So many social media platforms have become mainstream since I started blogging in 2012.  For me, it's been a lot easier to post my felted creations on Instagram and Facebook than to keep up this old blog.  Nonetheless I wanted to update you on what I've been up to which is pretty much same ol', same ol' - mah jongg, book club, travel, being a foodie and a drinky (is that word), bike riding, pilates, yoga, walking, playing with my dogs which means 18 year old Olivier and my new darling puppy Darwin and if goes without saying, lots and lots of felting.  My poor boy Kiza, my gorgeous Weimaraner, had an inoperable huge tumor and I had to put him down.  I loved him so much and will always remember his beauty and the heavenly smell of his ears which I hope I can experience again in my lifetime.

Last year I got into drinking Bourbon and have become quite the mixologist creating and trying to modernize an Old Fashioned.  I have been adding different spirts to the Bourbon, like coffee amaro and mandarin Napolian liquor as well as special bitters like mole and habanero. And of course, I use the best cherries possible like Luxardo from Italy.

Here are some recent pics of some of my felted creations including caps for men as modeled by my partner Joe as well as my brother Alan and Joe's nephew Ben.  Ben's wife Cassidy is modeling a scarf and my SIL is wearing a beautiful shawl.  I am donning all of the other pieces.  

 

It's a Jungle Out There

It's a jungle out there so why not wear a jungle inspired poncho to navigate this urban jungle of ours.  Feel powerful and fashionable at the same time!  

This is my latest design and creation.  It's a pull over nuno felted seamless poncho with a side gusset to make it swing with ease.  It has a high collar that can be smooched down and deep armholes with capped sleeves make it comfy for a one size fit's all.  Of course it can be worn back to front and it's reversible too.

I created my resist to include a side seam gusset to expand one side seam to form a swing shape.

Close up of the textiles before it was felted.

Along with merino wool roving I used new silk, vintage saris, repurposed textiles, yarn, tusseh silk, silk hankies and more to create this garment.  I love all the texture.

 Urban jungle armor

Kimono Nuno Felted Vest - Cinnabar and Turquoise

This kimono style reversible seamless nuno felted vest was fun to make.  One side is less decorative that the other.  On the decorative side, I used various types of silks including burn-out with beads, metallic silk and vintage sari silks.  

 My work in progress including my own prefelts and yarn to embellish.

 I made a button using a cinnabar bead and glued on a button back using trusty E6000 Glue.  I then used bead thread to add semiprecious small beads, a coin and a hanging turquoise bead.  I sewed a blanket stick button hole on both sides of the vest.

 Back of the vest

 I embellished the corded closures with semi precious beads.

 This is the reverse side of the vest.

No Roll Felting - Dryer Method

Just ask any felter what their least favorite part of the process is and most will say the rolling.  And yes I concur with this consensus; it is in fact my least favorite part.  On the other hand, I have to say it's a pretty good work out and I've developed some fairly decent upper arms from it.  Sometimes I even throw in a few squats at the same time as part of my multi-tasking mentality. Although I've heard lately that they say it's impossible to multi-task...really now. 

And to help pass the time, I usually put my iPad on the table and turn on some mindless show or some interesting TED talks. Once in a while, I'll bring my roll into the other room, put it on the floor and use my feet to roll while I watch TV on the big screen. So given all of this, I try to make the best out of rolling. 

GO AHEAD AND READ THIS BLOG IN FULL AND THEN GO TO: https://www.studio907.com/2020/01/renewed-no-roll-felting-dryer-method.html TO SEE SOME GOOD UPDATES THAT I'VE MADE TO THE NO ROLL DRYER METHOD.

But a recent Facebook post by Patricia Spark referencing the dryer method for felting, which is a popular substitute for rolling, got me thinking that I should try it again.  I had in fact tried it some time ago but I had not been very pleased.  I think it had to do with what I was making at the time which was a big garment with a resist. 

 But this time I was working on a simple 30"x30" square that is going to be used as either a table accessory, pillow cover, quilt piece or something similar, and thought I'd take another crack at this dryer method for felting.

First off, I created the piece in my usual method by laying out my roving on a large piece of bubble wrap with bubbles up.  I wetted out the piece with the ball browser which I definitely prefer to the garden sprayer.  I then covered the work with with another large piece of bubble wrap (bubbles down)and then wet the bubble wrap so that my hands glide to compress it for several minutes.  At this point, I would normally start my rolling.

But this time, I did the following for the no roll dryer method:

1.  I folded over the bubble wrap to make a small package.  My 30"x30" square was still in tack.

2.  I used a wet towel and rolled it up like a sausage roll.  I put that at the edge of my bubble wrap.

3.  I rolled up the sausage towel inside the bubble wrap.

4.  I put a fresh towel under the package and rolled everything up inside it.

5.  I secured the towel with three panty hose ties.

6.  Into the dryer it went for 10 minutes.  Set it for no heat or just damp dry.  It's the thumping agitation, not the heat, that will "no roll" felt the piece for you.  And while it's doing it's thing, you have time to get other stuff done...or not!

7.  After the 10 minutes, take it out, open it up and re-roll it with the wet sausage towel at the other end.  Re-roll it with the outside towel, secure it with the ties and pop it back into the dryer for anther 10 minutes.  Again relax or do your thing.

8.  Remove the outer towel, the sausage towel, and open it up.  Assure it is secure.

 Proceed as your normally would to full the piece:  roll it on itself, slam it, rub it.

 And just like that, it's a beautiful felted piece.