One on One live Online Felting Workshop

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/488713114/felting-workshop-online-one-on-one

Is it hard to get to a felting class? Is there a new technique you'd like to learn? I'm offering a one on one online felting class. I'm a contemporary felt artist and visual artist and I've been teaching fiber arts and felting for years. It's one of my favourte things to do. I love to take my students to the next level in their skills and creativity.

This class consists of 3 hours of one on one instruction. This class is designed by you and you can choose what to create and when. My suggestion would be 3 sessions: 1.5 hours intro, .5 hour check in and questions, 1 hour completion. This gives you time to learn and work with me, then go back and play with your creations, come back ask questions, go and play again and then finish up. Or you can do it in one go. We will create this class together and we will set up a time frame that works for you.

What would you like to create: 2D, 3D, learn to work with a resist, Vases, Slippers, sculptures, Felting elements, techniques, needle felted snowmen, wall hangings...the choice is yours. 

We will work with Skype or Zoom, both are online platforms for video calls. They are easy to work with and install. We will email prior to class to set up what you have chosen to create and what supplies are needed.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Manolya Hat

This fall, I went backpacking in Cyprus. I choose to take only dk weight yarn and a couple of needles, and lots of colours. I wanted to play with colour as I finishing up a pair of fair isle mittens.

Well, we ended up in this beautiful hotel in northern cyprus and planted our bags for a few days and I had time to knit. It was so much fun and I was really excited about the hat that I was creating for my grand daughter Amina. The Pattern Manolya is available on Ravelry 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/manolya

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/manolya

New Website: Coloursparks.ca

Well, I've been working on this website for quite a while and now its getting to a point where its read to publish. Not everything is perfect, but it is time to get it up and work from there

Snowmen Time Again

Okay as much as I hate to admit that the summer is gone, I do enjoy the Fall colours and the time in my studio. Having just come back from a month backpacking through Greece, I found the adjustment interesting. And yet, three weeks have passed and lying on the beach seems a long way away.
My studio is now filling up with snowmen and items for the winter markets.
The snowmen will be available at the Red Barn Market on November 7th, and at Craft Culture December 12 & 13th. They are all packed and ready to go....
Amy & I will be teaching a needle felting workshop at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on November 1,2015, if you are interested in learning to make them yourself.
Contact me at coloursparks@gmail.com for details or visit our Facebook page

Colour Contest

I just came back from a holiday in Greece and the whole time, I was looking at the beauty of the colours of the landscape. Taking this picture I thought about what an awesome colour combination and, of course, being a dyer, I thought wouldn't this look awesome on yarn.

I just ordered a new bulky yarn, a super soft merino, angora and a bit of nylon blend, it will be awesome for cowls, hats and bulky baby sweaters...I am ready to begin my new collection so I'm asking for your ideas.

To participate in the contest 

Like the ColourSparks page
 https://www.facebook.com/ColourSparks-167469489956098/timeline/

Post a picture, on the ColourSparks timeline of a colour combo from nature that you like and give it a name.
The winning colour will be used in the new collection and you will receive 2 skeins and a pattern to make a cowl. 
Contest ends October 24th, 2015.

How much does nature inspire your creativity?

New Series and Spring

I began a new series of work in January. My group the ArtFelt Collaborative are having a show at Lake Country Gallery in July and we all decided to get to work. Our collective theme chose natural colour fleeces and off we went. I love natural colour fleeces and I love collecting different breeds of sheep. These piece encompass at least 15 or more different sheep breeds all in their natural colour. I began collecting different breeds a few years back from a shepherdess named Val in Swift Current Saskatchewan. I finally pulled those samples out and began washing them.

They were amazingly beautiful and the colour variations were truly unique. Of course..ha ha..that wasn't enough and I ordered more. The Cotswold grey was the true inspiration for this series. The beauty of the individual locks were incredibly inspiring. 

I am intrigued by the idea that all these sheep breeds are classified, categorized, evaluated and stamped...slotted into compartments of use and need and desire and quality. Some are judged better than others. I am amazed that when I combined them totally disregarding their labels they join together to created a oneness that is totally unique.

That's what this piece is about.

Never to old to play with Snowmen

Snowman Workshop on November 15,2014

I've made a lot of snowmen this fall. I was having so much fun making them and then lining them up in my studio so they could smile upon me. Though they all were a bit different, they were definitely my style
The snowmen from my students had a different look and it was lots of fun to see them create.
Now, I am sure, their snowmen are smiling upon their faces now.

 My snowmen will be on sale at Bottega on November 29/30, 2014