-----Original Message-----
From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of Barb Mewburn
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 8:30 PM
To: AussieFeltmakers@...
Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] SCARF EXCHANGE FINAL NUMBERS

Enchanted Wool wrote:

We now have 8 participants in this scarf exchange: Natalie, Sandie, Wendy, Pat, Julie, Jacqui, Elly & Rae.

 

Would all those taking part please send me their fibre and the prepaid satchels by Friday 10th June (otherwise we won't have much time to wear the scarves this winter LOL). I will then post the fibre out the following week. 

 

More detailed instructions about the exchange are in the email I sent last week. If anyone didn't get a copy or has deleted it, please let me know and I will send it to you.

 

Wendy

Enchanted Wool

 

Hi Wendy,
I thought I was on the list too. Anyway, I sent my fibre yesterday, so you should have it tomorrow

regards, Barb .

BTW, am I right in thinking that you cannot use flax, Julie? My sample has flax in it.

Natalie, did you still want the Angora?  I have put it away, but can get it out again, if you wish :-)

Dear Barb
I have a copy of this book which I bought from Book Services. 211 Bay
Street, Brighton, Vic. Phone: 03 9596 8742 Email: info@... .
This shop often has the odd copy of out of print books. You may be lucky.
regards
xxxRae


----- Original Message -----
From: "Barb Mewburn" <barbam@...>
To: <AussieFeltmakers@...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 12:52 AM
Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] time???


> HI Natalie,
>
> No I'm a Capricorn,
> I'm jealous that you have the book New Directions For Felt. We have 2
> copies in our Vicfelt library, I've been trying to get a copy for ages,
> but it's not available anymore. I still want one, BTW, if anyone knows
> of a copy going.
>
> I haven't done anything about aquiring the plans for the flatbed felting
> machine, they are quite cheap, I think only $US5.00, they are pretty
> basic, I believe, so would lend themselves to be adapted to what you
> have easily available.
>
> As you would have seen from the pictures in Gunilla's book, there are
> machines that are similar in principle. All the machines will really
> only take the work to fulling stage, though.
>
> I also quite like the idea of the rolling felt machine. I guess if you
> showed the pictures in your book to a local bush engineer, he could
> probably suggest a way of doing it & make it for you. There are a lot of
> capable people out there, especially in country engineering shops, who
> are used to making up strange things. It might be worth putting out some
> feelers/
>
> Good luck, Barb
> PS have you been following the North American feltmakers discussions on
> felting machines ?
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

We now have 8 participants in this scarf exchange: Natalie, Sandie, Wendy, Pat, Julie, Jacqui, Elly & Rae.

 

Would all those taking part please send me their fibre and the prepaid satchels by Friday 10th June (otherwise we won't have much time to wear the scarves this winter LOL). I will then post the fibre out the following week. 

 

More detailed instructions about the exchange are in the email I sent last week. If anyone didn't get a copy or has deleted it, please let me know and I will send it to you.

 

Wendy

Enchanted Wool

 

Thanks for all this info, Barb, that is a great help. The finger guard sounds like a good idea although I am leaning towards the Babylock at present as my intention is to make some larger pieces and I may be better off with the faster motor. As I must start keeping my dogs fur and give it a try. When I discovered needlefelting my imagination ran wild and could see endless possibilities but decided it was going to take forever to complete even a few then I discovered these machines and figured this was the answer - and of course when John, my husband, asked what I wanted for my birthday .............................!!! Anyway I will let you know the next episode in the saga after I have trialled the Babylock later in the week.

Once againe thanks so much for the information.

best wishes

xxxRae

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Barb Mewburn

To: AussieFeltmakers@...

Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:36 PM

Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] To Julie and all AussieFelmakers

Hi Rae,
I tried out the Embellisher at the Stitches & Craft show in Melbourne, 
in March. They are great. The difference between them and the Pierrot is
they  have more needles, further apart, that go into individual holes in
the needle plate.

The Pierrot has removable needles too, so you can use any number up to
5. It only has a central hole, so there is a possibility of 'grabbing '
fine fabric down the hole. I didn't have any problem, when trialling it,
It is necessary to use the wash-away Vilene ( they supply that too, if
you want) for fine stuff,& is  also necessary with the Babylock
Embellisher I like the finger guard on the Pierrot, it is a large, clear
perspex tube that's easily removable, so you can't get your fingers in
the way.  It's much better than the Embellisher  for  that. Apparently
there is a whiz if a man in Europe, who uses a bamboo stick to put very
fine things under the needles. I find, at this stage, I can get close
enough to them.

I think the Embellisher motor might be a bit faster, & is definitely
faster with 7 needles. I  chose the Pierrot on price, mainly. If you
order it online, you can have it for 30 days trial, so if you don't like
it, you can get your money back. It's a lovely, light machine. By
getting this one, I am able to buy something else with the rest of my money.

Did you get a chance to try out the Embellisher yourself? It is an
excellent machine too, it boils down to how much do you want to spend?

I love the fact that I have my machine set up & can play whenever I have
a few minutes to spare. I have been doing a dog fur embellished on
corriedale felt.  I find that it is better to use a nearly fulled or
fully fulled piece to embellish on. It is possible to make felt from
scratch, but not necessarily quicker.

It is great for combining other fabrics in a collage, using a small
piece of merino.  I have felted on to denim with it, putting appliques
on to knitted things, needling in roving or yarn --what I could have
done with it whilst making my sister's marriage rug :'(

I hope this is of some use to you,

Best wishes, Barb Mewburn Warragul, Vic. :-)

---

Yahoo! Groups Links

• To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/AussieFeltmakers/
   
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  AussieFeltmakers-unsubscribe@...
   
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

From: Barb Mewburn

To: AussieFeltmakers@...

Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:36 PM

Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] To Julie and all AussieFelmakers

Hi Rae,
I tried out the Embellisher at the Stitches & Craft show in Melbourne, 
in March. They are great. The difference between them and the Pierrot is
they  have more needles, further apart, that go into individual holes in
the needle plate.

The Pierrot has removable needles too, so you can use any number up to
5. It only has a central hole, so there is a possibility of 'grabbing '
fine fabric down the hole. I didn't have any problem, when trialling it,
It is necessary to use the wash-away Vilene ( they supply that too, if
you want) for fine stuff,& is  also necessary with the Babylock
Embellisher I like the finger guard on the Pierrot, it is a large, clear
perspex tube that's easily removable, so you can't get your fingers in
the way.  It's much better than the Embellisher  for  that. Apparently
there is a whiz if a man in Europe, who uses a bamboo stick to put very
fine things under the needles. I find, at this stage, I can get close
enough to them.

I think the Embellisher motor might be a bit faster, & is definitely
faster with 7 needles. I  chose the Pierrot on price, mainly. If you
order it online, you can have it for 30 days trial, so if you don't like
it, you can get your money back. It's a lovely, light machine. By
getting this one, I am able to buy something else with the rest of my money.

Did you get a chance to try out the Embellisher yourself? It is an
excellent machine too, it boils down to how much do you want to spend?

I love the fact that I have my machine set up & can play whenever I have
a few minutes to spare. I have been doing a dog fur embellished on
corriedale felt.  I find that it is better to use a nearly fulled or
fully fulled piece to embellish on. It is possible to make felt from
scratch, but not necessarily quicker.

It is great for combining other fabrics in a collage, using a small
piece of merino.  I have felted on to denim with it, putting appliques
on to knitted things, needling in roving or yarn --what I could have
done with it whilst making my sister's marriage rug :'(

I hope this is of some use to you,

Best wishes, Barb Mewburn Warragul, Vic. :-)

Hi Rae,
I tried out the Embellisher at the Stitches & Craft show in Melbourne,
in March. They are great. The difference between them and the Pierrot is
they  have more needles, further apart, that go into individual holes in
the needle plate.

The Pierrot has removable needles too, so you can use any number up to
5. It only has a central hole, so there is a possibility of 'grabbing '
fine fabric down the hole. I didn't have any problem, when trialling it,
It is necessary to use the wash-away Vilene ( they supply that too, if
you want) for fine stuff,& is  also necessary with the Babylock
Embellisher I like the finger guard on the Pierrot, it is a large, clear
perspex tube that's easily removable, so you can't get your fingers in
the way.  It's much better than the Embellisher  for  that. Apparently
there is a whiz if a man in Europe, who uses a bamboo stick to put very
fine things under the needles. I find, at this stage, I can get close
enough to them.

  I think the Embellisher motor might be a bit faster, & is definitely
faster with 7 needles. I  chose the Pierrot on price, mainly. If you
order it online, you can have it for 30 days trial, so if you don't like
it, you can get your money back. It's a lovely, light machine. By
getting this one, I am able to buy something else with the rest of my money.

Did you get a chance to try out the Embellisher yourself? It is an
excellent machine too, it boils down to how much do you want to spend?

I love the fact that I have my machine set up & can play whenever I have
a few minutes to spare. I have been doing a dog fur embellished on
corriedale felt.  I find that it is better to use a nearly fulled or
fully fulled piece to embellish on. It is possible to make felt from
scratch, but not necessarily quicker.

It is great for combining other fabrics in a collage, using a small
piece of merino.  I have felted on to denim with it, putting appliques
on to knitted things, needling in roving or yarn --what I could have
done with it whilst making my sister's marriage rug :'(

I hope this is of some use to you,

Best wishes, Barb Mewburn Warragul, Vic. :-)

----- Original Message -----

From: Barb Mewburn

To: http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/AussieFeltmakers/

Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2005 10:09 PM

Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] felting machines

Hi all,

Julie,what a wonderful idea to use the bicycle to run the roller. I
could do with losing some weight. I guess, if one was lazy, one could
attach a motor too. there are a lot of old washing machine motors around.

When I spoke of Gunilla's book, I was talking about the home-made
machines that were displayed in it. The one with the water-filled roller
looked interesting. I agree with Natalie, that the machines from Celtic
Moon in Canada are way over my head, but it should be possible to get
something fairly simple made up here. There have been so many wonderful
innovations in machinery made in Oz & NZ, that we must be able to get
something done here. The frame-work for the roller machine is relatively
simple, from memory. the pressure in the roller can be changed . I think
that steam is pushed through it too. I really will have to do some
follow-up investigation on possibilities.

several other machines were powered by wiper motors, run from
powerpacks. I like the one that's made from a perspex gantry that can be
easily dismantled.

The only problem, of course, is that laying up still has to be done.
When one is laying up a large piece from tops, it becomes rather back
breaking, after a while. I like the idea of making smaller pre-felts,
then adding them together ( your quilt idea is becoming more tempting,
as time goes on) I think that this is where my little Pierrot is also
becoming usefull, as it can be used to attach the prefelts together.

I am also becomming more emamoured with batts. They certainly take a lot
of the hard yakka out of laying up large solid pieces of felt, don't
they?hand & machine needle felt, hand & machine embroidery, hand
dyeing,as well as using commercially dyed fleece is what I enjoy. I'm
strictly an amateur at all of this, but when I have the time, it is all
fun!!!! Now I have to work out how to post  a picture on our site. eeeeee.

The more I squash into my workroom (4.5M & 4.2M) the more I feel I
really should take over the shed out side, when my husband builds a
bigger one for himself.
Being such a cold fish, I really didn't want to do that, it would mean
I'd have to line & heat it. I must admit that I like being able to come
here whenever it takes my fancy, whether it's in the middle of the day
(or night). I'm a night owl.  I guess, if we ever build anywhere else,
I'd have to incorporate a large studio on the top of the house or at the
end somewhere. I have always wanted to build a strawbale house, but my
conventional builder husband isn't keen
Now I would like him to build me  a bench around the room, to put my
machines, the computers & papers on. I have a large, lightbox gaslift
drawing board (4ft x 3ft) that is still dismantled in here too, besides
my 8ftx4ft worktable.( sitting nearly 1M high) please excuse the metric
& imperial measurements, but that's how they are.


We are so short-staffed at work at the moment, that I don't have time to
scratch myself much. I can really empathise with you, Julie, as to the
time you spend on the road, fortunately, I don't spend as much time now,
'cos I'm only 50km from home, but it the recent past I was 110km+ from
work. As usual, I spend many extra hours  with documentation >:-(

BTW, does anyone know of a source locally of needlefelted batts ??

regards,Barb

 

Hi Rae Well, the fact that you haven't yet been to one of the Toss and Tell days explains why I cannot place you.  However, I am very glad to know that I had some response to my notice in the newsletter about the Aussie Feltmakers List.  If you are going to go to the Quilt and Craft fair that is currently on at the Convention Centre, FeltWEST have a stand there, and display.  One finished panel of my quilt will be on display there, and it is now embellished (by hand).  I will be on duty on the stand on Saturday afternoon, demonstrating and selling and in general, extolling the virtues of this very tactile textile.

Hi all,

  Julie,what a wonderful idea to use the bicycle to run the roller. I
could do with losing some weight. I guess, if one was lazy, one could
attach a motor too. there are a lot of old washing machine motors around.

When I spoke of Gunilla's book, I was talking about the home-made
machines that were displayed in it. The one with the water-filled roller
looked interesting. I agree with Natalie, that the machines from Celtic
Moon in Canada are way over my head, but it should be possible to get
something fairly simple made up here. There have been so many wonderful
innovations in machinery made in Oz & NZ, that we must be able to get
something done here. The frame-work for the roller machine is relatively
simple, from memory. the pressure in the roller can be changed . I think
that steam is pushed through it too. I really will have to do some
follow-up investigation on possibilities.

several other machines were powered by wiper motors, run from
powerpacks. I like the one that's made from a perspex gantry that can be
easily dismantled.

The only problem, of course, is that laying up still has to be done.
When one is laying up a large piece from tops, it becomes rather back
breaking, after a while. I like the idea of making smaller pre-felts,
then adding them together ( your quilt idea is becoming more tempting,
as time goes on) I think that this is where my little Pierrot is also
becoming usefull, as it can be used to attach the prefelts together.

I am also becomming more emamoured with batts. They certainly take a lot
of the hard yakka out of laying up large solid pieces of felt, don't
they?hand & machine needle felt, hand & machine embroidery, hand
dyeing,as well as using commercially dyed fleece is what I enjoy. I'm
strictly an amateur at all of this, but when I have the time, it is all
fun!!!! Now I have to work out how to post  a picture on our site. eeeeee.

The more I squash into my workroom (4.5M & 4.2M) the more I feel I
really should take over the shed out side, when my husband builds a
bigger one for himself.
Being such a cold fish, I really didn't want to do that, it would mean
I'd have to line & heat it. I must admit that I like being able to come
here whenever it takes my fancy, whether it's in the middle of the day
(or night). I'm a night owl.  I guess, if we ever build anywhere else,
I'd have to incorporate a large studio on the top of the house or at the
end somewhere. I have always wanted to build a strawbale house, but my
conventional builder husband isn't keen
Now I would like him to build me  a bench around the room, to put my
machines, the computers & papers on. I have a large, lightbox gaslift
drawing board (4ft x 3ft) that is still dismantled in here too, besides
my 8ftx4ft worktable.( sitting nearly 1M high) please excuse the metric
& imperial measurements, but that's how they are.


We are so short-staffed at work at the moment, that I don't have time to
scratch myself much. I can really empathise with you, Julie, as to the
time you spend on the road, fortunately, I don't spend as much time now,
'cos I'm only 50km from home, but it the recent past I was 110km+ from
work. As usual, I spend many extra hours  with documentation >:-(

BTW, does anyone know of a source locally of needlefelted batts ??

regards,Barb

-----Original Message-----
From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of Julie Williams
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2005 11:29 AM
To: AussieFeltmakers@...
Subject: RE: [AussieFeltmakers] mixture of topics

Sorry Wendy......will do.  I get a bit distracted at times, and by the time I answer an email, my train of thought is on something else, hence it never comes out the way I mean it to come out.  Maybe after a while of trying to follow my train of thought, some of you will begin to understand me......which will be great, because I don't, yet!!!    Julie Jaruleeli FeltART Western Australia

Hi Kerry

Just waving at you to say hi, great to hear from you!!! Hope all is well!

Sandie :-)

Hi Natalie

Sorry not to respond sooner but have as usual been busy!!

BTW I am a Gemini - yesterday was my birthday!!! :-)

As for needle felting a bowl, I agree with Wendy, one of pats forms works
well or buy yourself a block of foam (and I mean a big cube!) and get hold
of an electric knife and use it to cut the shape of your bowl out of the
foam. Remember your bowl may be a little smaller than your form when you
are finished. I always like to give vessels a final wet felt as it always
gives me a more durable surface.
Why not make a vessel over a basket ball by wet felting, don't fully felt
the vessel stop halfway through the process and finish it off by needle
felting and adding surface design! :-)

As for alpaca try blending a little of some coarse sheep wool with it you
will find it will needle felt better, or use wool for the core of the
object and add the alpaca on the surface, it is really important if you are
using a finer fibre (merino or alpaca) that you lay the fibres in different
directions, just like when we wet felt you will get a better finish. Also
try prefelting your fine fibre, just so that they hold together. Let it dry
(though some people do, I advise against needle felting wet fibre!) the
needle felt the soft sheet of fibre over the surface.

Just some tips that may help, ultimately I find it ends up being what works
for the individual, let us know how it goes!

Sandie (Who is going out to lunch and shopping with a girlfriend today -
very dangerous!)

Dear Natalie
I'm Aries.
Kerry

-----Original Message-----
From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of natalie
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 1:59 PM
To: AussieFeltmakers@...
Subject: [AussieFeltmakers] thank you ladies

Hi everyone,

thank you to Allison and Julie for your star signs.

Allison my best friend of 23 years is also a Libran!

Also, can anyone help me with ideas on how to needle felt a bowl?

I have been given some meat sheep wool, so I would like to learn how it would go needle felting with it.

I went to Clark pools and bought some  foam rubber

and have bought a being book from rustic forge and some more needles.

I have found the alpaca too fine to needle well.

have a good day

Natalie.

                 NEMCALA PARK
                           home
                             of
    ~ HEART FELTED CREATIONS~
           *COMPANION CRITTERS*
                            and
     *CREATIVE  DIGITAL  IMAGING*
                       .Australia.

-----Original Message-----
From: AussieFeltmakers@... [mailto:AussieFeltmakers@...] On Behalf Of Julie Williams
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:55 PM
To: AussieFeltmakers@...
Subject: Re: [AussieFeltmakers] mixture of topics

Hi Natalie This little black duck is an Aquarian.  What does that say to you?  We have a lot of talented ladies, and so far we have all been different star signs. My grand daughter is a Gemini, and her talent lays in what she can do with a pencil or crayon or pastel or paintbrush in her hands.  She is turning 12 this week.   Hi Sandie I still do combine needlefelting with the wet felting, (as you would have seen by the eggs) but when push comes to shove, I just love playing with the water more.  I can also sympathise with you over the house for sale, because mine is for sale also, and although it has only been on the market for 3 weeks, there has been hardly any interest so far.  It is a gorgeous house, I will be sorry to leave it, but it is way way too far from where I work, and also I want to do some travelling extensively, and I cannot do that whilst I have a house and mortgage.   Hi Rae Well, the fact that you haven't yet been to one of the Toss and Tell days explains why I cannot place you.  However, I am very glad to know that I had some response to my notice in the newsletter about the Aussie Feltmakers List.  If you are going to go to the Quilt and Craft fair that is currently on at the Convention Centre, FeltWEST have a stand there, and display.  One finished panel of my quilt will be on display there, and it is now embellished (by hand).  I will be on duty on the stand on Saturday afternoon, demonstrating and selling and in general, extolling the virtues of this very tactile textile.   Hi Wendy I will try to decide what fibre I would like my scarf to be in, and then I will be sending it off to you.  And I will put it in a postie bag this time and also make sure that there is plenty of postage to go with it.   Hello everyone else.  Happy feltmaking.  Regards    Julie Jaruleeli FeltART Western Australia -------Original Message-------