felt maker
Such a chilly day at Builth Wells at the showground for Wonderwool Wales. Everyone was wrapped up in as many woolly things as they could find!
There were lots (and lots) of lovely wools (and some sheep and alpacas), yarns and woolly related things on show. But I was able to carry home my purchases without resorting to an extra bag!
Will need to wait for photos of the lovely stuff!
However there will be an experiment to start off in about two weeks time. A medieval solar dyeing kit was brought home – so when it gets started I will take photos each week of its progress. As I understand it – the fibres and dye stuffs get put in a jar, filled with water and set out in the sunshine. It then gets left until the end of summer!! Let’s hope for some sunshine then…
Off to the IFA conference in Bath today until Sunday! Having almost got rid of my cough and got most of my energy back I am hoping for a great time in Bath – there will be lots of felt makers all together and much will be talked of in the felt line.
Wonderful berets were made at the latest felting workshop at Heart Space Studios. There were two participants who had never made felt before which meant they had a big challenge ahead…. However they rose to the challenge and produced really good berets. The more experience feltmaker also made an excellent beret. 
The three berets!
One beret being modelled.
Second beret being modelled – this was a smaller version than the other two.
The computer ate my last lot of images that I thought I had published! So here they are again. Also, have look at Textile Forum South West’s blog for other images of my work and some of the other exhibitors’ wonderful work in progress. http://mappingthefuturewhereareyou.wordpress.com/
first section laid out
one version of the rolled piece
alternative rolled version
It could have been an excuse to go walking or means of gathering even more background information for the Landscape theme of an exhibition that takes place in June this year. Actually it was a great day out in the Brecon Beacons walking with a friend.
The day was not auspicious for going outside – rain and low cloud even at low altitudes. But having checked out the mountain forecast from the met office we decided to set off.
In the valley, down in Crickhowell there was brightness in the sky but the hill fog was obvious at about 300m. We set off through fields and pathways – one was a stream – great fun! After sheltering from the wind behind a stone wall to eat a sandwich part way up we set off into the fog.
Clouds are really quite wet inside! The wind ensured that we got wet all down one side. Glasses were not much use and eventually got stowed away.
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- My companions on the path
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- near the summit
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- Photo taken from the trip point on the summit – the camera blew over in the wind!
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- Looking back over the valley in one of the clearer spells
At the top of Pen Cerrig Calch (701m) we found a cairn shelter – like an empty cone. The wind dropped inside and we enjoyed cake and apples but no view! The way down was clear enough though the fog reduced the distance we could see ahead. Once down out of the fog it felt like a different world – we even saw some blue sky.
The atmosphere created by the fog was wonderful. It blew past quite fast and little bits of colour and shope were briefly glimpsed. Lots of images in the mind to play with for felt making….
A train ride through the Somerset countryside in the frosty morning down to Taunton was a good way to start the day. Off to the Brewhouse to have a piece of work photographed for possible inclusion in the catalogue for the TFSW exhibition starting near the end of February. It was so lovely to be greeted by friendly faces when I arrived. The proper photographer took pictures from up a ladder – I just did a few snaps to show here!
This was the first time I had seen the piece laid out all together. Partly because the last piece wasn't dry until yesterday evening and it takes a bit of floor space to set out.
Close-up of piece.
Time to get on with the remainder of the map drawing for the TFSW exhibition in Taunton starting at the end of next month. Most of the maps are drawn but there are still 6 to do. It is interesting to look back on maps of places you have lived and discover more about the place than you knew at the time. Must try not to get sucked into looking too hard at the reference maps as it can waste so much time.
Then the making can commence again.
The visit to Bath did happen – and on a day when the rain had stopped though the wind was still quite strong. I went to the Victoria Art Gallery and saw and exhibition by Peter Burke. It was a great surprise to see the artisit there too – discussing his art for a group of students. Wonderful bonus!
These are images from the summer when I was helping at a children’s week at church. The children had helped to make some of the colours in prefelts for the rainbow banner. They were aged between 5 and 7 and did really well with the wool fibres. The actual felting of the banner took place after they had left for the day and my own (grownup) children helped me to wet and felt the banner – quite a task as it is 4 metres long!
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- On the floor of the church the rainbow was wetted. It seemed to take a great deal of water and there were towels all around to stop the water going onto the carpet!
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- Rainbow taken outside to start the rolling process. Yes – it is in the graveyard and back garden of the church
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- The half felted banner on the washing line to dry. There was no more time available to felt it further but it still looked ok when hung up the next day!
