With No Particular Place to Go

For the past several months I've been working on this piece very sporadically. I think it is because I've no particular place to go with it. It is just a piece that I am working on that may or may not be functional. I simply have no end goal in mind.

It is hand dyed silk gauze, measures about 40 inches wide and about 96 inches long. After I dyed it, I thought I would just put wisps of wool, in many colors all over the piece, in my usual random fashion. These photos are not showing the finished product, just what I've accomplished (as pitiful as it is!) so far. The first photo shows the wool colors I've used, the second and third show the reverse side. There is something very sensual about piece to me. I something think it would be a great shawl, or an over dress with a black slip under it, or....help me out. Got ideas? I'm wide open to anything right now, so if you have an idea, please share.

I'll be working on this today as I can do it in small bits. My gall bladder is killing me and I am doing to a cleanse/purge. Need to keep it simple today.

Shalom,
Suzanne












Suzanne's late entry: It turned into a wrap! Who knew? I did finish applying the fibers to the silk, slowly, small area at a time. I wanted to keep the look very random both in color and texture. After is was well felted together into the silk, I rinsed completely and placed it in my dryer on "air only" for about 20 minutes to further bind it together and give it deeper, more complex texture. I love it!

Horse....Mule....Horse....Mule

"Usually, we live peaceably together, except there was the time when he sold him a horse, but delivered a mule." ...a line from one of my favorite stage plays, Fiddler on the Roof. I think that is how I would sum up the total experience of the 10 day show. We had 17-21 inches of snow, depending upon where you were in Wisconsin, followed by the ever lovely ice that follows a melt and re-freeze. Most of the crowd was there to experience the German themed Christmas atmosphere, to do some shopping and of course, eat the wonderful foods that were there. We were lead to believe that the show was juror ed , but when we were setting up, we knew differently. They were looking to fill booth spaces, that was the process. Suffice it to say, I am so glad to be home.

I met wonderful people, people who "got it" about the felt or wanted to know more about the wonderful textile. Several hats in particular got a lot of attention, ones with the hand dyed yearling mohair and the ones with unusual fabrics in the surface design, such as the velvet, silk, gauze, chunky yarns, or the ones with unusual lines. I think the total number of hats I sold was 24 by actual count. All in all, really not that bad and with the other felt items that were sold, the nuno/laminate felts, pincushions, scarves, etc, it was all ok. I was surprised at how many of the wool and silk scarves sold. I think for many, they are comfortable with silk, and they are intrigued by the combination, so they are comfortable making the purchase even if they are unfamiliar with felt. It was a great learning experience in many ways.

In the days ahead, there will be much family time, and I rejoice in that. There will be time to reflect on the great gift of Christ's birth, more joy in that as well. I believe the final days of this year will be full of family, friends, wonderful foods, quiet nights and simple joys all around us. But, I know I have a lot to think about as well... Felt ideas that keep going through my head, thinking about going back to the art shows for finished goods and blending my time between art shows and fiber art shows, wondering how much I can physically accomplish to build my inventory, and getting class schedules put together. It's going to be a busy 2010!

Looking back in thanksgiving, looking forward in hope, looking up, listening.
Blessed Christmastime and Shalom,
Suzanne

Two Silk Laminate Scarves

Some time ago I dyed these scarves, and do to the winter weather that will soon be upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere, I decided to nuno or laminate felt them. If you click on the photo, you'll notice a difference in the pucker of the scarves. They are the same kind of silk and super fine merino wool was used on both of them. The difference between them if the amount of wool that I used. On the pumpkin colored scarf, I used two ultra thin layers of wool, on the floral colored scarf, I used a single layer of wool. Isn't it amazing what wool can do. No wonder we love the stuff!
Make good felt and have joy in your day!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Putz'en around

Added some sprites to the a fore shown purple hat and made a couple of nuno/laminate felt scarves today. The other is still drying so I'll try to get the photos of it up for you tomorrow. It's time for a glass of wine, feet up and relax. The wrap is an iridescent purple silk with the colors of pumpkin, olive green, teal and squash. I love both sides of these wraps. Eventually, I'll have them up in my etsy shop, but for now, these are going to the 10 day show in Wisconsin.
Shalom and joy,
Suzanne

Ok, so I did do some felting....

At the Midwest Felting Symposium two years ago, I purchased this silk from Lori Flood. So while I am on the hat making hiatus, I was able to make this laminate/nuno felt wit my right arm only. While some prefer the wool side of laminate felt, I prefer the silk side. I like the wool next to my skin and the romance of the silk to the outside.

I laid the fibers out on the bubble wrap, bubble side up, then laid the silk on top, wetted down the fibers and the silk, then applied another bubble wrap with bubbles down. Then I took out the sander to do the felting. It took a long time, but I didn't have to roll, thus saving the left arm from further damage. I left portions of the silk not felted. the drape is very nice on this felted wrap.

I am now off to find the top of my desk and perhaps get some things organized.