3 dimensional – Felting and Fiber Studio

Finishing and Hanging

August 24, 2017 Marilyn aka Pandagirl Comments 16 comments

There had been some discussion about how to frame my Hummingbird picture I blogged about here:

https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2017/07/15/the-hummingbird-and-the-tiger-lily/

Shadow boxes seemed to be the popular vote, so I bought a deep shadow box. I didn’t have many choices because of the size 10 x13″ (25 x 33 cm)

http://www.hobbylobby.com/Home-Decor-Frames/Frames-Photo-Albums/Shadow-Boxes-Display-Cases/10%22-x-13%22-Barnwood-Shadow-Box-Display-Case/p/37949

But when I got it home and took it apart I didn’t realized the glass couldn’t be removed without breaking it. Plus I didn’t like the color of the frame next to the picture. So, I decided to return it.

I found another regular frame in gold that I liked. It’s hard to see in these photos. But I liked the way it showed off the dimension no matter what angle you see it from. I first hung it on a dark green wall.

But it’s home is now in the kitchen between two windows on a teal wall. I’m sorry the camera doesn’t pick up the actual teal and gold colors. It is really striking, plus it’s next to where I sit at the table.

Then I found a spot in the kitchen for my crocheted Starburst Potholder. Unfortunately, I also caught the shadows.

Lastly, I hung my “Red Dawn” that I had done in Ruth’s Free Motion Stitching Class.

It is on a dark green column in my dining room. You probably noticed the rose color next to it which is the inside of the column next to it. So, I felt it pulls those two together.

Both Red Dawn and the potholder are hung with the Command Strips we’ve been discussing on the forum.

I have a huge pile of felt pictures I have done, but don’t know if they will ever get framed or hung. I don’t think I have enough wall space in my home. Although I do change things out occasionally.

What do you do with your creations?

The Hummingbird and the Tiger Lily

July 15, 2017 Marilyn aka Pandagirl Comments 18 comments

I know a lot of people are experiencing different seasons around the world. Here in the U.S. summer has finally arrived. One of the things I always look forward to is seeing the hummingbirds fluttering around my flowers.

While the hummingbirds haven’t been seen yet, I decided to make my own. I started with making a base with Domestic 56 batts, then I added a thin layer of batts and silk hankies as a background felting it slightly and letting it dry.

I decided to make the bird and flower in three dimension. I shaped the bird first by doing some needle felting and putting it in place then covering it with handmade prefelt and silk hankies. I did a little needle felting on the wings to get the detail of the wings. The beak was made like a spike and attached before the final wet felting.

The Tiger Lily petals and stamens and stem were made from prefelt and again the stamens were added right before the final wet felting. I used little resists under the petals and needle felted the stamens to stay in place.

A little plastic wrap around the stamens and beak to keep them from felting to the petals or background.

The felting was slow and I tried not to get it too hard. I wanted a soft look.

I added more needle felting for detail.

Here are several different angles to see the dimension.

Looking at it from above it doesn’t show the dimension. I may have it framed in a shadow box. What do you think?

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.