Fabulous Felted Fusion

Well finally I am back here again.  It is Valentine's Day so I will wish everyone sweet wishes today.

The scarfs in the photos are pieces that I made for the November 2011 Edmonton Weavers Guild Sale.  The pink one didn't sell and I am happy because it matches my winter jacket.  I feel very dressed up when I wear this one.  This was one of the projects that I worked on during the summer of mad felting with friends.  The warm deck was just the place to do this work - me rolling felt underfoot while reading 'girly' novels.  I must have read quite a bit because I did produce quite a few scarfs like these.

There was quite a bit of interest from guild members about the technique that I used to produce these scarfs.  As a result of that, I have been invited to teach this technique.  I call the class 'Fabulous Felted Fusion'.  The class will take place on March 17th at our guild home.  At the time of writing, the class is full.  There is still interest from several potential students so hopefully the class will be held again later in the year.

As I write this my sweetheart is having his afternoon siesta.  He has had a tough year end with a slip on the ice resulting in broken ribs and punctured lung.  He is taking care of himself now and hopefully recovered from that escapade.  He needs a vacation.

I am madly knitting tiny socks for my new wee 'great' nephew born on January 27th.  Photos of those will be in an upcoming posting.

I have been working on a mapping project in my journal this year.  I have been inspired by Jill Berry in an online workshop as well as her book, Personal Geographies.  Now I am seeing 'everything' looking like maps.  I wonder what kind of a map I can make from the baby socks?  Have a look at Jill's blog and website.  Try some 'mapping' and let me know what you come up with.  I will post some of my maps in upcoming days.  It seems that I have much to show but in the meantime I had better get at my work.  Send me photos of your projects.

Is this Me?

Finally signing in after weeks of being 'underground'.  Have a look at this blog http://suebleiweiss.com/freeprojects/minijournal.pdf for a recycled mini book and try it yourself.  Let me know what you used.  I have used telephone books, tracing paper and 'maps' inspired by Jill Berry.  Made in a workshop by Nadia Munarolo-Kurjata
What have you done? Let me see your work and I will get a photo of my wee mini-journal on line ASAP.
Merry Christmas!

Blueprint Quilt

Well now have a look at the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors in letters to the editor.  This quilt is published on that page along with my love note to CPS.  When I received a call from Barbara Delaney asking for permission to publish this photo, I did nearly fall off of my shoes.  Who knew that my work would be displayed in this fabulous publication.

And other than this, I am still felting madly for the Edmonton Weavers Guild fall sale for November 5th at the Strathcona community league.  This weekend is Open House at the guild home so pop around and have a look at the interesting works of our guild members.

My Monarch work is on exhibit at the Muttart Conservatory in a group showing of the Edmonton Calligraphic Society.

I have also just returned home from a brief holiday and have some of my felted scarfs at Bonnie's Fashions in Blairmore, Alberta...really close to Frank Slide.  Drop in there for a look.  And I couldn't resist purchasing yarn at a wee shop in Coleman.  Otherwise I behaved myself on the shopping front.  My darling and I did spend lots of time geocaching and found 10 caches on this vacation.  All of you geocachers can enjoy this bit of information.

Well on with the hunt for some bookkeeping work and felting and geocaching and preserving the summer harvest from my garden.

Madly Felting

Yes that is what I am doing.  I am madly felting my nuno scarves getting ready for the annual Edmonton Weavers Guild sale on November 5th.  That seems like a long ways away.  However, the weather has occasionally cooperated this summer so I can 'felt' outside, rolling the bubble pack with my feet while reading my book.  Nothing at all like multi-tasking.
I also finished weaving several rugs for the sale and here they are.  Two are wool and two more are cotton.  Now I must put another warp onto my loom and get madly at it again. 

If you just can't wait until the Weavers Guild Sale to purchase these items, send me an email and I can arrange your purchase.

This dragonfly is part of the invasion of the dragonflies this summer.  I think they are eating a few of the mossies that have infested Edmonton this summer.

Kakishibui

Photo from http://www.kakishibui.com/gallery.html
I have recently read an article on the Quilting Arts news about this interesting 'dye'.  It isn't really a dye but rather a natural colourant made of fermented persimmons.  This paint can be used on fabric or paper or yarn.  It can be applied by brush, with stencils such as katagomi or other fabric or paper stencils, by shibori techniques of tying stitching or clamping.  Have a look at the link on the side bar to see all of the ideas for using this interesting product. This technique is much easier than using dyes.  However procion cold water dyes will work as over dyes with this product. 
 I will have more on the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference soon.

Dad's Birthday

This card is a follow-up to Nadia's calligraphy class a few weeks ago.  I had fun trying out different pens and inks and remembering my dad.  I used Higgins calligraphy ink with pen nibs C-4, C-2, P-8, micron pens and acrylic paint.  The process of working through a project keeps me on track with my artistic endeavours.  I have several projects on the go - the Corset and Knitted Shawl and Weaving a rug and the Shared book.   All quite different and keeping my mind working on new ideas. Now on to finishing...isn't that the most difficult part of working on several projects at once?  Spring is here!

Spring Fever with Cyanotype

Cyanotype or Blueprinting or Sunprinting.  This is called by many names - Cyanotype is correct.  I am teaching this at the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference for the Haus of Stitches in early June.  I also have an article published on Alternativephotography.com about making a quilt with cyanotype fabric.  Cloth Paper Scissors tells all about cyanotype in the March/April 2010 Issue No. 29 by well known mixed media artists Linda Blinn and Jane Lafazio.  Even Martha Stewart has gotten into the picture in her magazine "Martha".  Does this mean I will soon be famous with this upcoming trend.  I have been teaching a class using this technique since 2004.  I can't wait until warm weather so that I can get outside and 'blueprint' madly.