Concertina Hat Workshop…..

November 27, 2016 / Karen Lane / 6 Comments

Back in the Summer I read a post on the Felting & Fibre Studio about a concertina hat workshop being run by Teri Berry. It sounded really interesting but at that time I couldn’t commit due to holidays and other workshops. Fortunately Teri’s first workshop was such a huge success that it is being run again this month. As a result I’ve just finished my first wet felted Merino concertina hat and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I’m now looking forward to trying out the next design which is Teri’s wacky but wonderful “Snail Hat”…….watch this space!

Sculptural Collar…..

November 14, 2016November 13, 2016 / Karen Lane / 6 Comments

This is the finished blue and pink Merino sculptural collar which I started last week at Felt Inspired in Belchford.

Wet felted Sculptural Collar made from Merino wool.

I used a press stud fastener to hold it in place and added a wet felted floral detail including three leaves, two cords and a ‘rainbow bead‘. I learnt the rainbow bead technique from the wonderful Dutch felt artist Annemie Koenen. They take a crazy amount of effort to make but are so beautiful it’s well worth it!

Where does the time go…..

November 13, 2016November 14, 2016 / Karen Lane / 5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s been a month since we started the felting group in Belchford. Where does the time go…..

Once again we had eight ladies gathered for a felting session. Val and Karen couldn’t make it this month but we welcomed two new faces, Ann and Sheila. Sheila brought her current project to work on which is a very handsome needle felted owl…..

Sheila and her owl.

Adding feather detail on the back.

Ann began working on a needle felted landscape and I’m loving the colour scheme…..

Rosie was busy with her beautiful new wool making more vegetables (we’re starting to suspect an obsession here!)…..

Looking good enough to eat!

Olga was working on her sketchbook ideas for new projects…..

Olga working on ideas in her sketchbook.

Pat was busy with embellisher…..

Pat busy on the embellisher

Janet made a wet felted bowl and then did some more work on the lovely picture she started last session….

I started another Merino collar which will get finished at home…

Fibres laid out ready for felting.

All in all another enjoyable day in Belchford.

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

New Version of Yellow Poppies…..

June 26, 2016August 31, 2016 / Karen Lane / 22 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, at a workshop with Mandy Nash, I was introduced to Bergschaf wool. Since taking up felting I’ve been used to working with Merino and wasn’t too sure if I would take to the coarser, hairier Bergschaf but I love it! Not only does it felt very quickly but, being supplied as carded batts, it makes laying out a lot quicker too. Having previously made a vessel with it, this weekend I thought I would try using Bergschaf to make a felted wall hanging. I’ve revamped a design I did a couple of years ago, making it larger and adding grasses. The new version of Yellow Poppies is approximately 20″ x 15″.

My original Yellow Poppies felted picture

Laying out the new design

Wet felted Bergschaf and Merino wool picture entitled Yellow Poppies.

New version of Yellow Poppies.

The poppies and smaller flowers were made with Merino, the stalks are knitting wool and the detail was added with free machine stitching. The black backing fabric is garden membrane which is great to use as it doesn’t tear or fray.

Reverse side of Yellow Poppies

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.

Felting Demo for U3A members…..

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 / Karen Lane / 5 Comments

It’s funny how one thing can lead to another. A few weeks ago I was out having a coffee when I got chatting to a lady who told me she was keen on various crafts and a member of the Wellingore U3A. I happened to mention that my passion was felting and as a result, this afternoon I held a felting demo for U3A members, Sue included, at home in Horncastle.

Non of the ladies had tried felting previously so I began by demonstrating needle felting and showing some of the different applications I had used it for. They were all keen to have a go but, as time was limited and we had to cover wet felting too, the ladies just did a few minutes with a cookie cutter and some Merino to get a feel for it.

Lincoln U3A ladies trying out needle felting

U3A ladies Celia, Myra & Chris trying out needle felting

Sue and Velma getting to grips with needle felting.

Unfortunately, as I was demonstrating, I didn’t get any other photos this afternoon but, suffice to say, the ladies were very enthusiastic regarding both the needle and wet felting so I’m hoping I’ve encouraged their creativity and they have gone away enthused about their new found hobby!

Merino Purses…..

May 2, 2016 / Karen Lane / 12 Comments

It’s a wet Bank Holiday in Lincolnshire and to cap it off I am full of cold so doing a bit of felting in between the hot drinks and sniffles! These Merino purses, made with a resist, are an ideal size for glasses cases and a good way to use up oddments of fibres which I seem to have a lot of. I’ve embellished them with tiny bits of silk, sari waste and more Merino and finished off with a button closure.

Merino Wool Purses, ideal for use as a glasses case.

Wet felted vessel….

March 24, 2016April 1, 2016 / Karen Lane / 10 Comments

Yesterday I decided to make another vessel, along the lines of my yellow and grey one, but this time I wanted a simpler, more rounded finish.

I started by making several strips of green Merino, wet felted (very lightly) onto organza.

By laying a sheet of Lutradur over a piece of Vilene and applying paint, the paint soaked through and gave me two options to use as the body of the vessel.