busy felting

Apart from some minor internet problems

(which are  -more or less-  solved now)

I've been busy felting

not to loose my touch with my newly learned "Judit"-skills !

I have my notes and some pictures

.....

but, I need to practice too !

First I finished the red pendant,

made a necklace out of it : "fire"

Because it was fun, I dicided to start with some embroidery

(also took it with me on my Saturday Stitch'nBitch tour)

But,

in order to finish it properly, 

it was on the wet table again ...

(well hadn't thought of thát before ...)

However, I found the perfect solution :

a plastic bag !

So I could easily finish it off now.

Next was felting the little bag

that will be part of a belt.

Still a lot to be done, but this bit is almost finished.

Then I had another idea, when I was thinking about the necklace I called "fire"

Wouldn't it be nice to make "earth", "water" and "air" too ??

Here is "earth" in the making with a fixed cord, and the pendant.

Finished "earth" 

(but when it's dry I need to start with the embroidery)

Today I did the last bits on the ring that was already nearly finished when

the weekend with Judit was over.

(maybe a bit posh, but I love the old, old button that was in my stash

from times when I went to Austria with my parents)

So, I made a brooch to go with it 

(with the same colours : orange red and magenta

but the picture isn't quite right)

*

The last thing I want to show is the lovely page I got

from my Challenge - partner Cathrina (UK)

front ...

and back

It was so much fun to see some bits I sent her during the Challenge

were in this piece  ;-)

And this crocheted "coffee pot" filled with flowers

was my gift for her.

(Ahhhh we're just waiting what Sara has in store for us again)

what a pleasure !

Daughter and I went to a workshop at HAWAR

together with a dear UK friend (who lives in Holland)

As soon as I saw the announcement 

in the HAWAR news letter in spring that 

Judit Pócs

(from Hungary)

would be giving some workshops there

we started to make arrangements  to go !

Judit was one of the felting teachers

we definately wanted to go to

and now the opportunity came on our path !

We chose the 2-day jewelry workshop in the weekend

So early last Saturday morning we drove north to Oldeberkoop

(since we were early enough we could do a little shopping

in Meinie's wonderfully stuffed shop)

After coffee/thee and introductions we could start !

It was dicided we all would start with something small : a ring.

Judit explained the first steps 

and then everyone could start and try all the various little steps on their own.

(with lots of help from Judit if we weren't sure how to proceed)

Ahhhh ..... these wonderful strong and able hands !

All too soon 

it was time for the wonderful HAWAR lunch 

on the terras outside, because we had lovely sunny weather.

Lunch at HAWAR 

(this time prepared by Spanish Paco)

is always such a treat !

After lunch some continued the ring,

others started on a pendant or bracelet.

The three of us had a delicious dinner at Hotel Lunia 

after we brought our bags to the B&B.

Our homework was to make a design for what

we wanted to make the next day.

Some inspiration Judit brought with her

Our designs for pocket necklace/belt.

From the previous day we knew we had to work very hard

to be able to make a good start on our project.

There were so many little things you had to do 

before you could go on with the rest of the piece ...

felting is always thinking and planning ahead !!!!!!!

Well, it wasn't a big problem 

if the piece wasn't finished when we would be going home,

because we have been felting for quite some time now,

so know how to proceed ...

(in fact only one of us ladies had a really finished piece in the end)

Friend Jane worked really really hard,

daughter did finish the ring and little pocket here today,

my ring still needs some work, 

the little bag is nowhere near finished,

and the pendant (that I finished today) waits for 

embroidery and a cord with closure.

(it will be a "fire" necklace)

Lots still to do, but oh my,

what a load of new things we learned.

It was such a pleasure to have Judit for a teacher !!!!!

She's a great artist !

THANKS  JUDIT  !

I bought Judit's lovely book, so I can enjoy looking at her work

and probably get even more inspiration

 to maybe incorporate in my own work.

;-)