Wool felt cobblestone handbag "石板路＂手袋

This is the "cobblestone" textural suface handbag I made just after new techniques learnt from Nicola Brown in Portugal. 

 

In Portugal and Spain some paths and buildings are made with cobblestones.   

Inspired by the cobblestones paths, this is the sample I made in the workshop for the trial. 

Back home, I applied the technique on the flap and made this one. 

Completed with lining, inner pockets and magnet closures.  The bag size is good for a wallet, iPone and iPad.

With detachable strap.....

A clutch is fine

Thanks Heather for the idea of using resist and also the skills of making 3D flowers.

Portugal wool felt workshop 葡萄牙羊毛工藝交流

My wool felt workshop in Portugal was fabulous. Truly brimming with new skills and inspirations.  The Serra da Estrela sheep, so called "Bordeleira" in the farm are wonderful and their fleece are fantastic to work with.  My week in the farm was wonderful.    

我在葡萄牙不一樣的羊毛工藝交流 .

優美山莊田野, 美酒餐飲與來自不同地區的朋友共同學習, 好享受的文化與技巧交流.

The workshop was held in the ecological farm amid the olive groves in central highland of Portugal.

Participants from the US, Spain, England, Portugal, Sweden and me from Hong Kong.  On the first night welcome dinner...

Wow, I love cat, she greeted us as well.

Next day felt artist Nicola Brown started instruction and demo.

We started on different projects as we decided.

I was making a beret with nuno felt skills.  The silk fabric was my own dyed euc leaves.

All our days in the farm were super with blue sky though hot.

Lunch in the sun was great feel and comfortable

Each day served with breakfast, 2-course lunch and 3-course dinner with wine

The first day I completed the beret

Next day a fish bag with handle.  Indeed I intended to make a jug with handle but come out not so proportional I turned it to this look.  So call it the "fish bag".  Making wool felt is flexible that wet pieces can be changeable to something unexpected.   (I don't mind but I can't do custom order !!) 

Following days were handbags with 3D textural surface mixed with decoration of local raw fleece.  I like to work with the long and short fleece.  A very special combination.

The brown silk scraps were eco printed by myselt.  This is truly OOAK.

Without needle this technique of making a textural surface is wonderful.  A little purse with long rope is cute. 

Again a simple bag with long raw fleece.  The fleece is super white after felted.

A sculpture with curl tail, embellished with flower

3D vessel with mulberry silk.  My first trial to make the firm rim and shape.  Turnout good.

A session to watch local sheep shearing in the same farm.

My rug done with the  fleece just shorn.  Though took some time to pick the bits.  I like to do a small piece.  Love the texture, the brown fleece is particularly soft.  I call this a "black & white sheep". 

We've done lots creations in the week.  Time to show the local village people how wonderful the wool are.

Nuno felt scarf, iPad case, sculptures, vessels.... 

Corner of my works - handbags and beret.

Rug of raw fleece by Ann, rope necklace by Cynthia and hat by Conchita. 

These are amazingly done by Heather, Ann and Estela. 

Variety creations, some are done by the girls.

 Eco print and dye are part of the works showcased. 

Tie marks on wool felt and euc leaves are impressive. 

Nuno felt scarves are beautiful 

Sandy's nuno felt scarf looks like a pretty flower patch. 

The hanging demo by Nicola is awesome 

Eco print & dye on silk or wool felt are great 

I was glad to share the tying on chiffon 

String marks and eucalyptus prints 

My other way of using the "dark fabric" (with iron mordant) to transfer prints on another silk fabric. 

Nikki's silk fabric with local oak leaves and strong euc prints. 

We'd a visit to a wool processing factory and museum. 

In the factory we're introduced quality of wool. They're very well to felt and good price.  I bought 4 Kg home.    

 These are part of the projects I made during workshop.

My travel to Portugal was quite a fabulous interaction with international participants to broaden my wool felt skills and creations.  Next journey going on in Spain with good friends.  Will have another post about the exceptional scenery of Andalucia......