Freeform Lace Shawls

First I wish everyone a very creative and abundant new year.

I made some new freeform lace shawls this week. Together with my daughter we have been assembling, stitching until we couldn't anymore.
Here are some pictures already, more to come:

This is what happens when my daughter doesn't feel like modelling.


You can find them all and many more in the shawls section in my etsy shop

Giveaway of my Ebook on Felting Craft Gossip

Felting Craft Gossip is hosting a giveaway of my ebook.
Go to their page and read what to do so that you have a chance to win:
http://felting.craftgossip.com/giveaway/3-day-giveaway-ebook-launch-gorgeous-little-bags-how-to-feltmaking-tutorials-in-pdf-international/

New ebook - Gorgeous Little Bags

As I have promised awhile ago, I have now finished my ebook with 5 tutorials for hand felted bags. I did my best to illustrate almost every step in the process and wish that those who buy it will learn a lot about feltmaking.
Until end of this month, the ebook is at a launch price of $15. After that it will be $20

You can buy it here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64629674/ebook-launch-gorgeous-little-bags-how-to

Enjoy Christmas and make 2011 into a very inspiring and creative year.

The future of natural dyeing

Or is it the future of fashion? ( found this on India Flints blog): Read what designer Zac Posen says

Modern Japanese Temari

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50042454/iris-hand-embroidered-thread-ball

Temari is the ancient Japanese folk art of silk embroidered thread balls, originally made by noble women from silken threads pulled from old kimonos. Used originally hundreds of years ago for child's play, today the art of temari is becoming more regarded around the world.

When discovering julieandco on etsy, I was really amazed by her beautiful geometric work. These embroidered thread balls are a great gift idea.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54762818/pumpkin-butterscotch-hand-embroidered

Julie has four daughters and has been a homeschool mom for almost 19 years!

She says: "It's hard to believe it's been that long! I have graduated two girls already and have yet a 16 year old and 13 year old at home. I love my husband of 26 years and love being a stay at home mom. Having an Etsy shop is wonderful and I love making and selling my Japanese temari thread balls. They have a really neat history (see item listings for more info) and I am fascinated with the geometry, symmetry and color combinations you can make with them. I have sold temari all over the US and the globe....including Ireland, the UK, Norway, France, Canada and even the Yukon Territory near Alaska."

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50777202/temari-pincushion-teacup-hand

Julie recently opened a fiber art and wool felting shop on etsy as well: julieandco2.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59024472/twinkle-christmas-ornament-hand

And while you are checking out her shops, you might as well have a peek at her daughters' shop: LaurelMae.etsy.com filled with their amazing art.

Is silk eco friendly?

As with all fibres, there is often a debate about how environmentally friendly they are. I found this article on the site of Beautiful Silks, my supplier for silk, talking about silk and soy silk:
http://www.beautifulsilks.com/pages/products/ecofriendly.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58897727/plum-nuno-felt-shawl

Life as an artist

I found this on twitter today:
There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it - Henry Moore

Totally true for me. I can't stop creating.

Here is a new one out of recycled fabric:

Green upcycled nuno felt shawl - squared

More dye experiments

Next to my market stall at the Port Douglas market, there is a tree that intrigued me. It dropped beautiful red leaves as well as yellow and green leaves at about 6 months ago. So I decided to do eco print samples with the green leaves and the red ones, of course, hoping that I would get a beautiful red. I know it doesn't work like that though. I don't know the name of the tree but someone told me it is called dead horse tree. I cannot find a tree named like that, so it is probably some local common name. The name comes from the fact that the blossoms smell like a dead animal. Anyway, I show the results of my dyeing here, I did them 6 months ago and they have become darker since. The photos are taken a few days ago. I haven't added any iron, just alum.

red leaves

green leaves

green leaves and lemon

As I said, the colours were very pale in the beginning and they gradually became darker. I have seen that more with the eco dyeing. I have it with another piece, I will make photos and post it as well.

Mangosteen skins on cotton

Here is a dye sample with mangosteen skins. The mangosteen skins were hammered onto the cotton when they were still fresh.More about dyeing with mangosteen skins:

http://lizetfrijters.blogspot.com/2010/05/dyeing-with-mangosteen-skins.html

A Rainbow Palette

A great article about a small business in natural dyeing in handeye magazine.

A Rainbow Palette

Small Felted Handbags and Purses

I have been in a bag making mood lately and made several little felt bags. They are all made in one piece with the resist technique.

A tutorial for how to make them will follow.

Find them in my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lizetfrijters?section_id=5803390

The Colours of an Ocean Sunset

''THE COLOURS OF AN OCEAN SUNSET' - Part 1' by JulieAnnsJewels

The DUST Team has a sale each month and for November it's...'THE COLOURS OF AN OCEAN SUNSET' Find all our SALE items in here

dustteamsale 30 perc off- Or... lizetfrijters $49.00	25 PERCENT OFF THE MARKED PR... baublesforbell... $89.00	Necklace, Copper, Carnelian ... JulieAnnsJewel... $40.00	Clouds in the sky felt pincu... spincushions $16.00
FREE SHIPPING earth necklace savagekitten $40.00	ON SALE Handmade Teapot Cozy... stitchybritt $29.75	25 PERCENT OFF THE MARKED PR... baublesforbell... $36.00	FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING - Ci... OrganicsJewelr... $39.00
Golden Starflower reduced pepenewton $20.00	25 PERCENT OFF THE MARKED PR... lushbaubles $29.00	Henry Monkey. Handmade from ... twinklekids2 $26.00	FREE SHIPPING - 20 percent o... TreasuresOfThe... $27.00
on sale . pale ocean . fine ... gretchenmist $16.00	SALE Scissor fob, zipper pul... jskipcreations $5.00	Necklace In Blue and Green B... AndAllThingsNi... $30.00	Kaftan Dress Chiffon Velvet ... MayBrady $99.00

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The magical one hundred

When I looked at my page at facebook yesterday, 100 people liked my page. Today, 100 are following my blog. Thanks everyone for staying in touch.

Reef Fantasy

"Reef Fantasy" is the third work for the Go Tropo exhibition "Destination Paradise". Tomorrow night is the opening night.

Second work for Go Tropo

Here are a few photos of my nuno felt shawl for the Go Tropo exhibition.

I've made another shawl before, called Forest Floor, so this is number 2