Surface Design Class / New England Felting Supply
March 28, 2017
“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Although felting is my main medium and I truly enjoy working with it, when it comes to design the fabrics that I use on my felting, then I feel like I am in heaven! And this passion is what I tried to pass along to all 10 students that joined me at the New England Felting Supply this past weekend where they made a printed nuno scarf.
I studied Surface Design with Julie Booth at the Art League in Alexandria, VA even before I knew what felting was all about. Everything she taught me about 8 years ago I still use on a daily basis to design all the silks that make my felting a little bit more contemporary.
I always paint, print and design on white silk with black, grey and sometimes red fabric paint. The reason is because I can then change the background color depending on what I am going to make with it by simply adding the piece to a dye bath.
But I let the students to be creative and explore all kind of colors! And what a rainbow we had!
They explored painting backgrounds, adding designs by printing with found objects, rubber blocks, stencils, etc…
And then the felting began….
….and although not all them were able to finish their scarves, the ones that were done looked so great!
Good job, everybody! And I hope you can join me again to continue the fun!
