Woolly bag making 寒冬做暖袋

 

Can't believe we're into Feb still embracing the freezing days.  Normally after Chinese New Year it's spring but weather forecast we're below 9 C this week.  Really chilly for us in the sub-tropical region Hong Kong. My woolly bag made two years ago draws eye balls wherever I'm.   Actually I haven't taught open class this sort of bag before since the curly fleece is pricey so fee for learning is steep.  Also much water is needed,  indoor making will be a mess. I can only do in my open yard for private tutorial on special request.

踏入二月，已過立春，還是寒風刺骨，何不做個暖暖羊毛手袋，溫暖自己。

 Enthusiastic student Sammy came to my home studio right after work in a chilly weekday night.

  

We did from inside out.  We used my own natural printed fabric lining for strong backing. 

  

Wool layered on side A, then side B, both with fabric backing.

  

After 3 layers of Finn wool.....

  

Another layer of assorted raw fleece of Finn, Teeswater, Wensleydale, Romney.......

  

Started the rubbing, "rock n roll"......

  

Almost done in 3-4  hours.  

   

 A wild fleece woolly bag is completed with handles attached. Carrying it  just like cuddling a sheep.   If not warm enough.......

 

Cuddle my fluffy......

  

Fluffy Mogi said "Mum just made me the wild fleece bed sheet I'm warm enough, and you......?"

Friends stay warm, I can hear the steps of spring, not far away.

Seasons theme wool felt teapots 四季系列羊毛茶壺

 

Set of my four different teapots. 

Spring of green field and sprout popping out

Summer of lavender field

Autumn of birches with crisp yellow leaves

Winter of flame on wood

春回大地

盛夏薰香

白樺秋意

火暖寒冬

我的季節系列羊毛茶壺以不同的主題帶出四季意境，每一個都是以羊毛濕氈封合式塑造完成，立體感、實用既可裝飾是我的目的，以下是最新製作。　　

 

Since I've done a few wool felt teapots (last post), I wanted to make a season series. 

 Added to it is Winter.  

 Winter is cold, flame is hot.  A burning pot fills a room cozy with steam and hot air.  That's why I think of a burning pot for winter.

 

  I made it with a single enclosed resist. Upper is a teapot and bottom is the burning wood.    I  put some white silk strings and mulberry silk as ashes and smoke.  Put a few onion dyed Teeswater curly fleece and red dyed Wensleydale curls as fire or flame.

 

Here it comes......The finished look of a teapot on a burning wood

Both sides look

 

I made the Winter theme of a burning teapot as I remember when I was young we went hiking or wild camps,  we used to carry with us a metal pot to set fire with wood on the rocks to make noodles or rice.

 

Nowadays we live in the urban and country parks are well built with cement BBQ stoves.  People are not bother to carry lots of stuff for cooking.  We're in Hong Kong with high rises in urban.  Much of Hong Kong's  terrain is hilly and mountainous.  Only 30-min away I'm up from my place in the mountain to have this good view but wildfire is not allowed.

 

This wool felt teapot is not only an ornament, I want it a  functional storage.

 

Mogi, "Hmmmmm, a storage for my treats ?!"

 

A flower holder is a good decoration.  

 

Whatever it serves is fun to make

 

Of the seasons theme, I like the most is this one first made in Pamela A MacGregor's workshop since the wool used is Finn.  It felts so well.  Quite firm and sturdy.  I just ordered a lot to do more 3D creations.

There're lots of my creations in my facebook page - TerLing Creations.  Please feel free to browse.

Student's vivid spring scarf 燦爛春日圍巾

My student Stella, local art designer and founder of s+click (fb page),  wants to explore the interest of wool felt.  She has a great sense of color, particularly loves red, purple....bright and cheerful color.  She made this vivid scarf with the spring feel yesterday. 

Actually, the first thing she learnt was a wool felt box made last week.

It's made with resist and nuno felt flower on the lid.  Light glowing from the flower lid with a LED lamp is ambience added.

 

Stella lives on an outlying island Lamma. She came all the way from the tiny island to my urban home not only wanted to make a box in 3 hours,  She asked me to teach nuno felt scarf. 

Spent some time in layering wool over the fabric, rubbing, rolling.....

 OMG, how come it didn't entangle ! I burnt the corner and found the fabric was synthetic not pure silk ! No wonder ! What an embarrassing moment for me to waste my student's effort.   I didn't charge this scarf session and offered her half price to make a new one at her convenience. 

Yesterday she came and wanted to do a whole wool felt scarf with new technique.  I showed her to make the pre-felt sheep, 3D popping flowers and wild fleece manipulating.  She picked her favourate color.   The first layer (underneath) was mustard, the top was mixed bright. She loved the twisted loops that reminded her when she's small she used to twist or braid her mum's hair.

My intention was to put the sheep on the back but she insisted on the front position  with two big flowers above.  I let her do in her way.

 I do not use many tools for this sort of scarf making, simply bubble wraps, some rubbing on the surface or with a net over it for direct rubbing then rolling.

To help rubbing the prefelt flowers and sheep we used the handy massager. 

When almost finished, just used the needle to make the sheep outline sharp. 

In a few hours the brilliant scarf was made.  Very vivid color of spring. 

The sheep are so sweet on this side and with some curly Teeswater fleece look like clouds. 

Cheerful and lovely with the flowers above. 

Soft and free style 

Ends of the reverse side are with long curly Teeswater fleece. 

A wild look and goes with other styles 

A pretty pack  

Teaching is way of learning for me too. Form students' own ideas I know the trends and their different taste.  Thanks Stella for joining my class.  You rocked!  We've a bright and colorful time in the gloomy day - our typical humid and raining spring time.

Wish you all a bright spring - cheeful and colorful !