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About |
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I began feltmaking
four years ago while at home looking after two young children. It was a way
for me to be creative and to immerse myself in making new things. As with
most felters I became addicted to it and began to collect every felting book
and trying any new techniques I could.
I took a beginners course in Bray at the fabric Gallery where learned
how to make a bag and scarf. I then
started felting with Kerry wool while on holidays there, it being abundant
and very inexpensive. It was slow going as the wool is very strong and hard
to felt. The colours dyed by the Kerry
Woollen mills are very natural and inspired by the Kerry landscape. After a
while I began to experiment with various types of wools and other fibres,
such as silks and then began to work with fabric. Fabric felting (often
called nuno-felting) is very versatile and numerous fabrics can be used in
the felting process. I have been using silk chiffon with fibre-reactive dyes
and silk paints. Most of the scarves and wraps I have made are inspired by
natural colours and flowers and by ancient rock markings. Having grown up in
Kerry, I am inspired by the countryside. I particularly love the changing
colours and the intense golden red colour of the bog grasses in autumn and
the furze bushes and heather. I love the movement of trees in the wind and
the changing colour of the sky. One of my favourite things is to walk in wild
weather. My background is in Archaeology, I studied
antiquarian art and worked as an archaeological illustrator for a time and
worked on surveys and excavations.
Before too long I started work in a web-based training company as a
graphic designer and project manager. At present I am
living in Bray, Co. Wicklow where I teach feltmaking workshops. I am
currently branch co-ordinator of the Sharon Wells 2009 |
