or cut into to reveal the underlying wool colours.
Examples of inclusions include felt balls or other shapes, pre-felted cord, cotton wadding, rubber pieces, resist pieces (eg thin circles of hollow pool noodle or water pipe insulation foam).
Lay out 2 perpendicular layers of wool tops.
Place inclusions on top then cover with a piece of 2-layer pre-felt.
Wet down and rub gently until fully felted, then cut into if desired .
Multiple or stacking resists can be used to create a joined stack of ‘bowls’.
Lay out a square of pre-felt and wet down the central area.
Place a circular piece of foam resist over the wet area, cover the resist and just beyond with wool tops and wet down.
Place a second smaller piece of resist on top and continue the process making several layers of resists and wool tops.
Finally, place a square of pre-felt (same size as bottom piece) on top, wet down, rub gently until holding together well, then cover with grip mat and roll around a dowel or noodle, checking regularly to flatten out any ridges.
Once the piece is reasonably well felted, pick up the top layer above the centre of the resist, pinch and cut a small cross.
Use hands to further firm the top layer.
Remove the resist and continue felting until hardening up and gaining the required shape. Repeat for the other layers.
Thanks Martien for demonstrating a technique that we will all want to explore!
News and Update
Welcome to everyone, including new members.
The Muresk Retreat was a great success thanks to Katrina Virgona for her wonderful workshop and presentation and for being so generous with her time. Sue Harrington was thanked for organising the event.
Workshops coming up are Eva Camacho-Sanchez’ Beyond Felting – Creating Textured Surfaces from 17-19 July (1 place left) and her artist’s talk in collaboration with WAFTA at 7pm on 16 July at Craft House, $5 entry. Wendy Bailye’s 50 Shades of Grey is from 2 to 4 August (full contact Renita to be put on Wait List) and her artist’s talk is on 1 August, details to be advised. Pam Hovel’s Earthy Felted Vessels is from 30 August to 1 September ( 1 place left) and there will be an artist’s talk open to all.
FeltWEST will have a stall at the WA Craft and Woodwork Show from 2-4 August. Jill Jodrell and Jan Stroud are organising the stall which will focus on promoting felting through education and demos, while attracting new members. Volunteers are needed for morning and afternoon shifts, with free entry provided to volunteers. Please see the website for contact details for Jill and Jan. Members are asked to provide felted items for display, but not for sale. http://www.feltwest.org.au/events/wa-craft-show-2019/
We are looking forward to participating at the Royal Show (28 September to 5 October) with a large stand in the WA Pavilion. Martien van Zuilen, Peta Korb, Marion Finneran, Jean McKenzie and Margaret Bryan are on the sub-committee. The stall will be an exhibition with all work for sale, and a promotion for felting and FeltWEST. All members are encouraged to submit well-felted items which must be predominantly made of felt. A flat fee of $25 is payable and a commission of 20% (15% to Royal Show and 5% to FeltWest) will be charged. Those submitting work are required to work two 6-hour shifts and will receive free entry. Information and forms are available on the website. Works can be handed in on 17 August at TnT, Tuesday group on 3 September, 21 September TnT or by delivering items to members of the sub-committee and must be labelled, priced and accompanied by completed forms. Please get busy and starting felting for the Show! http://www.feltwest.org.au/events/feltwest-will-be-at-the-perth-royal-show-2019-september-28-to-october-5/
Ideas are coming together for a fundraising project to be undertaken later in the year, with details to follow.
Special events at the 17 August monthly meeting will include the AGM and Trash and Treasure stalls, so please make sure you come along.
Memberships are due to be renewed on 1 July. Please pay promptly via the website. http://www.feltwest.org.au/membership/
Toss and Tell
Renita showed her gorgeous sea-coloured top made at May Hvistendahl’s workshop, as well as fine rounded bowls decorated with feathers/beading and with seaweed. A more substantial ‘bowl’ become a hat with a beautifully felted tassel.
Virginia had made 3 scarves at the Retreat in blues and greens. For one, she had used a wool and silk ‘slushie’ (available from Thread Studio) to create lovely soft scarves with good drape. Another used 50g wool tops and sari silk and a third scarf in softer blues was wool and silk fibres.
Marion displayed a vessel made using a combination of skills learnt from Martien’s rubber-tubing and Sarah’s flower demonstrations, with wool nib decorations. She also showed two lariats, one with bright viscose thread stitching.
Sherron delighted us with her charming mouse slippers with cute faces. She asked about methods for adding non-slip bases.
Julie showed off her beautifully designed and made koi wall-hanging made at the Retreat for her daughter. She had also been busy making a green square box with leaf decoration, a polyester nuno scarf with a wool grid mesh, a blue cracked earth vessel, an earthy hued scarf inspired by the Australian bush and some lovely felted flowers which she claimed were quick to make!
Cathy displayed a brown nuno scarf with silk square patchwork and a partly-finished lariat both made at the Retreat, also several small wall-hangings made with a variety of techniques including a semi-transparent window of cotton gauze.
Kat had made three circular scarves in a variety of colours. She also showed a white scarf with a central ocean-coloured panel representing the ocean between her two home countries.
Maureen had been busy making needle felted animals, some wearing top hats and all very cute. She had also felted a maple leaf while on a trip in Canada and some tiny bags for children to hold Christmas gift cards.
Liz explained the many decorations on her colourful lariat, still to be finished. She is also in the process of making a name tag which has a lot of shrinking to do! A gift of sari silk had been incorporated into a delicate pink scarf.
Pat showed her completed lariat from the Retreat and a blue scarf with a very fine lay-out.
Sue modelled her partly-made lariat which needs further work as the cord has softened. She had also made two different but complementary sides of a cushion cover featuring nuno and embroidery.
Katrina showed some fluffy pre-felt flowers purchased on-line by Alison. Not up to our felting standard! She passed around examples of felted seed-pod forms as examples for an upcoming workshop she will offer at Mundaring Art Centre. See Billboard.
http://www.feltwest.org.au/katrina-virgona-felted-pods-workshop/
Thank you to Sue for the report, Alison and Renita for photo’s. Great work guys.
I (Liz) am still working on the layout with this new editor program.
How do you like the slide shows?
