Spring lambs

Here in Wales we have an explosion of lambs! It's the same every year but I never tire of watching them. When they are very young they stay with their mothers but soon gain confidence and make friends with the other lambs. Then they race around in gangs, playing chase and leap the ditch. From watching them I'm pretty sure the ewes take turns to keep an eye on them as well. Here is my latest felt of a young lamb with mum.

Abstract felt

As most of you know my felts are usually whimsical, Welsh landscapes. Today I just listed something completely different and everyone will think I've lost the plot so I will explain how it came about.

A couple of days ago we had a beautiful sunny day. The first time this year when it was comfortable outside without a coat on. I spent a couple of hours in the afternoon in my poly tunnel repotting tomato plants and sewing other vegetable seeds. I felt happy, warm and joyful.

When I came back indoors I only had half an hour before it was time to start cooking so I decided to fill an art journal page. I've been following prompts from a lovely blog called 'Daisy Yellow'.  I picked a sunburst prompt and doodled away then got some paints out and painted it and then did some more doodling. I had so much fun dinner was late. This is my art journal page.

That evening I though what a cheerful felt it would make but it is so different from my usual work and only a doodle anyway that I banished the thought. 

The next morning as I was browsing Pinterest I came across an aboriginal painting which was based on the sunburst format. The colours were much more subdued than mine but the format was similar. I decided it must be fate and I would make that felt after all! Here it is

If you would like to see more photos of it go and visit my etsy shop.

New felt adventure.

I told you in my last post that I had started an exciting new venture. Well, I am making felt panels for opera jackets! Designer Susan Hollingsworth of Sukaz jackets has asked me to design and make panels for her one of a kind opera jackets. She already has textile artists in India and China working with her. I am honoured to be part of such a talented team.The first panels have been completed and sent off to Texas. I can't wait to see them in a jacket. 

March hare

Hello,
I've been incredibly busy this month and am about to start an exciting new venture which I will tell you about soon.
In the mean time I thought I would share my new March hare with you.

Lots of lovely texture on this one. To see more photos pop along to my etsy shop.

Felt art paintings - How to finish and display.

Hello there,
 today I thought I would try to help with a dilema some felt makers have. You have made a beautiful felt painting but how do you diplay it to it's best advantage?
There are several options.
1) Handmade felt has irregular, organic edges which some people like to display. It is possible to add a sleeve to the back of the felt and put in a rod for hanging. I think this workswith boho/hippie style decor but not in the average house.Here is one of my felts with the edges on view,

I am happy with the actual image but think the presentation (or lack of it) looks messy.

I usually stretch my felts  on to an artists canvas or matt them ready to be framed. If you do want the edges on show you can mount the felt on to a plain piece of felt or other fabric and then put it on canvas or frame it.

Here is the same felt painting but this time it has been mounted.

Don't you think that looks better?

If you want to do this it takes a bit of practise getting the felt to the correct size. You must add some for the usual shrinkage and then add some to go around the sides of the canvas and then some to allow it to be fixed at the back. Don't put any major elements of your design near the edge as you may find them dissapearing round the side when it comes to mounting. The fabric of the felt musn't be too bulky either or the corners will be messy. I usually start with a needle punch prefelt and then add  3 - 4 layers of fibre. Each layer should be thin enough to read through. The easiest method for fixing is with a staple gun.

If your felt is smaller you can make it have more impact and seem more 'impotant' by matting and framing. Here is a photo of one which has been matted in preperation to be framed.

The aperture is only 6 x 6 inches but the matt is 2 inches around the edges so will fit in a frame of  8 x 8 inches. To get you felt to fit the desired size is a bit easier with this method. just allow for shrinkage plus a bit more then trim the edges to fit. I usually attatch the felt to the backing board with double sided tape and the front matt to the backing board with more double sided tape.

I hope this has given you food for thought and will help to make the most of all your hard work. To see more of my work visit my etsy shop here

 https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SueForeyfibreart?ref=hdr_shop_menu

to follow me on Face book go here     https://www.facebook.com/SueForey?ref=hl

Dying silk and wool fibres

Hello. I've resurfaced after a multitude of commissions and popped in to say hello. After working frantically for a few weeks I realised that my stock of hand dyed silks and wool neps were becoming very low and those I did have left were so muddled I couldn't find what I wanted.

This was my pathetic selection.

I decided something had to be done because I use these fibres a lot in my felts. Silks make great additions to dramatic skies as well as providing highlights to plants and landscapes. Wool neps and Wensleydale locks are fantastic to represent flowers and foliage on a small scale.

I sorted out my undyed fibres, my dyes and some plastic containers. The best dyes to use for these fibres are acid dyes. My favourite acid dyes are Omega. They come in crystal form in little pots and you don't have to add any other ingrediants.Because I only dye small amounts at a time I use plastic containers such as old ice cream tubs and dye in the microwave. Not the same one that I cook in though. I sorted out a little of each fibe and put them in different coloured dyes. Different fibres absorb dyes to different degrees so even though I put several different types of silk in the same pot as wool neps and Wensleydale locks  they all come out in slightly different shades/

Omega acid dyes seem expensive but a little goes a long way. For each of these tubs I uses less than a quarter of a teaspoon of dye granules.

Each tub went in to the microwave for 4 minutes and hey presto my fibres are cooked!

Here they all are drying.

Now I have this job done I can create some more lovely felt pictures with lots of texture.

Felt art for Christmas gifts.

I just wanted to show you these matted felts which I have started making. They are ideal as Christmas gifts especially for any one who has to put gifts in the post. They are easy to wrap and light so do not cost too much to send. They fit in an 8 x 8 inch frame which is 20 x 20 cm. Some of them would also make ideal nursery decor.

To find more  please visit my shop here  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SueForeyfibreart?ref=hdr_shop_menu