2023 Challenges Gallery
Entry by Rhonda Lamb
Just so happened I was making a tree! Merino and a merino/silk blend in snow.. Background wet felted before needle felting. 9” x 11”
Entry by Ann B.
Here are the two (well really one adapted for two) Panto costumes which I mentioned on the Forum. I appeared twice, in both cases as a Victorian Tart. The first time as Marlene (read Dietrich) with a German accent and the second time as Brigitte (Bardot) with a French accent. I was the “loose what you pay” slimming scam in the Town’s shop. The punter paid £7 for 20 mins to chase Marlene round the town and if he caught her she would “kiss und kuttle mit” him for an hour. Of course he didn’t catch her but lost 7lb in weight. Brigitte’s bit was to give him 2 hours “kissink et cuddlink” for £14 if he caught her, and he lost a whole stone trying to do so. The idea was that the veil I was wearing on entering the stage would hide my ancient face from him and the audience (the pictures of Brigitte were at the dress rehearsal when I forgot to put the veil down) and just before I left the stage I showed the audience what he’d see if he caught me. The whole thing took less time on stage than it has to type it out, but it was enough, especially on the Saturday when we had two performances. Great fun, but exhausting. It took me a week to get over the show! The dress front was smocked using Canadian smocking and it very satisfactorily covered up the odd shape underneath! Ann
Entry by Mary Anne R.
Merino wool and silk wet felted table runner
Entry by Molly U.
I practice yoga regularly and always need to pad my knees. I decided to try felting a knee pad. This one is one of several I’ve done recently. I decided to put my bin of bits and pieces, mostly merino, to good use with this one. The “namasté is written with pencil roving. It measures 23” x 10”, perfect for wide legged child’s pose
Entry by Karen L.
I’ve just read Ruth’s blog post about incorporating Mulberry paper with fibre and thought I would share a couple of experiments I’ve done with Mulberry paper recently. I’ve made several samples using 30gsm and acrylic paint and been really happy with the results but I’ve yet to use this technique to make an actual piece of work.
Entry by Jessika Osborne
I have been working on this little fisherman. I haven’t made many dolls but I am pretty proud of him.
Entry by Ann B.
Something special about our Town – 3rd Quarter Challenge. Can I jump straight in with something I made some years ago now. We used to have a Town Crier (sadly no longer with us) and I made a badge for his uniform. The badge is a copy of the Town Council’s Coat of Arms. I was able to see and photograph the actual Deed granting the Arms. The badge is made using goldwork embroidery and (of course) needle felt with a little “mixed Media” addition.
Entry by Karen L.
I’m cheating a bit here as this is a piece I made as a commission a few years ago but it’s of a view on the edge of Horncastle looking down Shearman’s Wath. I don’t normally felt pictures so this was quite different for me but I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of recreating the clients favourite view of the Wolds. It’s wet felted Merino fibre with a little free motion stitch and needle felting.
Entry by Karen L.
Here’s a mini mixed media quilt with needle felted trees. It was made for the Walkers are Welcome Festival and is based on the old “Start Right” shoe advert and again I’ve set it on Shearmans Wath.
Entry by Diane C.
The forest near where I live in the Wairarapa influenced me. “Last Call of the Ruru (morepork)” the guardian of the forest watches over it. Needlefelted and wet felted. Also has a Kiwi (used a scrap of possum fur) and native trees.
Entry by Molly U.
I called this piece T-G Island. We are in Bay du Vin, New Brunswick for a family gathering, my niece’s “reveal” party. When the tide is low a lovely sandbar is revealed thus the name of the sand bar. This is the view, a spectacular sunset most days.
Merino wool, mulberry silk, locks.
25” x 28”
Entry by Molly U.
Wet and needle felt using 100% Merino wool
Entry by Molly U.
Ornament with wet felted background and needle felted and embroidered scene
Entry by Ann B.
Some of the crocheted snowflakes I made while on duty in our Museum shop a couple of years ago. I think that each one is different (as real snowflakes are). They were all washed, dipped in dilute PVA glue and blocked on a piece of fabric covered softboard. The only problem with this is that the pins have to be thrown away afterwards because PVA is death to metal and corrodes even stainless steel sometimes.