The Language of Felt

PhylStudio Blog

The Language of Felt

I recently returned from a month overseas and now that I am getting over my jetlag I am able to reminisce about the things I did as well as the wonderful people I met and travelled with. The first part of my trip was teaching in Israel, if you can call sharing what I am passionate about with other people 'work'. I was invited for the second time to teach for Israel Designer Craftsmen's Association www.designcrafts.org.il by Tali Talmor, the wonderful warm friendly and very organised chairlady of the organisation.

This time there were five days of workshops covering a different technique on each day.The venue was a huge hall with big windows leading onto a patio. The view was green and lush. Coming from the drought and fires of Melbourne Australia it was wonderful to see so much greenery around. At a venue like this we could only make beautiful felt.......... and we did!

Day one was for Beginners and everyone made a scarf.

Day two everyone was given 2.5 metres of TissueSilk to use for nuno felting.

Day Three was Lace Work and there was a choice of making samples or one complete piece combining all the techniques.

Day four was working with prefelts. Everyone was asked to bring a photo or drawing to use for inspiration. Not everyone managed to finish their piece on the day but I look very forward to receiving photos of their work over the next few weeks.

Day five was working with a resist to make a hat, bag or bowl. Once again it was a very busy day but great fun as the hats were nearing completion and wet hats were shaped on the hat blocks and in some cases on the students heads!

The photos reflect the wonderful atmosphere of the five days and we were all sad to say goodbye to each other. I don't speak any Hebrew but most of the people attending the workshops understand English even if they are not comfortable speaking it. However, for five days we communicated in a new language, the language of making felt that is not verbal but tactile. I did, however, learn two new words 'patspatism' (bubble wrap, metres of which we had to squeeze into Tali's car every morning) and 'schwansing' (dreadlocks which I love to make hanging off my scarves and wraps.)

Thanks to Tali Talmor for the professional manner in which she managed the mammoth task of organising a beautiful venue and 15 keen Felters every day for five days. Thanks to Elaine Sackson www.felt4u.etsy.com and www.felt4uart.blogspot.com for hosting me for the duration of my stay in Israel and a special thanks to Elaine's partner Faz for allowing me to overrun his home with 'patpatism' (bubblewrap) wool roving and bottles and bottles of my soap mix.

And, of course, thanks to all the people who travelled from all around Israel to attend my workshops, and to those who did not manage to get into a class...... well there is always next time..... when???? Well don't aske me straight after a Trans-Atlantic flight and jetlag...... but maybe next year...........

There are plenty more photos from the week of workshops on my website www.phylstudio.com under workshop photos.