I have really been enjoying makes my felt story scarves. In my last post, they had been wrapped and were ready for steaming. I half immersed the dye bundle- I set out to steam them, but my years of long, slow immersion plant dyeing make it hard for me to resist adding more water so the dyes can move around! After simmering for 30 minutes, I wrapped the bundle in plastic bags and popped them into our handy fermentation house. Usually used for sourdough bread, and kombucha making, and presently home to sprouting date seeds and plant dyed silks! I stuck it in at the back so no-one would notice!

 When I`ve used India Flint`s Eco Colour techniques in the past, I`ve left the bundles for weeks and sometimes months before opening them. I lasted 3 days on this bundle. I was so curious! I wanted to see how the plants reacted with silk and the felt.

  I quite like the effect. Lots of tannins in there. And some very distinct patterns. It does feel like the scarves have taken on and come into relationship with the terroir of this place. And that is the whole idea!

 These are the scarves with the text added…found or overheard snippets of conversations, observations, collected while out on my dye walk…I used a fabric marker for the text…a little tricky to be delicate.  I want the text to almost disappear, to be in the background, present but unobtrusive. I have to experiment a little more with this. Write first, then felt, and plant dye…Use a different technique for the writing…(these would be questions but my keyboard has switched to French somehow, and I don`t know how to change it back! So a question mark comes out like this-É!). This method is absolutely wash fast. The persimmon and brown wrap was washed several times after adding the text with no change.

 Then colour just called out….loud and clear… it needed to happen! So I rolled the scarf tightly and immersed it in a dye bath, then rerolled from the other direction fand dyed with a different colour.  Low impact acid dyes on the blue and green wrap and plant dyes on the persimmon one.  I love this name for that colour! I was just reminded of it today. It is one of my all time favorite colours…warm pinky orange….persimmon….Can you see the little stitch paths (footprint tracks) working their way over, around and along the scarf (É)
  It was Graham who suggested I dye one more time from the other end to add that last burst of colour. I was hesitating, thinking about what other people like, and he said some sage words about making what you love and people will respond to that, before going out for a walk (I am not the best company when feeling hesitant and uncertain about creative choices!). He was so right…and I did tell him so, when he returned. Now they do feel right. And like me…my work…I would wear these everyday as wraps or scarves.  The tannins and patterns from the first plant dyeng, blend and tone well with the second and last dyeing. The layers and layers of process build up and feel rich and complex…the earthiness is present and tangible…I wish I had some pictures of these wraps or the scarves being worn, but they have all been delivered for jurying into a summer show (at the very last minute- actually with two minutes to spare. Exactly.)  Fingers crossed!

 And the next round of scarves beginning their story journey….

Warm wishes,
Fiona

  It was a little wild and a little exhilarating!  We had the day very well planned, with the classes organized to come in a staggered time frame.  So while one of us was starting instruction and layout with one group, the other was working on finishing the felting with another. There was also enough flexibility built into the day that we could accommodate the different needs of each group, and have a few breathing moments ourselves!

 We harnessed the energy of some the boys to do a group rolling! Each group had different needs, in terms of time for each step of the process, help with design choices and execution of the felting methods. There are so many ways to make felt- it was great to be able to pick and chose to best fit the group for age, dynamic and energy!

 One class working their felts on the work surface. They are so sweet! Isn’t that just a heartwarming image of children, happily engaged in creating? 

Our discussions led us into the history and geography of feltmaking, which some of the teachers were going to build upon in upcoming lessons through the week. Some of the teachers also had the chance to make their own felt.

One class almost entirely decided to make their felts for a loved one. One was for a boy’s Mother, who had been away from home for a few days, and he wanted to make something for her for when she returned.  Another made a heart for a Mother’s Day present; one felt became a gift for Grandfather. Not only creative, but so generous!

 The older children were ispired to create masks. It would have been so good, with everyone,  to be able to come back and work with their felts as a canvas for another project. To change, add and embellish. With this class, it would be so fun to put these masks on and create a story based around them.

 Some of these are upside down- so they may be hard to make out. To work with 76 children in one day, we had to really keep track of time and put all our attention into the making, and not the photographing! I wish my pictures showed off their work in it’s true beauty!

 In a thrift shop here on the island, way back in December, I came across this turquoise print silk scarf. It just struck me that this was Jenny, so I bought it, not sure if I would send it to her as was, or add a little something of my own to it. It felt right (tee hee) to add something of myself to it, as it was a gift for her in appreciation of her creative talents.  Finally this week, the scarf had it’s turn on the table!

 I added handdyed blue merino rovings, plus some handdyed green and purple prefelt, and some silk organza cut outs. I cut a large hole at one end, for the other end of the scarf to pass through. The other end tapers to a point, and has a felt cord, felted to the end. I left a few small spaces on the edges without wool, so that there would be small ripples showing the original silk pattern.

 

 

The scarf is completely reversible, and can be worn wrapped around twice, with only the cord as a hanging tail, or wrapped singly, for a lighter scarf with a long hanging end. It’s a fun style to play around with in front of the mirror, as there are lots of ways to wrap it on, and expose different combinations of patterns and solids.

The scarf is in the mail right now- on it’s way to Jenny- just making it in time for my March Gratitude Gift! I hope Jenny loves it!
I’m thankful, both for knowing Jenny, and also for having the opportunity to take this time to make something for another maker…It is really a special thing to make something with a particular person in mind. We can’t help but think of them, and about all our past experiences together…and I have to believe these emotions become enmeshed in the fibres of our project.

Fiona

  I laid out the wools and cashmere on silk gauze, then lightly felted to the prefelt stage and let it dry overnight.

  Then I finished fulling it. I love it just like this, without releasing the shibori beads. But on this scarf, the beads needed to be let out- there are surprises hiding inside! Ready? Taa daa!

  I love the vibrancy of these bubbles. I also love it in its quieter version- precutting. The beads could be released form the back instead, leaving the bubbles whole. It would make a beautiful scarf with the shibori bubbles done all in white also….reminiscent of constellations….So much felt to make! Good thing I start selling at the market soon, and in my studio space, so it all can find new homes! For me it is all about the idea, and the making. I don’t need to own any piece especially. But I love to play out an idea in 10 different variations of colour and pattern, before moving on.

  The picture above shows the patterning on the reverse side of the shibori bubbles. It’s quite lovely and textured…and cashmere…mmmmmm…..

  And here…the cashmere side of the stitch design in detail, and then with the silk gauze side. These stitch patterns really resonate with me, and I feel they’ll be showing up a lot in my work. They create senses of pathways, songlines, animal tracks. I have several wall pieces percolating….they will certainly use these lines….
  The cashmere is gorgeous…it felted really well, and it is delicious against your skin. I used about 20grams for this scarf, which means I have more than enough to make another….yay!

  A highly wearable and unique scarf. I am thinking that if I am going to put the time into felting pieces, why not let it always be such a pleasure, with a one of a kind outcome…felt less, charge more?
  A perfect spring week…wool, sunshine, creativity, ideas…
Hope you had the chance to make something, just for the love of the making this week!
warm wishes,
Fiona
 

  We’re back! And Ohhhh! We had so much fibre fun! Well, I should only speak for myself really, but Graham did have a good time talking wool with the ladies while I was teaching my classes, and the boys were so helpful, setting up and taking down displays, making hangtags, doing emergency woodwork, and being my helpers during the classes- with no fights or complaints- so I take that as a major success for all!
  It was so lovely to spend several days surrounded by fibre people. So many wonderful conversations, and beautiful woolworks….
   My classes went very well- lots of fun, lots of felting, lots of inspiring and talented people, and we almost finished on time! 

 These are just a few of the works in progress and finished scarves. As always, such a range of colours and styles- and all so beautiful!

 I made two small and carefully considered purchases at the show. I have so many WIPs here at home- articles and patterns in the works, that I had to be selective.

I walked around our property today, watching for new plant life….looking closely to see who I might have missed, hiding in the dead leaves and undergrowth. The colour collection is surprisingly diverse. Today’s walk is about stopping to take a break; paying attention to small details; focusing in on little pleasures.