At the beginning of summer I took a felting workshop with Marjolein Dallinga in Picton, Ontario. It was organized by Linda from Rose Haven Farm Store. I like to describe myself as an "experienced felt-book reader and a beginner felter". My history of felting having started in the 90's and then put on hold due to my paintings keeping me exceedingly busy. Switching to working with resin in 2006 did not help me realizing my felting dreams - any floating fiber in the studio is sure to find it's way into the magnetic appeal of the wet resin.
This year I have been very fortunate to learn techniques from both Marjolein and India. I couldn't help but apply what I learned from Marjolein when working on the landskin with India. Much to my inexperience of the vast amount of space a "crater" takes up, I was not able to make a lovley landskin - I had to felt it "my-way" (that is I used Marjolein's way of gentle felting). I also ended up with a piece of felt that was fully felted before India could stop me (grrr at myself). A landskin for me was supposed to be a larger wrap - mine would have barley able to wrap around me. So I decided to leave it as a cowl. I am very happy about that decision. To fully utilize India's teaching however, I worked on a smaller version of her teachings on my own time during the evenings of the workshop. Resulting again, due to time constraints, not in a landskin, but a shawl.
Both where dyed together in one bundle, including gifts of mother earth found at the workshop location - and a tiny bit of help from one eucalyptus leaf - the overall brown colour is from black walnuts. No metal was added to this. I attempted to create a gentle variation of natural colours rather than distinct leaf prints - a success when I look at the finished pieces.
(Please forgive me the vast number of photos - being a fiberfile and loving to capture details, here are but a small portion of the total pix taken today).
The Shawl
The Cowl
Layed-out
I feel blessed to have learned from both women - and I like to think that I am already well underway in making some of it my own. Something I always share with my students - take what I offer and make it your own - apply your own layers to it.
