I recently experienced 4 interesting days of Wet-Felting, with Gail Crosman Moore, during the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild Annual Bead Daze Workshops. The GLBG ABDW! (just kidding, couldn't resist).
Day 1: Felted Treasure Pouch, Day 2: Encrusted Brooch, Day 3&4: Floral Lariats.
Each day, we began by selecting sumptuous flavors of Dyed Wool Batting and a Color-Way Kit of embellishments, like shown in this photo:
After some history and education on Felting, Gail put us to work! ....carrying soapy water back and forth. Then cleaning it up. Day after day! Kneading the wool batting. Rolling it back and forth. Smoothing it. Massaging it. We became quite intimate with our felt. Then we were told, now POUND it on the table, pound it on the floor. (Kind of like a marriage, isn't it?) We were jumping up and down on towels with these beautifully-dyed, wt, deformed shapes getting smooshed inside. I believe it's the most fun I've had in a workshop yet!
While most doubted (or at least I did) that we could make our colored mass of wet-felt look anything close to the wonderfully sculpted pieces of art that Gail primped around before us,....like this
and this...
...Gail is a patient and encouraging instructor. I saw many wonderful pieces completed in this workshop and the individuality was shining. If you get the opportunity to take any workshops with Gail; I recommend you grab that opportunity.
Here are my (3) pieces in various stages of completion:
Gail is also an accomplished Lampwork Artist and Colored-Metal Artist. She sells lampwork beads, metal jewelry, and felting kits and supplies on her website, at workshops and bead shows. I am including a couple photos showcasing those talents as well:
And one last photo taken after (4) long, but fun-filled days. Tired Chickies we were....
I'll be seeing Gail again at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee in June. She will be teaching classes as well as exhibiting. I will be there too - working at her booth. Stop by and say HI!
5 comments:
I love Gail, she's so cool!! And fab you are working at her booth too!
I know. I spent several days with her. She hooked me! I love her personality AND her work...Thanks for commenting.
How jealous of you am I?! You'll notice that her blog is on my blog roll too. I'd love to take a class from her. Wet felting fascinates me. Although i've never done it.
You made some beautiful pieces yourself!
I know. She's great. It was a terrific workshop. Are you going to B&B in June? She'll be teaching a couple 1/2 day classes. I admire your work as well and am a fan. I have you on my blog roll as well. Thanks for the comment also. Tell me if you get this. LOL. I'm still trying to figure the bloggin thing out. Do you get my reply or not????
looking for the thingy to request notification of additional comments, ah. down at the bottom. Did it. But I usually don;t. ;-)
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