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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

TUTORIAL: A BEGINNER'S WET FELTING SEASCAPE. MY SUMMER BLOOMS


HELLO EVERYONE,

I learned wet felting skills from both books and a couple of classes I have taken in the past.  I thought I would share "My Way" of Wet Felting with you all. I hope you will find it helpful...

 Any questions just email me and I will be happy to try and answer them. 

I have been wanting to wet felt a "By The Sea" theme for in my bathroom for some time.  

First, I collected my array of white Merino Wool, Blended Merino/Tencel in the colors of Stonewashed and Mushroom, Tussah Silk, The Rose Fiber, Beautiful shades of blue and pink blended batt with Undyed Silk Noils, and other Silk Fibers for the Sea Base.  I also used Mohair Curls, Hand Dyed Firestar, Hand Dyed Merino Neps, and undyed Silk Hankie. 

For the very first time I used my new "Palm wash Boards" for wet felting.  I love them. 

To start I put down a couple of thick towels, my felting mat, and then put down bubble wrap with bubble side up on my mat.



Below is a flat photo of the Finished "By The Sea" art piece. I let it dry with wee folds in it to make them look like waves.  They flatten a bit to be more gentle waves. 



A BEGINNER'S TUTORIAL:  A WET FELTED SEASCAPE!

This is "MY" way I wet felted this project. I am sure there is several other ways other artist does their wet felting projects.

 There is many many books out there on wet felting to buy and in libraries.

 So this tutorial is not set in stone just "MY WAY" to  get started.

(1) I lay out 3 layers of white Merino Tops alternating each layer from Horizontal to Vertical to Horizontal.

(2) Then I layer on my blended Sea Batt, then the blended shades of blue Merino and Tencel, and last the beach Merino with Tencel called Mushroom. 

(3 and 4) Then I added my Mohair Curls,  Light Brown Merino Neps, and Rose Silk, and Firestar. I learned at the class down in Kentucky to use my embellishment fibers sparingly because it looks much better then in clumps.

 I really LOVE the "NEPS" on the beach area.  To me they looked like wee pebbles. What do you all think??

The below information I read in books or on the Internet.
 This part was not learned in any class.
 So this is "My Way" and "My Experiment" to see what would happen!!
 Big Smile.

( 4a) I then added some objects into my seascape by using "Resists" over the silk hankie X3.
 I then curled "Wool Fibers" around a wood bead, and then layered wool over it. I also did the same thing with a "Sea Shell", "Sea Glass" 3 in all, and a home made "Tyvek Bead". 

I used "Heartfelt Silks Wash Boards" tools to help me do the felting process. Great site. I love them. 

THE FELTING PROCESS

(5) Finally I put down my "fine mesh" so to begin the wetting and felting process.

I used my "Ballbrauser" tool and gently wet the whole piece with very warm water.  This part takes lots of very warm water and I also patted it while putting down the water. 

Then I used 100% Olive Oil Soap and gently rubbed it over the whole surface several times being careful not to displace any fibers or objects.

Then I used my
"New Palm Heart Felt Silks Wash Boards" in a circular motions over and over and over again both front and back of art piece until you feel the fibers are well stuck together.

 You do this part first gently and then more firmer as the fibers stick together more.

I then rinsed my project in warm water and squished it around gently to get all the soap out.  
Then I put in very cold water with a couple of tablespoons of White Vinegar and let it set awhile.  Then I rinsed it out again with plain cold water. 

Then I placed it on a old oven rack with a thick towel underneath and just let it dry naturally in front of a sunny window.

The photo below shows the felting process completed and with it being totally dried.

Then the exciting part for me was to "Reveal" the object I had hidden in the Seascape.

I very carefully started cutting away the felted fibers from around the "Sea Glass", "Sea Shell"," Tyvek Bead"..  They all survived the felting process very well. 



Below I cut away the wood bead to reveal a wee crater. smile. Then I carefully cut down the middle of the 3 resist to reveal the Silk Hankies underneath.

   The silk Hankies had started to felt into the wool below but I easily pull them up to look like crashing waves..

A photo of the Finished Seascape...

I still need to do some embroidery and beading on this seascape before it is really finished. smile. 

When I get it "Seascape" hung on the bathroom wall I will show you all the "Very Finished Seascape"..... Hopefully Soon.  Another smile.




I would love to hear back what you all think of
 "My Wet Felted Seascape" and the
 "Beginner Wet Felted Tutorial".

 Hopefully this tutorial will get others interested in wet felting. I know you would love it too. 

I really like wet felting and I am very excited about learning many new techniques..

Thank you all for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely messages for me to read.  Greatly appreciated.

  Hugs Judy 

I leave you with a photo of some of My "Summer Blooms". 

What a Glorious time of year..

24 comments:

magnoliasntea said...

Hi Judy!
I have to say your wet felted seascape is very pretty. I've never tried wet felting, but it does look like a lot of fun.
Love the pretty blooms. And I'm so glad you're having a great summer. :)
Hugs,
Toni

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello Judy! Thanks for taking us through your process step-by-step.. nice to know how you accomplish your art. It's very pretty! But you know I love the ocean. Pretty flowers, too! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Mereknits said...

You are a genius, I love the way you do this, very interesting and the end result is so beautiful.
Hugs,
Meredith

Joy said...

Hello Judy, my, you've done a lovely job with your piece once again and I love your chatty-type-tutorial which got the message across beautifully - well done!
I hadn't realised so much went into these pieces of art - it's all rather amazing and so lifelike: wonderful work, and thanks so much for sharing it all with us - I am amazed! Have a lovely week, xoJoy

Judy S. said...

Very interesting post, Judy. It will be fun to see the finished project! Love those flower photos!

Betsy said...

This was so well written and informative. It would take me forever to accomplish something like that beautiful picture. Thank you for letting us know how it's done. I'm looking forward to seeing it after you add all of your embellishments. I love the ocean an think it's beautiful even without more.
Blessings,
Betsy

margaret said...

a wonderful tutorial, I have loads of wool tops from the 1990`s and maybe now I will get them out, also have the embellishing machine I could use them on. wondering what palm boards are, will check out on google.
Your finished piece is a real work of art so beautiful

margaret said...

found out what palm boards are now

Gracie Saylor said...

Judy, your creative process is very interesting, and I too appreciate your presentation of your method. Thanks for sharing! xx

linda said...

How interesting Judy, thank you for showing us how to do this, although I still think it must take a lot of skill to get the effect you want, I can't wait to see it all finished and hung up. Your flowers are beautiful. :)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Gorgeous blooms in your yard. The middle lily looks like our Lombardia and the one on the right looks like our daylily named Lavender Deal....

You have so much talent--and I hope that you are getting to teach all of this to classes of interested people in your area.

Love your Seascape ...
Hugs,
Betsy

Dianne said...

This wet wool felting has really grabbed you, Judy. Your work is amazing and the seascape piece is going to be a wonderful backdrop for you embroidery, beads etc. Can't wait to see it finished off. Your tute is very good and precise. You have inspired me to try it again - but in summer!!

Jane said...

it's lovely seeing how different people do things and the experiments they do, especially when the work :) Have fun with the embellishment

Terriea Kwong said...

Very pretty landscape. Love the textures of sea and wave. I particularly love wet felting. Your "painting" is lovely.

Art and Sand said...

You make felting look easy, but I know I need to take a class.

Your piece is lovely.

Quayceetatter said...

Great tutorial!! Love seeing the process....beautiful flowers.

shirley said...

Your tutorial is so easy to understand I would love to have a go at it some time.

Love the seascape and I know it will be extraordinary when you have finished the embroidery and beading. It has such wonderful textures.

JennyPennyPoppy said...

I love wet felting and it was great to read your steps along with the pictures. The resists turned out really neat and your seascape looks wonderful. I've seen the Palm Heart Felt Silks Wash Boards and visited their site but have yet to get myself one. Thank you for the great explanation :)

Edda Soffía said...

Hey Judy
The seaskape picture is so awsome, i realy like that felt look, and the deatales in it.
Hugs from
Edda Soffia

Down by the sea said...

Your seascape is lovely. You have captured so well the movement of the waves. Sarah x

Donna Heber said...

Hi Judy,

Thank you for showing us how you created your lovely seascape. Hope you are doing well. Blessings - Donna

shirley said...

Your wet felting is wonderful. I love the seascape, and how you have achieced the effects od a wild sea against those background cliffs. You are an artist. Thanks also for the tutorial is was very clearly explai ed.

Lynne said...

I enjoyed seeing your wet felted Sea Scape.
Nice tutorial too . . .

I use to make felted purses, hats.
I would knit with wool, wash in warm/hot water and then block them.
Fun to do . . .

Sue Gately said...

Judy.,,just what I was looking for.. I want to create a piece that looks like coral....and this tutorial gave me tons of ideas...You are right when you say there are many ways to do this...this is my way. When I started felting I followed the directions without any creativity, but now I seem to do a little of this and a little of that....never the same. 30 years ago I went to a conference and the luncheon speaker talked about creativity. His theme was basically....everyone can be creative if you just keep reiterating your projects. Your tips were very helpful I appreciate them. The picture is wonderful Sue Gately

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