Back to work

Once again, the  couple of weeks since my last post have just flown by.   At the felting group, this month, we didn’t actually make anything other than samples using the nuno technique - where wool is felted onto fabric.   It is very rewarding when it works – the wool shrinks, but the fabric doesn’t, and the effect is that the fabric gathers and puckers making a lovely textured surface.   I made two samples – one on scrim which is now waiting to be made into something arty – perhaps with stitching added.   For the other one I used a piece of the  most gaudy, unattractive, synthetic fabric which has worked wonderfully well – it has a gorgeous texture and looks like something from under the sea – so that’s destined, in the fullness of time, to be something ‘watery’.

We’ve taken some of our felt to a gallery in Warrington  (we exhibited there last year)https://www.facebook.com/BestofNorthernArt - Joanna and Marje do a wonderful job making it look really attractive – I hope this new exhibition is the success it deserves to be – it’s well worth a visit.   On 20^th, we went to a Fibre Fest at the Grove Centre in Burscough – it was quieter than we’d expected but it was lovely to meet up with some old friends – Lazy Kate https://www.facebook.com/Lazykate-Handspun-Yarn/150686551664405, Myra https://www.facebook.com/KnitWise  and Tamsin http://www.wickerwool.co.uk/index.html#&panel1-2,   who fell in love with a beautiful yellow and green  ‘ruffle’,  the first of those I’ve sold.    I do like making them so I’ve made a red one today and it’s drying as I write.

I had a little go at making some paper weights using stones  over which I felted mostly white merino wool with little strands of black/grey wool to look like veins in the rock – they are very tactile.  I’ve made a couple more bags as well, some people use them as knitting caddies.  The alpaca preparation still goes on each time there is some decent (warmish) weather – I’ve actually finished picking over all the brown wool now – only the white to go – I wonder if the weather will be kind and let me finish before the Autumn is over.

The reason I haven’t been very productive is that I had to have a massive tidy and put a lot of my equipment away so that the house was safe for two of my grandchildren who came to stay.   It was lovely to see them and we had quite a busy time.    I’ve promised myself that I won’t get everything out again, but will try to be strict with myself and finish off some things before starting on new ones!!!

On Saturday, we went to Lark Lane, it was busier than it has been lately  and, once again, it was a great atmosphere and, among other things, I sold one of the little purses I’ve been knitting - it was a beautiful variegated mohair yarn – I can’t believe I didn’t photograph it!. Also, and here’s a sobering thought, I made my first Christmas card sale of this year.     Before we came home, we went along to Arts Hub 47 https://www.facebook.com/artshub47communitycooperative to see the exhibition of felt work by Nic of Feltipedia https://www.facebook.com/#!/Feltipedia.uk - it was really good, I particularly liked some of the hangings made from Norwegian wool.    

We’re looking forward to going to Scorton http://www.britevents.com/whats-on/lancashire/preston/scorton-christmas-market/508492/, one of our favourite venues, on Sunday – Joanne and Nick make us so welcome.   We’re also looking forward to a return visit to Inglenook Farm, (the Lavender Farm) http://www.inglenook-farm.co.uk/e-craft-farmer-s-market-details-2544.html for their Craft Fair and Farmers' Market, on 10th November  but the really, really exciting news is that our application for a stall at the Winter Arts Market  at St. Georges Hall on Sunday, 8^th December, has been accepted – back to  work now to get ready for that.