Finally Mer-Felting! in Toronto Ontario Canada part 1
Finally Mer-Felting!
Monday, Oct 20th 2025.
Monday Morning arrived much too early. Instead of my original plan of donning my apron, a cherished reminder of my wonderful mother in law, and heading to the guild to work on the library, Glenn was loading a couple of suitcases and a project box into the car. It’s going to be over the usual 5.5 hour drive, with a brief stop to feed the car and ourselves. We are adding a couple quick shopping detours once we get into the Toronto area (primarily, Board Game Bliss). So maybe it will be quicker if you meet me in Oakville? The hotel has a pool you could wait in, but its hours are limited, and it was really chilly the last time I was in it. (No wet felting in the pool while you wait!!!)
1.11) A map of the edge of Ontario, between Ottawa and Oakville, to give you perspective of where we are going today
It was a long drive down, is it possible that either Ottawa or Toronto have moved farther apart? By the time we got into Oakville, and found a spot to eat dinner, the Pool was closed. So, how about we meet on the Go Train platform just down the street from the hotel, and you can come into Toronto with me, it’s the 8:30 express train. Don’t forget your umbrella, the forecast is rain all day.
Tuesday, October 21st 2025
One of Glenn’s Brothers ( brother #4 of 5 brothers) is joining us today, having flown in from the States. I am sure you will like him, he is a math teacher and thespian. We hiked down from the hotel to the Go station. Oh my! The Go train has a raised platform for wheelchairs and walkers to more easily get on and off the train. The Train worked beautifully and was very comfortable. Unfortunately, when we got to the subway station, the lifts for the subway were not all working, so it took a bit of extra time to find the lifts that were and get back from the detour the helpful transit people had sent us on. Good thing the building we are looking for is not too far from a subway stop. We arrived just in time, instead of early, as Glenn’s brother thought we would be. (Avoiding stairs always takes much longer when using public transit.)
We were going to a posh law office in a very high tower, in a canyon of high towers, reflective glass and old stone buildings.
1.12) Some of the landmarks I could see
There were comfortable couches and snacks by the reception desk, and an open stairway in front of a tall window. This window alcove had 2 chairs and a few plants, and a fantastic view looking, I think, sort of south or southeast. (It was hard to tell on the 16th floor, all my normal landmarks are at ground level, and I never had a direct view of the sun. Later consultation with the map suggests I was looking west-ish.) The Brothers wandered off to a room on another floor to do legal stuff. (I am not a beneficiary, I am not one of the 5 brothers, so I didn’t go with them. I am just here as Glenn’s Driver, moral support, and to do some felting.) I gave up the too-low comfortable couch for the area under the stairs in front of the window with my box of felting supplies. I checked with the office manager that I would be out of the way there, and the huge window could prove interesting if the rain holds off longer.
1.2) This is a nice office, I don’t want to be underfoot, and the lighting is better over by the window.
1.3) Settling into a corner under the stairs.
1.4) There were some iconic buildings in my view. The Hudsons Bay building, a church(out of shot to the left) and what I finally figured out was old Toronto city hall and New City Hall.
I spotted an odd building that may not have been a building. I have seen a program on a subway system, I think it was Boston, but it could have been New York (both were discussed in the program), they had buildings that kept their facades, but had been gutted to add ventilation systems for the subway tunnels beneath them. I think this may be one of those fake buildings. It looked very interesting. I would love to have had a tour of it!
1.5) a shell of a building? 4 massive turbines stick out of the middle of what remains of the stone building.
As I was getting organised to start felting, I noticed I had more than just architecture to watch this morning. I have seen roofers working before, but it’s always from below (not a very enlightening perspective). This was a flat roof, too, so not something I have seen done in person before. This will also give you an idea of the actual zoom on my camera, as I got curious about that, too.
1.6-1.8) Oh no, now I have made all the guild members very nervous!!!
While they are getting to work, adding plastic sheeting and rubber membranes to the sides, I should get to work too. As much as the Mer-boyfriend wants to do his own abs, I should really give him a hand (ok, literally). I am going to focus on hand and arm musculature today.
I started with forearms and strengthening the wrists. The density of the felt was too soft, and the wire strength was overpowering the wool felt through the full forearm. I want the arias just above and below the wrist to be much firmer so the wire will be persuaded that bending at the wrist is correct, while bending in the forearm is not. If you are making a figure that will only be in one position, this is not as big a consideration. Since I don’t know how they will eventually decide to pose, I want them to have options.
2.1) Diagram of wool density around a joint
Note: if you would like the surface over the joint to have the same superficial density as the surrounding felt, you can use a crown needle or use shallow felting to firm the surface, but leave the under layers less densely felted.
2.2) working on the muscles of the forearms (the extensor group)
2.3) working on the posterior aspect of the upper arm just above the elbow joint
It’s handy to have good myology (Muscles) and osteology (Bones) diagrams for this. If you don’t have an extensive selection of anatomy and myology books, Google can be very helpful with its search “Images” tab. Good research is part of the fun of felting!
Once I had firmed up the arms, I focused on his hands. I have the fingers wrapped and have added the beginnings of the thenar and hypothenar eminence at the base of the palm. The fingers can be tricky or fussy to work on. If you only work from one angle, it will flatten the look of the fingers, so working all the way around the fingers works best. Make sure that your needle has the first barb close to the tip so you don’t have to stab deeply to move the fibre. This is again a good spot to switch to a crown needle; it’s not as fast with only a total of 3 barbs, but it doesn’t need to go as deep to engage the fibres.
2.4-2.5) working around the thumb
2.6) Mer resting and having a break in his project box (needle in lat border of the palm).
I checked in on how the roof repair was going. I was trying to figure out if the gravel part was done or if it was yet to be done.
3.1-3.2) watching roofers lay out plastic on top of the black layer, and wondering if the area with rock is finished or yet to be worked on. Using the zoom, I figured out that the gravel is the top layer.
The reflections are interesting with the stormy sky and landscape reflecting in the glass tower in front of me. The clouds have varying looks of impending downpour pour but so far, no rain has fallen. In the glass tower in front of me, I can see a landscape reflecting what is past the building I am in. As the light shifts and changes, the reflections shift too. It is distracting from my felting, and now I wish I were working on a landscape (don’t tell the young Mer, I will get back to working on him again!)
3.3) Storm clouds and reflections in the glass tower before me.
If you look to the lower right side of the reflected building, you will see the landscape that captivated my attention. I am not sure if it was just the shifting lighting or if it was the segmentation of the image by the window frames. I spotted a brief sliver of light on the fall trees as it passed and disappeared.
3.4) The landscape reflected in the glass with a sunbeam piercing the clouds, highlighting a stretch of trees and houses.
The clouds cleared for a moment, a bit later, but were quickly followed by a thick grey miasma of impending wetness….
3.5-3.6) It was particularly striking with the blue sky reflecting in the glass and the storm rushing in behind the building.
3.7) The storm rushed past, determined to dump water somewhere else since the sky cleared and the reflections of clouds were fabulous
I next turned my attention to the old City hall (the new one is a half-circle tower, not nearly as interesting a building). The old tower and main building are dwarfed by the much taller buildings around it. Unlike the many new reflective towers, this building has ornamentation and detail to look at. I hope you are fascinated by architecture as I am and will be inspired. If not by the architecture, then maybe it will give you thoughts of who would live in a building with such interesting windows and what they should wear? What would the gargoyles look like if they got up and flew off? Or, maybe the patterning around the clock face tower will inspire a vessel or scarf?
4.1- old city hall disappearing into the new building surrounding it
4.2- just peeking over the building, the fabulous fenestration and detailing are just visible,
4.3- Gargoyles!! Oh, the dentils in the roof and repeated under the gargoyle’s ledge! What is that pattern just under the clock? If only I could get closer…
4.5- Oh yes, I can get closer!
4.6)- more patterning on this gable end, the sun with swords, circles with a bar and plain weave?
4.7-In the late afternoon, the sun came out, giving this raking light, creating depth and accentuating the details
4.81- As the sun swung further around and pierced between buildings, it finally struck the glass neighbour of old city hall. Bathing the old building in reflected light and shadow patterns from its towering neighbour.
4.82) Sunset is approaching, and the reflections off the glass tower onto the stone and copper roof are intriguing but almost lost amongst the urban landscape.
5.1)The young Mer showing the progress on his hands
5.2) Hands can be a suggestion, or you can spend a long time adding knuckles and surface detail (ask Google to show you surface anatomy, and you should find diagrams of the superficial features)
By late afternoon, I had been switching back and forth, from felting to photography, as the light shifted and played off the reflective surfaces. That landscape I had been watching in the reflection of the building across from me occasionally had highlights of sunshine between clouds, causing parts of the landscape to be illuminated while other parts were darkened. It was very dramatic.
6.1) Another sunbeam strikes the landscape reflection in the building across from me
The sun was getting lower, and I was hoping for a fabulous sunset.
6.2) The reflections and cast light were getting interesting!
Glenn was sent down by their lawyer (for brothers #2 through 5), to say I could go upstairs and join brothers 4 & 5, since a possible agreement had been found… but when I got there, ah, not quite yet. Glenn had carried my Camera, which accidentally stayed in the room with him, and I went to the hall by the elevators. There was a small table beside the door labelled mail-room and a perfectly placed pot light. So I unloaded my project box and got back to work. Unfortunately, I missed the sunset, since there were no windows in the hall. I did have a lovely chat with a lawyer (not involved with mediation) who was working late as well. I give her a quick demo-brake, explaining needle felting and the Missing Mer-teen dilemma and making a Mer-boyfriend to tempt her out of hiding.
The process ran into the evening, but I had an audiobook and was happily felting. Eventually, they were done. No one ever saw brother #1, but he must have been there somewhere. Brothers #4 & 5 and I all headed back towards the subway, the Go-train, and eventually back to Oakville. (Drat, it’s too late and the pool is closed again). (The floating would have been nice, but I am really not fond of the wetness of the water. Water would be much better if it was warmer and drier.)
Wednesday, October 22nd 2025
Very early in the morning, we said goodbye to Brother#4, as he headed off to the airport to fly back to the States. It was very good to see him. Hopefully, we will be able to visit the 3 brothers living in the States in the future, but not until the law applies equally, women regain their rights, and sanity returns.
We also packed up and contacted Monika, of the Olive Sparrow, to check if it would be ok to drop in on the way home. She is not too far off the Don Valley Parkway, south of the 401 highway. She would meet us in about 2.5 hours, lots of time to get to the other side of Toronto!!! ………..
We loaded the car with suitcases, the project box, and the Mer-Boyfriend looking out the back seat window and waving at passing cars (I did take the needle out of his fingers so it was easier for him to wave, if he wants to) (to be continued shortly)
Remember, the sneaky comment button is still hiding at the top of the page as I am writing this, if you would like to comment or just say hi!
1.1)poster of new fiber festival
1.2) map showing the Pew building and Merrickville locks.
1.3) the Merrickville lockstation
1.4)the Canal locks at Merrickville
1.5)the Canal locks at Merrickville
1.6)the Canal blockhouse at Merrickville, the military would be stationed here to protect the cannel from American incursions. I is now a museum.
1.7) the Arron Merrick Building (Side)
1.8) the Arron Merrick Building (front)
1.9) former church now called the Pews.
2.1) most of the vendor tables in the hall there are a couple more to the left out of frame and at least one more to the right.
2.2-2.9) booths in the main lower hall
3.1-3.6) photos second hall basement
4.1) the store Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly
4.2-4.5) displays within the store that cot my eye
5.1) The first time through, a lot of games are already gone! I hope I can find the alpaca and lama games!! How many gamers in front of me are Fibre People?
5.2) First round of shopping, I got both the lama and the Alpaca games!!! Plus 2 that had tempting descriptions, and the boxes looked interesting.
5.3) A quick look around, and there are still shoppers downstairs.
5.4)A game about Rome, lots of buildings and monuments
6.1 )Saturday Morning, after the first round of game shopping.
6.2)pins used for spacing
6.3)working on the first cone link-shaped bump
6.4) At 11 am, the second go through with reduced prices on most of the games started.
6.5) I found a few more games that looked interesting, but most had no fibre theme.
6.6) Steampunk airships battle over a landscape of hexes.
6.7)the smaller closer closer-spaced scutes
6.8) Scutes are blocked in
7.1) Turning to the human parts, let’s firm up and define muscles 
7.2) building up the definition of muscles and firming up the wool in the forearm 
7.3) Glenn and the Mer in progress, both looked quite pleased with the weekend so far! (and it’s only Saturday!)
1.1) little table and felting supplies for the next 2 days
1.2) The temporarily empty 2 tables directly in front of me will be filled with Playtesting and new game demos’
2.1) I consulted with the young Mer about his fishy-part’s colours. It’s a bit early to start adding the top layer, but I am putting off deciding how to approach the Scutes and Denticles.
2.2) Part of the braid undone so you can see the colour variations.
2.3) Adding the Dorsal fin, it has a “V” notch on the back part of the fin and is thicker at the leading edge.
2.4) starting the Heterocercal and Caudal tail fin
2.5) There is a thicker area along the top edge of the heteroceral tail fin
2.6) I am not sure which game this was, but all the odd playing pieces caught my attention.
2.7-2.8) the tail, Pelvic, and Anal fins have been blocked in, but the shape is not correct yet.
3.1) fins that are part of the main armature, Pectoral and Heterocercal tail and caudal fin
3.2) single wire insertion to create a secure Dorsal fin. (More fibre will be added to the core wool after the wire has been added.)
3.3- 3.4) Pelvic fins are a pair of fins on the underside of the fish before the single anal fin.
3.5 ) using the fake clover punch tool to flatten the fins at his hips.
4.1) previewing the room full of games for sale.
1.1-1.2) 05-2025 Cangames (you can see what happens if you get distracted winding fingers…I fixed that too.)
1.3) 06-04-2025 Mer-boyfriend trying to get me to rush his felting
1.4) 06-15-2025 Blacksmithing weekend and felting the mer-boyfriend
1.5) 07-14-2025 Social
1.6) 08-08-2025 Friday Twist shop and demo
2.1) Diagram of superficial felting with a less felted core.
2.2) Diagram inserting the needle deeper to affect the under layer 
3.1) 10-05-2025 Slipper workshop (I think the wetness was too much for him?)
4.1-4.3) 01-19-2022 Mr. Mer’s Fishy parts, augmenting armature after felting is well underway. (Insertion of Harrington rods in progress) fixing this far into felting becomes harder to hide the surgery, but not impossible.
5.1-5.2) The fish parts are now quite firm. I think I am almost ready to start adding the little spikes.
5.3)Some of the sturgeon reference photos I have collected, focusing on the spines/spikes.
1.1) the Wet felting kit from Living Felt. I will be using the purple Ball Brause Wet Felting Tool.
2.1) Ann prepping plastic for the workshop
2.2) bubble wrap, plastic and pool noodle
2.3) Ann Brought not just the fiber for the slippers, but a wagon load of fiber.
2.4) 100 gr balls of Corriedale fiber
2.5) slipper samples and patterns
2.6) ankle books resist shape
2.7) heelless slipper resist
2.8) slipper with heal resist.
3.1) starting to divide the fiber
3.2) laying out the first side of the resist, last of the 4 layers starting to go down
3.3) 4 layers on each slipper on each side
3.4) embellishment fibers filling the table
4.1) wetting the first side, and carefully wrapping the extra fiber around the resist
4.2) my slippers start to get wet
4.3) using the plastic to help spread the water (so the fiber doesn’t stick to your fingers)
4.4) wrapping the second layers edge fibers around the wool rapped resist
5.1) some of the embellishment fibers
5.2) embellishments added and then more water added
5.3) looking under the plastic at one of the tows of the slippers
6.1) the rubbing with Tupperware lid
6.2) pinch test after rubbing is successful and it’s on to rolling!
6.3) checking everything is still attached and looking for signs of shrinkage
6.4) The water was making a valiant effort to soak me but I dogged as much as I could! The towel, on the other hand has only a small patch that is still dry, the rest is quite soaked
6.5) Even the latest Mer I was working on, did not seem interested in getting wet! (Unrelated dry felting glute shot!)
7.1) checking with foot size agents the length
7.2) try it on
7.3) adjustments
7.4) still needs work but they now look like slippers, checking amount of shrinkage
2.11 ) I think I may need to get a bigger walker or one with an attached cart for shopping. Now I have to take everything off so I can sit down!
2.21- Shetland – 2.22 – Icelandic – 2.23 Gotland/Fin
2.3 one of my hanging baskets this year, Fussia
3.1) the event fills a gym, and has Equipment, yarn, project bags, knitted items, fiber and demos.
3.21-3.22) Judy Kavanagh’s Spindles and bandweaving loom, she also had the cool mitten pattern (if only I could knit and follow a pattern)
3.3) Alpaca tracks thread lightly silk hankies hand died
3.4) Wind Weft, Mohair and Mohair/wool blends
3.5)Luna (wood turning and weaving)
3.61-3.62)Janet Whittam handwoven cloths, blankets and baskets
3.7) Karberry Farm hand dyed combed top and fiber (its where the dirty ram came from she always has lovely Shetland fleeces)
3.8) Croocked fence farm
4.1) Charm N Stitches, Butterfly embroidery in incredibly fine detail (those are miniature pins in the thimble)
4.2) Top of the whorl
4.3) Les Moutons de Richard, they are new vendors and had batts as well as spun and hand died yarn.
4.4) Originals by Lynne, Knitwear
4.51-4.53) Yvieknits Yarns
4.61 – 4.62) Cactus Yarn Studio
4.7) Les Belles Bouchlettes, Mohair yarn For knitting and weaving as well as combed top.
5.1) Kingston weaving and spinners guild had a nice display of weaving
6.16.2 6.3-6.4) Farmer Brown’s Felted play mats.
7.1-7.2) I would say that was a yes.
8.1 8.2 8.3) jan’s shopping
14.1) hat and mitts on table
14.2) the booth with the fabulous mitts was Cercle d’envol
14.3) drawing on squares to be use to make quilt hangings.
14.4 – 14.5) moose seem to be a theme lately
15.1-15.2) Kidjīmāninān booth looked like a log cabin!
15.3) leg to be identified (adolescent moose) and cool pin (landscape with a canou and 3 little circles representing heads in it).
15.4) Kidjimaninan bag and pin
16.1) the full map of the event we are at the back of the building at the top of the map.
16.2) kids tent
16.3) just barley in view to the far left is the rare breeds tent, the large tent on the Left/middle held more vendors, the smaller tent to the right had swifts and ball winders. Off camera further to the right were three more tents. The smaller two had lectures or demonstrations and the other small tent sold beer. The large tent, held the food vendors. Off camera behind me are the kid’s activity tent and the scary misting station.
17.1) Heritage livestock Canada had a friendly sheep!
17.2) sheep in the heat! She was in the shade and seemed very relaxed.
17.3) She did seem to enjoy all the attention
18.1) On to the vendor tent! 
18.2) Felt figures
18.3) dragon sewn felt
18.4)Ferme Taiga booth
18.5) Ferme Taiga booth close up of some of the very nice fiber
18.6) Angora production team
18.7) Big Blue Mama’s booth had more fabulous baskets
18.8) there was a lot of knitting yarn at twist, this time it was alpaca blends
18.9) there was also yarn meant for weaving, and in this booth, there was yarn meant for crochet
19.1) a treat of Chocolate coated strawberry’s (we will have to look for these closer to home!)
19.2) Proof that Fiber festivals are the perfect spot for husbands to nap.
19.3) duck, bacon, apple, celery, onion, mayo and apricot-raisin bread, salad with raspberry dressing and fries with mayo dipping sauce! Twice in one year!!!
20.1) Glenn gave me the twist bag which the Mer-Boy-Friend seems to have taken over. I was given a gift of green curly locks, and purchased the linen tea towel.
20.2) I seem to have a theme of mostly Felt and fiber this year.
20.3) the Kidjimaninan bag had wonderful things inside it; Butterfly seed bombs, Kayo-Tea, Maple Syrup, playing cards, cloth bag and enamel pin
20.4) Horticultural felt 100% wool
20.5) silk hankies 
20.6) top row tags (L to R);Top row: Solstice 2023(Grey; Cormo/Angora/Merino/Poleworth/Lama/ Tussah silk), Masham (green red black), Masham (green red black), Cheviot (White aqua and cream). Bottom row: Shropshire (Greay gold), Exmoor Horn (Brown Blue), Faroese (Blues), Masham (Greens orange), Eclipse (Greys), Cheviot (White aqua and cream). 
20.7)Urso wool batts, golden tones and cream tones
20.8) 2 braids Cheviot/Peridale
20.9) Raw Icelandic fiber
9.1) photo selfie setup just outside the arena with a sheep on a rocket and snowball bush.
9.2) a quick peek at the ongoing Ottawa guild demo in hall between the arena and the gym.
10.1 3 shots, one of the arena at opening, woman looking at weaving yarn, mohair top
10.2) buttons, knitting yarn and samples
10.3) Christine’s booth with bats of mixed fiber and art yarn. She is spinning on a Majacraft wheel.
11.1) combed top of various breeds and needle felting with dried flowers.
11.2) ghost with dry flowers in belljar.
11.3) looking up breed information tag has breed and micron count and some times staple length.
11.4) There was a pebble mat of felted round rocks as well as an very well done mushroom! (one in needle felt, one crochet and i think the last one is sewn)
11.5) I was impressed with the top but check out the frilly side, very nice line work and lovely subtle blending on the stem
12.1) Eco printing
12.2) Cheviot Top hand died
12.3) a booth with brooms
12.4) Linin tea towels in basket
12.5) samples of knitting with yarn from this booth
13.1-13.4 “the Future of Wool” booth close up of image they are making, pictures of people embroidering,
13.5) a large age range participated in the embroidery.
14.1) hat and mitts on table
1)Lining up to get into Twist 2025
2.1-2.2) OVWSG Demo table
2.3) Guilde des tisserandes de Gatineau; our neighbour guild on the other side of the Ottawa River
2.4) The Lace makers guild
2.5-2.6) Association des Artisans de Ceinture Flechee de Lanaudiere
3.1)I see wool! Yes, that definitely looks like wool. I wonder which booth this is?
3.2) When the crowd parted and I could see part of the booth!
3.3) Precut lengths of felt, some have holes cut out for planting plants, others are solid.
3.4) There were examples of wool Felt use; Jacket, purses, art, small batts in bags
3.5) wool strips for sale in the booth
3.6) OH my! What is that?
4.1) Fibre festivals are a good spot for extreme relaxation.
4.2-4.3) The Mer-boyfriend got impatient and started to work on his own abbs. I spent too much time explaining why I was making another mer-person to people stopping to ask what I was doing and how did it work? (Yes, I got another voodoo comment too!)
5)“Club sandwich au confit de canard- Servi dans un pain abricot-raisin-tournesol garni de bacons, oignons, pommes vertes, céleris et mayonnaise maison et un choix de frites ou de salade mesclun” / (Google helped and translated the above to English for me: “Duck Confit Club Sandwich – Served in an apricot-raisin-sunflower bun topped with bacon, onions, green apples, celery and homemade mayonnaise and a choice of fries or mesclun salad”. the dip for the very tasty french fries was “choix de mayonnaise maison” and the small salid had a fabulouse rasbary baslamic vinigret. Desert was Mousse au chocolat (I think that has to be one of the best types of Moose). If you make it to twist, this may tempt you to stay in town for dinner or a late lunch.
6) I suspect I have been watching/listening to too much US political news on you tube. We saw this in front of us on the detour. Can you guess my first thought as to who must be having a quick getaway visit to Canada?
7.1) 3 foot tall roll of wool felt!
7.2-7.3) I got 4 feet of the big roll.
8.1) “Horticultural”, as you can see there is some kemp and a bit of VM. Even so, it looks like it will make a good base for picture Needle felting.