Wednesday 22 September 2010

Workshops and their hidden surprises!













Attended an excellent workshop on Sunday with tutor Carole Waddle and 6 talented felters, as part of the International Feltmakers Association/Feltmakers Lacemakers Embroiderers Weavers Spinners Group (both co-ordinated by Joan Braganza). The workshop was entitled 'Hidden Depths' and was all about layering up different colours of fleece and then cutting back into it after felting to reveal new colours underneath. We used plastic resists to create pockets hidden within the felt (which we could again cut into to reveal new colours) and also to part-attach yarns to the fleece, so they were attached by their ends but were otherwise left loose or hanging where the resist was. Really interesting techniques, and we all enjoyed playing with the Norwegian fleece we used (bit different to the usual Merino). Photo here of the results - I've still got more cutting to do on mine, so I'll post some before and after photos once I've done a bit more.

And more hidden surprises when I got home that day. A lady called Sonia had attended a mini journal workshop with me back in June (see previous posting) but not had a chance to turn her piece of felt into a journal. Well once she'd got home she decided to make a sewing kit with her felt instead - and on Sunday she sent me the results as you can see here. Great idea - and it's always inspiring to see what other people come up with from the same basic idea or material.

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Surrey Artist of the Year 2010 - Photo Update
















Surrey Artist of the Year 2010 Update
























Last Friday night saw the preview show for the Baines Surrey Artist of the Year 2010 exhibition, at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham (see my post of 17 August 2010). I was really looking forward to seeing whether all 4 of my pieces were in the show and how they'd been displayed, and also what the other artists' work was like. It was a busy night with lots of visitors, and the range and standard of all the work on show was very impressive - quite how the public and the judges are going to decide between them all (ie paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics, textiles) is anyone's guess. Do visit the gallery and vote for your favourite artist if you can (the exhibition is on til 7 October, and the gallery itself has lots of other lovely work on display and for sale).

Monday 6 September 2010

Alpaca Open Day


































Had a great day on Saturday at the Alpaca Open Day, demonstrating feltmaking with alpaca fleece. It was a really busy day (over 1000 visitors), and there was lots of interest in the animals themselves (including other animals like the cute baby donkey you can see here, with alpacas in the background) as well as all the different things you can do with alpaca fleece, eg spinning, knitting and feltmaking. An interesting change for me as I've never demonstrated all day like this before, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to having another go next year. Thanks to everyone who came along and said hello, and also to all the visitors who collectively raised over £1000 for charity!