Each of the pieces I make is a reflection of me and my life's experiences - the places I've lived, the people I've known, the places I've traveled, books I've read, discoveries I've made. Every bit of my life comes pouring through my hands to make what you hold in your hands.
My process begins way back with something I've seen or read or thought. It percolates into a vision that is usually vague but palpable. I may not be able to see it, but I can feel it (and think I see it!). Sometimes I sketch out my idea and develop it a little. Sometimes I dive in and just start grabbing materials. I gravitate to the tactile, fibers of all definitions, and add other materials and techniques to bring out the end result I want. Usually, I don't know the end result until I've achieved it. But it's there in the back of my mind all along. I just have to tease it out.
My Felting Process
There are two general types of hand felting: Wet and Needle
The ancient process of wet-felting goes something like this (though there are many variations):
Jelly Belly Fish.process.
After I have decided on my design, I begin laying out my wool roving (combed wool fiber). The black mat underneath has ridges that help increase the agitation later in the process.
Jelly Belly Fish.process.
The second layer is added in a perpendicular direction. Next, I add fibers according to my design (my inspiration for this is from a photo of a "blue button jelly fish" that I found in National Geographic magazine, in upper right).
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| Then I take it down to the kitchen for the wet part. I carefully drizzle hot, soapy water over the entire piece, saturating it without disturbing the design. Then I lay a piece of bubble wrap on top, bubble side down, and begin rubbing my hand over that with a slight bit of pressure. |
Gradually, the fibers begin to interlock and I can remove the bubble wrap.
I add decorative fibers (yarn, threads, etc) as needed and I continue to agitate the piece until it is completely interlocked.
Here it is after drying (this one I dried over a bowl to shape it a bit),
I can needle felt* additional fibers and tack down what didn't felt securely. More shaping was done to this and then it was time to hang it. One of my very best friends, got dibs on this. She had just painted a wall in her home a beautiful deep turquoise.
Perfect!
Jelly Belly Fish. merino and corriedale wool, various yarns,
approx. 21 inches in diameter.
* At some point, I'll add a bit about "Needle Felting". But suffice to say, this form involves wool and other fibers, a foam pad and a barbed needle...and band aids :).
©Christie Minchew 2015
