Cob Web Scarf

The lacy, silky quality of the Wenslydale wool makes a luxurious wrap.

Wenslydale

I bought this soft and silky Wenslydale roving in Taos, at the Wool Festival two years ago. I've had it stashed, taking it out to admire it's lustrous beauty from time to time. My plan was to make myself a delicate shawl or scarf of thin cobweb Wenslydale, and tomorrow is the day!

My First Nuno Felt Bolero

Inspired by the likes of brave felters, such as my friend Joni Cornell I made my first one piece garment. While not seamless, that's next, it's the largest wearable piece I've made so far. But I sense it's only the beginning. I rolled it, a lot. I fulled it, a lot. Towards the end I was rubbing and trying it on, then rubbing a little here, a little there to adjust the fit and trying it on again, until I was pleased with the custom fit those final subtle adjustments provided. What would take stitching and ripping and re-stitching in a sewn garment, is accomplished with spot fulling.

Felting in Hope Alaska

I packed a suitcase full of fiber and felting supplies for my recent visit to Anchorage, and I'm glad I did! The gals in Hope, Alaska, a tiny historic gold mining town where my kids have a cabin in the woods, asked me to do a Nuno Felt Workshop while I was hanging out in Hope. The powers that be kindly offered us the use of the chemisty lab at the Hope school, where the counters are perfect felting height and water spigots are plentiful. The day before our workshop, Denise Morrison from Fiber'n'Ice in Big Lake, Alaska, and her friend Myler, brought what looked like their entire merino and silk inventory for the shopping pleasure of my students and myself. They placed big soft containers, filled with beautifully, hand dyed wool roving in a colorful line across the grass. It had been rainy for days, but that morning the sun was out, the grass was dry, and the shopping was choice. Thanks so much Denise!

Believe it or not, Alaska is my go to place for fiber.

Denise has a way with dye that can't be beat!

Our classroom was full of light with a view of lush lawn and evergreen forest.

I was delighted to have my daughter join in the fun.

Happy participants make teaching a joy!

Little Nuno Clutch Bags

I really enjoy experimenting with all sorts of materials when I make my nuno felt. Doing small pieces gives me the opportunity to play with lots of different materials, yarns and fabrics of all kinds. I have even used pieces of those soft plastic mesh bags that onions and potatoes come in! You never know if a fabric or other element will work in nuno felting until you try. That's what I tell my students, and that's how I was taught.

I got into making these clutch bags in preparation for a workshop I am teaching with Jeannette Cook next January. It is her annual San Diego Beach House Bead Retreat. I will teach the nuno felt clutch the first day of the retreat, and over the next several days participants will do free form beading on their purses under Jeannette's expert tutelage. All this while staying at a beautiful beach house on Mission Bay, steps away from the surf! I think there are still spaces left. Just go to this San Diego Beach House Bead Retreat link for more information.

I dipped into my husbands leather stash for the front of this bag.

All it needs now is a felted rope strap,

and it's ready to go!

The felted rope makes a strong and handsome purse strap.

Off to the studio now

to make a felted rope strap for this one too.

Cookie's Shawl

I had a delightful, fiber filled day yesterday. My students from the "best friends" workshops, and I, met at the Quilt Visions Gallery in Liberty Station. Liberty Station was a huge Naval Training Station, dedicated in 1923, that today is being revived with unique and interesting art related shops and organizations , restaurants, and lovely areas to stroll and enjoy our great weather. The quilts in the gallery are well worth a visit. Best of all there are shopping opportunities. In the gallery gift shop, Quilt Visions members sell such things as hand dyed silk hankie and gauze, both perfect for nuno felting. Needless to say we all bought some of these goodies to add to our felting stash.

On my way home I stopped into The Shepherdess, a wonderful bead and fiber shop, to pick up some findings for earrings I'm making. Cookie , as you can see, took one look at the Sevilla Nuno Felt Shawl I was wearing, and bought it on the spot. Good taste, Cookie, and don't you look terrific wearing it. The interesting side mark is that Cookie's family come from Sevilla, Spain, the inspiration and namesake for the shawl. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Paras News

Here is a tip for locals. I have lived in San Diego for the past 10 years, but only discovered the best magazine store in the city, yesterday. In the North Park area, corner of 30th and University is Paras News. What a store! The racks of magazines go on forever. The section pictured below confirms that they might just have every, sewing, knitting, crochet, beading, and fiber related magazine published. As you can see the selection is huge.

I picked up the latest FiberArts mag, a favorite publication of mine.

Ever the foodie....I recommend you enjoy the great Mexican food at Ranchos,

directly across the street from Paras News, before you browse the magazines.

More Gauze Shawls

I seem to have found my present niche........nuno felt shawls.

I love making them and I enjoy wearing them.

Big and colorful, yet light in weight. Perfect for summer!

Spring Talmadge Show

My husband and I have been doing the Talmadge Art Show, twice a year, for the past five years. This time instead of individual displays we decided to mix it up. With our felt and leather pieces complimenting one another, we created our own little wearable art boutique!

You can click on the picture below, for a closer look.

This was the debut show for my new gauze shawls. It was wonderful to see people wearing and draping them in so many creative ways.

I think Susan looks smashing in this shawl with the big medallions.

Parque de Maria Luisa

As promised, more pictures of Spain. In Sevilla we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the Parque de Maria Luisa. I found these gardens to be elegant in a wonderfully understated way. If I lived in Sevilla I know I would return often to this tranquil spot.

Barcelona Shawls

The colors and patterns that I saw in Barcleona

inspired me to make these two nuno felt shawls within days of my return.

Barri Gotic

There are several reasons why I want to go back to Barcelona, not the least of which is to roam through the narrow, stone paved streets of The Barri Gotic again. This part of the city, my favorite, dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, when it was built inside the old Roman walls. Today, trendy restaurants, tapas bars and unique shops are creatively housed in these old buildings, and sit side by side of Roman ruins and the remnants of ancient churches.

An arched passageway leads to the courtyard of an old church.

Some of the streets are so narrow, and the buildings so old that

you can almost shake your neighbors hand across the street........from your balcony.

one street leads into the next.....

Perfect for a stroll day or evening.

Each passageway is an invitation of discovery.

Little cafes in small squares bring light into the dense streets, and

provide a place to meet friends and neighbors,

and stay connected to the life of the neighborhood.

I think I could enjoy living for a while in this kind of urban area. The fascinating streets, the old and older buildings, the lively plazas, interesting shops, restaurants and cafes, museums, and history everywhere. So, maybe not to live in Barcelona, but certainly worth another visit.

Sunny Barcelona

We returned last week from a holiday in Spain. We visited Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, and Barcelona, my personal favorite. Gorgeous, and classy, with the unique charm of Gaudi and his fanciful structures to add spice to the mix, Barcelona has it all. A meeting place for us, was The Arc de Triomf, a beautiful arch at one end of a wide pedestrian walkway. From there it was a short stroll into the medieval part of the city, the Bari Gotic, and the lovely Picasso Museum. I couldn't get enough of those narrow streets, architecturally rich with wonderful restaurants and unique shops, and history.

We walked by the arch many times and the fellow below was always there, playing his trumpet

On this sunny Sunday, after a long stretch of rainy weather, people were out walking and visiting. This group of children were drawn to the music. As their parents visited with friends, they were more than happy to sit and listen
I have lots of wonderful pictures of Spain, from the narrow ancient streets of the big cities, to the countryside with it's endless hills of olive trees. I'll post them in bits and pieces for all to enjoy.

The "Friends" Workshop

I want to thank four lovely women, all new to Nuno Felting, for a wonderful two days in our studio. Participating were two sets of best friends, each best friends for over 40 years,

who love to do things and make things together.

They were learning the seeming magic of Nuno Felt,

and letting their creativity flow.

I know they had a great time and so did I.

I'm always delighted to see the pieces made in our workshops.

Below are a few examples.