felt fun

I need wool in textile form for my dye eperiments. I've been thinking of weaving, which I love doing. but I find that sometimes the most time consuming part of a weaving project is just before you warp the loom :-)
my sons were with me last night, peering over my shoulder, while I was looking at dories site and following links about Mehmet Girgic, master felter from turkey
the boys said they would like to try that
and then I remembered I had a fleece in my cupboard, given to me by a student from a workshop where we were illustrating the Odyssey
the wool was for the cyclops
her mother had sent it to her from the village. It has been washed very well, but it is not carded. Ibrought out the little animal, we got our "supplies" together- placemats, lots of stones and heavy objects to hold down the wool because it was windy and got going

we had great fun, this is what I came up with a few hours later

I still have a long way to go as a felter, but I am glad of that. the experience was so rich and rewarding that I want to do it again and again. the yarn inside is from a black sheep, it is actually a beautiful very dark brown. I don't think I want to dye or paint this it is a cream colourwith yellower areas

my palms are growing warm remembering the feel of the wool responding to touch- and I cant stop stroking the little piece of work

I will certainly try this again

I have to muster the courage to talk to the shepherds

I think they will be shearing the sheep soon