Nuno Felt Collars

Today I listed six of my Nuno Felt Collars.  These are so light to wear and easy on and off by way of little magnetic clasps.  My favorite of these babies ( I know, mom's are not supposed to have favorites) is the one with the tiny iridescent snail shells and pearls.

Etsy Treasury

What a great way to start my Sunday, with an email telling me that my Soft Celery Nuno Felt Scarf was included in an Etsy Treasury by Lilyja.  You can check it out at this link. It will be displayed until Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=51710

Empty Nest

We have been watching and listening, for several weeks now, to baby birds in a nest tucked under a beam in our courtyard.  We could hear them chirping  when we ate dinner out there this week, and wondered how much longer those little ones would be taking up residence just above our heads. Busy at my computer this morning my husband called to me.  "Come here quick, the birds!" I hurried to the window and there he was, the last of the baby birds, standing on the edge of the nest,  obviously working up enough courage to fly for the very first time.  The parents were perched close by singing their encouragement.  Teaching by example they would fly away and then back again to show how it's done.  Message received! Suddenly as we watched, virgin wings began to flutter and a baby chick no more, took to the sky flanked on each side by proud parents.  Burt and I watched the three of them disappear up into the bluest sky.  Such a beautiful thing.  

Stringy Thingy

I love making this scarf, which I affectionately call a "Stringy Thingy".  I sandwich a selection of novelty yarns and ribbons between layers of embellished wool roving.  This is the perfect scarf because there are dozens of ways to wear it, wrapped, draped, hanging long, or one can pull the ends through the strings, even tie it at the waist for a fringy belt. It definitely invites creative accessorizing

Natalie loves her Stringy Thingy

Drawing With Wool

These new scarves are wool line drawings.  The lines meander along the length and width of the base fabric, with an eye as to how the piece will rouche up , and the drape that forms from the manipulation of the fabric.  It is pleasing to work in this free and flowing style.

After Felting

The design laid out

Nuno Felting Workshops

My workshops are going well, so well in fact that I am now offering a Nuno Scarf class for people who have taken my basic workshop.  As much as I love making nuno felt, excited about where it leads me, I especially delight in experiencing that same excitement with students in my workshops. There is so much room for creativity starting with the very first piece.  To share something I love, and have it so enthusiastically received is very satisfying.  I think the pictures say it all.

Nuno Felt Collage

I love working in a large format as in this new piece I made to hang over our bed. 

It's a Nuno Felt collage combining many beautiful elements of fabric and fiber.  

Duncan

Duncan is my daughters pup.  Duncan loves his toys and this little blue one is his favorite.  I made this Nuno Felt Bolster pillow for my daughter's birthday.  I have more of them in my Etsy Shop, and hope whoever buys one loves it as much as Duncan loves this one. Isn't he the cleverest dog, to choose a toy that is color co-ordinated with the bolster pillow? 

A few New Scarves

I call this one "Cloudy Rainbow"

"Soft Celery" is the name of this fringy ruffle.

I listed four new scarves on Etsy today, each one with it's own unique character. You can see them at www.arlenewatson.etsy.com

I am so fascinated with Nuno Felt and have a flood of ideas in my head for future pieces.  

That could explain why no two of my nuno scarves are alike.  

I love to create Nuno Felt and find great joy in teaching others how to do it.  

Tomorrow I have five women coming to my studio for a two day Nuno Felt Workshop.  This process brings creativity alive, and I experience that all the time with the students in my classes.   Seeing people excited and happy with what they are learning is wonderful.  I find that felting offers elements of magic and metamorphous with delightful results.