Felting - Oh My!

 Elynn Bernstein

It used to be the rule that you don't wash a wool sweater in hot water.  If you did, it was ruined as it had shrunk down to child size.  Those were the 'old days' -- these days we purposely pick up a 100% wool sweater (or skirt or anything), bring it home and shrink the dickens out of it.  After that  we cut it up and stitch pieces together.  We add pieces to mixed media artwork.  We create purses, hats, scarves and any number of wonderful things.   This is definitely a case where I don't long for the 'good old days'!!  As a side effect - what a wonderful recycling tool wool has become.

 Coat by Elynn Bernstein

Then there are those who make their own felt.  This is an arduous task - taking a lot of muscle because you literally have to 'beat' the wool into submission.  I take my hat (wool felted?) off to these creative and 'strong' women.  One of those women is Elynn Bernstein.  Elynn is a member of our InspiredArts Guild.  She dyes wool, felts it and creates beautiful and whimsical pieces of wearable art.

Hat by Elynn Bernstein

I love to use wool felt on the back of my punchneedle embroidery pieces.  It is malleable and yet strong.  The texture and colors are sooo perfect for stitcheries.  Here's to a new use for an old 'product'. 

"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Early Fall

Its coming!!  As I walked this morning the very slight beginnings of color appeared.

Soon the forest will be aflame with gold, red, rust and brown.   Soon the air will be cool enough that sitting on the porch in the afternoon with a cup of hot tea will be quite comfortable.  Soon my walks will take me into a forest full blown in technicolor.

"Light in Nature creates the movement of colors". - Robert Delaunay