Felt rug making

I saw a link to this video in a forum I participate. It's from a company called Peace Industry which designs and makes felt rugs. Very pretty indeed. They have on their website a film of an iranian felt maker, demonstrating the traditional way of making felted rugs. Very intricate designs done by one man, in his small studio or working place, no modern stuff around... just his bare feets and hands, and a stamina to envy! Go roll like that for 3 hours or more!
If you have time and want to learn a bit more about felt making, do take a look: Here (click on the "15minute film" link).

There is here an essay written by Melina Raissnia "Felt Rugs from Iran" which is very interesting as well.

Sometimes, as a felter, I feel very proud and... warm inside when I realize that I am continuing an ancient tradition. And I feel quite anxious when I realize how much more I have to learn!

Couple of coco cups

Couple of coco cups
Originally uploaded by Marian Florcita

Some more ceramic work. Using a coconut as template I made a couple of cups painted with engobes (which are just a little paste made of colorful clay).
Summer aproaching and all the outdoorsy life...including BBQs and tapas and eating outside in the garden, I can only think of making little plates and bowls for dips and salsas and olives and yummy cheese and stuff like that.

Wooly amber

Wooly amber
Originally uploaded by Marian Florcita

The combination of glass and wool... always fascinating how one provides structure and texture and the other one, light. I am in experimentation mode. I've been making jackets, dyeing, spinning... more soon.
The bad side of good weather is that I feel bad, almost guilty, If Im staying indoors while the sun shines. Sure, I could take the laptop outside but... it just doesn't feel right. This will be detrimental to blogging! or at least for my blogs.

Photos: macros of an abstract wall hanging.

Yurt Jacket

Yurt Jacket
Originally uploaded by Marian Florcita

Here is my first attempt to felt a jacket...
I was not trained as a seamstress so when I found out that with handmade felt you could make garmets without sawing, I couldn't believe it! it still requires a certain degree of understanding of the wool...and practice... lots of practice.
I wanted a sort of Jackie O jacket: to the waist, 3/4 sleeves, simple, kinda trapezoid shape. I will add a button later (maybe one of those ceramic buttons I made some time ago). I have a problem or two with the comfort of the armpits (? dunno technical name in english... siza in spanish).

A yurt is a typical portable handfelted tent from Central Asia. When my husband saw my sketches and the first layer of wool, he thought I was going to make a tent... it was rather big!

I'm happy with it. Naturally I know I could do better... but this is a start. I have plans for more later!

Happy eastern to all of you! Have a nice weekend!

flores7

flores7
Originally uploaded by Marian Florcita

So many flowers blooming, so many photos to take!
I jgave my first workshop on basic felting techniques on monday. They were all happy but I don't know if Im cut out for teaching...too stressful, too many people to look at, guide and so much wool to prevent from falling into buckets of water and be ruined for good...
It was a workshop for women of the family anyways, nothign "official", a test.
I'm working in a portable, easy to use loom... as soon as I can work out the whole thing, I'll post some pics and tips if anybody wants to try the same.
Gotta go to my ceramics class!

EST Secret Bunny

Hello everyone! aaaaah SUN!!!!!!I'm afraid my lizard days are in and hybernating is out. I am outdoors all day and computers and work do not fit in my schedule! :)
I've been meaning to post, for a couple of days already, about the European Streen Team Secret Bunny.
Mevrouw Mitsy, from Artmind, took the time to organize the logistics of this event which was basically an international secret bunny swap. I am sure it was a lot of work, and she pulled it off perfectly. Not to mention that this happened in the midst of her come back and the presentation of her "99 feelings" work of art which I suggest you check out, because they mini feelings are glorious.

Anyway, a package with my name on it came all the way from Finland and it included the fabulous work of Ioulia, the mind and hands behind CloudberryLand.


Three pairs of earrings which are so pretty, well crafted and chic! I've been wearing them all these past days, alternating to give them eachsome time on my ears :) and I've got compliments everytime!


They are just beautiful and I am so happy I got this! I always use earrings and these are so unique and well done! I seriously suggest you visit Ioulia's shop... because these are pretty and affordable!

Oh yes, there was a huge chocolate in the package too... which dissapeared in a matter of...seconds I think. We are all seriously addicted to the stuff! :)

Thanks Ioulia for the earrings again, and thanks Mitsy for pulling this off!

Going back to the sun now :)

manitos ladronas

manitos ladronas
Originally uploaded by Marian Florcita

I will be back soon. It's sunny outside, rare in this country. So, I'm soaking it up like a lizard...

Just as I was about to make a macro of the little flowers, a little thief gets in the frame and steals them!