First Quarter Challenge 2016

[MTRuth]

So this year's challenges are all about technique. The first challenge is to use a flat resist in a way you haven't tried before. See more here about the challenge: feltingandfiberstudio.com/2016/01/02/first-quarter-challenge-2016/

Please post here about your process, how it's going and you're completed piece.

[Frances]

Looks like I am the first one. I made this "White Rose Bud" today

     with a candle in a glass holder inside 


Cut two circles out of plastic to make a resist – I used a 10 inch dinner plate as a guide

Place the circles on top of each other and sew a seam down the middle

Fold one side of the top circle to the left and cover the bottom piece with roving

Fold the other side of the top circle to the right and cover the bottom piece with roving

Fold over the sides again and wet the roving and rub gently

Turn over the circle and smooth any fibers from the other side over the resist and then lay roving wet and rub. Turnover and open flaps and smooth edges working in any fibers from the back side.

Cover the top with roving letting it go past the edges slightly, wet and rub and then flip over and work the extra roving into the back side making sure the edges are covered but smooth.

I rolled in a bamboo mat moving the circle on the mat several times to assure a circle was maintained.

Once the resist was starting to bunch up (felt was shrinking) I cut a small slit in the top and removed the resist and turned the felt inside out. I finished the shaping by putting a balloon in the larger center pocket and plastic in the two smaller side pockets and running hot water over it and putting it in a mesh bag in the dryer. I did this several times making the balloon smaller each time to keep shrinking the rose.

Finished size is about 5”x5”

[Teri Berry]

Very nice France's, it looks beautiful with the candle inside and attaching the felt folds at the top and bottom was a clever move

[lyn]

What a lovely idea Frances - that took some working out to make!

The rose looks splendid with the candle inside and white was a good choice.

[MTRuth]

Cool Frances - I'm not sure I understand exactly what you did from your description but it worked out great.

[Pandagirl]

Beautiful candle holder Frances.

[Frances]

Jan 7, 2016 18:46:33 GMT MTRuth said:

Cool Frances - I'm not sure I understand exactly what you did from your description but it worked out great.

It was hard to explain - if I do another one I will take photos.

[halay]

Very nice candle holder,Frances. Did you have to do some stitching to hold the petals together?

[janekiwi]

Thanks all, this challenge sparked off an idea I have had bubbling/percolating in my mind for a while now. I have had the idea to make a hand puppet with attitude.
finished felting, still wet and will stuff and shape to dry then maybe add details with stiching or needle felting by janekiwi, on Flickr

[lyn]

What a lovely idea Jane! Superb workmanship - you even put a cute tail on him! Can't wait to see him finished and what will you name him?

[halay]

Love your puppet Jane. Children like puppets, you just need to think of a story to go with it. I don't think you needd to stuff it as long as your hand and fingers fit in it.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Jane--great puppet you have made! No stuffing necessary! Your hand becomes the key to engaging young children in literacy, if that’s what you have in mind. As a former special needs teacher, I found hand puppets to be an amazing way to spark children’s interest in storybooks. However, if you stuff it, then you have an adorable felt sculpture. Maybe try one of each?

[MTRuth]

The puppet is adorable. What a great idea.

[Frances]

Jan 8, 2016 7:44:53 GMT halay said:

Very nice candle holder,Frances. Did you have to do some stitching to hold the petals together?

No sewing it is all wet felted - the resist created the petals.

[jwugg]

Lovely puppet, Jane.

So Ruth said to show our progress... well my imagination suggested an octopus vessel but think I've bitten off more than I can chew. Haven't used more than 1 flat resist before so perhaps 4 connected resists are too many! here's a pic of the layout done, except can you see what is 'left over'? He'd be a heptopus I think.

Found where the missing leg fitted, but it's hard to roll such an lumpy odd shape! Wish me luck, especially as my plan was to full it as far as possible to make it stiffer.

farm2.staticflickr.com/1474/23628697913_a4856396c8_b.jpg