Dolls

Our new assignment for Design Concepts and Applications (taught by Ilka White) is based on Play.  One of the things for us to research is dolls and I have found that Phyllis does felted dolls.  She told us that they all tend to look like her. She says her latest one looks very like her but I haven't seen it, so I can't comment.

As a primary teacher (in my former life), we often did a theme based on toys, leisure or play.  So I will have to see if I have any notes or references from then to help me in my work now.

I still have my bride doll that I was given for my 8th birthday - I learnt to knit by making her clothes.  They involved different stitches and patterns but were of a size that was achievable.  

I am pretty sure that they were all Patons patterns.

Most of the clothes are lost now but, as you can see, she still has some of them.

She used to have an overcoat to match the hat and I distinctly remember making a little singlet, maybe underpants too.
She still has her veil but it is starting to shred.

Phyllis Hoffman's book

I have tried to link to Phyllis' book but it is not on her website yet.  She kindly sent me a picture of the cover, so you can keep an eye out for it (that is an expression that used to cause great hilarity in our childhood). I think it will be available through the Victorian Feltermakers' Association

I really did like her vests and her explanation of what is important in making a felted vest fit - the neck measurement.  As I have already said, I will have to keep an eye out for her workshops as clothes making has never been a strength of mine.

Nuno Felting workshop - day two

Well, this is a bit late, a week late really, but I have been without the computer while they tried to find my photos and then I was doing other things and didn't post.  So, back to the Nuno Felting workshop.

On the second day of the workshop, I was going to make another few samples but ended up making them in one piece that could be worn as a scarf.  I will have to decide whether I want to wear it or just keep it as a sample.  It has various ways of laying out on it - some worked well and others did not do what I had expected.  That is the point of doing classes, I suppose.  To have an expert on hand to give advice but to also make mistakes and get surprises.

There is a LOT of rolling necessary to make the felt.  It was slightly different for the cotton muslin and silk but both required lots of rolling.

The ladies who had done other classes with Phyllis had obviously enjoyed them enormously and had learnt different techniques.  I will have to go to her website and see what other classes she is going to teach.  She teaches a wide range of felting techniques and is very knowledgeable about wools and what sorts suit different felting techniques better.

Yet another textile area for me to learn!  I had better start focusing on what it is I actually want to develop, stop being a serial class-goer, after I go to the Fibre Forum at Ballarat, in April.

If you look closely, you will see one of Phyllis' beautiful vests, she wore a different one each day.

Phyllis wore some gorgeous vests that she has made.  They were beautiful.  She is bringing out a book about making felted vests at the end of April.  She warned us that the book is only about making vests, not about any other type of felting.

I am not absolutely sure that I like felted clothing and homeware, I think I am more fascinated by the process than by the product.  But Phyllis' vests were beautiful.  You could see her dressmaking background has had a huge influence on her work.

I know it is strange to say that I am not sure I like felted fabric, considering I have done 4 workshops now, all on different techniques of felting.  I have enjoyed the workshops greatly, I am just not convinced that I want to use felted fabric - yet.

Not much luck with my photos

I haven't had my computer for a few days while it has been at computer hospital, they were trying to retrieve my photos from the backup disk but only about a third of them seem to be there - something to do with a corrupt file.  Not good news.
I am disappointed about this as so many are lost.  But I suppose I am lucky that I still have some.
It has been interesting, not having my computer. I have had to put off some of the things I wanted to do until I have had it available.  I am having to do design work by hand!!  Very old-fashioned.
There have been some posts go up here because I was practising putting posts up and delaying the time they become available.  I have not put the photos from the workshop onto the computer, they are still on the camera, so I will post later.

Nuno Felting workshop - day one

I attended a two day felting workshop this weekend.  It was taught by Phyllis Hoffman and organised through the Victorian Feltmakers.  I am rather tired after two days of laying out and rolling felt.

On the first day I made two samples after seeing some of Phyliss' fabulous samples.  It was a very relaxed class, Phyliss gave us some freedom in our work but was able to give me direction as I have not had all that much experience with feltmaking, and none with nuno felting.
On Saturday, I worked with cotton muslin.  It took quite a bit of rolling to make the felt attach properly but had some beautiful texture when finished.

I was not sure how much it would shrink, what it would look like when finished.  A whole new learning experience for me - both days.

One of my samples was inspired by the work I am doing for my course, you will notice the vine theme again.

Some of the ladies had attended other workshops run by Phyllis and had a very clear idea of what they would like to do.  Phyllis remembered them, what they had done previously and was able to give them exactly the advice they needed.  They produced some spectacular work.

Baby's quilt

My nephew's baby girl was born last November.  I had a quilt top finished by her birth day but decided that the colours weren't working well.  So I unpicked it and made new sashings.  Unfortunately, I ran out of the fabric I was using for the sashing - it was one of the Fossil Fern patterns that is no longer printed.  I pulled it out again and decided that the seams were getting a bit ragged.
A totally new design was called for.  I found a design I like in a Sensational Quilts, an Express Publications magazine/book.  The actual design was called Groom's Nine-Patch, by Trudy Brodie (these are some links I found when I searched for her name, I assume they are the same person).   I used the design from one book (choosing different colours) but the measurements from another.  The measurements were in metric - most unusual for patchwork!!  The quilt ended up being much bigger than a cot quilt, because I was mixing the measurements a bit, but I decided not to worry, it can be laid on the floor and she can crawl around on it.
I finally delivered it last weekend.  Only 4 months late.

It is a while since I have done straight quilting (apart from the one I did for the another great-neice born in February, one of my own design).  I found that I actually enjoyed the process.

It has been interesting, choosing fabrics for the quilts, in light of the textile designing we have done over the last year or so.  I would like to design some more of my own fabrics and print them - yet another process to try at home.  More equipment and space needed.  Hmmm, maybe I'll wait and see where my enthusiasms take me this year first.

Trying to get over it

I may have to lose some of my photos, doesn't seem all that important when I think of the people in Japan and Libya who are losing so much more.
However, I will take my computer to the technician on Monday and he may be able to retrieve the photos.  I will be very happy if that is so.
In the meantime, I have been working on some embellishing machine (dry needle felting with 5 needles and lots of power) work.  I am not that happy with the piece as the colours are not great and the design could be better.  But I have just decided to play and see what can be achieved.  I am working on producing some samples for my course, based on the passionfruit vine in our backyard.
Here is a picture (NOT using iPhoto) of work so far.

I used a commercial felt backing, wool roving and scrim, then I knitted some yarn, plain knit, steamed it and pulled it out when it had dried a little.  

Our course teachers are encouraging some 3D work, that is one of the reasons I have chosen this technique.