Southwest Fiber Festival

The felted purses are off to the Denver quilt show. They returned from International Quilt Festival in Chicago only to go off on another adventure. I wish I had been able to accompany them but somebody has to stay behind and create. Alas, poor me (she says with an evil grin).   I ordered moo cards today, and if you're not aware of this latest craze, you should be. www.moo.com will get you there. They are tiny little cards that you can use as business cards or trading cards. You can put your own photos on them or theirs. It probably won't surprise you to hear that I put felting photos on mine. And if you're a felter and you haven't checked into the Felting Forum, it is such a valuable resource. I've met so may new friends across the world who are enjoying fiber fun and have made amazing pieces of art. www.feltingforum.com 

If you are going to be traveling through the great Southwest this fall, I'm going to be teaching a felted landscape class called "Not Just a Blank Canvas" for the Southwest Fiber Arts Guild on October 25. It is going to be here in southern Arizona. There are several other classes available as well. www.southwestfiberfestival.com

 

Work In Progress

Here is a "Work in Progress" using the lime green base and lime and pink roving as it is coming together. I'm really pleased with the color and the embellishments. What do you think? Aren't you ready to try your hand at it? You'll love it too, it's very addictive. 

Embellishment Opportunities

And I love embellishment opportunities, which partner well with felting by hand or machine. Roving, beads, ribbons, buttons and threads all added to the surface create visual interest. More is always better.   

A Few of My Favorite Things:

I love bright clear colors in my work, so colorful fibers are a must! Lime green and pink are my current favorites. They're just yummy. This photo shows the beginnings of a lime and pink purse that I will carry. I start with a fat quarter of lime-colored Pacafil Brites (www.backtobackalpaca.com) and layer roving of assorted colors on top, then I needle felt with a single needle to move the fibers into place. Next I use my Bernina Needle Punch Accessory Set on my Aurora 440 to machine felt the fibers into place. I work from the front and then the back before moving on to the wet felting that further secures the fibers. The alpaca fibers that I have chosen are hypoallergenic, a definite plus for me!  

Fish Felting Fun

Here is a photo of fish fun while using my Bernina 440 with the Needle Punch Accessory Set. The speed control function allows even beginners to become successful felters. I used a prepared stencil to give a jump start to the outline of the fish and waves. Not much real fishing here in Arizona, but I can have fish fun while felting. 

Felting Fever

Here are photos of my aunt, who also got "felting fever", as I call it. 

About the Fiber

My friend Sue has fiber. She introduced me to alpacas (yes, the animals), and both needle and wet felting. She says I am a fast learner, I say I am an addicted felter. We are probably both right. See Sue at www.backtobackalpaca.com. But be prepared to become a felter. Like me. All it takes is a felting needle, foam and fiber. Very inexpensive, very accessible.

 

Fairgrounds Fun

I've discovered a fabulous new (to me) aspect of fiber arts which involves my favorite things, needles, machines and fiber. I stumbled upon this delight quite accidentally at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in late January and it has changed my whole sense of direction. My quilter, Sue, had a booth at the Rusty Barn Show and I stopped to say hello...and haven't stopped felting since. To paraphrase, "she had me at hello." It all started with a single needle and I was hooked. Next, I played with my Bernina 440 and my Punch Needle Accessory Set. I'd taught a class with the Bernina and was interested at the time, but was immersed in quilting and teaching quilting and writing about quilting. I was a busy girl, no doubt. But doesn't this look like fun? Who doesn't like to play with fiber? And so I put the quilting down and picked up the felting fun.