felted vessels

hello and how are you today?
Now i did these a little while ago but i thought i would share these with you.
I had my photos saved to disk but misplaced the disk whilst showing family members ! this is quite resent work and this lead up to my knitted vessels I do love playing with felt.


i have been asked to make a flat piece of work for a friend with felt she wants something colorful (my favorite) and decorative so i thought if i made a felt piece with some embroidery on top ... but firstly i need some inspiration!!

so i will have to put my thinking cap on and start ... i would really like to get this piece made before she comes back from holiday as a little surprise for her so i have a time limit of 3 weeks!! right anyway to show you some pictures!!! these were taken by James Mann unfortunately i cannot take credit for his great clicking skills (or maybe i shouldn't of said and then got full credit he he - hmmmmm... nah )







these photos are taking a while to load, they are big files so i will have to be patient (she says tapping her fingers) whilst i wait I'm watching my son still running around in his pj's taunting his grandad and trying to 'nipple cripple' him ... i know what your thinking.. he sounds like a great, polite child!! he is the cheekyist funniest little chap and i wouldn't be without him!

anyway loading loading loading .....


these forms were quite good in that they managed to keep themselves in place and in shape i didn't have to use anything to help them i will let you know how i made them i was all simply done and by using ... 2 balloons, a pair of old tights, elastic bands, a bowl, water, and i forget them name of the washing power but its in a green box and has happy smiley people on it ( - of course not many do now your definitely know which one it is!!!) ah just come to me.... its Dreft.





It was suggested to me by a good friend when i first started felting and Ive never looked back! so 2 balloons, tights, water dreft, a bowl and your felting hands... prepare for mess! Love the mess! get your balloon and half fill with water, blow up the rest of the balloon to the desired size you want soapy up the balloon (fairy liquid good enough- just acts as a bit more of a resist) now and stand it in a bowl . choose your fibres and place them on and around the balloon and build up to 3 layers (wont let me load so try it again.. right where was i )

cut the legs off the tights and tie up with the elastic bands now you need to be quite cunning or have a very helpful friend stretch out the tights and place over the balloon be careful not to move any of the fibers you have just so loving placed on it (curse words do not help but can and may make you feel better :)! ) now its on tie the end of the tights to the end of the balloon (i should have drawn diagrams)



actually i have photos i will have a gander through and see what i can do . now start felting get your dreft and hot water (not boiling but hot enough to get felting) get felting keep checking your fibres and when you think you have felted it enough take the tights of shock the fibres with cold water, pop your balloon, wash the felt masterpiece dry it just by squeezing it, get your other balloon and blow up inside your piece and voila!! wait for it to dry and then pop the balloon and admire your new vessel or vessels as the case may be!! phew !