I have done no felt making this year, am busy with study, work & family. I guess you need need mind space and to be very organised. I miss the creative outlet. I only play, I don't intend to sell felt. So feel I have little to contribute.
I enjoy hearing what others are up to.
One dream I have had is to get a bunch of felt makers together & do a few workshops in isolated aboriginal communities. I am sure there would be funding available to support it.
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 5:06 PM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Fibre Exchange
Just a quick reminder about our fibre exchange!!!!
Add my name to the list please Wendy!! :-)
For those who haven't taken part before its a lot of fun and while you don't reduce your stash you don't increase it either (keeps hubby happy!!!) but get some great fibres that maybe you haven't worked with before!!!
Okay guys, we have had about 8 or so of us send a message last week to let
each other know what we were up to, where is everyone else??
We have 30 members, so what are you all doing????
Thought I would ask What do you hope to achieve/learn in your feltmaking
this year, maybe its just to be able to get some feltmaking done!!!!!
You never know I might get some more answers!!!! :-)
Enjoy your week!
Sandie :-)
Here are the details for the ATC swap, as they
are not due until the end of August there is ample time to get them
done!!!
Please let Stacey know if you want to take part!!!!
Count me in on this one please Stacey!
Proposed Felt ATC swap: Six for six
General information
Artist Trading Cards (atc's) are a recent
phenomenon that connects artists with one another. Usually ATC's are made
of lightweight cardstock but any flat material is acceptable. Textile and
polymer clay artists in particular are joining this movement of making
and swapping cards. So I am proposing we run a felt atc swap for members
of the Aussie Feltmakers email group.
The main rule when creating an ATC is to make
it 2.5" x 3.5" or 64mm x 89mm. If you are a little under this
size, that is preferable to being a little over! The reason is that the
really serious ATC swappers store their collection in clear plastic
trading card sleeves in a ring binder and cards that are too big (or too
thick ) won't fit.
Artists usually put their name, date and
contact information on the reverse of each card they make. When the ATC
is made of felt, you probably want to create a paper label and attach it
to the back.
Sizing Felt ATC's
I have found an easy way of getting felt ATC's
the correct size is to start with a collaged prefelt. As it approaches
the final stage of felting, I cut it into rectangles slightly bigger than
64mm x 89mm. With a ruler on my work surface, I continue to manipulate
the ATC's until they reach the correct size.
This Swap
Participants would need to provide me with
six handmade ATC's that are constructed with felt. You will receive six
in return.
Your ATC's can be entirely felted or a
mixed-media collage incorporating handmade felt. Stitching or other
embellishment is fine. They do not have to be identical. Just be sure to
label them and stick to the size restriction as described above.
If you can, place your six ATC's in a ziplock plastic bag before posting
to me.
You will need to enclose a SSAE when you send
your ATC's. I'd suggest you buy a couple of B2 or B4 Postpak Tough Bags
from the post office. Address one to yourself and add $3.70 postage
stamps to it. Fold it in half and stick it, along with your six ATC's in
the other tough bag addressed to me:
Just a quick reminder about our fibre exchange!!!!
Add my name to the list please Wendy!! :-)
For those who haven't taken part before its a lot of fun and while you
don't reduce your stash you don't increase it either (keeps hubby happy!!!)
but get some great fibres that maybe you haven't worked with before!!!
Why not live dangerously and join in!!!
Sandie :-)
Great to hear from you. I have added your name to the Fibre Exchange.
When are you arriving in Sydney? The NSW Hand Spinners & Weavers Guild (which is also for felters) will be having an Open Day on 8th July. Sandie & I are having stalls there and you could have one too if you are interested.
They are also running a nuno felting workshop with Jenny Hopper on 22 & 23 July.
You are welcome to come & visit me too. Whereabouts in Sydney will you be staying?
Wendy
----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of Kerry Heinzel Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 8:09 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Re: Reporting in
Hi everyone, welcome the new members and Julie it's great to hear from you and your adventures.
Wendy I will be in the fibre exchange.
I'll be in Sydney most of July as I'm going to be a grandma mid July and my daughter-in-law's mum lives in England so I'm going to do my bit. Hope to find some events to go to down there.
For anyone interested, I have a gallery at www.kerryheinzel.com/gallery. I need to update it as my son that was living at home at the time has left so I'll have to learn for myself (not enough hours in the day now!!)
Regard Kerry Heinzel, Coffs Harbour.
From: sandken <gordon1963@...> Reply-To: AussieFeltmakers@... To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] News at last!! Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:55:31 +1000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Originating-IP: 211.29.132.193 X-Sender: gordon1963@... Received: from n10a.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com ([66.163.187.153]) by bay0-mc5-f8.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830); Wed, 31 May 2006 15:58:05 -0700 Received: from [66.163.187.122] by n10.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from [66.218.69.2] by t3.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from [66.218.66.29] by t2.bullet.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: (qmail 78275 invoked from network); 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.67.34) by m23.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO mail12.syd.optusnet.com.au) (211.29.132.193) by mta8.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 31 May 2006 21:03:55 -0000 Received: from workstation01.optusnet.com.au (camax6-082.dialup.optusnet.com.au [203.164.5.82])(authenticated sender gordon1963)by mail12.syd.optusnet.com.au (8.12.11/8.12.11) with ESMTP id k4VL2dOU007289for <AussieFeltmakers@...>; Thu, 1 Jun 2006 07:02:42 +1000
HI Meg & Julie
Great to hear from you both!!!
Sounds like you are having a marvellous time over there Julie, can we request a pitstop here when you are eventually heading home. It would be wonderful to have a workshop and I am quite happy to host it!!!! Know what you mean about shearing alpacas it is very different, have friends who are breeders and I always assumed it was the same as shearing a sheep but when I think about it those long legs and neck would cause a bit of a problem!!! :-)
Meg I think you should tell us all a bit more about rusting on silk and your exploring silk paper.
I know a bit about it but I am thinking there are probably lots of people here who dont know much about it!!!!
Hi everyone, welcome the new members and Julie it's great to hear from you and your adventures.
Wendy I will be in the fibre exchange.
I'll be in Sydney most of July as I'm going to be a grandma mid July and my daughter-in-law's mum lives in England so I'm going to do my bit. Hope to find some events to go to down there.
For anyone interested, I have a gallery at www.kerryheinzel.com/gallery. I need to update it as my son that was living at home at the time has left so I'll have to learn for myself (not enough hours in the day now!!)
Regard Kerry Heinzel, Coffs Harbour.
From: sandken <gordon1963@...> Reply-To: AussieFeltmakers@... To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] News at last!! Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:55:31 +1000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Originating-IP: 211.29.132.193 X-Sender: gordon1963@... Received: from n10a.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com ([66.163.187.153]) by bay0-mc5-f8.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830); Wed, 31 May 2006 15:58:05 -0700 Received: from [66.163.187.122] by n10.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from [66.218.69.2] by t3.bullet.sc5.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from [66.218.66.29] by t2.bullet.scd.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: (qmail 78275 invoked from network); 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (66.218.67.34) by m23.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 31 May 2006 21:03:56 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO mail12.syd.optusnet.com.au) (211.29.132.193) by mta8.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 31 May 2006 21:03:55 -0000 Received: from workstation01.optusnet.com.au (camax6-082.dialup.optusnet.com.au [203.164.5.82])(authenticated sender gordon1963)by mail12.syd.optusnet.com.au (8.12.11/8.12.11) with ESMTP id k4VL2dOU007289for <AussieFeltmakers@...>; Thu, 1 Jun 2006 07:02:42 +1000
HI Meg & Julie
Great to hear from you both!!!
Sounds like you are having a marvellous time over there Julie, can we request a pitstop here when you are eventually heading home. It would be wonderful to have a workshop and I am quite happy to host it!!!! Know what you mean about shearing alpacas it is very different, have friends who are breeders and I always assumed it was the same as shearing a sheep but when I think about it those long legs and neck would cause a bit of a problem!!! :-)
Meg I think you should tell us all a bit more about rusting on silk and your exploring silk paper.
I know a bit about it but I am thinking there are probably lots of people here who dont know much about it!!!!
Had planned to let us all get in the swing of things this week before
launching our exchange/challenges. :-)
Thought we needed to get back into Aussie Feltmakers mode, oh well!!
To give you some breathing space I will post the details of the challenge
that Stacey has also kindly agreed to organise on Monday.
Have posted the Fibre exchange details again and invite you to contact
the list if you have any concerns etc.
If possible I encourage you to take part in these, maybe you don't have
time to make something but if not it is fun to swap fibre!
Thanks to Wendy for kindly organising this exchange.
HOW
IT WORKS
Each participant sends
off bags of fibre to the co-ordinator (me) and receives different bags of
fibre back.
TYPES OF FIBRE
Any fibre suitable for
felting.
AMOUNT OF FIBRE TO
PUT IN
You put in approx 50g
for each person taking part in the exchange (e.g. if 5 people are
participating you put 4 lots of 50g in the box - you don't put one in for
yourself LOL). If you don't have enough of one colour or type of fibre
for everyone then you can put a mixture of colours or types
in.
PACKAGING OF
FIBRE
Please put each 50g lot
of fibre in a sealed cellophane or ziplock bag. Attach a label or tag to
each bag with your name, what kind of fibre it is and, if you can
remember, where you got it from (so us fibreholics can go and buy some
more LOL)
DEADLINE
Please send the fibre by
Friday 7th July. More details about the postage will be provided once I
find out how many people are
participating.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE
PART
Please email this list
by Friday 9th June.
Hello Sandie,
I will let you know when the rusting is done .You have to wait for 3 or 4 days
for the
result. When I work out how to put a photo on the site perhaps I can show some
of the
silk paper. Meg in "sunny" Augusta. Where did the rain go?
Here is my proposal for the fibre exchange. Everything is negotiable so please let me know if you want to do it differently. Please email me if you have any questions.
HOW IT WORKS
Each participant sends off bags of fibre to the co-ordinator (me) and receives different bags of fibre back.
TYPES OF FIBRE
Any fibre suitable for felting.
AMOUNT OF FIBRE TO PUT IN
You put in approx 50g for each person taking part in the exchange (e.g. if 5 people are participating you put 4 lots of 50g in the box - you don't put one in for yourself LOL). If you don't have enough of one colour or type of fibre for everyone then you can put a mixture of colours or types in.
PACKAGING OF FIBRE
Please put each 50g lot of fibre in a sealed cellophane or ziplock bag. Attach a label or tag to each bag with your name, what kind of fibre it is and, if you can remember, where you got it from (so us fibreholics can go and buy some more LOL)
DEADLINE
Please send the fibre by Friday 7th July. More details about the postage will be provided once I find out how many people are participating.
HI Meg & Julie
Great to hear from you both!!!
Sounds like you are having a marvellous time over there Julie, can we
request a pitstop here when you are eventually heading home. It would be
wonderful to have a workshop and I am quite happy to host it!!!! Know what
you mean about shearing alpacas it is very different, have friends who are
breeders and I always assumed it was the same as shearing a sheep but when
I think about it those long legs and neck would cause a bit of a problem!!! :-)
Meg I think you should tell us all a bit more about rusting on silk and
your exploring silk paper.
I know a bit about it but I am thinking there are probably lots of people
here who dont know much about it!!!!
Only two days till the weekend yeah!!!
Sandie :-)
Hi Wendy
Busy lady!!! Good to hear you are back felting!!! You may have taken a
break but it certainly sounds like you are making up for it!
Its great to hear you have joined ATASDA, they are an inspiring group,
unfortunately I dont have enough hours in my day, or my life for that
matter!! :-)
Your scarf & elf look great thanks for adding them to the album!
Sandie :-)
This must be the week for it......chit chat and all that. I was beginning to wonder if I had subscribed again with the different email address, as I was previously not getting any of the Aussie Feltmakers List talk. Then a few came in from Sandie, and Lo, I knew that I was on board.
So then I had to let everyone know where I was and what I was doing.
Today, My hostess, is beginning the shearing of her little herd of Alpacas and Icelandic sheep. I offered to help, but am still in the house cleaning up a bit, as the house has been left for at least whilst I have been here anyway. We have had no time at all for cleaning house and other domestic chores. I think that the real reason that I did not go out there to start off with, is that I have not been involved in the shearing process for 17 years now, and I would hate for her to see how
much I had forgotten......but seriously, shearing Alpacas is totally different to shearing sheep. Besides, I watched a demonstration of the shearing the other day at the Pagosa Springs Fibre Festival, and they seem to shear sheep in a totally different manner over here in the States, than they do in Australia....strange.....they tie them up and all sorts.
Meg, I am very glad to hear that the rain has finally come. It would be really a shame if WA had a bad year again for rain, especially after the years in the past, prior to last year. We are currently enjoying the very nice spring weather, sunny and not too hot. Although that is not to say that the weather has not been in the extreme temperatures when I was in East of Washington State and in Montana. We had some doozies then, and it was very strange looking at all the snow on the mountains that had not yet melted, and feeling the heat of almost 100 degrees
Farenheit.
If I start to get in the way during the shearing, I will come into the house again and do some feltmaking. I need to make a bag so that I will have a sample of the bag that I am teaching in one of the classes that I have been doing. I sold my last sample not very long ago.
Hello all,
I was only thinking last night that you are all too busy to send messages. Lo
and behold
mail today!! Great to hear all the news and especially from Julie. Sounds as
thought life is
good.I look forward to hearing about the challenge or exchange should I call it.
Not a lot
of felting going on in my life. Silk paper has taken my fancy and I have been
making
evening bags out of it. My friend Sue will be here on the weekend (W.A. founders
day
holiday) and she is going to show me rusting on silk. I have had some problems
with
black silk for nuno . The black dye just pours out of it, which is very
disappointing.
Welcome to Vivien. We are having rain at last .Much needed. Regards Meg in
Augusta.
I missed out on the Alexander Pilin workshop in Perth in April, because I had already left Australia. Boo Hoo! But I am pleased to be able to report that I will be in Albany in New York State, to do a workshop with Birgitte Krag Hansen and Sharon Costello. So cannot be all that bad. I will also be staying for a few days with Theresa May O'Brien, who has studied a lot with Memhet Girgic and is teaching his Osman Technique with Rug making. So I will be able to come back home "in the Know", so to speak.
Good on you, Pat for the sales. I have also been selling some of my gear over here that I bought with me from home. I have had to be making more to replace what I sold, otherwise I would have no samples for show and tell. at my workshops that I am conducting.
I had about a 4 month break from felting after Xmas. It was just too hot in my felting room & my arthritis in my feet made it difficult to stand for long periods.
I ran an Easter needlefelting workshop & taught people how to make eggs, chickens & bunnies. I have also organised a number of workshops for this term but not many registrations as yet - which is a way I am relieved about as I have a very full felting program over May & June.
Also finally finished off the elf that I made at Birgitte Krag Hansen's needlefelting workshop last year. I made her a dress & sent her off to the West Wyalong Fibre Muster soft toy competition. I have also put a photo of her in my yahoo album.
I joined ATASDA (Australian Textile & Surface Design Association) in March. They have lots of fibre related workshops, plus opportunities to sell & exhibit work. I need to produce a piece for their exhibition in August but am struggling to come up with an idea based on the theme. It is "On the Grid...black, white & one other element". Because I draw most of my inspiration from nature I am finding it difficult to restrict myself to those colours & needed to incorporate straight lines. But I am sure it will be a good learning experience to think something up LOL.
I also need to make a few small items for sale in the foyer of the ATASDA exhibition venue. I am supposed to bring samples by this Saturday but haven't started yet so I need to my act together. One of my children has been home all week with tonsillitis which makes it difficult get any felting done.
Next week I have 3 days in which to make 2 felted beanies for the Alice Springs Beanie Festival Competition. After that I will be working on a couple more beanies for the Beanie Market & 3 nuno felted scarves for the Woolcraft Competition in Bendigo (run by the Australian Sheep & Wool Breeders Association.)
I also plan to visit the Craft Show at Darling Harbour & maybe help out on the Guild Stall.
After that it is school holidays which means no felting for 3 weeks, except for running a felt ball workshop for my son's Kindergarten Class.
What is everyone else up to?
Wendy
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 8:47 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Question of the week!
What are you all up to??
Please write this week and let us all know what you are up to, maybe you have been unable to felt because other things are happening at the moment, maybe you are working on a challenging project at the moment, maybe those industrious ones of you are just business as usual churning out all your wonderful creations to sell, please fill us all in!!!
This past couple of weeks I have been the most productive I have been for the past 9 months!!!! Its actually a bit scaring DH (Ken) keeps looking at me as though wondering what drugs I am on though I have to say none, just being creative for a change!!! Family knows I am back on track there is fibre (and not the edible kind!!!) in their dinner.
The textile group I belong to is holding an exhibition in July (Kiama) and Late August (Bowral) so I have been working on some bags for those as well as a sculptural piece, I also make stained glass eggs out of felt and I am working on another at the moment. They take ages so I dont do a lot of them!!!
My studio has been painted and the lighting is going in this week but still cant work here too long until we get the gas connection in as it is freezing especially today (my office is down here too!!!) Think my feet are blue, cant feel them any more!!!
* We could regional get-togethers once a quarter so that people living relatively near to each other could meet up for a day of felting
* We could add felting & fibre related events to the yahoo calendar
* We could have a "Topic of the Month", focussing on different techniques or aspects of feltmaking
* We could promote our group with the state Feltmakers Associations or Spinners & Weavers Guilds
2) Exchanges
I don't see a problem with have both exchanges at the same time as they are quite different. I am happy to co-ordinate the fibre exchange again. I will send a separate email about it.
5) I am available as a tutor in the following areas
Needle Felting
Nuno Felting
Beginner Felting
Phone Wendy Burgess (02) 9403 5750
Thanks
Wendy
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 8:40 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] I'm Back!
My apologies to you all for being off the air for so long, think I am back on track. The death of my girlfriend has not only brought about changes in my personal life but has impacted on us as a business so we have been back at the drawing board with business plans etc!!! As well as supporting her children and husband it has been a challenging time!!
Down to business :-)
Hope you are all well and madly felting, its that great time of the year for it, Got lots of questions for you all and would really appreciate everyone's feedback.
1. Prior to the death of my friend I had been giving some thought about how we can make this group better, the best way to do that is to find out from you all what you would like to see happening here so we can make it happen!!!! I you have any suggestions I am open to them, please let us know!
2. We have two exchanges that I want to get up and running in the next couple of weeks, can Wendy and Stacey let me know if they are still willing to organise those and put together an email outlining details etc. Thanks guys, if you are unable to now no problems!
As they are two very different exchanges I thought there wouldn't be a problems running them simultaneously, please let me know if you all think this is unsuitable.
3. Can people start thinking about a Christmas exchange now and maybe suggestions of what they would like. Would be great to get that up and happening before Christmas.
4. Finally putting together a list of suppliers in Australia, if you are supplier can you please send me your details so I can add them to the list, thinking particularly of you Wendy and Pat but there may be other so I dont want to miss anyone out! Also please send me details of any suppliers that you know of that you would recommend.
5. Putting together a list of tutors as well, please let me know if you tutor and your details or again any tutors you know of and would recommend.
Got lots more things up my sleeve but dont want to overload you at the moment.
Julie's report has made me feel homesick as I have a son who lives across the river from Rebecca Lavell in Canada and cousins who live in the Portland area and we spent lots of holidays in the areas of California were Julie has visited. I grew up in a suburb of Vancouver.
I also attended a workshop with Alexander Pilin at Orange, his English had improved a lot by then. It was a fantastic class. A busy time as I was trading also. Very talented felters in the class who's work was also inspiring. I had met several of them last year at Beth Beede's class.
Have been very busy replenishing stock from Orange sales but have also caught up now.
Now am trying out some new colours for the batts. Have come up with a yellow ochre and want to develop a nice red ochre as well.
Sold 3 hats at Orange that I had taken as samples for the hat shapers I sell. 2 more under construction using some new shapes.
Don’t know how Julie has time to
breathe, what with all she’s been doing in the States!
Since I last wrote I attended Alexander
Pilin’s week-long class at Horsham Textile Fibre Forum. We struggled a
bit with the language barrier (He is Russian) but the class proved to be interesting
and educational. Best laugh of the week: Alexander wanted to find a surface we
could poke pins into. We responded with a suggestion of poly styrene, then
spent several long minutes trying to explain to Alexander what poly styrene is.
Finally, someone grabbed a foam cup and pointed at it saying very slowly, “Poly
Styrene”. “Oh!” said Alexander. “Styrene!
I thought you were saying “Polly Stirling!” Ha! Imagine his
confusion over why we were suggesting sticking pins into Polly! (For those who
might not know, Polly is a famous felter who divides her time between Australia and the USA.)
Then about a month ago I went away with
Victorian Feltmakers for a weekend retreat and made scarves. Had
lots of fun, too. Here’s their website: http://www.vicfelt.org.au/The links section is particularly worth a visit if you have
some time to go surfing.
FINALLY, have you all seen Robyn Steel-Stickland’s
most excellent new book, Felt? We launched it at Horsham:
America calling.......can you guess........yes, its me, Julie, the one that you have not heard from in SO LONG. Well, I thought it about time I did some real emailing and updated you all as to what I am doing, have been doing, and am going to be doing.
When I first arrived in US, I flew into Los Angeles, spending a week there with my cousin before travelling down to a place called Encinitas, just north of San Diego in California. What a lovely place. I spent a week there, with a feltmaker and we did a lot of sight seeing, felting and talking and eating. It was there that I started making a vessel, which I still have not completed.
I went back to LA spending another week with my cousin, before travelling by train up to Oregon, where Pat Spark met me at the Albany train station and hosted me a her place and studio
for a night,and another day, then went to stay with Loyce Ericson in Forest Grove, closer to Portland. I spent two days in Loyce's studio with her whilst she taught other students, then went back to Albany to Pats studio and did a workshop with her. During this time, I instructed Pat how to lay out a silk lap, as it was something that she had never done before, and she instructed me in how to felt on silk Habotai, which I had never done before. The following day, we went to Woodland Woolworks and stocked up on wools again. I continued to work on my silk habotai, which I had not finished at the time, and I went to spend the night at Sandoval McNair's place in Tigard, and the time there was spent hunting in Good will stores, for supplies for a workshop that was organised for me to conduct. My first workshop here that I was to be paid for. That went well, and I did instructions on a laminated resisted bag, with resist roses on the front
of the bag. Good bags resulted, and I was very pleased with how it went.
The next day, I was taken to stay out on a Llama farm for 3 days, then I felted with my hostess, showing her a few feltmaking tricks that she did not know. I was then put on the train in Salem, to go to Seattle, where I was met and hosted by Zia Gipson for a couple of days. After Zia put me back on the train, I headed to Vancouver, where I was to teach a workshop of the same resisted bag, organised by Rebecca Lavell, of Celtic Moon. I stayed with Rebecca also. From there, I travelled by Air to Nelson, BC in Canada, to Ilana Pengelly's place, and we felted our little hearts out so much that I had to have serious treatment with deep tissue massage and reflexology.
After leaving Nelson, I went back to Seattle, where I was met by another lady, Jo Story, who lives on Kingston and raises sheep. We had
more workshops on the laminated silk scarves and Roses and bags, and then I was off to Spokane, on the invitation of the Spinners and Weavers Guild out there. I had two workshops to do out there, teaching the scarves and Roses. I also had the opportunity of staying on another small farm, where Joyce raised Shetland sheep. A week and a bit went by very quickly, when it was time to leave there and go to visit Judy Colvin in Montana. Judy had organised three workshops in three days straight, and by the end of the last one, I was a candidate for Laryingitis and a chest infection, and could not talk for three days. Under Judy' gentle nursing back to health over the next few days, I recovered enough to travel by air to Tucson, Arizona, to visit Sally Hall. I was with Sally a couple of days, and then flew to Durango in Colorado, where I write this from.
I have just done a workshop today, teaching the silk
laminated scarf with 10 students, and will probably be helping shearing on Raylene's (my hostess) farm, of her Icelandic sheep and Alpacas.
I will be here until 5th June, then I fly to Austin, Texas, where I will be staying with Jill Gully of Outback Fibres, and then we will drive together to Houston, where we will be doing a 3 day workshop together and staying with Barbara Kile, who is organising the workshops for the weekend.
After that, I will go shopping for fabrics for my mother, and head off for a holiday in Tallahassee, with my cousins in Florida.
Well, it is very late at night, 11.00 pm and I am wanting to go to bed.
Goodnight, and hope that all is well in Australia......not too cold, no droughts, no political uprisings and everyone doing lots of lovely felt. So far, since being here, I have made 3 scarves, one hat, two
bags, many roses. Sold one hat, two bags, all the roses, so all is well.
Warmest REgards
Julie Williams
Jaruleeli FeltART
Felting my Way Around The World (with Spotty the stuffed dog) and a lot of huge suitcases full of wool and felt and silk and stuff)
My apologies to you all for being off the air for so long, think I am back
on track. The death of my girlfriend has not only brought about changes in
my personal life but has impacted on us as a business so we have been back
at the drawing board with business plans etc!!! As well as supporting her
children and husband it has been a challenging time!!
Down to business :-)
Hope you are all well and madly felting, its that great time of the year
for it, Got lots of questions for you all and would really appreciate
everyone's feedback.
1. Prior to the death of my friend I had been giving some thought about
how we can make this group better, the best way to do that is to find out
from you all what you would like to see happening here so we can make it
happen!!!! I you have any suggestions I am open to them, please let us know!
2. We have two exchanges that I want to get up and running in the next
couple of weeks, can Wendy and Stacey let me know if they are still willing
to organise those and put together an email outlining details etc. Thanks
guys, if you are unable to now no problems!
As they are two very different exchanges I thought there wouldn't be a
problems running them simultaneously, please let me know if you all think
this is unsuitable.
3. Can people start thinking about a Christmas exchange now and maybe
suggestions of what they would like. Would be great to get that up and
happening before Christmas.
4. Finally putting together a list of suppliers in Australia, if you are
supplier can you please send me your details so I can add them to the list,
thinking particularly of you Wendy and Pat but there may be other so I dont
want to miss anyone out! Also please send me details of any suppliers that
you know of that you would recommend.
5. Putting together a list of tutors as well, please let me know if you
tutor and your details or again any tutors you know of and would recommend.
Got lots more things up my sleeve but dont want to overload you at the moment.
Enjoy your week.
Regards
Sandie :-)
What are you all up to??
Please write this week and let us all know what you are up to, maybe you
have been unable to felt because other things are happening at the moment,
maybe you are working on a challenging project at the moment, maybe those
industrious ones of you are just business as usual churning out all your
wonderful creations to sell, please fill us all in!!!
This past couple of weeks I have been the most productive I have been for
the past 9 months!!!! Its actually a bit scaring DH (Ken) keeps looking at
me as though wondering what drugs I am on though I have to say none, just
being creative for a change!!! Family knows I am back on track there is
fibre (and not the edible kind!!!) in their dinner.
The textile group I belong to is holding an exhibition in July (Kiama) and
Late August (Bowral) so I have been working on some bags for those as well
as a sculptural piece, I also make stained glass eggs out of felt and I am
working on another at the moment. They take ages so I dont do a lot of them!!!
My studio has been painted and the lighting is going in this week but still
cant work here too long until we get the gas connection in as it is
freezing especially today (my office is down here too!!!) Think my feet are
blue, cant feel them any more!!!
What are you up to!!!
Regards
Sandie :-)
I am so sorry to hear of Elizabeth's passing. I remember her from the Spinners & Weavers Open Day last July - she had such a warm personality & a lovely smile.
Take care of yourself & please don't worry about the exchanges - there's no hurry.
Love
Wendy
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 6:53 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Off air for this week
Hi all
Sorry that I have not followed up on the exchanges, it will have to wait until next week. My closest friend Elizabeth passed away suddenly on Friday morning. She had been ill with cancer for about 6 months but was appearing to be doing great even attended a felting workshop the Sunday before.
For those of you who didn't know her she was the daughter of Wendy Norris from Kangaroo Valley Spinning Supplies and any shows that we did you would always see Liz and I together. We were a pigeon pair!!!!! At the moment I just cant imagine how life will be without her!
She leaves behind a darling man of a husband and two beautiful children 11years and 8 years.
Have arrangements to help with at the moment so will be only receiving mail not sending it for the next few days, though I will be at Sydney Royal all day Thursday demonstrating if you happen to be there.
What a wonderful thing it is to have had such a friend. She sounds amazing and you sound like you have been very close .
My sincere and heartfelt sympathy to you and her little family....and to Elizabeth and she continues her journey.
Allison
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...]On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Monday, 10 April 2006 6:53 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Off air for this week
Hi all
Sorry that I have not followed up on the exchanges, it will have to wait until next week. My closest friend Elizabeth passed away suddenly on Friday morning. She had been ill with cancer for about 6 months but was appearing to be doing great even attended a felting workshop the Sunday before.
For those of you who didn't know her she was the daughter of Wendy Norris from Kangaroo Valley Spinning Supplies and any shows that we did you would always see Liz and I together. We were a pigeon pair!!!!! At the moment I just cant imagine how life will be without her!
She leaves behind a darling man of a husband and two beautiful children 11years and 8 years.
Have arrangements to help with at the moment so will be only receiving mail not sending it for the next few days, though I will be at Sydney Royal all day Thursday demonstrating if you happen to be there.
Hi all
Sorry that I have not followed up on the exchanges, it will have to wait
until next week. My closest friend Elizabeth passed away suddenly on Friday
morning. She had been ill with cancer for about 6 months but was appearing
to be doing great even attended a felting workshop the Sunday before.
For those of you who didn't know her she was the daughter of Wendy Norris
from Kangaroo Valley Spinning Supplies and any shows that we did you would
always see Liz and I together. We were a pigeon pair!!!!! At the moment I
just cant imagine how life will be without her!
She leaves behind a darling man of a husband and two beautiful children
11years and 8 years.
Have arrangements to help with at the moment so will be only receiving mail
not sending it for the next few days, though I will be at Sydney Royal all
day Thursday demonstrating if you happen to be there.
Take care all, and talk to you soon.
Love
Sandie
Back on board. I have been having a good time here in USA and so far, I have been in LA for a week, then spent a week down in San Diego. I even managed to get in a few days of feltmaking with my hostess, Anna. Anna made a lovely lightweight sleeveless jacket which she still has to manipulate, and I made a vessel over a blow up beach ball, then I also made a scarf with some of Chrissy Lauritz's batts. We also made some roses, and started her son on a piece of felt (but that did not continue for long, as he is only 7, and the concentration span did not remain intact for too long.
I will be heading up to Portland on 9th by Amtrak and I will be up there for a week and a bit, then up to Seattle, then over to Idaho. I have had so many invitations to come and visit and stay with different people around the country, it is beginning to make a real
difference to may itinerery. All these very kind generous people want me to come and visit and stay with them, and also are offering to organise some felting workshops for me to teach, or even have a felting day together with a group.
I look forward to the rest of my trip eagerly, and as soon as I can get some photos of a feltmaking workshop, I will send some back. So far, I have been taking photos of just touristy type things, and of people that I have met so far.
I am disappointed that I cannot be involved in the latest exchange that you have going. I love to participate in all these types of events.
The weather here is warming up, and the days are getting longer than they were just two weeks ago when I arrived here. However, going up to Portland will certainly mean that I will have to get out the woollies. Maybe just make another felt garment
to wear. I have been wearing a couple of my scarves still, because there is still a kind of nip in the air, which will be more than just a nip when I am a lot further north.
Will probably have more to report once I get to Portland.
The ATC is a great idea, but unfortunately I don't have time to make one at the moment as I have lots of other felting projects on the go.
But I am happy to take part in and organise a fibre exchange.
Wendy
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of sandken Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 9:17 PM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: RE: [AussieFeltmakers] Some questions for you all!
Hi Stacey
Thanks for the reply, I never say no to someone hosting an exchange for me!!!! I think ATC's are great and with all the interest in them at the moment really appropriate. Thanks also for the explanation for those who don't know what they are.
As I said in my email to Wendy, will give everyone until Monday to respond and if we all agree maybe we can run the fibre one and the ATC's at the same time. We can work out the finer details next week.
Yes I would love to meet up with you when you come down to Sydney.
Wendy
-----Original Message----- From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of Ken & Pat Miller Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 8:05 AM To: AussieFeltmakers@... Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] Hampton School
Hi All
Just finished my 2 one hour classes at Hampton School. Its is a small country school with 17 pupils in total. What a surprise when I arrived and found that there were 13 boys and only 4 girls. We were making felt necklaces. Think the choice would have been different if I knew that there were so many boys.
What a good bunch of kids. Polite , enthusiastic a real pleasure to teach. Boys had trouble treading needles, that was a surprise. But it went really will and we ended up with some great medallions.
Don't know if I will have time for a swap, but what do you think of the felted and beaded necklace. Made by making a felted sausage shape with multi colours , cutting into disks before felted really hard, then flattening disk into a medallion shape, felting disks until hard and decorating with with small beads. Very quick and easy but looks great.
Julie, green with envoy, grew up In North Vancouver, have relatives in Portland and L.A. Area, have very happy memories of both places.
Hi Wendy, will be in Sydney for a week when new granddaughter if born, around the first week in May. Maybe we could met up. Daughter lives at Dee Why.
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