The lovely straight stitch

Hi dear friends,
Thankyou to everyone for your comments in the last post! I always let the children know that people are interested in their artwork and although we are accustomed to informing each other about our own artwork, children are just thrilled to bits to know that there are poeple out there in the world that are keen to see what they have achieved. They are so surprised that anyone would be interested. So thankyou!

Meanwhile I am working on a small piece that has yet to reveal its purpose to me, so am stitching whilst I wait. The lovely straight stitch is just so effective for outlining and light quilting effects.

Once again I am doing the simple straight stitch and am really enjoying it. My favourite threads are perle 3 and perle 5. The sheen is just so beguiling.

Now usually I am a purist for using natural fibres. Wool, silk, soy, bamboo, linen etc. Now and then I break out and use something entirely SYNTHETIC!!!!!!!!!

The white spotty fabric was such an instance and you can see they are a flocked circle on a very fine bridal tulle. Just gorgeous really! I love the way the net almost disappears and leaves the white spots floating above the wool.

There is still quite a way to go. Some machine stitching next I think!

See you soon

Love

Elizabeth

XXX

Still stitching........................

Dear friends,
Well the Watery World continues with the felting having taken place. It was so large that it was felted by walking on it for about 4 hours, then lots of rolling another half day and then some massaging and rubbing. Lots of little feet walked up and down and back and forth and because we kept rotating with new people every 10 minutes, nobody became bored!

Here you can see many of the 3D items in place and it really is just lovely.
These photos were taken today, standing on a chair and reaching my arms out as far as they would go to get the whole work in! It measures 2.2 metres by about 1.7 metres. It will be easier when it is vertical and I can get a better angle on it.

Everyone loves the octopus and I must confess that he is one of me faves as well.

Crabs clinging to rocks

and a little of school of fish in the background - travelling in a very purposeful way. Eventually it is going to be hung in a new part of the school still under construction. At least the art will be ready on time!

This is my only piece of work this week - using odds and ends of merino and some throwsters silk. When I am tired I find that making something with no purpose is really quite restful. No end result to worry about, no measurements to consider, no shapes or colours to plan.

Just making for the joy of it.

It is an attitude and state of mind that can yeild great results. Not every time of course, but certainly unexpected and quite removed from what one would normally achieve.

Hoping everyone has time to make a little something this week, simply for the joy of creating.

love

Elizabeth

XX

Watery felt!

Hi everyone!
Firstly I would like to just thank everyone who responded to my announcement in the previous post of my forthcoming book - "Felt Happy!" You have given me such support and I will buckle down to get it finished just as soon as I can.
At the moment I am at Caulfield Grammar and have just about finished an underwater wall hanging which is looking just GORGEOUS!




This is our design wall with ideas from Grade 2 - crabs, octopus, starfish, reef sharks................

These photos are of the layout only and are waiting to be felted. Here a school of fish lurking in the background.

Elegant sea horses

Weeny rainbow coloured fish, coral, rocks, kelp.....................

And my absolute fave a set of crabs. The little eyes are just paper at this stage just to check for sizing etc.
Let me tell you, if you want a huge piece of felt made - enlist children! They have so much energy for rolling and what's more they really enjoy doing it! What fun!

Will show you the end result soon. It is currently drying in my lounge room and I can't stop going in to gaze at it. We have also created some 3D items which will be stitched on as well next week.

Do you find that when you are engrossed in making a new piece of art, you can't wait to finish it and yet you don't want it to end?

Hoping everyone finds time this weekend to be arty, whether you are dreaming of something new or finishing something wonderful!

Once again, thanks everyone for your beautiful words

Love Elizabeth

XXX

Just to let you know!

Dear friends,

Once again I need to apologise for being totally lax in writing my posts!

Well I have a very good reason - I have finally decided to tell you!

I am in the middle of writing a book!!!! A book on the way that I felt. A book with technique and instructions but more concentration on images. I firmly believe that artists learn visually.

They analyse images very quickly and get just as much, if not more information from an image rather than excessive text.

SO there will be lots of photos included.

It is for this reason that I have not been revealing any recent photos of finished work. Needless to say I have been working hard ( I promise!) and just want to keep the projects as a bit of a surprise.

I plan to have it finished in time for Christmas and will be publishing it myself. I really don't know the cost as yet but will fill you in when the quotes come in.

Any expressions of interest are of couse warmly welcome and just as soon as it is ready you will be the first to be emailed. Funnily enough I am starting to get quite excited!

On the working front I am at another school creating an underwater installation.

More soon,

Lots of Love

Elizabeth

XXX

Scarves and Leaves.........

Hi dear friends!
Here are some images of a class I taught a couple of weekends ago. Some ladies had never felted before yet we managed to produce 12 sensational scarves. It was just too cold to model them as they were still damp at the end of the day.
Only of the loveliest parts was that there were 4 sets of Mums and daughters! How groovy is that!

As I ponder on the nature of teaching and the reasons that students arrive to be taught, I often wonder what has brought them to me. For the most part, it is to learn the ancient art of felting and yet time and time again there are students who really are just as happy spending time with a friend, a mother, a daughter a cousin and just want to have a fab day together.

The bonus is in learning a new skill at the same time.

One student who arrived with 4 friends on the weekend said " You know, this is better than just meeting for lunch" . Surely this is what life is all about? Spending time with those you love and I know it is sounds really cliche, but creating a day that is a lovely memory too.

Then of course there are students who arrive to do something "girly" as they live in a household of men, those that need time away from heavy home duties and simply to get away form the phone and all the nagging things that make up the routine of our lives.

Classes are often given as a gift from a family member and many is the time I have been truly humbled teaching those with cancer or other handicap.

So if you are stuck for an idea for a get together with your friend or friends, consider trying a new art form and find a tutor - with any luck it may just be felting!

Here are all those leaves from a little while back. All stitched into place - DMC and Anchor

perle threads in size 3 and 5.

I had a lovelyt time stitching them and mucking around with the shades.

It is so cold here at the moment! I just have to get into bed!

Cheers for now and good night!

Love

Elizabeth

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Righto - this is what I have been doing!

Dear friends,
Here is a sampling of photos of what I have been up to this 6 weeks! I can only say it was absolutely wonderful and very full on. Last week I was spoilt rotten with a box of truffles from Haighs - I have yet to demolish them they are so beautifully wrapped. I also received a couple of cards and just wanted to share them with you.

Here is one of the handmade cards I received.

On the inside cover a Grade 5's opinion of felt making! How absolutely groovy! Of course I was a bit teary as I often am over such treasures.

Here are her thoughts on the whole felt experience. Sorry it is a little hard to see properly - please enlarge.

Grade 2 little flower fairies. The heads and feet are created with papier mache balls.

Grade 5 wall dolls. I so wanted to bring them all home!

Stitching and face drawing were also covered. With lots of practise on achieving expression and creating a character.

Buttons were added for extra dimension and interest.

Grade 3 stuffed birds - we had such variety from swans to peacocks to parrots and more!

They now adorn the art room.

Grade 6 worked with creating form through floral themes and these were mounted onto mixed media boards.

The variety in all year levels has just been astounding and I am so thrilled with the results.

I learn so much every year - not only with methodolgy in teaching children but also what can actually be achieved given a bit a of guidance and exciting colours to work with.

When I started teaching as an artist in residence about 9 years ago, little did I realize how much it would enrich my life.

Just before I go a little update on Nell. Here she is in the lounge room happy on yet another chair she is now calling her own. She has been regularly getting into trouble and I have a feeling, bossing the other neighbourhood cats around. They no longer pass through our back garden!

Literally one minute earlier she was happy posing, but soon got sick of it.

If you have reached the end of this long post then thankyou!

Hoping everyone has something lovely planned for the weekend ahead.

Love

Elizabeth

XXX

Things are afoot.........

Dear Friends
I haven't dropped off the end off the earth! But I have been busy teaching children again which means wool and projects for nearly 500 junior children!

Here is a little peek at my work. Which seems to be dragging its' feet over the last few weeks.

These leaves are carefully dyed and chosen for this next piece and only await me to get my act together to start stitching them!

Sorry this is a short post

I will write more fully soon. I just have to sleep!...........................

Goodnight for now!

Lots of love

Elizabeth

XXX