Friday 26 June 2009

Merry Go round


Jump on our merry go round and join a group of artists/crafts-women as they link hands around the world and tell you a little about their lives and art.

We are group of 10 women from all over the world
. We choose a question and all of us have to answer it in our blogs. It will be very interesting to read what each of us has to say, taking in account how much our lives and crafts differ.

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This month's question is:
What is your favorite publication(s)? Is there a book, books, magazine, or website that has become the bible of your art/craft?

Well, apart from a one day workshop almost 2 yrs ago and the workshop I recently took with Karoliin Arvilomi, I am self taught. I've bought numerous amounts of books. Some helpful, some...just gather dust in my bookshelf.
I rarely check books these days. I make things that come to my head basically, but if I had to name one that I've found pretty interesting (although it isn't for amateurs, you have to have a basic understanding of felting) that'd be "Felt to stitch". It just gave me some cool ideas and insight into embellishing. I haven't done much with it, mind you. But I'm planning to.
Another book which is particularly interesting for me since I am starting to dye my own wool and I want to do it as eco-friendly as possible, is ¨The Craft of natural Dyeing" by Jenny Dean. Techniques are very well explained, the names of each "ingredient" needed, the chemistry, the fibers,etc. Jenny, who doesn't hold back, also has a blog
(Jenny Dean's Wild Colour) where she publishes her latest experiments and very kindly answers questions. She is also a client, so I like her even more :)
There is also the great, complete website of India Flint with lots of ideas and interestin info on textile dyeing.She is the writer of the book "Eco Color" (which I haven't got yet, so I can't say much...).

As for blogs that inspire and whose authors I very much admire:
Monika's Red to White
Pam's Pam de Groot Fibre and Textile Art
Inger's Daily Felt

All three have very different, distinctive styles, not afraid to try new stuff, which in my book that rates very high. All colorful, interesting creations.

There is an international Felting Forum which has a lot of info for needle felting, wet felting, dyeing, and all around fiber preparation. I don't participate as actively as I'd like, but...ya know... one can not be everywhere.

There are always new sites and blogs. I have a huuuuge list of sites bookmarked. But these here are the ones that I most often check. Maybe they help inspire you too!

Please do visit the blogs of the other women in this group:

Lily at http://lilypangart.blogspot.com Nikki at http://beadedzen.blogspot.com/
Ruth at http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com






14 comments:

ingermaaike said...

Fun read and a great new list of blogs to read :-D

Lily Pang said...

You are such an active learner. The Karoliin Arvilomi looks really cool. I think there is so much you can do with wool felt. Good luck to you and looking forward to see more great work from you!

meherio68 said...

I'll have to bookmark this post for when I try my hand at felting again... it's a bible!

Easterya said...

Such good info on felting, and since I want to mix skills, I may give it a go soon and will be back for tips! Well, in winter anyway... :)

Anonymous said...

O, what an honour to be listed among these names! Thank you, the second gift from you today! :) (I can not take my eyes from those buttons!!! ox)

Wendren said...

You have some great links in here. Thanks.

On of my dreams is to go to India to learn and see first hand natural dyeing. Do you know how to dye with Indigo? ...and do you know where I could get some? I have been dyeing to experiment as it is my favourite colour but it is something that ironically is like gold here.

I wish there were workshops here in Cape Town that offered dyeing etc. Overseas there seems to be so many shared skills and here, the only way you learn is by knowing somebody who knows somebody who might be able to show you. After that, work it out yourself. In a way it is fun but in another, it makes it more challenging and often, you never get down to learning the skill as you always wanted.

Mariana said...

Inger...literature for the weekend!
THanks Lily
Fabs ask away... but yeah... in winter!
Monika :) your welcome!
Wendren well, there are a lot of workshops around here but they are always incredibly expensive. So, I ussually end up trying on my own, reading online and stuff like that. I actually really like learning in groups, it adds something...but well...
Dyeing stuff: http://www.ashford.co.nz/
http://www.textilearts.net/
http://www.worldofwool.co.uk/
And there is one other that I know I read they had indigo, can't find the link but I will look around and send it to you later!

angella said...

thanks for the interesting list :0 more to add to my own!
and, i'm glad to have stumbled onto yours, always a pleasure finding another artizan :)

peace

Ruth said...

Time to check out a few of your suggestions. It's been a while since I've done any felting....not sure if I'll get back to it but maybe looking at your references will inspire me! and of course I still have all the felting stuff around in drawers...waiting for me to use them!

'fancypicnic' said...

Great links, Flo.
I have to say that you're an inspiration to me. You're always on the go, working and creating...you don't seem to stop. Prolific I guess is the word.

Sorry I'm here so late - and I have so much catching up to do! Blogger is posing a bit of a problem for me at the mo. No idea why...

Mariana said...

Hey Angella! Welcome! happy you found me! Im on my way to your "place"!
Ruth...I sometimes get inspired looking at the weirdest of things. I mean, maybe you go check out some of those links and you end up having ideas for your own metal clay work!
Hey Char! Prolific...haven't been very prolific this year...Im a bit lazy...or more into learning that producing like crazy, although I suppose that is productive too!

Pam de Groot said...

Thanks for the mention and glad you enjoy it. I do enjoy your visits too. Have to check out some of these others.

Sara Millis said...

You are like me so many sites bookmarked, just not enought time!
Sara xx

Anonymous said...

I would like to exchange links with your site florcitasart.blogspot.com
Is this possible?