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

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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

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Fab students!

Dear Friends,
Students on the weekend. Two ladies, Pauline and Andrea. Fab gals - they both worked so hard and barely took any time off for lunch they were so keen!
We started with one plan and then decided to completely change our minds and do some scarves. After much colour consideration choices were finally made and we plunged right on in!
Above is Andrea unrolling and rolling...............................

This is Pauline, possibly wondering when on earth Elzabeth is going to say "STOP ROLLING!"

Towards the end of the day we started work on some flowers.

New proud felters. They did such an outstanding job I am so delighted for them both.

Pauline's ruby reds looked so gorgeous her decorating on either end was so weeny and delicately applied - I was encouraging her to add more but Pauline had it just right. As you can see the results are just lovely.

Above are Andrea's efforts for the day and once again a beautiful set of work that really hits the target. Each colour is just off set so beautifully against the other and the flowers very nearly stayed with me!

How lucky is my life? I get to teach people who want to learn my pet subject!

Never do I forget how very lucky I am.

My every best wish to you all

Elizabeth

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Poppy Patchwork

Hi dear friends,
My good intentions to post every week are sadly falling down short! I will aim to do better.
Here is an order that was delivered this week. I really enjoy creating other types of work that include varying techniques.
This one contains felt (of course!) hand painted fabric, linens, cotton, silk, silk paper, cheesecloth as well as some hand and machine embroidery.

Why is it do you think that poppies are such an eternal favourite? Is it their emotional connection to Rememberance day for all Australians? Not sure. At any rate they are a comforting flower somehow.

These poppies are painted using the glorious Caran d'arche watercolour crayons - they lie beautifully in a Walkers shortbread tin and sometimes I just open the lid and just gaze at them.

Free motion embroidered to the linen base.

Felt additions stitched by hand and machine.

Metal buttons - I just LOVE them!

Not sure why - these ones are so uncluttered and don't distract from the colours and textures of the fabrics.

I hope everyone is having a great week and finding pockets of time to do lovely things.

Hugs and love
Elizabeth

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Fleece, my daily bread

Hi dear friends,
Sorry for my delay in writing. I can only say I have been BUSY!! Lots of new luscious fleeces ready to be made into heaven knows what! There was a time when I used to have plans for all the new shades that hung on the racks but now I have faith that a good idea will arrive on the day I am ready to create. This train of thought that has pervaded my week has allowed me to arrive at the conclusion that too much over planning can spoil the end result.

Certainly there are projects that require experimentation and I firmly feel that if you have decided on a particular medium as your discipline, then regular experimenting is ABSOLUTELY
vital if your work is to remain fresh and exciting.

I would encourage any artist to stretch and stretch and even if you never use half of the techniques in your expermenting sessions then at least you can cross them off the "what if I tried this" list and march on down the road - or wander or dawdle or skip - depending on the day.

Hoping everyone has some time to experiment this coming weekend

Lots of love,

Elizabeth

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Trees and Birds

Hi Everyone,
Her is a wall hanging I have finished as another primary school project. This one was created by both students and teachers. I just love it when any age can have a go and the end result is a mix of everyones efforts.

The magic remains...............................A lump of fluff to a piece of fabric!

Hoping your week has started well

Lots of Love

Elizabeth

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