Something New - Hot Glass

I got the opportunity to attend a weekend workshop at the Wanganui Glass School through The Learning Connexion. The course was led by Keith Grinter and Karen Ellett, both extraordinary artists. Over the two days we got to produce three or four pieces of hot glass work. I'm thrilled with my first two pieces which I got to bring home from the weekend. I'm going back to the school tomorrow night to see my third piece and finish it off.

Machine felted scarf today...

Had a very busy day today but still managed to make the time to make another free-machine embroidery felted scarf. This one is a gift for the wife of my husband's colleague. Barb has been sending little gifts of lovely tastes from home to us each time her husband has to visit Italia. Those yummy little taste sensations that remind us of New Zealand.

This one is made of about 25 strands of fibre; wool, synthetic 'eyelash', fluffy, cotton, cashmere, angora, and one with a few sequins attached. I stuck to shades of blue and purple with some black as a base. There's a hint of lime green and hot pink just to mix things up and highlight the main colours. The whole things is stitched with black thread to tone it down.

Hope Barb likes the scarf...

Heat and Fibre Art - Sculpture

I have kept playing with my cocoons looking at ways to display them. They also look to me like seed pods. This is an idea I have explored a little in 2D with silk paper. I was interested to try to mount the cocoon/seedheads upright on a base.




With this piece I created a base using the usual process of adding layers of fibre and heating them. I started with a cork and a wooden skewer...and then kept adding as the piece inspired me. It was such a wonderfully organic process of creation.



On the left you can see the work as a whole and on the right some detail shots of the top and base.

Heat and fibre - Cocoons

Here is some more fibre art work done with textiles, plastic, wire, glass beads and heat. The cocoons are created by firstly wrapping plastic foil wrap around a meal knitting needle. This gives me a base to work from and, more importantly, a clean centre through which I can thread a hanger. I gradually build up layers of various fabrics, partially wrapping the whole in light wire onto which beads have been threaded. I heat set each layer to ensure it is attached and to gradually build the surface texture I want to achieve.

These two pieces are the largest cocoons I have attempted so far. Each is about 15 cm long and almost 2cm in diameter at the widest point. They are strung on recycled-sari, silk yarn.

Fibre and heat - A new Light

I discovered the amazing fibre art work of Kim Tittichai. Kim works with fibres, textiles, dyes, and most importantly - heat. Here's a link to the gallery on her website http://www.kimthittichai.com/html/gallery.html

I bought myself an embossing heat gun from a craft show and started playing. I experimented with lots of different fabrics to work how they responded when heated. The biggest things I noted were the speed with which they reacted and the amount of shrinkage that occured. I played with lots of different ideas.

One of my most successful pieces so far has been this lamp. I purchased an old lamp from a second hand store and most of my fabrics were off cuts from a local market, or left over old curtains. I layered these around the frame and then heated them with the gun until I was happy with the result. Then on with the next couple of layers of fabric and more heat. I continued until I was happy with the final look.

The lamp stands about 60cm tall

Here is a close up view of the top of the lamp. I love the way the colours change in the fibres when they are heated and the way different layers are exposed in the processing.

Free-machine Embroidered Felting

I LOVE fibres. I love the bright, jewel colours; the soft, silky textures. I love the nubbly bits and the smooth. I love to wear handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces...but I hate to knit. It takes soooooo long to make anything!

Many years ago I was introduced to water solubles for machine embrodery work. I loved the idea but never really went very far with it. Then about 5 or 6 years ago I started playing around with using the water soluble fabric to contain fibres until I could get them to hold together with stitches. Through experimentation (and failure!) I eventually made my first scarf.

I get to use all those gorgeous fibres that I love, all mixed in together. I don't have to knit a stitch and I can make a new scarf in a couple of hours. I get to wear a totally one-of-a kind-piece that I have made. Win!

And the best part about it is just how easy it is to do! I've taught people of all ages and all abilities to make scarves and belts in this way. I'll add instructions soon!

Action shots

On the weekend our Italian home town celebrated Palio Bosino on Mother's Day. They cook huge racks of ribs on a bbq that is about 6 metres long and then sell them by the kilo. As part of the entertainment the locals dress in period costumes from the medieval times.

Another part of the entertainment is the flag performances. Either solo, in pairs or in larger groups the men perform intricate dances and simulated fights with these large flags. It's amazing to watch the way they throw them into the air and catch them again. Catching the flags is a lot easier than catching the shot!