Dates for your Diary and I am very excited to be taking parting
9th October: Warbleton & District Horticultural & Poultry Society Horticultural show Rushlake Green, East Sussex
13th November The Handmade Christmas Market Punnets Town Village Hall 10.00 – 16.00
14th November Brighton Craft Show East Dean 10.00 – 16.00
27th & 28th November Bodle Street Green Village Hall
I am very excited to be included in these events and looking forward to seeing you there
I’ve had great fun designing and creating these bags. They made using a special ball imported from America. There are 3 stags involved making the bag. Firstly laying out the design. I use mostly mohair, cotton and silk to create the design. Part of the design is the three layers of wool used to make the bag.
After I have completed designing the bag, I roll the ball in different directions at least twelve hundred times, followed by a minimum of two thousand bounces. These actions begin the felting process and encourage the fibres to mix and blend together ready for the fulling process. The fulling process happens after the ball is removed from the ball and involves continuing working the fibres so that they continue to merge together and begin to shrink. This involves rubbing the fibres, followed by rolling and throwing the bag. The process is completed when the bag holds it shapes. Once dry the handle and clasp are added.
The whole process presently takes me about 8 hours plus and I usually make each bag over two days. I let it dry naturally.
These bags will be for sale at the shows I am attending during the autumn and winter 2021 and also at Starlings gift shop, Bexhill.
These cowls are made with merino wool and silk using a technique known as Numo felting. Creating the cowls involves building up layers of wool either overlaying silk fabric or including the silk in a layer, plus other lovely embellishments . The processes involve wet felting and fulling the wool. As each cowl is l individually made by hand each is unique. Wool and silk are natural insulators helping to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Being versatile they can be worn as ear warmers or neck warmers.
I will be exhibiting and selling the Cowls at the Bluebell Barn, Arlington on the 18th and 19th September
A New flock of Southdown sheep have arrived at Starlings. Sackville Road Bexhill East Sussex I designed and created them to celebrate the now almost forgotten Sussex wool industry.
Historically this British sheep is considered one of the most important breed. Originally sheep were bred for their wool particularly in the Middle Ages. Hence Many of our Sussex public houses are called the the Lamb, the Fleece, The Woolpack, Shepherd and Dog, plus smugglers Inn. The Southdown Sheep is considered to provide high quality fleeces that were exported and during the 100 year war smuggled to France. Today the sheep are valued for their fleece, meat and improving the livestock of other sheep. It is the oldest of the Down sheep.
I live in a rural market town in East Sussex, close to both the South Downs and the coast. I am a felt artist and I love making and teaching. Find out more on my About Me page