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Month: July 2025

Sally's page with printed words in black, white, yellow and orange paint.
Printing Words with Acrylic Paint on to Fabric

Printing Words with Acrylic Paint on to Fabric

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My art group tried another technique with paper, acrylic paint and fabric. It’s mainly used to make fabric or paper that is then cut up and used in collage.

Louise, Paula and Sally working on word printing on paper and fabric around a wooden table.

It’s a simple process. You apply a “writing tip” to the paint bottle, write some words on paper and then press the paper with the acrylic writing on to fabric. You  then have printed words on fabric but the words are backwards on your fabric. I like this better since it makes the words hard to read. You can still see that it is words but it isn’t “a cute saying” easily read.

Here you can see Sally has written words in white acrylic paint on the brown paper and then she is pressing her fabric down on to the paper to transfer the words.

I wrote on book pages (which I will use later as backgrounds or tear up for collage) and then printing on to fabric. I used lines from the poem “Think Like a Tree” by Karen Shragg. You can see that the words aren’t really legible but it still conveys writing.

Louise writing with black acrylic paint on to book page.

Louise is writing with black acrylic paint on to a book page.

Paula's collaged page of printed words.

Paula was working only on paper this time. She collaged her pieces of torn, printed paper together on to book pages.

Here are a couple of pieces of fabric that Sally printed. The purple circles in the right photo are from eco printing with purple carrots. Sally then printed the words on top of that. It gives a graffiti look, doesn’t it?

Here are the two pieces that I created. These were done on pre-painted canvas (a light wash of grey) which had then been stained with tea in places.  Then I printed the tree poem on top of that. I will use these as some book pages in my altered book I have been working on.  If you’re looking for a fun and easy project, this technique definitely qualifies. You can write whatever you like and get those thoughts out of your brain, but it won’t be legible enough for someone else to read your innermost thoughts.

big flower laid flat
Fun Felty stuff and Fabric stuff

Fun Felty stuff and Fabric stuff

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ANNIE

I’m still enjoying making more small felt flowers …

felt flower brooches

…and I’m also making some new flowers on wires to put in with potted houseplants to make them cheerful.

felt flower on a wire

felt flower in a pot with plant

I decided to ‘go large’ with one floral project that could be used as home décor, perhaps draped through an iron bed-frame, banister rail or on a mantle-piece.

felt in progress big flower

big flower laid flat

close up of big felt flower

However, a flamboyant person could enjoy wearing this as a statement necklace!

I enjoy making felt ‘ropes’ and I’ve turned several of them into multiple-ring bracelets – but opened up they could also be worn as necklaces.

felted rope bracelets

more felted rope bracelets

LYN

After months of utility sewing I decided to have some fun and make some pictures for a child’s room by mostly using up scraps of fabric.  The pictures are 5”x7” on a 7”x9” board with 1” matte so will fit into a standard photo frame.

The fabric for the fish was made by scattering small pieces of coloured tutu net onto a piece of white cotton fabric then covering with ‘Solvy’ and machine stitching close lines of an almost invisible thread to hold it all together.

fish stitched with tutu net material

Yes, I do like snails don’t I?  I’ve done several over the years!

snail stitched collage

I found a scrap of gold material that was begging to be used and it just had to be a ballerina.

ballerina fabric collage

A tiny piece of sequin material was the starting point for this bird.

blue bird stitched collage

Teddy gave me a bit of trouble – this is the third attempt as I wasn’t happy with the first two!

pink teddy with gold bow stitched collage

Sometimes it’s good to have an inspirational quote on display, so I framed a printed  picture of one of my old felt pieces with words on it.

crane catching a fish

Perhaps we should remember those words when we start a new project but maybe feel a bit overwhelmed by it.

Quicker and Cheaper?

Quicker and Cheaper?

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For some years now I’ve been selling my work in local galleries and from a  ‘fisherman’s hut’ in Whitstable harbour market.

For many traders in the harbour market, sales seem to have been down over the last year, and I’ve noticed that people are frequently buying smaller and cheaper things from everyone, like smaller pictures, or prints rather than original pictures. Sales in the galleries have held up a bit better for me so far.

I decided to see if I could produce some felt pictures more cheaply without compromising on quality.

I wrote here last September about having to make a lot of pictures for a big exhibition. I developed a new line of work that I could produce at speed. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2024/09/05/the-mother-of-invention/

I decided to take my nuno printed tree pictures one stage further to make them a little smaller (less felting time, fewer materials) and offer them unframed (lower material costs).

I’ve realised that using recycled silk or fine wool scarves is a quick way of creating patterns within a felt picture. It can significantly reduce layout time as your fabric does a lot of the work for you.  I then thought that I could cut down on fulling time as well if I made two pictures at a time. 

I then had a presentation question.  I normally have my frames handmade by a local maker. Would I go down the mass-produced frame or the no frame route? I decided to start with the no frame option. I found a provider of inexpensive but good quality picture mount kits that include a back board, mount and cellophane bag.

I made the felt for four pairs of pictures; cutting them apart before printing a different tree on each. I took these photos as a record rather than to present so they’re not the best, sorry.

For the top pair I used a fine wool scarf, for the bottom two, a silk scarf
A recycled silk scarf provides the pattern for this pair
I’ve used a fine wool scarf for these

Do you have a favourite? I think the one top left is mine.

I had 5 weeks of sales / exhibitions in June (one of two weeks and one of three, overlapping – I know, poor planning) and sold 4 of the 8, so I’m pretty happy with this experiment.  What next? I will probably make a few more of these and I might source some sample frames to go along with them. Maybe I’ll get my local frame-maker to make one then buy a couple of cheaper mass produced ones so people can see what the options are.  Framing is much more expensive than many people realise. I’m also offering photos of some of my bird felt pictures, and prints of some of my (non-felt) photographs in the same unframed format. I’ve sold three of these so far so will see how they go.

I thought I’d finish with a follow up to my sample making blog from March. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/03/09/auditioning-fabrics/

I made each of the samples into cards and here they are.

Trying to wash fleece on a good day

Trying to wash fleece on a good day

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Preamble (not about fiber but i promise i will get there!)

Usually, towards the end of June, the local grocery store garden centers close up for the season.  It may be that slowly recovering after surgery continues to distort time, since it seems very early to be closing up the plant shopping for the year. Anyways the massive sell off of all the last remaining plants, cheap, is happening now! I got one car load full from one store, including 2 flats of ever-berring strawberries, some lavender (Munstead usually overwinters here) and some more herbs.  The next day I went to the local Loblaws and they were closing that day, even better sales! More lavender, herbs Columnar basal and lemon verbena mainly and even a few flowers followed me home. I also bought 5 dead hanging baskets and 2 slightly alive ones for .26 cents each (I am short on hanging baskets). Both my fabulous halls were unloaded onto the side bench and one of the fleece drying racks in the side yard. then it took a couple days to recover before i could start working on them.

vew looking down the side yard, past plants. in front of garage the stock tank and closed big umbrella can be seen0.1) looking down the side yard towards the fleece washing area

I have been puttering along,  planting some into pots and Glenn has promised to help with the lavender and strawberrys that will go into the garden. I am also trying to catch up on the weeding, where do they keep popping up from?

I think it was Wednesday, foggy time continues…, we had a warning of possible severe thunderstorms with hail and high wind for 5am. So the evening before,  I carefully moved all the hanging baskets I had just planted, down under the bench, under the fleece drying rack and prepped for a horrible storm, that maybe impending.

two large saucers of plant pots, a mix of flowers, herbs and house plants. 0.2) two large saucers of plant pots, a mix of flowers, herbs and house plants.

Nothing happened at 5am, but 9am arrived and so did the storm, with heavy rain but no hail. Afterwords I went out to do a bit of weeding. A bit after lunch the blue sky was again gone, and so was my Large Umbrella I had be using while weeding. It had escaped and was trying to figure out how to open the front door. (It is bad luck to have umbrellas open in the house so I closed it and got it back in its weighted base. (Sorry no pictures)  oww…. Time to sit or maybe lie down would be better. yes lying down was much better.

(I am getting to the point)

Today, Friday, Ottawa is sunny, no rumors of thunderstorms and my front and back are willing to consider something other than sitting or lying down today, YAY!!!  I had asked Glenn to pull out the bins of unwashed fleece from the garage so I can see what I want to wash next.

My choices from the Garage are 3, all waiting for attention (2 yellow and 1 clear plastic bin, in front of fence and abandoned snow shovels.) I don’t remember what I put in them.0.3) My choices from the Garage are 3, all waiting for attention (2 yellow and 1 clear plastic bin, in front of fence and abandoned snow shovels.) I don’t remember what I put in them.

1- First, I Need to set up the fleece washing aria. The tub has some rainwater, a few bits of leaves, dead bugs, Miskito larvae and a moth in it. Maybe a large fish tank net would get the not-water-bits out? Maybe a trip to Dollerama later? the water is still cleaner than the fleece so lets proceed.

Stock tub, Bits of leaves, Miskito larva and other bugs, and one floating moth. 1.1)  Stock tub, Bits of leaves, Miskito larva and other bugs, and one floating moth.

Next, I should  set up the umbrella by the garage. Why is it not working, oh broken stay is interfering with it extending. Got that sorted, and set up the second fleece drying rack again.

fighting with umbrella with broken strut. With the broken arm it fits perfectly between the garage and the back of the house.1.2) fighting with umbrella with broken strut. With the broken arm it fits perfectly between the garage and the back of the house.

now that i have that sorted i’m sure it will all go fine from here!

2-Select a fleece,  this is like Christmas, i cant remember what i put in there so its all new and exciting surprises!

Option 1: white-ish fleece in plastic bag inside clear plastic bin.2.1) Option 1: white-ish fleece in plastic bag inside clear plastic bin.

Option 2: White-ish fleece in black garbage bag inside yellow Ruff tote bin.2.2)  Option 2: White-ish fleece in black garbage bag inside yellow Ruff tote bin.

Option 3: creamy white with lots of crimp. Loose in the ruff tote and has some bits of lavender on top of it.2.3)  Option 3: creamy white with lots of crimp. Loose in the ruff tote and has some bits of lavender on top of it.

Option 3 wins. I am going with the last one, It looks like quite a big fleece.  after looking all through the side yard, I seem to only have 4 fleece staining buckets?  I hope it didn’t blow away, no found it, Glenn stuck stuff in it. ….. OK, I will try washing 4 at a time rather than 5.

4 strainer baskets on drying rack with fleece in tub in back ground, pole from umbrella in foreground.2.4) 4 strainer baskets on drying rack with fleece in tub in back ground, pole from umbrella in foreground.

Ok fleece selected, no skirting table available but i am sure this will be fine. i just have to add water, soap to the Stock Tank and dirty fleece in strainer baskets to start soaking, i will have this done by lunch!

3- Drat, The hose is up by the front door, but I cant get the hose back here until I put away the recycling box. There are still a couple hanging baskets, hiding under the bench in the way (where i need to put the recycling box). So, move the baskets first. Found the hooks to hang up the baskets, and got them up out of the way. Oh no back just did that cold running water down the back feeling, got to sit down now for a moment. I have to make room for the blue chair so first put the recycling box away. Ahhh that’s better. While I’m sitting here i can see the drying rack in the side yard. There are still a couple hanging baskets, under the drying rack, better put them up too.  And sit again.

hanging baskets, pots of plants waiting to be planted , wooden bench, recycling bins below, and big garden thermometer3.1) hanging baskets, pots of plants waiting to be planted , wooden bench, recycling bins below, and big garden thermometer

4- Right I am sitting looking at the drying rack covered in plants. That won’t work out well, i will need that space for the fleece soon…. need to move and organize all the little plants in pots I purchased. I have 4 saucers and a shallow bin partly full of plants but give me a moment and let me get the strawberries all in one, the plants that will be house plants and the last of the inpatients are in one. i found 2 more saucers (ok they are oil change black saucers but they work) one is now full of Lavender and the other is a mix of herbs. And back to sitting. (i feel like i’m am doing some odd form of and English country dance but in stead of “everyone turns around” after doing anything, i do something followed by “i sit down”. i miss dancing, the Black nag was fun and i miss the Manshaft pavan, the 8 count reverrance was deadly! i must stop thinking about medieval dances and get back to work!)

Oil draining saucers full of herbs and lavender sitting on green bin and garbage can 4.1) Oil draining saucers full of herbs and lavender sitting on green bin and garbage can

5-Lets move the hose I think that was what I was working towards. Ok, dragged it back and have the tank filling. Where is the soap?…..  did it fall off the end of the bench? Maybe under it? behind the spin dryer? In the spin dryer? No sign of it, better go in and call glenn. And sit for a bit. Maybe I will look by the kitchen sink first, but why would it be there?

6-Found the fleece washing dish soap in the kitchen…. Ok took it back outside. It’s the sheep-washing dish soap, not the dish-washing dish soap, they are totaly different! so it should be outside with the fleece washing stuff.

sunlight Dish washing soap also cuts lanolin and removes dirt from sheeps' wool. )yellow plastic bottle of dish soap sitting on 4X4 beside stock tank with hose going into tank behind it.)6.1) sunlight Dish washing soap also cuts lanolin and removes dirt from sheeps’ wool. (yellow plastic bottle of dish soap sitting on 4X4 beside stock tank with hose going into tank behind it.)

7- Tipped the big ruff tote partly out onto the drying rack and picked through clumps looking for second cuts, excessive Vegi-matter or the extra smelly dark bits I don’t want to deal with. this fleece has little second cuts with kemp, I found a small section with less crimp but since I cant see the hole fleece I am not sure where it was growing or if its some one else’s fleece that got mixed in accidentally.

dirty wool cascading out of yellow plastic bin.7.1) dirty wool cascading out of yellow plastic bin.

8-Picked over good raw fleece got dropped in a strainer bucket, while the rejected bits got dumped on the lid. I did not fill them quite as much as last wash since I will have to do more bins than last fleece. I wonder if this one was a ram? or just a much bigger sheep?

the rejected bits I tossed on the lid until I can get them into a yard wast bag. There are a lot of odd little seeds stuck in spots in the fleece so I don’t want to add whatever that is to the garden.8.1) the rejected bits I tossed on the lid until I can get them into a yard wast bag. There are a lot of odd little seeds stuck in spots in the fleece so I don’t want to add whatever that is to the garden.

OK my aim is not 100% accurate I will clean that up tomorrow, I hope8.2) OK my aim is not 100% accurate I will clean that up tomorrow, I hope.

9-As the strainer bin got to about ¾ full I added it to the stock tank to start the soak. When I had all four in the tank I added a bit more water, gently lifted and lowered the strainer baskets a few times. I will now let it sit and soak. I should put all the icky parts in the yard waste bag but I think it would be better to go in and sit and maybe write a blog post.

starting the soap water soak  I left it in just over 3 hours.9.1) starting the soap water soak  I left it in just over 3 hours.

10- I want to give it a few hours of soaking then start the first rinse in case there is rain tomorrow. The water is definitely needing changing and the strainers baskets are hanging to drip.

Lets take a peek at this crimp in the raw wool. It is quite a dirty sheep, but not as much Vege-matter as I was expecting. As I said there is definitely a bit of kemp in odd sposts in this fleece (mostly second cuts), but I think it will still be nice.

closes up of crimp10.1)closes up of crimp

pulling sections of fleece I don’t have room to spread out the hole fleece so I am pulling out sections and looking over that bit. (yellow large plastic tote with unwashed fleece spilling out onto drying rack. 10.2) pulling sections of fleece. I don’t have room to spread out the hole fleece so I am pulling out sections and looking over that bit. (yellow large plastic tote with unwashed fleece spilling out onto drying rack.

strainer baskets coming out of wash water 10.3) strainer baskets coming out of wash water

Dirty water but I think we can g3et this fleece cleaner.10.4) Dirty water but I think we can get this fleece cleaner.

While we are back here lets  take a peek at the blackberries and see if they are ready yet, almost!

Blackberrys along the back of the house lots of berrys ripening11.1) Blackberrys along the back of the house lots of berrys ripening

close up of blackberrys and blackberry flowers11.2) close up of blackberrys and blackberry flowers

The trumpet vine is flowering again too!

Trumpet vine11.3) Trumpet vine

Scarlet runner bean flowers11.4) Scarlet runner bean flowers

It always takes longer now than i think, to get anything done. i did not get this done before lunch, i acutaly forgot about lunch and kept puttering along.  now that i have this much blog post written, its dark out, but the fleece should be drained by now. back wiling, i can finish draining the stock tank and give it a rinse before refilling it and starting the first rinse. wish me luck avoiding the masketos.

I hope you are taking advantage of these lovely sunny days, to have fun with fiber; prepping it, felting, spinning or weaveing with it.

A Little Light-up Lantern

A Little Light-up Lantern

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A while ago, I picked up a few little hanging displays.

I thought a little light-up sphere would be a fun thing to put in one.

I have a really small Tupperware lid that I used to draw around for a circle. It’s about 2 inches(25 mm) across.  Then I enlarged it. I drew the size of the fake candle in the middle just to see the size relationship.

I used some wool I had with sparkle in it. It is called Moss from World of Wools’ Glitzy collection. I did one thin layer as I want he light to show through. I am surprised at how well the sparkle shows in the picture.

Once it started to shrink, I popped the resist out. You can see it hasn’t shrunk much yet. I cut a fairly large hole as I want to put the fake candle inside.

I just kept going until I was at this size

It fits the holder just fine. It is still wet here. I had to take it home and stuff it so it could dry in the right shape. And now I’ve come to writing about it, I can’t find what I did with it.  I will search for it some more and hopefully find it for some pictures with the light inside before I have to publish this in a few days

Registration Open for Felt Hats and Felt Bags Online Classes

Registration Open for Felt Hats and Felt Bags Online Classes

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Teri’s online classes are open for registration today. The classes will begin on July 17. Teri teaches two great classes, one on how to felt concertina style hats and the other one on how to create felt bags. Both of these classes will teach you methods of improving your felting techniques so if you have felted around a resist before such as to make a felt pod, you should consider taking the next step on your felting journey.

For more information and to register for the felt hat class, click here. 

Have you taken a look at other student’s hats that have taken Teri’s class? There are some really fun hats and the variations are quite creative. Take a look at the student hat gallery here.

Teri’s felt bag class is an excellent way to learn how to create a variety of shapes of bags, as well as features such as straps, multiple compartments and pockets. You can find more information and register here.

And the student gallery for felted bags is here.

So what are you waiting for? Jump in and learn some new felting techniques.

Or if you’re just starting out and want to learn the basics, try our Wet Felting for Beginners class. This class can be taken at any time with unlimited access. For more information and registration, click here.