A bit of this, a bit of that
Hello! The writing of this blog post comes to you on a day where I am quite sleep-deprived, so you will have to excuse my possibly being a little off my writing game…
Allow me to start by showing you some art batts I created a little ago. I love art batts in general, there’s so much texture and colours to look at. I do so enjoy the batt-making process as well, looking at all my fibre and deciding what goes where, and how much… Anyone else feel this fascination when creating textured fibre sandwiches?
Speaking of textures, I recently spun an art yarn using some Leicester Longwool locks in their natural formation and I swoon every time I look at that texture…
This will become a weaving of some sorts, I am handing over the yarn to a fellow Edinburgh guild member so he can create some magic. I told him I wasn’t sure whether I was handing him treasure or a lemon (I believe textured weaving is new to him and I also have some plying inconsistencies on this skein), and he replied saying he would think of it as a pomegranate instead. I thought that was quite funny.
It is one heavy skein, as you might attest by the silly photo I took of it on my head.
Finally, I also have news on my needle felted raven! The photos aren’t the best, forgive me, but this chap is almost complete. Unfortunately my customer didn’t like his blue eyes (a colour only present when they are young) so I have ordered some new ones to replace these. Once I do that I think he is complete. What do you think, is he finished? Would you change anything? Feedback welcome.
That’s it for today, let me know your thoughts and have a lovely week!
14 thoughts on “A bit of this, a bit of that”
Leonor your art batts are so ‘juicy’ if that is a suitable description 😋 and I’m sure your pomegranate friend will be delighted with your long wool locks yarn, it is just so textural.
Raven is looking good, but I think I agree about the eyes….they are a stark focus and to my mind detract from the whole work. Wow, you must have spent hours on needle felting all those feathers. Now shake yours out and chill for a bit.
Xx
Ooh, “juicy,” I like that! 😀
I too agree about the eyes after looking at them for longer – it’s just that I was feeling so clever for gluing nails to the back of the cabochons so they’d go into the head nicely that I got a bit too attached… ah well. New eyes have been ordered from afar and I shall replace them once they do!
My needle felting of feathers wasn’t really needle felting! Believe it or not, they were put together by friction alone, I rubbed the fibres between my palms and that was the result. I dreamt about that solution after agonising over how to make them for ages… funny how the brain works.
Haha, “chill for a bit” – you know me better by now :p xx
Yes mouth watering batts. I love making them, or any mixed fibre batts, too. And your pomegranate friend will have fun learning to weave textured cloth with your Leicester Long Wool yarn, also “juicy” (definitely the correct term Antje).
I agree about the raven’s eyes. Though they are very striking they do draw the eye away from the rest of his lovely form. If they were the much paler version that jackdaws have they might work, but I think that the sparkly black eyes that give the adult ravens their “knowing” look would suit him better. Otherwise, yes he’s ready to “fly the coop”.
Ann
So glad I’m not the only one who loves making batts, Ann! They’re just so much fun to put together 😀
I’ll keep you posted on how my pomegranate friend gets along 😉 I’m sure he’ll be cursing at me a bit, but hopefully the end result will be to his liking.
Like I told Antje, I do agree about the eyes, it’s just that I felt so clever for having found the perfect size (not easy) and way to insert them into the wool that I was feeling attached. New yes are on their way, though!
Art batts are eye candy every time 🙂 and the pinky purple yarn is gorgeous.
I would agree on changing the eye colour – apart from that he’s ready to fly! Love the feet.
3 for 3 on the eyes! (Well, 4 actually, because now I agree they need to be brown) 😀 Thanks for remarking on the feet, they were a bit of work but I so love how they came out.
For me batts are eye and hand candy! I really have to keep myself from squishing them (and it’s funny how I noticed so many people need to do the same when I was vending in person!) 😀
I have been salivating over the batts you have put up on social media Leonor. Yum. As for your Leicester Longwool -(long sigh of contentment follows ….) I hope you post the result of your friend’s weaving on this beauty.
Your hand has given the raven perspective – a big lad – that definitely is a labour of love. Will you find it hard to let this beauty go?
Helene x
Thanks, Hélène! I’m glad to have been putting your salivary glands at work 😀
Once I have the woven product I’ll be sure to share! Might take a while though, it was Autumn of last year when John and I started talking about a collab…
Yes, it’ll be a little hard to let go, but I can always make myself one if I ever feel like it. At least that’s what I’m telling myself to make things easier.
Oh, and PS – Manny and I went to watch Foil Arms and Hog at the Fringe last week, it was wonderful 😀
Love your art batts, yarn and raven! What a clever way to make the feathers, I know you were concerned about those. Once the eyes are replaced, I think the raven is good to go. I too would love to hear about how the weaving goes. Perhaps a guest post is in order?
Thanks, Ruth! Those feathers took a bit of time to come up with but once my brain told me what to do it was mostly smooth sailing 😀
I can ask John if he’d like to write about his experience, yes! Good thinking, Batman :p
Lovely post. I love your bird, the eyes don’t really bother me, and I think he is very handsome. Your batts are gorgeous too.
Thanks, Marie! 🙂
I am a sucker for art bats. I buy to many. They are interesting to spin. Rollags have the same eye appeal for me. That is a large skein, and so much texture. I am sure it will be amazing in some weaving. The raven is fabulous. I am sure they will love him? her? when she has the correct eyes. It would be hard to let go of after so much work. The feet are amazing
I too love art batts but will confess: I find them a little bit intimidating to spin with! I never know what to do to make the yarn excellent other than core spin it… Any ideas?
That skein has turned out to be an absolute beast, let’s see how my fellow guild member fares with it.
The raven has been dubbed a he by his human, and he shall have an impressive and mighty name for sure 🙂 Thanks for noticing the feet, Ann! I love them.