Nuno Felted Collage Shawl

Darling Karen is modeling one of my latest creations. It's really a collage using nuno felting as the medium. I am in my element making collages whether I'm working with paper, Photoshop,textiles or whatever.

 I dyed the silk organza and the blue/peach wool roving which is the base for this shawl.  To that I added taupe and brown roving, hand knit pieces donated to me by my friend Laurie who is a fabulous knitter, (she was actually tired of some of her hand knit sweaters - lucky me, huh!!), other hand dyed silks, vintage sari ribbons, yarn, Tilly Thomas beaded string, repurposed fabric and what ever else was lying around!

If you are interested in purchasing this or any of my other work, please email me by clicking HERE. Thank you for your interest.

Laying out the wool roving, silk, and other goodies.

Felted scarves for fall

Before you know it the heat of summer will be behind us as we approach the cool days of fall.  A good time to wear a heavier scarf to keep warm but still look stylish.  My new felted scarves are all that and more. Made with more roving than silk and filled with goodies including repurposed clothing, these scarves are a textile collage. I've been scouring my own closet, Goodwill and similar thrift stores for just the right pieces to give a new lease on life...feels so good and right to me.  And what a home I've found in these scarves for all my UFOs (unfinished knitting objects).  I just cut them up and felt them in.  This is so much fun.

Look for me at Grau Haus on Sunday October 21st where I'll be teaching another nuno felting scarf workshop.  The first one there was a huge success so I'm coming back for more.  To find out more, go to my 'Events' page.

Selecting my Material:  roving, silks, sari ribbons, tussah silk, repurposed clothing, etc.

Laying out my design.  I did two layers of wool roving and then added by goodies.

Finished scarf/shawl.  The drape is amazing and as usual, it can be worn in so many different ways.

A fun and colorful scarf made with one layer of wool roving and lots of goodies.

Another two layer scarf that will go with everything since it contains various shades of blacks, browns, grays.

My boy Oliver looking out the door.

The Amazing India Flint

India Flint

I was so fortunate to be able to participate in the three day workshop with India Flint at Grau Haus in Hollywood.  Claudia Grau has been devouring India's books for years and when she found out that India's Santa Barbara workshop was already full, Claudia contacted India about doing a class in LA.  Well the dogs were with us (an India phase) and so it came to pass.  And what an experience it was.  India is an amazing woman who's lived all over the world but hails from the land down under. Her web site describes her as "maker of marks, forest wanderer & tumbleweed, stargazer & stitcher, botanical alchemist & string twiner, working traveller, dreamer, writer and aspiring sax player".  She definitely lives and breathes her art. 

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The magical alchemy of eco dyeing with eucalyptus, onion skins, veggies, bark and other eco friendly elements.  And as an added bonus we basked in the fabulous scent and fragrance of steaming eucalyptus.  

Always time for tea.  Tea shown with some of the eucalyptus we used for dyeing.

No, it's not a wonton or spring roll.  It's my silk bundle wrapped with plants and other organic material.  That bead on the top marked it as mine. 

The amazing India Flint describing something.  She's wearing one of her eco dyed dresses. 

Claudia Grau and her sister (standing) along with Claudia's assistant Leah.  Thank you Claudia for putting this workshop together.

Hand dyed with purple carrots and their tops.

More magical alchemy below.  Can't wait to try it at home.

India Flint and Claudia Grau

Nuno Felting Workshop at Grauhaus

I was in my element teaching nuno felting to a full class at Grauhaus in the historic Crossroads of the World Shopping Center in Hollywood, CA on Sunday June 24, 2012.  It was clear that everyone throughly enjoyed immersing themselves in this creative process and came away fulfilled with a gorgeous, unique, and very one of kind nuno felted scarf.  

I am excited to say that this was just the first of hopefully many more teaching ventures for me at Grauhaus.  As a member of the newly formed artist's collective, with Claudia Grau and about a dozen other women artists, we plan to do some exciting venues including artists' receptions, craft dinners, fund raisers and creative workshops.  It is going to be a new and exciting way to do business, network with the community, craft together and reach out.  Click HERE to learn more.

Below is a short movie of the 6/24/12 NUNO FELTING WORKSHOP.  

Click the bottom right to view it on full screen.

More Textile Adventures - Nuno Felting the Batiked Fabric

Two weeks ago my friend Antoinette and I got together in her beautiful backyard to batik some silk fabric which we would later nuno felt.  For more information on the batik process click HERE.  Yesterday we got together at my house for the nuno felting portion of our textile adventure.  I had hand dyed some wool roving and other silks to coordinate with the batiks we did.

I started off with a piece of the batiked silk 132" long by 19" wide and after the felting process, the finished scarf was 89" long by 10 1/2" wide.  I am so pleased with all the texture, the color and the drape.  This scarf is beautiful and so different on both sides.  The one side mainly shows the batik fabric texturized from the wool roving that was placed on the other side.  The reverse side shows all the other elements I added in - the wool roving, the silks, ribbons, cut up and repurposed UFO knitting projects, etc.


Here's the finished scarf/shawl

Antoinette with our batiked silk fabric

Hand dyed silks and wool roving added to the batiked fabric

Lay out for the scarf.  It shrunk 33% in length and 45% in width.

Below are a few more pics of the finished scarf/shawl which can be worn in so many fun ways.

Nuno Felting Workshop - June 24, 2012

Click HERE to register for the Sunday, June 24, 2012 NUNO FELTING WORKSHOP.  It will be held at Claudia Grau's awesome Grau Haus in the historical Crossroads of the World Shopping Center in Hollywood, CA. 

 Enrollment is limited so register soon.

UPDATE:  THE WORKSHOP WAS A HUGE SUCESS.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

Forming an Artist's Collective

Another exciting evening spent brainstorming about organizing an artist's collective in one of the several spaces at Claudia Grau's Grau House at the historic Hollywood Crossroads of the World Shopping Center. The brainstorming session generated inspiration and ideas that would not have been possible, without the contribution of muttiple minds.  Of course it's not easy to solidify such an undertaking, but it's so exciting to be part of this innovative concept.  First step for me will be teaching a NUNO FELTING WORKSHOP on Sunday, June 24, 2012.   Even Claudia is going to be one of the students!  Click on the Events page and scroll down to Workshops to register.  Space is limited to eight students so sign up soon.

Upcycled garments by Claudia Grau

Me behind the lens

Claudia's B&W

My friend Linda from Long Beach

Ever the artist - Susan

Dying to have fun

Another Linda we'll call Linda Lu

Claudia and Linda admiring one of Claudia's designs

Claudia does amazing work.  Come see at the Grau Haus at 6671 Sunset, Hollywood, CA  90028

Linda admiring one of Claudia's bags