Woven Wall Hanging, "Summer Siesta"

I just listed my third woven, "Summer Siesta"on Etsy.  The name comes a friend, Janet Kirkham, who is on the  FiberArts/Mixed Media website with me and tons of other very talented artists! Here's my page:     http://www.fibermixedmedia.com/profile/ConnieBerlin.  Shameful promoting and why not?


All I've really done to it is paint a wooden dowel orange and add two needlefelted beads in orange and aqua to the ends.  Like the other two hangings, the beads are moveable.  Almost forgot, I also painted a piece of muslin for the back in orange acrylic paint.  As you can see, it is signed, named and dated.

I have to say, I really like this one because I put so much into it.  No, not the time, well, yes....but I mean I added so many textural elements.  I will stop here as I have the purple/green one I'm working on.

Let's just say for Ms. Purple/Green - she's turning out WAYYY different from wence she started......

curious?  maybe tomorrow.

I also need to do another "Getting to Know my Felter".  Would you like to see some of the pottery I did a ways back?

Woven Wall Hanging, "Under the Pond"

I've been working on getting my Woven Wall Hangings ready to list on Etsy.  This morning I cut the painted muslin strips I made as seen in my previous post (back to that later).

Here is the second of two on Etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67190054/woven-wall-hanging-under-the-pond


When I began this weaving (my first), I start with a yarn - - none in particular.  I know it's the wild abandon of just picking and choosing I like.  I rely on my eye to make the selection.  I do look for some balance of color and texture as I go along, but I don't agonize over it (thank heavens for that).  If I did, where would be the fun?  The yarn which is what I call, the "setup", is cotton - straight from JoAnne's Fabrics.  The light green I bought at a Sheep and Wool Festival years ago.  I did make a sweater out of it - wow, chunky is not the word!  Some of the other is artist yarn - you know, fancies.  Of course, there has to be a "Felted" somewhere.  You can see it in the third picture on the right side.

I love this one because there are so many different yarns, one felted cord and that gorgeous focal bead!  Of course, the colors are great from pale to dark.  I painted the dowel green.  

Here's the back, painted muslin, signed, dated and named.  I moved the two needle felted beads more towards the center of the dowel - they are moveable and I'm giving the option of having them glued by none other than me.

Here's a closer look

The focal bead is from this great Etsy shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/macarroll.  I bought the bead first (and some smaller ones) and then chose the yarn.

My Palette for a Hanging

THE VERY BEGINNINGS FOR A SENSORYFELTEDS' WOVEN HANGING

Today I went to Michaels and spent $40.00 of a $50.00 Christmas gift card from my Kentucky daughter.     Took me awhile to get around to spending it - you know, it's too good to just go out and blow... too much darn good stuff in that store.  So, after meandering, I went to the yarn section and bought some in purples and greens, some paint, and embroidery thread all to use in the next two hangings.

The first is in purples and greens.  I want to add another dimension to these hangings.   Soooooooooooooooo

Last night, I decided to paint some muslin in just those colors.  The plan is to make my own fabric strips or cords - not sure how it's going to play out.  So, I got out the paints, went to the rec. room, put the muslin on the coffee table (with paper underneath) and went to work.  My husband and I were watching hockey.
Of course, I forgot to take the muslin off the paper and an hour later finally got smart and went to take it off - let's just say, there are some words on the back.  So, "a peelin'" I did.  It's not all off yet.

Here's the muslin and I still have more to paint.

I may need to make it more interesting 'cause when they're cut I don't want it to be just one color.  I might give it more texture.

Here is my selection of what else I "might" use ...

New and old yarn - some bought today.  The one with the poms looks interesting,  The purple on the right is glitzy.  The yarn on the far left is really more of a green.  There are some embroidery threads also and lovely shiny rayon threads by Sassalynne from England in the center. http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassalynne.  Please stop by her shop if you long for threads.

Here we have some buttons.  The ones that are loose are farm fresh buttons from OhForCute on Etsy.  Her packaging is so clever.  She has many items in her adorable shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/OhForCute
The top left is a light greenish yellow felted cord I made with wire inside, below that is what was going to be a felted cord swirl brooch (it's painted and stitched), the front left is a felted pansy pin.  In the middle is a piece I cut up from a bowl that didn't make it.  I fooled around with beading, etc.  but it does have some pink on it. hmmmm.

Here is some wonderful wool roving I bought from WC Mercantile on Etsy.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/WCMercantile.  It is hand-painted in lovely shades of purple and green.  If you're into fiber, give her shop a look!  What looks grey here really is the part that goes between the purple and green - I'm going to make felted cords out of it and hopefully it will work with the cut fabric.  I also bought some green that I'll probably use.


SO HERE ARE THE BEGINNINGS
STAY TUNED