Final Summer Workshops

More workshop results to share this week. First Pat (see my post from 4 March 2011) sent me photos of her finished dragon picture which she'd created on a workshop and turned into a wallhanging with extra painted, needle felted and stitched details. Here's her finished wallhanging, plus her design in fleece before felting. Just shows what you can achieve with a finished piece of felt by adding extra surface design on top.

I also made Nuno felt journal notebooks with Jane and Anna, who both made lovely books with interesting extra details (Jane experimented with adding knitting to the fleece and felting that in, and Anna added extra pieces of felt onto her design afterwards for added interest).

Festival of Quilts 2011

Thought you might like to see photos of my first ever art quilt - inspired by the sea, made from hand-made felt, machine-pieced together and hand-quilted with embroidery threads. This is me yesterday at the Festival of Quilts, where I've been going for the last 3 years with my friend Sue. Actually it's all down to her that I made it - after last year she challenged me to enter a quilt as an added incentive to visiting the show. So I registered this April (when the July posting date seemed far away and achieveable!). But with other things going on, not least Open Studios in June, I didn't actually start working on the quilt until July and then spent a frantic week just before the posting deadline getting it finished. 'Never again' I thought, but having been and seen it hanging there I thought it might be nice to try again. So of course I did plenty of shopping at the exhibition for a possible new quilt for next year, which I'm determined to start earlier next time. I'll keep a quilt diary here of how I get on!

Felt Clutch Bag Workshop - and other courses

Had a lovely day yesterday making clutch bags with 3 beginner felters who all did a brilliant job at not only making well-finished felt in attractive colours and patterns but also coping with the demands of machine sewing and tricky glueing (well done all!). Click on the photo to get a larger view of the results.

Summer Workshop Update:
Places still available for a Nuno Felt Journal Workshop on Monday 22 August - if you'd like to learn feltmaking and create a special journal or notebook, just email me for further details (natashasmartdesign@yahoo.co.uk).

Nuno Felt Journal Workshop

Thought I'd share a photo from yesterday's workshop making Nuno felted journals with 3 very creative felters (whose felting experience ranged from none to quite a bit). They chose completely different colours to work with and the end results were really lovely - the ladies were all rightly very proud of their creations!

SEOS 2011 - the end

Well it was a busy 2 weeks/3 weekends, and despite the endless rain we had 93 visitors over the 8 days we were open - thanks to everyone who took the time to visit. I finished up the event running a workshop with 3 talented ladies who were naturals at feltmaking - each of them made a fantastic flower corsage and a felt bead bracelet (or bracelet come necklace). So a great day and a great end to Open Studios 2011!

SEOS 2011 - the first weekend

Despite the pouring rain on Sunday, which stopped Andrew from demonstrating outside, we had 28 visitors to the studio during our first weekend. Thanks to everyone who visited for your interest. Here are a few photos, including one of Liz, who today made 2 lovely flowers in a feltmaking workshop.

Andrew and I were joined by local silk painter Elitta Fell on Friday to have our photo taken by Kevin Black for an article in this week's County Border News. Click on the link below to view the photo: http://tandridgegazette.publisha.com/articles/147029-artists-open-their-studios.

South East Open Studios & Workshops June 2011

I blogged on 14 April about the South East Open Studios this June - as the event is about to start, I thought it was worth a reminder about dates etc. Woodturner Andrew Griffiths and I are hosting from my studio in Old Oxted, Surrey, with lots of finished pieces by both of us for visitors to look at or buy, plus we're both demonstrating our craft throughout (me feltmaking, Andrew woodturning on his lathe). Both of us have been following new ideas this year, I've been getting into a definite sea, shore and shells theme, and Andrew has been working on some experimental and sculptural art pieces. We both enjoy chatting to visitors and sharing what we do, so we do hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Our open times are Saturday 4, Sunday 5, Friday 10, Saturday 11, Sunday 12, Monday 13, Saturday 18, Sunday 19 June, 1100-1700, free entry and easy parking. Please note that Andrew now cannot be present on Friday 10 June, although all his work will be.

Andrew and I have also joined up with other local artists involved in the event to come up with a trail guide, which covers Oxted to Westerham and down to Edenbridge - please email me for a copy (natashasmartdesign@yahoo.co.uk).