Long time no see!

We've been busy with crias, the market and summer fun in general.

As you know, we've had four alpaca boys born on the farm this summer.

I could not help thinking of boy bands when I watched them in the pastures.

When I mentioned this to the farmer, he agreed with me

that we should rethink the names of our males.

So, introducing... 

THE BEATLES!

Harrison, McCartney and Lennon.

And this one is Ringo.



 

 Don't tell anyone, but my favorite is Harrison.

 

On the creative side, I've been experimenting some more with felting.

Here is one side

 

and the other side of vases I worked on.

The light blue with pink will need some embroidery to make the rose stand out a bit more.

 

 

 

And this vase was done on July 18th...when I was remembering that day 33 years ago when the farmer and I got married.

 

By the way! I've now joined the rest of the world and have a page on Facebook under the name of Zenitude Fibre Arts (spelling fibre the canadian way).

Come have a peak and 'Like' and 'Share'.

It would be great to reach 50 'Likes' before the end of the summer!

 

I hope you are enjoying your summer...

Happy

I've been felting.

I've been making soap.

I've been reading and learning.

I've been dyeing.

I'm happy!

 

I feel very grateful for this time in my life. I've been allowing my creative side to take over and to guide me along. It's wonderful!

 

I've been playing with fibre and felting more scarves. I'm improving on my technique...still learning.

I'm quite happy with this black one.

It's Coco cria fleece, so it's very soft. I added a blue mohair blend bouclé yarn.

Another cobweb felted alpaca scarf in pink . Very light and airy. 

 

Both sides are different.

 

But I've especially enjoyed making these 'socks' over glass vases. Some have embellishements some do not.

 

They can be used for flowers or you could use them with a tea light candle for a lovely effect.

 

Square vases as well.

 

I even decided to use one of them for my birthday flowers that I got myself yesterday!!

 

 

The family came over with food, cake and surprises for this old gal. I had a wonderful day!

 

I'm back!

Well, I have not been so great at keeping you posted, have I?!!!

 

I have had the best week of my creative life in Haliburton.

My friend and I have both said that we will certainly make this kind of get-away an annual thing...maybe even twice a year...why not!

 

The Haliburton School of the Arts is an off site campus of the Fleming college located in the Haliburton Highlands.

The course took us from the art of felting to embellishing with embroidery, beads quilting and so much more.

The group was small and we all worked very hard and passionately on every piece we tackled. I left feeling so motivated, inspired and ready to create.

Then

REALITY CHECK!

 

I am watching over my two little grandchildren for the next 7 weeks because my daughter's maternity leave is over! When I come home at 5, I'm out of energy to start felting.

So, the ideas are simmering away in my head and as soon as school is done and daughter is on holidays and I am back in my studio, I'll be back at it in full force.

In the meantime I'm enjoying the wet kisses and hugs from the little ones.

 

But I can show you some pictures of a few things I made.

First day was to make landscape felted panel.

This picture shows the fibre layed out before wetting and felting stage.

 I did not continue to document the process...but this is what it looks like now.

A bit of embroidery has been added. More will be added, maybe some beads too.

This is not yet completed but you get the idea.

 

 

Just experimenting with colour and pencil roving...not too crazy about the colours and this piece does not speak to me at all....call it a learning piece.

 

A merino silk blend roving gives a wonderful effect. The silk seems to just float and create wisps of softness and texture. It does take more work to felt it so beware! 

I have no idea how this piece will be used but Maggie (the teacher) uses pieces like this and creates wonderful wall art and adds quilting and some needle felting.

 

Pieces of burlap make an interesting background to felt upon.

 

Night sky over water

 

Small rocks were placed between layers of wool. Once the piece was partically felted, the rocks were removed by cutting a small bit of felt and the felting and fulling continued.

 

I was on a night sky kind of mood all week and this piece also has dark sky, water and large moon. It's been tacked to a hand dyed piece of cotton and batting and will be quilted by machine one day.

Next time, I will share the scarves and vessels that I made.