Sneak peek at one of my pieces in the Fibre Arts Expo...

Don't miss the QSWFA Fibre Arts Expo next weekend, a biennial event that showcases the best our group produces and the work of artists connected with the group in Queensland.  This year I have done a couple of 'group' projects with my monthly group of Felters, the Rolling Possums.  One is top secret ;) ... but here is a sneak peak at the other...

We decided we would show off the beauty of wool by felting 3 vases and putting fairy lights inside.  My Rolling Possum buddies Jonna and Merrill have done something similar in their own style to form a trio, here is mine.  If I was to name this individually I would call it 'Metamorphosis', as it is like the moths are emerging from a giant chrysalis.  I am pleased how it turned out - it was certainly a challenge to felt the vase!

A return to rolling...

Goodness, it is exactly two years since I last posted - Fibrefest (now called the 'Fibre Arts Expo') is just around the corner again, held every two years.  I haven't had a lot of time for felting until recently, as playing clarinet in the Brisbane gypsy band Zvonsky took over all my spare time... however, now our violinist moved to Darwin the band has folded, giving me my felting time back!

I have been up to a few things lately.  This first post is about the fantastic time I had at the inaugural Fibre Arts Winter School at Woodlawn (Lismore, northern NSW), which I attended as I was attracted by the idea of making a felted jacket with Catherine O'Leary, the author of 'From Felt to Fabric'. I really enjoyed the Fibre Arts experience, with a fantastic art room (large high tables, perfect for felting!) and a very warm friendly community vibe among participants in all five workshops taking place over the week. Catherine was a lovely tutor, and I'm super-happy with the wearable work of art I produced! The event will return to Woodlawn next year and is highly recommended for all fibre artists, no matter how experienced.

Photos: (clockwise, from top): Woodlawn Fibre Arts Felting class of 2017; Merrill and Laurice making their jacket pattern; Hazel with artist/tutor Catherine O'Leary; the back of Hazel's jacket; jacket detail; Merrill's jacket.

Fibrefest 2015

Come to Mount Coot-tha on 27 Feb-1 March and meet Irena, Snejana and Olga, my felted Russian Dolls!

You win some you lose some!

So, I only made two sales at BVAC, and managed negative profit by purchasing a lovely woven artwork by Jill Brose! Well, it was worth it :-) and it looks lovely on display with felt balls inside.

Pop up shop!

Im selling a few things as part of the QSWFA Felters stall at the BVAC pop up shop this weekend, a great place to do some Christmas shopping! 

If you do buy something I've made I'd love to hear from you - I put tags on each item with my blog address (as it seemed a bit impersonal just to put a price tag!), please just comment on this post ;)  

QSWFA open day 2014

I woke up with a start this morning, it was light in the room - but it shouldn't have been if my alarm had gone off when it was meant to! Fortunately I made it in time to help set up for open day an hour before we opened, just enough time to get our Felt group stall set up. The sun shone, the crowds came and we had a really fabulous day, a busload even arrived with a group from up the coast. Short workshops and a fashion show through the day were drawcards, and there were lots of gorgeous things on sale. Lovely feltmaker Phillipa Rooke was clearing out her stash, and now significantly added to mine!  Here are some photos of our Felt stall, very creative work by Jonna, Lili, Kathy and I also had some felt knick knacks that sold well for my first ever sale :-)

BVAC pop up fashion show - autumn colours and eco-dye

I went along to the Brisbane Visual Arts Community (BVAC) 'pop up shop' today as they were having a fashion show by some of the artists selling at the event.  The artists in the fashion show were Pam Hovel, Anne Leon, Gina Mastio and Mfanwy Stirling, who are also showing/selling their work this month at 'Crossing Borders' - Gallery 159 at The Gap, Brisbane.  Here are some of the photos I took of their wonderful creations! 

 

 My favourite was this white dress, sorry I didn't make a note who designed it which is very remiss... I do remember it being over $900 though!  

and here are the lovely artists....

As you can see above, 'eco-dying', popularised by India Flint, is very much still all the rage, with some amazing work on show, including Lili Haas' exquisite prints that I always admire.  So, in the end I couldn't resist making a purchase from fellow QSWFA Nat Billing, who makes beautiful eco-dye prints on all manner of surfaces, in this case a pair of leggings!! She loves the idea of memories and time in art, for her 'eco dying is the memory of the moment when leaves and surface come together in perfect conditions'.  She has an online shop on Etsy called Memory Cabinet.  A walk in the botanic gardens in the sunshine after the show brought to life all the wonderful images and imprints of nature that the artists had captured in their art (and on my new leggings!).