Masterclass with Dagmar Binder….

September 18, 2016 / Karen Lane / 10 Comments

I have just got back from a fabulous week in North Yorkshire with Region 10 of the IFA. I rode up (yes “rode” up, with my motorcycle stacked high with supplies!) to take part in a residential Masterclass with Dagmar Binder and 9 other students at The Old Mill in Skeeby. I am a huge admirer of Dagmars work and was thrilled to be taking part in her workshop.

Day one, making a start on our samples

My sample piece

Over the three days we learnt such a lot about making a successful felt garment. On day one we started with pattern making and then after lunch we made a small set of samples to explore the use of pre felt and how the direction of the fibres affect the finished piece. Completing the sample would help us to get to get to grips with our “collars”. Although only small this piece took quite some time to make and the majority of us ended up back in the studio after dinner in order to get it finished.

Laying fibres for my waistcoat

Dagmar talks us through the fulling stage

Louise is the first to finish!

Lamona proudly shows off her work

Niki added some beautiful texture to her design

It was an intense workshop with the majority of us working late into the evening, every evening, but it was so worth it! I had intended to create several more collars on my waistcoat but soon realised that the work involved, for me, was too much to fit into the time scale we had. My finished waistcoat isn’t perfect but I am confident that I now have the skill to know where and how I can improve when I make my next one.

My finished waistcoat

A big thank you to Dagmar, Iris and everyone I met in Skeeby for making this such an enjoyable experience.

Felted brooch…..

August 24, 2016August 31, 2016 / Karen Lane / 2 Comments

Floral brooch made with Merino wool and silk organza

Wet felted brooch

I’ve just got back from attending two “play days” with the IFA Region 8 ladies at Arnesby Village Hall. There were mini workshops happening on both days and, having seen the lovely felted brooch that Sandra Jenkins was making, I decided to join in with that one.

Making a circular background from Merino and painting silk organza for the flowers

These pretty little brooches are a great way of using up your left over tiny scraps of fabric and felt from previous projects.

Combining the silk and felt to make the tiny flowers

Wet felted brooch with tiny felt and organza flowers

My finished brooch

On day two I began laying out Bergschaf and Merino wool to make a fish. I didn’t make very good progress, mainly due to spending a lot of time chatting, looking at other people’s work and perusing copies of “Felt Matters” magazines. I’m continuing with it at home but it’s taken on a new life and will be a sort of fantasy sea creature……..watch this space!

Speaking of fantasy creatures, these felted Monster Bags were made by Sylvia Winn, aren’t they great?

Monster Bags

I get the impression that Sylvia is a big fan of novelty bags……this is the “fishy” bag she was working on yesterday, complete with zip closure and fishing line shoulder strap!

Wet Felted Fairy Shoes…..

July 25, 2016August 31, 2016 / Karen Lane / 11 Comments

Two of my boxed sets of wet felted fairy shoes have recently gone to new homes so this weekend I set to and made some more. These shoes were demonstrated by Robyn Smith at one of the first felting workshops I attended back in 2014. Trimmed with beads and mounted in a box frame they make a lovely gift for a little girls bedroom…….or maybe even for big girl’s like me who still believe in fairies!

Fairy boots made from red Merino wool tops, embellished with beads

Red Merino Fairy Shoes

Fairy Boots made with blue Merino wool tops embellished with tiny beads

Blue Merino Fairy Shoes

Fairy Boots made from green Merino wool tops and embellished with tiny enamelled flowers

Green Merino Fairy Shoes

Merino Necklace and Cuff…..

July 23, 2016September 3, 2016 / Karen Lane / 9 Comments

Back in May, inspired by the work of Lisa Klakulak, I designed and made a Merino necklace and cuff.

Necklace and cuff set made from grey Merino

My first Merino necklace and cuff

Last week I was spotted wearing them and commissioned by a lovely lady called Katie to make a similar set as a birthday gift. Katie called by to collect the jewellery today and I’m pleased to say that she was absolutely thrilled with it! I hope the recipient will be equally happy and will enjoy wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Commissioned Merino Necklace and Cuff

Wet Felted Flowers…..

June 17, 2016June 17, 2016 / Karen Lane / 4 Comments

Wet felted flowers made with multiple resists

Ive been using up my bright Merino wool tops making wet felted flowers to add to the CCTG display at Cranwell next month.

Day Two of the Experimental Sculptural Forms…..

June 14, 2016June 15, 2016 / Karen Lane / 7 Comments

Day two of the Experimental Sculptural Forms Workshop with Mandy Nash and we had a few new faces join us. Those of us doing the two days got straight on with our projects while Mandy talked through the process with the newbies.

Getting down to detail.

Room full of ladies at a wet felting workshop in Arnesby Village Hall

A hive of activity!

Several ladies completely finished their fish by the end of the day while I seemed to work flat-out on my vessel but still didn’t quite get done.

A few of the amazing funky fish displaying their colourful gills

It was fabulous how each fish had its own distinct character

Jen’s fish required the kiss of life!

Georgina chose to take her vessel home to finish as she, and Tracy, were keen to use the workshop time to get started on another piece of work which the tutor demonstrated on the Sunday. Mandy hasn’t named this piece but all three of us were excited to see how it was made and it’s something I am intending to have a go at next week.

Mandy Nash demonstrating a particular wet felting technique at her workshop Experimental Sculptural Forms.

Mandy demonstrating how she created the wet felted objects displayed on the table.

After getting it home and giving it a bit more pummelling I was really pleased with how my piece worked out.

Mandy Nash is a wonderful tutor and this has to be one of the most interesting workshops I’ve been on. The venue was good, the company was great and hopefully I will meet up with some of you again at future workshops. Oh, and when you do get your vessel and “un-named thingy’s” finished Georgina & Tracy, send me images and I will post them here!

Experimental Sculptural Forms…..

June 11, 2016June 15, 2016 / Karen Lane / 2 Comments

I’m writing this sitting in my B&B in Stoney Stanton having just eaten a delicious meal in Nemos Bar. I travelled down here last night ahead of a two day workshop with Mandy Nash to make experimental sculptural forms. The workshop is being held in Arnesby, a small village just south of Leicester.

Experimental Sculptural Forms by Mandy Nash

Examples of Mandy’s sculptural work

This morning Mandy began by showing us some of her wonderful wet felted objects, including hats, bags and funky fish, and explaining how the various 3 dimensional shapes were achieved. Several of the bags and vessels had been created using “book resists” and this was the method we were going to be working with. In addition Mandy talked us through the various surface design techniques she uses and demonstrated how we could achieve these effects using Bergschaf wool batts. Most of the ladies chose to make a fish and the following photos show their work in progress.

Georgina and I chose to make a vessel and treat it as a sampler, using the various surface treatments on each of the sides.

Georgina applying resists for surface decoration

This is my three sided vessel taking shape…..

It was full day and a lot of fun but none of us have finished our pieces yet so I will post an update on how things turned out tomorrow.

Simple wet felted choker…..

June 2, 2016June 2, 2016 / Karen Lane / 4 Comments

This morning I’ve been practising ropes, loops and fasteners and made a simple wet felted choker from black and grey Merino.

I made several attempts to tie the grey and black loose ends into a neat knot but it just wouldn’t lay flat. After considering different options I settled for a silver coloured ribbed bead to hold it together.

Wet felted seed pod….

May 29, 2016May 30, 2016 / Karen Lane / 10 Comments

I’ve been experimenting with the book resist method today, using Merino wool tops to wet felt a seed pod.

3D Seed pod, wet felted using Merino wool tops

Merino wool tops wet felted seed pod.

Wet Felted Jewellery…..

May 3, 2016May 4, 2016 / Karen Lane / 6 Comments

A couple of days ago I discovered a wonderful American felt artist by the name of Lisa Klakulak. Her work is incredible and you can see her website here. After seeing her wonderful wet felted jewellery I was inspired to have a go at making something for myself. My first attempt was a bangle made from grey and yellow Merino wool tops. I was disappointed with how it turned out, bulky and crude looking, so stripped it apart and started again.

The second time round I free machined the felt using grey and copper coloured metallic thread and replaced the yellow felt ball with a silver metal button. I used the second strip of grey/lemon felt, again with the metallic stitching and metal button, to make a matching asymmetrical necklace. This time I’m happy with the result!