Shows – Felting and Fiber Studio

A new spindle

November 30, 2022 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

Both Jan and Bernadette have told you about our guild sale and exhibition. Now it’s my turn. I didn’t have my own booth this year so I got to wander around and fill in and help out wherever I was needed. It was really nice to not be assigned anywhere and just enjoy the show and chat with everyone after not seeing so many in person for a couple of years.

I am not a big spender at these things. I look for new fibres and add-ons and how people are combining things. Then I go looking for the ingredients to make my own.

The one thing I do buy is spindles. I bought a new spindle from Judy Kavanaugh. https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/JudyKavanagh She makes all kinds of tools and patterns. This one is a bedouin-style spindle. It has 4 arms and is a top whorl spindle instead of a bottom whorl spindle I usually use. The wood is beautiful.

People kept asking if it was a Turkish spindle but you can’t take the arms off this one and you don’t wrap your yarn around them. this is the other way up so you can see the wool cob on it. The angle makes it look small.

I am enjoying spinning on it. and that brings up to the other things I bought. I bought 2 batts from Bernadette. I like to buy them from Bernadette because she isn’t recarding wool tops. She is using wool she processed herself and it is really nice to spin.

The Darker blue is what I am spinning on my new spindle and it’s marked as mixed fibre. It’s soft and a little shiny.

The brighter blue I am spinning on another spindle.

The wool is much spongier and I have lost the label but I am betting it’s Coopworth. It’s very nice to spin too.

This post is a bit backward because I bought the wool first and the spindle second. The new spindle is more exciting to chat about so it got top billing. It really went like this. I started to spin the bright blue batt first. Then I decided that a blue spindle that Judy had for sale really was calling my name. When I went to get it, someone had already bought it. You snooze you lose. then standing there chatting with Judy I saw her spinning on a Bedouin spindle and gave it a try and decided it was just as well the other one was sold. I picked out the lovely one at the top. So then I abandoned this lovely fibre and started spinning on my new spindle with the other batt.

All in all, I think I was very restrained in my buying. There were so many pretty things I could have bought.

Here is a picture of me spinning at the show. And yes I really did chop my hair off. It was time for a change and it will grow again.

The Show is Over

September 11, 2019 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

The show is over. It was a really good show with lots of people. I was really pleased with how I did. Now a day or two to recover and I have to start thinking of what to make for the next one.

This was my booth. Jan took the picture. I am hoping using the embed link from One drive will work.

I need more than a 10×10 booth but not 10 by 20, so I take two and My friend Bernadette takes half of one.

I sold one of my art pieces. My First Quarter Challenge piece. that made me very happy and sad at the same time. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2019/03/27/first-quarter-challange-finished/

So far I am failing at my third-quarter challenge. I hade a couple of ideas and then changed my mind then picked something else and even did a layout but nope, I am not feeling it. It was another planet sort of thing. I have another idea but we will see.

This was the other planet one. The white domes are paper.

I wanted to remind people that World Wide Spin in Public Day is coming up, September 21, 2019. Are you Planning to spin with friends or by yourself? Or at a shop or other event? If you have been thinking about trying spinning this would be a great day to do it. I will be at the farmers market with my spindle. Here is a facebook group. There are lots of posts about places to participate. facebook.com/groups/wwsipday/

A show and Picture Progress

November 11, 2018 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

I had a show on the weekend. It was quite good. We put a big push on advertising on Facebook and Instagram and it looks like it paid off. There were more customers this year. It’s nice that everyone’s efforts paid off.

This is what my booth looked like.

I sat in the back near the mirror and worked on my Moy MacKay class picture. You can see it on the left of the table. People were very interested and it helped to start conversations.

On the second day, I changed the table around a little to see if the little bags would go better. It might have been a little better. people look at them a lot but they are not selling. Maybe the price is a bit high. I need to get my webpage set up to sell or get my Etsy page up and working.

This is what it looked like at the beginning of the day.

I added some more to the fences and some shadows for the ones on the left as the sun is on that side. added some purple to the left backfield to tone it down as it farther away. The big thing I worked on mountains. The wool colours were running across, So they really didn’t look like trees. I added a thin layer of wool going the other way to make it look more like it is covered in trees. I used a greyer green so they will reseed more.

Now I need to add some shading to give the mountains some definition and mountainy shape. It’s coming along. At the moment I am working on the holiday card exchange. What are you working on?

A brief glimpse into the Knitting & Stitching Show in London

October 14, 2018 Leonor Comments 17 comments

This weekend the biggest fibre and fabric-related event in Europe happened right here in London. Every year I volunteer for my spinning guild and, in return, I get a free pass for all days.

Although the Knitting & Stitching Show is mostly about the sales, there’s always a section dedicated to textile arts. Established artists as well as art school finalists exhibit their work every year, so that’s what I’m sharing with you today.

Let’s admire this larger-than-life crocheted cow by TOFT. They also had a giant lobster and other animals. How many hours went into each?

The artist Jenni Dutton had an exhibit about her Mother, called Dementia Darnings. You can imagine by the title how poignant each portrait was – we see this woman depicted from a young age to her final, frail days. I was very moved by it.
Look closely – can you tell how each work was created?

It’s yarn. You can see it hanging down on the portrait above. Isn’t it wonderful? All this hard work, you can tell the artist loved her mother very much. I felt like hugging her for this dedication.

Next, quilts. I’m not a particular fan of the “traditional” ones but when this technique is applied to create something unusual, you have my full attention.

I’m afraid the pictures don’t do these works justice. Both artists are American I think you can feel a lovely sort of vintage US vibe to these images.

Finally, something that made me smile, by Libby Vale.

Ironing is definitely not on my list of priorities, so I connected perfectly with the sentiments depicted in this board!

There was a lot more to show, but I’ll leave that to my next blog post. I hope you enjoyed my choice of art. Have you ever been to the Knitting & Stitching Show, or a similar event where textile art is shown? Let me know all about it in the comments section.

Joseph Banks Challenge

September 12, 2018 Karen Lane Comments 14 comments

This weekend sees the launch of the latest body of work by Lincolnshire based textile group LINQS. The group, which welcomes any gender and any ability, is now in its fourth year. The only criteria for becoming a member is that you must reside in the county of Lincolnshire. Members are given an annual challenge to make a quilt, or quilts, based on a particular famous person, place or theme. It was being invited to join LINQS in 2014 that first got me started on the path to textile art so I have a lot to thank them for!

Our first challenge was Inspired by David Hockney. The group had a terrific response from local ladies and secured a national tour with Grosvenor Shows with our quilts being displayed up and down the country. Our work visited venues from Ardingley in the south to Edinburgh in the north and various places in between.

These are just a tiny number of the quilts in the first exhibition…..

Being completely new to this medium I was fired with enthusiasm and produced four quilts. The first was a small black and white take on the painting “Woldgate Woods”….

My next attempt was based on a photograph taken by the river in Horncastle, keeping with Hockneys recurring theme of “trees”.

The third one was my take on a 1954 mixed Media self-portrait….

By now I was gaining confidence and moved on from making small quilts (30cm x 40cm) to making my fifth quilt which was 30” x 40”…..

The following year it was decided that in future we would make our person, place or thing “Lincolnshire” based and Isaac Newton, being born in the county, was selected. These are a few of the quilts from that show created by four of the members…..

Our third challenge was to make quilts inspired by the famous Botanist and Explorer Sir Joseph Banks whose family estate was at Revesby. The first showing of this body of work will be this Friday at “The Village”, Lincolnshire’s only living museum, which is in Skegness.

Banks became the president of the Royal Society in 1777, where he remained until his death in 1820. He was known as a prominent endorser of travelers and scientific men. Many voyages of discovery were approved and carried out under his supervision. He was the first person to introduce the Western world to acacia, mimosa, eucalyptus and Banksia, a genus named after him. About 80 other species of plants were also named after him.

While researching Banks I came across an image of a Banksia Seed Pod which had been charred in a bush fire. Anyone who knows my preferred colour palette will recognise why this provided the inspiration I needed for my Banks quilt!

I began by making a background using cotton fabric and painted tea bag paper……

Next came the individual “pods” (no idea of the proper technical term for these bits!) which were cut from painted interfacing free machine embroidered and wadded with thick felt…..

The main body of the Seed Pod was wet Felted Norwegian fibres, free motion stitched before adding the “bits” on top. My finished piece measures 48cm x 30cm.

I can‘t show you anyone else’s work as I don’t have photos as yet but if you are in the Skeggy area this weekend why not drop in and see them for yourself. For everyone else I will post an update very soon.

Connected Paths

April 24, 2017 shepherdessann Comments 30 comments

I told you in another piece about an art show my guild is having to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday . This is another piece I made for it. It is called connected.

As usual I started with 2 pieces of prefelt with a piece of cheese cloth in the middle for strength without bulk.

Then I added some multi coloured top I had. I didn’t want the path to be a solid colour.

I cut out prefelt pieces to make all the different houses. I tried to get houses from around the world. I didn’t place them in any particular order and every section got an apartment. I tacked all the pieces down using felting needles. I didn’t want them to move.

Then bushes and trees were added.

I started this project back in December. I spend along time hand stitching ( and unpicking and redoiong) the windows and doors. I tried to use different yarns for every house and apartment. Then I signed up for Ruth’s free motion embroidery class. I didn’t have much time to practice before I had to do the trees and bushes so it could go to be made ready for the guild show. The stitching is perhaps not the greatest but I think it goes well with the style of the picture.

I did get it in, in time and it has now been catalogued and properly photographed. The Guild art show celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday will be open on May 9, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Here’s a link to the invitation. https://www.facebook.com/events/282526522160719/?active_tab=about

Unfortunately Facebook will not let you create a 3 week event so it only shows as a 2 week event. The actual dates to see all 150 12×12 pieces ( many are for sale) are May 9-28. We are having a reception on the last day so if you would like to meet some of the artists join us for refreshments on the 28th between 1:00 and 3:00.

Out of the Box Part 2

January 26, 2017 shepherdessann Comments 11 comments

Last time I showed you a sub set of the Out of the Box Show. https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2017/01/18/colour-unboxed-by-out-of-the-box/

This time I am going to show you about half of the rest of the show. It was a really big show. Some of the shots are not great but it was so crowded that there were a few that always had someone in front of them and I never got a picture. I made them into a slideshow so you wouldn’t have to scroll down to far.. If there is any artworks you would like the artist info on let me know I took a picture of all the cards that went with the artworks so I can get the info for you.

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Guild Show and Sale

November 7, 2016 shepherdessann Comments 10 comments

Just home form 2 days as a vendor at my guilds annual show and sale. It was a busy weekend. we stayed open late on Saturday night but with it being the first time it wasn’t busy. It did give us time to look at each others things and have some good chats with fellow vendors, so not all bad. It did make for a very long day, 10am to 8 pm. Sunday morning before everyone got there I took some movies of the show so you can see it. They are not grate but I am doing better at moving slower and smoother. I hope you enjoy them.

My both is the second one you see, in the corner.

I don’t seem to have any programs on my computer that edit video. I thought I did but the programs that will show me the video want me to buy and upgrade to be able to do anything with the video. these videos were done with my iPhone What do you use to edit video?

Eco Print Show at Ceres Bakery in Kalispell, MT

November 5, 2016 ruthlane Comments 12 comments

My little group hung our eco printed work that we completed on retreat in September at Ceres Bakery in Kalispell on Thursday afternoon. The show will be up through the end of December so if you happen to be in Northwest Montana, please stop by to take a look.

There were four of us and one other quilt artist using the space. The bakery isn’t all that big and they have a hanging system that uses hooks and fishing line to hang artwork. I hadn’t ever used this type of system before and I have to say, it wasn’t that easy to use. But we persevered and managed to get everything hung. Sorry for the image quality, I took these very quickly on my phone.

Sally and Louise got their stuff hung very quickly.

Here’s Sally’s work. (You can click on any photo to enlarge.)

Here are a couple of her pieces a little closer. She added stitch to some of her leaf prints.

Here’s Louise’s section of the wall.

And a few of Louise’s pieces a little closer.

This is the work by Ann Brown, the quilt artist. (Again, click on photos to enlarge.)

Paula and I had issues with the hanging system. It seemed to take us forever to get anything hung. This is me balancing on a chair on top of a bench trying to hang some of Paula’s artwork.

This is Paula’s section of the wall. Unfortunately, by the time we got finished, I forgot to take any closer photos of Paula’s pieces. Sorry, Paula!

Here is my section of the wall. I used watercolors to add color to my eco prints and the three pieces on the right were started at the retreat using some of the gelatin plate printed paper I made while at the retreat. If you want to see these closer, check out my posts over on Permutations in Fiber here and here.

There has been some discussion about what to do with eco printed fabric. I wanted to show this finished piece of Sally’s who mainly makes art quilts. This has been embellished and quilted and then framed.

Sally also wanted me to show you her aspen tree quilt. Many times I get questions on what we do with our deconstructed screen printed fabric. The trunk of this tree was made with screen printed fabric. I think it looks great, don’t you?

Please stop by and check out the show if you are in the area!

A Peek at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London 2015

November 17, 2015 Marilyn aka Pandagirl Comments 22 comments

Our guest artist/author/photographer today is Leonor Calaca from Felt Buddies.

If you’re in Europe and a fibre aficionado, you’ve probably heard of the Knitting & Stitching Show. It happens in a few different locations and dates in the UK, and is probably the largest fabric/fibre event in Europe when hosted in Alexandra Palace here in London.

As it happens, the Alexandra Palace (or Ally Pally as it’s also known) is only 45 minutes away, on foot, from my place; as it happens as well, I’ve been volunteering for the past two years as a member of the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, to work a few hours a day at a booth that serves as a hub for all such UK guilds. Not because I’m such a wonderful and helpful person, mind you, but because this means I get a free pass to come and go anytime during those 5 days (and, at £16 for entry only, I think it’s well worth my time).

Last year I got all mesmerised by the fibres and materials I saw, and almost went bankrupt. This year I decided to be ~~good,~~ more sensible and buy only the things I absolutely needed, which worked to an extent. I also decided to focus more on my energy on the really good exhibitions, and that’s what I’m going to write about.

Let’s start with an embroidery. How lovely and detailed is that?

Art wasn’t just in 2D, the sculptures were very interesting as well.

A glass and wool sculpture by Helen Pailing. She aims to use remnants from the glass and wool industry and incorporate them in a way that makes them not only art, but something you can keep instead of take to a landfill.

The Wishing Tree by Eileen McNulty. Just look at those little details.

I don’t know the author of this one, but here is ‘Palace,’ made with cocoon stripping paper and silk organza. The theme of this booth was vessels.

Elena Thomson embroidered a sieve. Would you have thought of that? I think this would be wonderful to confuse old ladies.

‘Stumpwork’ by Alana Chenevix-Trench.

And a lovely sheep by Margarita O’Byrne.

Then I went to Studio Art Quilt’s Associates (SAQA) booth that just blew my mind. I had no idea these detailed works of art could be made in that technique. The theme was Food For Thought and this is ‘Mushroom Frittata’ by Jean Sredi.

‘Pepitas’ by Vicky Bahnhoff.

‘Yum! Pineapple Upside Down Cake’ by Diane Powers-Harris. Yes, this is still a quilt.

‘Il Mercato’ by Jeannie Moore

‘Elegant Edibles’ by Jennifer Day.

Who doesn’t love dolls?

This one was my favourite: what a grumpy face.

These two sculptures surprised me, as they’re made from a traditional paper folding technique native to the Philippines.

And I saved the best for last: a fishmongers called Kate’s Plaice! Everything you see here is either knitted or sewn, and the details just make it extraordinary.

The artist herself.

Did you go to the K&S? What caught your eye? And am I going mad for taking more time to look at art instead of yummy yarn?

Thank you Leonor for taking us on this great fibre adventure!

Felting and Fiber Studio

An International Collective of Felt and Fiber Artists

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Category: Shows

A new spindle

November 30, 2022 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

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The Show is Over

September 11, 2019 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

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A show and Picture Progress

November 11, 2018 shepherdessann Comments 12 comments

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A brief glimpse into the Knitting & Stitching Show in London

October 14, 2018 Leonor Comments 17 comments

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Joseph Banks Challenge

September 12, 2018 Karen Lane Comments 14 comments

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Connected Paths

April 24, 2017 shepherdessann Comments 30 comments

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Out of the Box Part 2

January 26, 2017 shepherdessann Comments 11 comments

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Guild Show and Sale

November 7, 2016 shepherdessann Comments 10 comments

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Eco Print Show at Ceres Bakery in Kalispell, MT

November 5, 2016 ruthlane Comments 12 comments

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A Peek at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London 2015

November 17, 2015 Marilyn aka Pandagirl Comments 22 comments

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