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Post by lindsay on Apr 5, 2018 5:36:09 GMT
Do you back your coasters with anything? Hi Tracey No, I lay out 4 thickish layers of wool: 1st & 3rd with the staple length radiating out from the middle to form a circle; 2nd & 4th going round the edge of the circle then filling the middle (if that makes sense). I full them pretty hard which means they’re fairly substantial and can provide good heat and drip protection. I did try them in a natural merino, which was nice, but I like the Corriedale and Swaledale better as they feel very robust.
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Post by tracey on Apr 5, 2018 5:40:16 GMT
I have made coasters with Merino, but I have some Corriedale that I use for my tea cosies, so I may have a play!
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Post by MTRuth on Apr 12, 2018 17:12:37 GMT
Here's a little peak at what I am working on. What are you up to today?
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Post by tracey on Apr 12, 2018 18:00:47 GMT
Oooh that is yummy Ruth! I am guessing landscape....
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Post by lindsay on Apr 12, 2018 21:08:18 GMT
Gorgeous locks, Ruth. Hand dyed?
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 12, 2018 21:58:46 GMT
Ooo, can't wait to see it Ruth.
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Post by MTRuth on Apr 12, 2018 22:21:25 GMT
Thanks everyone! I was using my friend Paula's locks so I'm not sure if they were hand dyed or not. Some of the other pieces I made had some of my hand dyed locks. Me, do a landscape??
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Post by lindsay on Apr 16, 2018 7:06:11 GMT
I was talking to a friend recently about shrinkage & thought of an analogy that she liked so I thought I’d share it.
Imagine you have a big room with people spread out evenly in it. Felting is like asking them to hold hands. If there are lots of people (ie lots of wool) then they don’t have to move very far together to hold hands, but if there aren’t many people they have to move further and so you get more shrinkage. The fewer people / less wool the more they have to move together. But if you want a really strong bond then you want them to link arms so even more movement / shrinkage.
What do do you think?
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Post by lyn on Apr 16, 2018 7:22:03 GMT
Very good way of explaining it!
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Post by MTRuth on Apr 16, 2018 16:28:02 GMT
Nice analogy!
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Post by lindsay on Apr 17, 2018 6:16:43 GMT
I have made coasters with Merino, but I have some Corriedale that I use for my tea cosies, so I may have a play! Sorry some of you in Canada & USA are having such a snowy time. Spring has finally sprung in my bit of the UK. I’m coming on vacation to Montreal & Maine in June so if you could please get the weather sorted out by then I’d be very grateful! I had a private view for my exhibition in a hair salon in North London on Sunday. A bit stressful in the planning & run up (not least because the owner who was organising it got delayed travelling from France by rail strikes and arrived only a couple of hours before it started) but it seemed to go pretty well. I was sent into a bit of a spin when someone came in half an hour before it started and bought a picture which they wanted to take away, but fortunately my partner was able to bring a replacement so there wasn’t a big gap. I dotted my vases, lights and coasters around for decoration and all the coasters were snapped up (which is why I’m quoting Tracey). I wasn’t expecting to sell them so that was a nice surprise. In fact I sold one more than I had so I’ve got to make another & post it on. Definitely worth a go Tracey. I think I may put the price up a bit. I was looking at handmade ceramic coasters & they seem to sell for more than I’m charging. My mum said maybe it’s because ceramics are more permanent but I pointed out ‘unless you drop them’. 😀
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Post by tracey on Apr 17, 2018 7:33:27 GMT
Congratulations on your sales Lindsay, keep up the good work. My prices have crept up with experience, I am trying to cease giving things away. You have to have faith in your work, low prices do not reflect this, it will always be a tricky line to walk. What do you sell a coaster for if you don't mind my asking? If they were snapped up, I am guessing they will still be snapped up if the price rose slightly.
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Post by lindsay on Apr 17, 2018 8:51:29 GMT
Congratulations on your sales Lindsay, keep up the good work. My prices have crept up with experience, I am trying to cease giving things away. You have to have faith in your work, low prices do not reflect this, it will always be a tricky line to walk. What do you sell a coaster for if you don't mind my asking? If they were snapped up, I am guessing they will still be snapped up if the price rose slightly. Thanks Tracey I sold them for £7 each or 4 for £25. The ceramic coasters my colleagues sell are priced at £8 / 9 / 10 each and as far as I can tell involve considerably less human intervention than mine (though there are things like firing to take into account). I was thinking of trying the next batch at £8 each / 4 for £28 or £9 each / 4 for £32. If I make enough to leave some in the salon, I could try the higher price in London and the lower in the beach hut. Pricing is so tricky!
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Post by tracey on Apr 17, 2018 10:45:35 GMT
I wouldn't give too much thinking time to what products are selling for in a different medium Lindsay, it cannot be compared fairly in my opinion. I had a little dabble in Merino coasters a while ago and sold them for the give away prices I was talking about, so good for you, your prices sound good to me.
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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 17, 2018 14:52:49 GMT
Congratulations Lindsay!
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