Weekends Felt Workshops

The first of my workshops taking place at my new studio have now taken place. The first was a Nuno introduction, followed by a Vessels for beginners and then this week a Handbag day. Each workshop had four felt makers, all eager to learn new skills. Each time I run a workshop its different, I always look forward to seeing the results which are different every time as each person selects their own favourite colour schemes and style. The end result reflecting their own creativity. More images of everyones results can be seen on my web site.

The next Dalby Workshop will be on Sunday 20th September, Vessels, this is suitable for beginners and improvers.

I would of liked to create a mosaic of the results to enter on my blog, but not sure how to create it. I have seen lovely mosaics on other blogs, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Holidays Over...

We decided to stay in the UK this year, for various reasons, and camp. It usually rains whenever we go camping, but I was proved wrong this year and we had glorious sunshine, I even have a tan.
First stop was Cambridge Folk Festival. We've been to festivals before, but this was a little more 'grown up'. We had a great time though, weather was good, bar a cloudburst one night but we were in a marquee so it passed us by. The food stands were the best yet, as a vegetarian I often struggle, but I was spoilt for choice, well done Cambridge. The music wasn't what you would typically call folk and we discovered some new favourites. The best live act for us had to be Jon Boden and Bellowhead, every now and then I get hooked by a new band, not often , but this is the band for now. I have the DVd, a nice surprise from my husband. Also a memorable moment was the spontaneity of campers and musicians on site, music was all around and one particular morning we woke to the above group of people from Steamchicken playing. Thats what music should be like.

We moved onto Suffolk, a county we hadn't visited before, we'll definitely revisit when we have more time. Had to visit Southwold to see the famous beach huts and pier. Then onto Aldeburgh and had chips on the beach. Art galleries abounded and antique shops, so had a lovely time mooching around. Also spotted friends work exhibited in various galleries.
Lavenham was beautiful, ironically preserved due to the decline of wool related businesses many centuries ago. The town went into disrepair due to unemployment and poverty and was rescued and preserved in later years. I cant recall the full story, but it was amazing to see so many timber framed buildings restored all in one village. Only sad point was the pavements were being replaced while we there......with tarmac!

Well back home now and back to work on orders. Christmas is coming!

Ryedale Open

I submitted a piece of felt work to this years Open Exhibition for the first time, today I received a letter to say it was accepted. I forgot to take a picture of it, I may have to go and take one when its hung, if I can.

Anyway, putting aside my happy event, this is an Exhibition I visit annually, Ryedale has so many talented creative people and the display always covers a wide spectrum of work.

I am stewarding next Tuesday and really looking forward to it. The print is a bit small on the image but the exhibition runs 25 Jul 2009 until 1 Aug 2009 at the Milton Rooms, Malton
Time: 10am - 4pm.

Interviewed

Last week I had a phone call and was interviewed on line. An unusual experience as the caller made me feel so at ease it was just like chatting to a friend. Next day the interview was on line, you can read it here

http://www.thetextiledirectory.com/newsarticle/Jenny-Pepper---an-interview/

The Textile Directory is a great on line resource and well worth a look, I think originally there used to be an annual paper directory of textile resources, which was great, but with the progress of the web, is now purely on line. I think the advantage there is that additions and amendments are instant so you almost have a real time resource.

I still find it surreal reading words I have spoken, I guess that's also my unease with blogs. One slightly misphrased sentence or tone and the reader may mis interpret the words, but you are not there to clarify. I think I'm from an earlier generation on the cusp of the Web, whereas my son has grown up with it and its a way of life.

Sunday at the workshop started as warm, but dull, followed by short bursts of rain, so no drying felt in the sunshine today.
I was working with three colours of dyed Norwegian batts. There was a natural carded, which was bits of light/dark brown and white. I used this as a base as it wasn't going to be visible. I then layered the red and then the black with resists between layers. I love the way this wool felts, it is so firm. The original colours changed as the felting process took place with fibres migrating through and giving a flecked effect. The brightnes of the red was subdued by the black.


I havn't finished the piece yet as I'm adding and embellishing and need to wait for it to dry, but here is a close up of the surface which shows the very "hairy" surface of this particular Norwegian. The surface is tight and firm. I'm still working on the ongoing theme started 3 years ago but the work is evolving and changing.

Hopefully it will be dry tomorrow and I can finish working on this piece.

First day

Today was the first Saturday that I had my workshop open to view, its still a bit sparse but I'm working on filling it. I now have my name on the door, that's a strange feeling facing it each day as I unlock.

The sun was shining and the forest was busy. I met some lovely people and had two sales, so I felt encouraged. Its a big step moving into your own space.

There are lots of activities taking place at weekends and holidays. A lot centres around mountain biking, there are some new bike routes and challenges. There is also a "Go Ape" which my son loves, lots of zip wires and other daring rope things, I think I'm too old for this now.

The sun was just perfect to dry my felt work in. There was a little, but welcome breeze. We found this old clothes horse abandoned near where I live quite some time ago and I think its just perfect for the job. I laid out a really big piece of felt on my new worktable, just because I could. I used Norwegian and had a play with some pattern. I was pleased with the result and have a few ideas for adding more when it is dry. As always my colours are quite muted but there is a hint of lime just catch the eye.

It may be a wall hanging or possibly a runner, but either way I like the result and firmness of the Norwegian.

Last weeks workshop

Last weekend I held a Cobweb felt workshop in our village hall. It was a gloriously sunny day which helped dry our sample scarf in the breeze and go home with dry felt for a change. The day was spent sampling a variety of natural undyed wools. We assembled and joined them into a scarf to take home. I thought we all had enough sample pieces stored away and this time although sampling we could take away something finished whilst seeing the test results of the wools.
The wools sampled were, Norwegian, Jacob Humbug blend, Black Jacob, Wensleydale and Blue Faced Leicester Humbug blend. Wensleydale results were most popular for appearance but BFL for softness.