Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 3-Pottery

As promised, I wanted to show you a few more "thrown" pieces of pottery.  Not "thrown" away but proudly displayed.  What I particularly love about them is the glaze.  Glazes make all the difference in/on your piece.  I also enjoyed photographing them just for you.

This piece is about 4" high.  Notice how the glaze drips down.

The bottom is more matte and the second glaze has a nice shine.

Very small and sweet.  The lines on the left are from my window as I photographed there in the sun.  Again, notice the drip in this photo and the one below.

A particular favorite of mine.  Nice and gloppy, dimensional and organic!  There is no glossy glaze put on in the final phase - reminds me of pottery from the 1900's.

The grouping!

 Hope you enjoyed this.  More to come.

Variations on a Felted Bowl

As a continuation of Episode 1 - "Getting to Know your Felter", here are some of the results of the Tutorial below.....

This bowl shows sculpting by using a needlefelting needle to enhance the top ridge and side ridges which resulted from the felting method below.  The rosebuds were nedlefelted onto the sides.

This is done with different colors of wool.  During the felting process, I added bits of artist yarn. Because they are not wool, they do not felt.  There are more hanging on the other side.   Notice the way the wool colors meander through the vessel.

A very, very small 2 1/2" in diameter keepsake bowl.  White and light purple silk fibers show nicely amongst the purple and red wool. The heart is needlefelted and later attached to the bowl.

This little bowl got it's top when I cut the opening and went around a little further - just like pealing an apple.  The heart and beading were added when the bowl was dry.

Here's another very small one.  Purple and red wool is further enhanced by using the needlefelting needle and sculpting. The heart was needlefelted on. 

From the basic bowl in the Tutorial below, you can see how embellishing and sculpting can alter the  look and feel.

Getting to Know your FELTER/Episode 1

I'm starting a new series called, "Getting to Know your Felter" - who could that be?

I thought I would re-post this tutorial to "show & tell" how I make one of my Keepsake Bowls.

Stayed tuned for another episode coming to your computer shortly............................
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EPISODE 1 - tutorial on felting a bowl


Welcome!  This is my first tutorial and I will endeavor to make it as clear as possible.  Recently, I've been felting these little vessels.  I often add embellishments to make "tapestry bowls" and other times they're perfect as is.  I want to share the basic process with you hoping this will spur you on to try felting yourself.  If you're into cooking and baking you can surely transfer your skills. There are many sites and blogs that will show you how to do this..they certainly have helped guide me.  All felters will eventually find what tools and techniques work for them.  Many of the supplies listed below can be found in your kitchen and/or hardware store.  You can find the wool from many sellers on Etsy.

Materials
Any type of wool roving.  I use Merino in this example.

bubblewrap
rubber mat
tulle netting
wallpaper roller
rolling pin
large spoon
soap (liquid)
bamboo placemat
towels
sharp scissors
plastic grocery bags
plastic lid
crab mallet



Before we get started, here are several pictures of the finished product from this tutorial.  It's approx. 4" round, 2 1/2" tall and the openng is 2".  I decided to use off white wool roving as I'm going to make into a colorful tapestry bowl to match a rug in my bedroom.

What is a resist/template?  It is simply any pliable, yet capable of "resisting" water, material which prevents two layers of wool from felting together.   For this project, I used a top from a plastic container - the kind you get at the deli counter.  I cut the rim off.  It can be any size you want.

1.  Lay down your towel, mat, bubblewrap (bubbles up, please), tulle (netting) and lastly the resist.  The size of the resist determines how big the bottom of your vessel will be.

2.  Lay down small amounts of the wool around the resist to look like a pinwheel.  They should somewhat meet in the middle and extend about an 1' to 1 1/2" beyond the resist.  These will be the sides of your vessel.

As you can see, I've added alot because I want to make sure that I have substantial sides (you can't go wrong)

3.  Now it's time to add three layers onto where you can feel the resist is (you'll still be able to see it through the pinwheel fibers..or just pick them up and look).  The layers will be laid down perpendicular to eachother.  You can start horizontal or vertical.  This is done so they will grab onto eachother.  The color is funny here because it's easier for you to see (white on white - ugh?)  Here are two layers.  Add one more horizontal.

4.  I lay one more layer of pinwheel fibers as I did in step #2.  Wow, now look at this dense pile I've made! lots of air and fluff.

5.  I'll lay the tulle over the piece and in small amount pour very hot water just on the part that covers the resist.  I add a dab of the dish liquid.  Then I will rub my fingers around the edge of the resist - feeling with my fingers.

6.   I take a small piece of bubblewrap and go over this the entire circle/resist area for about two to three minutes...have to be careful not to move the fibers around too much because you just want the layers to mesh together and start to hold.  When finished, put a layer of bubblewrap ontop.

7.  Time's up and ready to flip the whole thing over.   You now see the resist with the pinwheel fibers behind it.  Take the fibers and gently fold them into the center and smooth them. I usually end up with a huge pile (if you should, it's OK).  Hmm, looks good enough to EAT!!!!! Smooth them down as much as you can.

8.  IMPORTANT:  START AGAIN!  To this mass of wet fiber, begin steps 2 - 7 .  Don't worry, it works.  You will end up with the picture above but on the other side.  These steps are all done to make sure you don't get holes and that it's frankly, just a nicely packed and happy little loaf!

9.  So, you've done it all and now it's time to be a real Pastry Chef!  Patty cake!  This is where you're actually doing the "felting".  The wool, with hot water, soap, some pressure and agitation, rolling, etc. is going to make you a bowl!  Put some music on and enjoy!

10. Here I'm picking up my cookie and going around the edge with bubblewrap.  You can put the tulle back over your piece for extra agitation.   I like to work from the outside of the cirlce inwards and I feel it's important to get the edges somewhat felted first.  Hot water and more.

11. I'm also going to go around the outside with my wallpaper roller to make sure I have a nice edge.  I will flip it over and do it again and again adding hot water.

12. If you get too many suds, rinse the tulle and bubblewrap under the tap.  Keep working around the edge. Take either a piece of bubblewrap or the roller and work towards the middle. You can roll towards the center going round and round.  The fibers will bunch up in a lump in the middle, but...

13. Here comes the rolling pin.  Gently roll it over the circle.  Feel like a gentle baker..turn it around and roll again..turn it over, roll again every so gently.  Notice, I have the bubblewrap on.

When I've worked it over using the rollingpin and wallpaper roller and I notice that it seems all in one piece (not alot of ridges where those pinwheel pieces were),  I'll add water and continue

to roll.

Gourd Deal

I have listed my Gourd Bowls on Etsy.  They are for sale seperately and together.  If they are bought as a group, a free mini bowl is included, plus $5.00 off the price and as always, free shipping.  Funny, the more I look at these bowls, the harder it will be to give them up.  They are perfect for a harvest display!

Please go to my Etsy shop to see how they are listed.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56950196/two-fall-gourd-bowls-plus-one

Is It Enough?

Spring is here!  But I still love my boots - guess I"ll have to paint my toenails the same color.

Every once in awhile it's good to stand back from your creative endeavors and re-evaluate.  I've taken another look at my bowl/vessels.  I love them.  I think they are well done and imaginative. I love the colors. The process can be tedious and sometimes my back hurts AND I love my bowls.

Have they sold? No.  My only venue at this point is Etsy which I started on Halloween.  I had one big sale of brooches, flowers and pendants.  That was it.  I have done two local artists markets and sold a little bit.  I have had my pieces in a lovely local shop - a few things have sold.  No, I haven't pursued all avenues of advertising or other online sites.  I have joined, as you can see, on the sidebar, many wonderful organizations, etc.  I love Working With Felt because this is where fellow fiber artists share their work and learn and discuss.

It is actually a wonder that people are buying anything artistic in this financial climate.  But that could be just it...now is when we need all the color and inspiration we can get in our lives.

Sooo, my question to myself is:  "Is it enough to appreciate my own work and to have others do the same?"  Is it the selling and the buying and the $ the most important?  I would say the latter is a no.  Yes, I would love to make money from my pieces.  Actually, it's the thought of someone treasuring my things as much as I do and wanting them as part of their life that touches me--That is miraculous.

So my brooches and bowls and pendants line my desktop and my artroom.  I have many ideas for making new things - for combining materials - for painting - for felted wallhangings.  Is it art for art's sake?  Yes. 

I have decided to have a facelift in early June - vanity thy name is......yes, me.  It's time for my renewal and like felting this will be tedious and painful.   But, I am willing to be patient while I heal.  I will not be creating felted pieces, but "ME" my own new piece.  I guess you can say, my face will be needlefelted...interesting.  I will be forced to take another step back and look at myself and my artistic needs.  I will also hold my bowls for comfort and support -

 and that's enough.

Just a Batt

Yesterday, I was tired of making bowls, thinking and planning.  I had been tearing off pieces of a batt (a roll of different wools, fibers, glitz) to use in the bowls.  Like with some batts, there are colors that you don't like or don't exactly go with eachother and appear muddy.  So, off I went and just FELTED!

I decided to take a nice hunk and add more fibers.  I threw in (almost literally) soft colored locks (very curly), Tussah silk, yarn and ribbon.  I did this on both sides.  I sort of had in mind making a little purse when all was said and done.  What I didn't realize was that since I was not very careful, with my wild abandon and all, there were a few week spots.

After felting away, which really didn't take much time, I was rewarded with a lovely piece.  Both sides are very different. Hmmmmmm what to do with it?  This morning I took some pictures.  Maybe I'll hang it up as is.  Or, I could needlefelt on it and get it thicker to make a little purse.  Here it is.

Guess you can tell which side I like.  Actually, it loos more vibrant in "person".  I'm a little sick today so I don't feel like taking more pictures.  Happy Spring Colors Everyone!

SPRING TAPESTRY BOWLS

Two new Tapestry Bowls have emerged!  Picture first, then description.....

This one is made with off white Merino wool.  Of course, it's wet felted.  In keeping with springyness (huh?), I needlefelted little buds with the Shetland wool I got from Sara's Textured Crafts.  I also  blended some greens and added leaves, some bits of yellow and a light green vine around the lower portion.  You can see the fuzz on the inside.  I think this adds further color and I like the way the little hairs feel in contrast to the rest of the felt.  I photographed it nesting in white tulle (always have on hand for wet felting).   Now, for the next:

I'm particularly fond of this one...notice the sculptural elements.  Probably, a felter would know why these sometimes occur.  Through no wonderful planning by myself, some of the wisps of wool which are placed around the resist (see my Tutorial), just don't make it to the lip of the bowl or they just don't adhere so well.  My own idea is that my wisps aren't very wispy..I make mine thicker becuase I'm afraid I'll get holes...well, hasn't happened yet.  I do love the resulting ridges and I can further deepen them by using my needlefelting barbed needle.  

The wool is a combination of Sara's Shetland and lovely new roving from Sweet Grass Wool.  It is from sheep called Targhee who are raised in the Montana-Wyoming area.  These two types of wools were wet felted.  I also threw in some pink fabric waste which you see in the second picture.  Then I sculpted the ridges.  I needlefelted little flowers onto the bowl and added vines and swirls and green on the lip of the bowl.  Again, I rested it on tulle for the photoshoot.

Here is the link to Sweet Grass Wool:  http://www.sweetgrasswool.com

Snow and Felting Crazy

Another day of snow - blizzard conditions...seems we'll be socked in for another day.  Hopefully, we'll get out tomorrow.  There's been alot of time to felt and work on promoting SensoryFelteds.  I've been averaging two mini vessels a day.  I uploaded two on Etsy, on Flickr, Craftomania, etc. and Twitter.  I usually spend a couple of hours on the computer, few more making bowls, and at night do my needlefelting while watching TV with my husband.

Here are the new Felted Mini Tapestry Bowls I put on.  I find I really like taking the pictures...lots of fun.

The bowls like the others I have made, take quite awhile to make from laying out the roving, wet felting, shaving, and drying to the last stage of needlefelting.  I want to customize these for my clients so that the mini bowls will match their decor.  They will give me the colors they would like to see and perhaps examples of their favorite fabric.

The example below shows a wallpaper border in our bedroom.  The colors of the bowl really compliment my color scheme.

The way the fibers are layed out and the process of wet felting where I really stretch and shape the bowl, give up interesting ridges and even places where the wool didn't completely felt.  This is where I can add embellishments either with roving or by simple poking my needle into the area.  Each bowl is always a surprise.