Black Felt
February 21, 2010 at 5:33 pm 2 comments
I have spent some time this weekend back doing some stitching and I feel so much better for it. For me any kind of stitching is therapeutic, I can’t wait until the thesis is out of the way and I can do more.
Many moons ago Susan Lenz sent me some black felt from way over in Columbia, USA. This felt had been used as packaging and was donated to her by a local outdoor shop. Susan generously decided to share it out with the proviso that the recipients make and send a postcard to the original donor. I have finally managed to finish two postcards, one for Guy and one for Susan and I applaud, not only their generosity, but their great recycling! Susan reuses lots of vintage materials in her art and is going from strength to strength, having just staged a wonderful exhibition. I also gave some pieces of the felt to the members of our Creative Fibre Art Group. I have photos back from two members of their lovely creations, just waiting for a couple more and I will put those on the group blog.
I used this photo, taken at Kings Park, Perth when I went over for Maggie Grey’s workshop last year:
I edited the photo and printed out onto a cotton sheet. I painted the black felt from Susan with various blueish paints and then fused the image. It was then covered with white or black netting (one is darker) and purple chiffon scarf from the op shop. Using multiple colours of rayon threads I free machine stitched over the picture, also machining over added leaves cut from organza. It was heat gunned just a little to distress. I then made a couple of gum leaves by machining over organza and threads trapped between solvy, which were added on top. The edging is a twisted wool cord zigzagged to the edge. I used white bobbinfill when machining the trunk of the tree, which has given an interesting silhouette on the back. Because the felt is quite sturdy, and has many stitched layers, it didn’t need any further stiffening so I left the back visible.
Thankyou Susan and Guy, your postcards will be on their way tomorrow.
Cheers
Jo
Entry filed under: FME, Native plants, Recycling.
Carlseapatch's Weblog 
1.
Susan Lenz | February 23, 2010 at 11:21 am
Hi!
This is a wonderful post! Your work is fabulous! I’m going to email Guy and his wife Cynthia with a link to it! Thanks so much! Guy, Cynthia and I have been planning to get together so that I can photograph them with the postcards they’ve received!
Susan
2.
Susan Lenz | March 4, 2010 at 4:03 am
Hi!
The postcards arrived. I saw Guy yesterday…..River Runner, his kayak shop is just a block away from Gallery 80808/Vista Studios where my studio is located. He was totally BLOWN AWAY by your creativity and the transformation that you made happen on his humble felt. He also said that he was off to testify about the need for conservation…..always thinking of ways to protect our environment and to recycle instead of waste! I wholeheartedly agree with Guy….your work is AMAZING!
Thanks!
Susan