The shell "Alphabet cone".

Back to sea life!
I always wanted to make some shell with elaborate shape - conch, may be, or nautilus... I was rather busy recently so put the idea aside for a long while. But last Friday visiting Leeds Felt Group exhibition I saw amazing small sculptures of various sea shells by Margaret Chalmers and it was the last drop! The very next day I got up early and by the night finished my first shell. Wisely I decided on the simplest shell shape possible! And here we are:

My first try on sea shells! This shell is "Alphabet cone".

I'm not very happy with a result but I've got an idea. If I'm to make a similar shell again I'd change:
- a resist, see picture below (make it narrow and long);
- the ridges to be more prominent;
- overall piece lighter in weight and firmer;
- the colours brighter with some pattern.
I do not think I'll repeat this particular shell but I will keep in mind all the point above when it come to the next one!

The picture of a resist:

Dandelion Picture

Jumping from fish to pictures... Can't stop, sorry! This is a recent picture of spent dandelions on the dark rich coloured background. Apparently I like dramatic colours, surprised myself... I started to use a lot of viscose to create more depth and add some sheen. Play with it at the moment. 

Again it was felted on the base of cotton scrim to make it firmer but thin still because I want it to be framed under glass. 

Yellow Fish

It's mainly purple, actually, but the light colour prevails and I like contrast...

Framed Picture

It's my first picture  properly framed! Properly means in proper frame with a glass and a mount. I'm quite happy with the result and thinking about the next one!

 

And this is the close up of the felted picture itself.

Surface design

I work on surface design techniques applying to my fish creatures. This one is rather small:

Here I tried to make gills more interesting and, of course, the eyes, again! 

Back to reality...

Being SO slow to come back to work and reality! I made quite a few pieces but mainly orders and some repeats, nothing to show actually. But this fish was finished yesterday. Colours are different from my usual choice and I tried some techniques new for me:

Crafts in the Pen!

Feel sorry for my blog for being neglected for so long!
I was really busy getting ready for my first large show Crafts in the Pen in Skipton last weekend. For updates on my preparations look on Facebook.

 And now is  the report! For those of you who do not know it's a first year of a new event which follows 10 years of successful run of Art in the Pen. For all event details see the link above.
Now personal things! This is how it all begins:

 And a panoramic view of my pen!
This is the left-hand side with my throne in a corner!

 And the right-hand side:

 More details on a smaller scale:

 I think it was a fantastic weekend! It was cold, yes, but it was sunny which is much better them mild but rainy weather. Footfall was good from my unexperienced point of view and my the position of my pen was not as bad as I feared. They put all occupied pens in the centre of a vast venue so that  they could be reached from different directions. Visitors were very friendly and my fish display was a great success! I've sold only one fish but I've sold out all my fish cushions! And everyone was smiling and laughing at them! The draw was irresistible! I've got so many "Amazing!" and "Fantastic!" and " I love it!" which pleased me immensely. And my "wool watercolors" were doing very well too!
Back to practical things:
- it went very well;
- I sold a lot:
     mainly small items, as usual at fairs, but a lot of medium priced items as well;
     I sold scarves (quite surprise for me, I actually gave up on scarves! May be I should start making them     again);
- I handed out a lot of cards, because people were asking for them;
- I've got a couples of commissions;
- I've learned a few lessons!
Of course I couldn't do it without help and support from my husband and friends. He drove me there, helped with setting the stand, was always at hand just in case. My daughter helped me with making many small items which were a great hit and attraction and sold out in the first hours. My dear friend Anna helped with making cushions and planning a display. And two group of friends came from as far as York to see and support me!     

Below a few pictures of  a venue and some stands. There were many very interesting stands (ceramics were fantastic) but I had no time to go around and ask owners' permissions of taking pictures...