My oh so talented students!

Here are Maureen and her sister Marissa who have been coming to the studio for a few weeks now and have done some really beautiful work. I am so pleased to unleash 2 new felters into the the world!

This is Ros who made a stunning bedcover from many pieces of felt. I am sure she has forgotten the many hours of rolling and the aches and pains following it! I must say it was even more beautiful to see it for real though - and yes she is sleeping under it this winter!

Working with Grade 3's

Over the last couple of months I have been working with 2 Grade 3 classes at PLC Junior School.

We have felted to our hearts content and created a bundle of felt.

Every year the school holds an auction and each class creates a group art piece.

This year the Grade 3 classes got to do felting as their medium.

The next couple of months will see me working in the studio with the remainder of their felt pieces to create similar themed installations for the school.

If ever you want to get inspired just hang out with children for a while. Sometimes I feel as if I have been walking around with my eyes shut when I watch them create!

I just love the one soaring at the top

Funny how the slightest change in positioning the eye makes such a difference to the attitude and character

Auction pieces 1 +2

They went for a really good price last week at the auction - not sure how much but will try to find out!

Weekend Workshop

I have just been away down the coast teaching an enthusiastic bunch of gals feltmaking

We had the best time - they all felted like crazy for 2 solid days and went home with some stunning pieces. I do hope they keep felting - they bought enough wool to felt the whole community, but if they don't, I guess they could always insulate the roof!

Some of the ladies hard at work on Day 1 - mushing around in

soap and water is just the best fun - clean mud pies really!

Getting it just right......

A bag and little purse created on Day 1

More gorgeousness!

Mini Landscapes - Aerial views

I have been having a lot of fun creating some little felt landscapes.

They are about 7-8" square and also have a little hand embroidery on them. Funny how you have fun with one technique or idea and all of a sudden a whole new series of work is born.

It is a magic feeling when this happens to me. Thinking about it, it is nothing that you can manufacture - you can't force an idea - it seems to steal upon you and voila!
A grand new set of images to explore. I would appreciate any feedback on these little pieces.
You can see them all at www.frostfair.etsy.com
I think I will be doing some large scale work with this theme. I don't normally do landscapes very well - so here's hoping!

Deatil in the centre

These are a few more pics of the centre seascape. Really had a lot of fun doing this with free motion embroidery some hadn stitching and my embellisher. What I did before the embellisher I can hardly imagine now - I think I spent a LOT of time hand sewing!

Sets of 3

Well excitement in the studio! I have finally fnished 3 pieces of work I am rather pleased with.

They consist of felt and hand painted cloth that combine to create 3 sea scapes. They look good as a set but can stand alone as indivual pieces as well.

Funny thing about the set of 3 - by th time I am finishing off

the third, I am ready to move ahead to a new subject!

The centre piece contains more detail and holds the other 2 together. All 3 have machine embroidery on them.

Workshops

Workshops are far and away the best fun!I had 4 excited ladies felting scarves last weekend in the studio and after completion we shoved then in the dye pot and oohed and aahed over the results. The great thing about dyeing is the unexpectedness of it all. There is always a surprise even if you have quite a bit of experience with colours.

At any rate a great day - tired but happy!