Anam Cara Coat

Why Anam Cara?

It means soul friend and when I reached a point of development of my working art and a visit from my lovely friend Elizabeth from Germany , I realised how much my friends had helped my journey.

This is a cosy felted wrap around made with love...

Senior moments

I promised many of you a blog update of the trip to Philadelphia and the wonderful exhibition at the PMA conference centre but I couldn't remember any of my details and a change over of computers left me stumped. The head must be clearer now and automatic has kicked in so hurrah! I am back.

A wonderful two days play

The Collins Gallery has always been such a source of inspiration for me as a textile artist.

So few places in Scotland that have supported and inspired me as an artist.

With was with mixed emotions I attended a magnificent exhibition From Quilts to Couture in Kyrgyzstan and master class with the wonderful nuno artist Burul Mambetova.

The exhibition is on until mid September and well worth a visit for the riot of colour and variety of workmanship. A few images are included and I hope to complete the two garments made and promise to show them in a future blog.

Crafty Women of Girvan

This Saturday and Sunday saw me delighting in the company of the lovely ladies from Crafty Women. This multi talented group created a range of delightful felted items and ideas were racing.

As every I learned a lot from the sharing of ideas and solutions to suggested designs, mind you the 'fantisiser' fascinator gave us all a hearty laugh. I look forward to going back and working with the group again soon.

dying for colour

Early clipped sheep and lasts years fleeces to get used before the onslaught of new wool this year makes a flurry of work at Heartfelt Studio.

Using very local Llyn and blue faced Leicester and texel a wide range of wool is being prepared to be dyed.

Two ranges The Lilybank Lovelies with their soft and subtle colours provided by the natural growth in the garden and surrounding riverside using birch and cow parsley, dandelions and bog myrtle and a whole range of natural ingredients.

The Geodesic dome has been transformed into a dyers kitchen and is perfect for this workshop day .

The fortunate trial of an electric duncan carder has just made a world of difference to production.

The students created a lovely array of colours using acid wool dyes but observing the mordant and dying process of the natural dyes.

Elaine as always documents the days events so well in pictorial form.

Beginners feltmaking at Happy Hills West Kilbride

What a lovely group of ladies and what good fun we have all had today.

A lovely space to be and work in with a great selection of colourful fibres to inspire.

Couple that with some great cooking in the cheese scones and amazing pavlova...now that was a piece of artwork in itself...see some of the lovely things created.

Beginners feltmaking at Happy Hills West Kilbride

What a lovely group of ladies and what good fun we have all had today.

A lovely space to be and work in with a great selection of colourful fibres to inspire.

Couple that with some great cooking in the cheese scones and amazing pavlova...now that was a piece of artwork in itself...see some of the lovely things created.