Felted Wrap Vest for NSDCC Fashion Show

Long version, open front

Back view

Long version, closed

Matching gauntlets in the same wool/silk blend with upcycled silk embellishments felted into them.

Wouldn't these shoes (seen in BA of course!) be amazing with the vest?!

Louise has been wanting to create a piece of clothing in felt for a long time now.  She started on this wrap vest the day after we got back from Buenos Aires!  The excuse was that we needed a unique piece for the fashion show of the Halifax fair this coming weekend.  We have seen knit versions of a similar vest in various formats but this felt variation is even more versatile.  It can be worn upside down, right side up, and even switched to being inside out!  Every change gives it a new look.  We tried it on a variety of body types - in one version or another it suits everyone. 
Come see the ensemble being modeled this coming weekend at the NSDCC Christmas Fair November 16, 17 and 18.

SPRINGTIME IN BUENOS AIRES - explosion of color

We are still readjusting from our wonderful stay in Buenos Aires.  It is hard to believe that we had a whole two weeks in that huge and vibrant city.  (I was not sorry that our original 10 days were extended due to Hurricane Sandy's disruption of air travel.)  We were lucky enough to fly down with our friend Jody and stay at her home in a lovely tree filled neighborhood.  What a pleasure it was to arrive in the middle of springtime when at home we had been heading toward autumn.

Little corner fruit and vegetable vendor - a great place to pick up new Spanish vocabulary and  look at those mouthwatering colors!

Food is not the only item here that comes in delicious colors.  Spring shoes are wonderful!  Louise was depressed because we did not find one shop that carried women's sizes past 40.

We took a fascinating tour with GrafittiMundo.  Our guide gave us lots of insight into Buenos Aires history and the beginnings of wall art here. 

Of course we checked the yarn and textile district but we were totally enchanted to see crochet yarn bombing in many neighborhoods.

Buenos Aires is a captivating city!  I am sure that the exuberant colors we saw there will be influencing the felting we will be doing all winter long as we head toward 'snowtime' in PEI.  For now, we are very busy trying to catch up and finish all our preparations for the NSDCC's Christmas Show in Halifax this coming weekend. 

New felt scarf creations!

Cork seems to be enjoying this new scarf.  It was inspired by the big mermaid scarves we have been making. Perhaps he would look better in a red scarf?

We Love these new diagonal crinkle silk scarves!  We find they look great on every body and they can be tied in all kinds of ways.  Thanks to our French Knitting Group for acting as models!  (Notice that Cork allowed Louise to wear his new favorite scarf.)
We plan to have a full color range for sale at the Pier 23 Fair in Halifax in November.  Come see us!

Leaf Scarf Workshop

Day 1 - finished scarves!

 We just got back from a terrific weekend in the Gaspereau Valley.  Always love visiting that beautiful area and especially spending time at the Farm Wool Shop!
We ate really well, tried some amazing local wines, visited with friends and gave 2 workshops on making leaf scarves.  What could be better than that!
And then, Louise found the most amazing and delicious mushroom on one of our morning walks!  Heaven!

Day 2 - finished scarves!

Elaine and Cork the Studio Dog modeling new scarves

The Joy of Felting

Don't these photographs convey the energy and joy of felting?
Thanks to our friend Jody for the great photo work!

We are getting back to a felting routine this week.  Louise has just returned from a few days  at the first ever Festival Twist, where she took a couple of workshops and also gave a dying workshop.
Now it is time to restock the island shops and start to work on a stockpile for the big Fair we will be at in Halifax in November.

SUMMERTIME ....on Prince Edward Island

A colorful selection of gauntlets, wristlets, yarns and scarves ready for the boutiques.

Too bad the gauntlets can't hide 'garden' nails ....

walking on pristine beaches

deep sea fishing for cod

 Summer on PEI is not just about felting!  We love to take time for all the other pleasures of island life.

giving spinning lessons to young visiters

and having them utilize those lessons!

harvesting garlic

growing greenhouse tomatoes

the wonderful scent of basil

One More Interest

We have been enjoying ourselves enormously this week.  The dye microwave has been out on the deck every sunny day as we prepared 4 ounce merino tops to sell in Christine Stanley's new shop in Victoria-by-the-Sea. She is also carrying an excellent selection of our felted pieces as well as our handspun yarns.  Check out her textile shop and the pottery shop by clicking on www.stanleypottery.com 

 We are not neglecting our felting either!
Watch for some interesting new scarves and shawls to  be featured
on this site in the next while ....

This one escaped from our drying rack.  Doesn't it remind you of an enormous tropical snake?

BACK to BACK at Gaspereau Valley

We are right into our busy summer season here on PEI.  

June started with a visit to Gaspereau Valley for the Annual Back to Back competition.

Comfort is important when you spend the entire day spinning and knitting.

We had a great time cheering the team on and doing a felting demonstration during the afternoon.

The entire team gets involved in the final moments to sew that sweater together.

A glass of local bubbly wine from the L'Acadie Vineyard just up the road is a great way to celebrate once all is done!

A visit to the Wolfville Farmer's Market is always part of the weekend.

Cork, the Studio Dog

 We needed a good model to showcase some of our newest hats and since both of us needed a haircut we weren't willing to volunteer.  We enticed our almost constant companion to step in.

 We think it is a good color for him though the style could be improved upon.

Does he look convinced?
Most of the hats and scarves we completed that day will be for sale in Jessica Hutchinson's shop in North Milton.

Holiday Beach Colors

Louise took a little break from winter last week.  It was great timing considering the weather we had, and are still having, here on the Island.
She came back with a refreshed palette of colors.
She also took about 100 too many pictures of flowers according to her husband!
We are still at least 2 weeks away from bright colored flowers here ( crocuses don't count).

  

So we went wild with colors on our scarves.  The brilliant pink tone one is still wet and waiting for felting.
Elaine is now off for a break from the weather except she is heading for worse.  Ottawa is in the middle of a snowstorm!
You may see grey scarves next, inspired by slush instead of the tulips she was hoping for.

Tiny work of art

Happy Easter! 

 Isn't this tiny nest a perfectly lovely basket?
It comes from a nest box built for the Kensington North Watershed.

The boxes are currently undergoing a spring cleaning so they will be ready for their new occupants.
I think we need to start incorporating feathers into some of our felt hats...

We Thought it was Spring...

Last week we were sure it was spring because we could sit outside on the deck with our glass of wine ...

Back to reality this week. Schools were closed all across the Island yesterday due to high winds and blowing snow. With yesterday's windchill we certainly needed a hat!  And why not a cute, totally windproof felted one?

Now we are dreaming of spring while we work on a grass green scarf.

All Smiles!

 Our friend Penny (centre) sent us this photo. Don't the three of them look great with their new FibrEnsemble scarves?
We love getting photos and feedback from people who take home any of our work!

Felted Gauntlets and Cookies - life is good!

We need a non-felter to serve as a gauntlet model.

 We had a lovely Monday afternoon this week playing with a variety of gauntlet styles.  Notice that we are really getting into felting in a lot of embellishments!
Blue for Louise (maybe a bit busy?) but we love them all the same.  Obviously the turquoise ones are for Elaine!

Cookies were our reward.

And these turquoise ones sold this morning!

Color Crazy!

It is grey and cold outside these days but we are surrounded by warm, vibrant colors in the studio.  And we are having a wonderful time playing with patterns, colors and textures on the gauntlets!  Not to mention the scarves ...