COSTUME FOR THE THATRE

' Lots of Bling'

This is a recent costume I constructed for an actor playing the part of

Elvis Presley in a play called Cooking with Elvis.

'Frock coat'

Another costume for the theatre.

The original fabric of the coat was perished and beyond use so I unpicked it

and used the pieces as my pattern. It is made in velvet, using the original

braiding from the original coat which I remade using new fabric. A lot of

the braiding was also  worn so I spent a fair while matching the embroidery

threads to repair the patterning.

SPRING TIME SCARVES

Colourful scarves for spring time worked in silk and mixed fibre threads

'Nuno' felted onto various shear fabrics.

  A change of shape this time I have made a triangular shaped scarf. I find

it is a very versatile shape and can be worn as a shawl, tied to the front

or I like to wear this design with the triangle shape point under the chin

and then the long ends crossed at the back and brought round to the front.

The later a perfect muffler to keep out the cold wind without too much bulk.

BREAKING NEWS

A busy week making felted merino wool 'pods' decorated with silk threads,
handy little bowls for putting trinkets in or just to admire.

  This is a scarf/wrap , technically challenging as each flower is visible

from each side, differing colours on each side, these are then linked by

very fine criss-crossing of fibres before felting. A technique known as fine

felt. The result is a very light weight but very cosy wrap, these I make in

various colour ways. They are a labour of love as they can take three to

four days to construct and finish.

 This is a close-up of  another wrap made in the same way as the blue one I

talked about previously.

  This is a necklace and earing set I was commissioned to make for a ladies

wedding day, unusual but she just loved them.

  A change of media today I turned my hand to my other passion that of water

colour painting.

  These little friendly monsters were inspired by a birthday card I saw at

my grandsons, so I made him one and some little friends full of character to

sell. They are made from surplus Polar Fleece and have child friendly eyes,

it turns out that adults are attracted to them and buy them for themselves.

 Here you will see a collection of my little baby 'pixie' booties which  are

felted over a template making the two feet at the same time then separating

them part way through the felting process.

INSPIRED IN INDIA

  This little bridal  bag was inspired by organic underwater matter.
It is made from wet felted merino and silk fibres followed by lots of had
beading and is also fully lined with bridal fabric. (perfect size for
keeping your phone and keys close by) I think this would look good in dark
colours for an evening accessory as well.

  I made this for a friend's wedding. She wore a silk 50's dress which I
made for her and wanted a bag and shoulder wrap to go with it as she was
being married in her home country of Denmark and it would be a very icy time
of year. I was lucky enough to attend the wedding I Faska and was totally
surprised to see a stunning sight of a water fountain frozen in time in the
air just along from the wedding venue. I walked along a coast road the day
after but couldn't see the sea because of a thick fog, I can imagine it to
be very beautiful in the summer time though.

   I spotted this picture whilst looking through photographs today and was

immediately transported back to my time in Dharamshala almost a year ago. We

had every type of weather whilst there, one day lovely sunshine, followed by

torrential rain, hail and frost you name it, we experienced it. A most

powerful memory was being totally lost in a hailstorm, lacking in the

appropriate clothing then coming across a little café Rogpa Café which we

had been looking for in McCloud. We rolled in soaked but our souls were

uplifted with some wonderful music being played, the offer of Vegan

chocolate cake, out of the world in taste, and piping hot lemon, fresh

ginger and honey tea. We were in heaven. It turned out we were only about

half a mile from our hotel so all was well. We went back to the Café again

later in the week to savour more of the delicious cake and ginger tea it was

a must before we moved on in our trip. The photo has also reminded me that I

want to put my flags up in my garden now that I am settled here in my new

abode. Firstly I need to choose a significant day and area to place them,

maybe I will wait until the builders have finished the outdoor work before

doing so.

   oh to be back in that wonderful country, need I say more!!!

  Who couldn't be inspired by all this colour? what memories this evokes for

me.

Our driver came to us a breakfast and offered to drive us backwards some 8

miles on our trip to attend this festival if we wanted him to. As a result

we spent the day, 2 westerners in a sea of about 4 thousand locals who were

celebrating a festival. A festival which seemed to involve what looked like

a competition of teams of men 'drumming'.

There was food, elephants, all the normal fun of the market place with it.

I was bowled over with the friendliness of all the people, they wanted to

practice their little English with us, shake hands and take pictures. We

felt so humble and tickled pink at the way we were being treated like

Royalty.

Sugar cane seller at the festival

PANCAKES

 look who appeared in my pan whilst making a batch of pancakes I couldn't
create that again if I tried.

THE CRESCENT THEATRE IN BIRMINGHAM

 Working as a volunteer in the sewing room at the Crescent Theatre in
Birmingham throws up some interesting projects, this is one of those. This
costume started out being so badly in need of restoring (I wish I had taken
a picture of before and after, will have to remember to do that in future)
so I completely took it apart, used the original pieces as a pattern and
replace some of the bad pieces. I managed to save quite a lot of it by
backing the original fabrics to support it. I really enjoyed sewing all the
original braid back on afterwards.

THREE BAGS

 Three exclusive bags ready for posting to Mango Juice Gallery, Worcester.
Each one is made of wet felted fibres combined with a fabric as the lining.
These are felted at the same time so that there is no seaming in the end
product. The only sewing involved is the sewing on of the button. They have
an adjustable, strengthened strap, the bags themselves are very strong and
light weight ideal for carrying essentials.

JEWELLERY WRAPS

These Jewellery wraps I make regularly using the wet felting technique in
all shades and colours. Each has a pocket inside and a buttoned bar for
keeping rings tidy.

NEW WORK

I tried out a different direction in my work, this is the result using a
piece of silk and felting fibres into it. The most difficult part was trying
to guess what size piece of fabric I needed to start with allowing for the
shrinkage. I must say I am pleasantly surprised with the result.

  This one is similar just slightly different colourway.

close up of felted fabric

FIRST ALBUM OF JULIO ROBLES

SPECIAL DESIGN STUDIO

Happy Christmas and A Prosperous New Year!

As a design studio we feel that our Christmas message should be an exemplar. We should give it some proper thought and create something both clever and beautiful. However. After visiting the local barbers for a beard trim, Scott came across the best client to customer Christmas message probably ever created. Succinct and very ‘Christmassy’. So we thought we would simply reproduce it for you here, in our annual Happy Christmas email, as our thank you to you – for being a valued friend of Special Design Studio. (We have to thank Gary at GTS male hair design for letting us take the photograph. Both Scott and Clive recommend him. For more information visit www.gt-s.co.uk)

Special Design Studio, Gallery 95, 93-95 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1PH, UK. 01603 631107 info@specialdesignstudio.co.uk

TEST

  This is a test of your observation!!! Does anyone know what this picture

is depicting?

CHRISTMAS TREE

  I made this Christmas Tree using wet felting it was quite a challenge as I

had never attempted such a complicated 3D project before. Needless to say I

will not be making another one as it took such a long time to create.  It

was eventually put in a charity auction and raised a fair amount of money.

WOOL ANGELS

 Some festive decorations in the form of felted Merino wool angels. I make

these in many colours not just white so they can coordinate with colour

schemes. This picture was taken last year when we had some snow, wonder if

we will get any this year?

NEW SEASON

This photo of a Poinsettia plant was taken whilst travelling in India back

in March this year I thought it very appropriate for the time of year now,

so it comes to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas.

NEW SEASON

 The seasons provide us with a fascinating change in the colours and as a
result I have been  inspired by the stunning autumn colours in my garden
this week, I just had to create these two Nuno felted scarves along with a
fully lined shoulder bag.

 

  The Pumpkin is destined for the kitchen it's another bonus in the autumn.
I just love creating various dishes with it. I wish I had a larger freezer
as I would enjoy eating pumpkin throughout the year, though perhaps having
it seasonally is why it taste so good!!

 this is the starting piece of Silk fabric I used for the triangular scarf

NEXT EVENT - DESIGNED BROOCHES

This week I have been very busy

 in preparation for an up and coming event

 where I will be exhibiting at a

 Christmas Craft Fayre at Highbury Hall in Moseley, 

Birmingham. B13 8QG

 on

 Sunday 27^th November.

So when not felting scarves I have been creating individually designed brooches.

Using individually hand felted pieces roughly 4 x 6cm in size which I have made. 

I then embellished with a selection of beads, stitch and up- cycled jewellery, making each piece unique. In the past I have sold these little pieces and people have told me they have turned them into little works of art by putting them into a small frame and the displaying them on the wall either in a group or individually.

IN THE GARDEN

I have made felt work to enjoy in the garden over the years.

The butterfly lived happily out in all weathers for a few years, only fading slightly over time.

 Is another butterfly which is now flying in a ladies garden, in an attempt to frighten birds.

The same with the Sunflower so if the garden is lacking in colour then a few outdoor pieces could be the answer.

The tree panels also did well flapping in the rain and wind and were part of a sculpture exhibition held at the Jinny Ring. 

I just loved making these two cute little fluffy rabbits

BRENDA MARSHALL - TEXTILE ARTIST/DESIGNER

Brenda Marshall

Textile Artist/Designer.

The dictionary definition of ‘Metamorphose’ means ‘change’ so I have taken this literal meaning as the word that sums up my life of late. It has been a roller coaster since gaining my degree late in life in 2000. I hope this writing may be an inspiration to others to find the courage to turn their lives around and to see that it is never too late for ‘change’

Through innovative experimentation with fibres and fabric construction, I endeavour to satisfy my passion for tactile reward. I work intuitively through projects using colour, surface pattern and texture to achieve this, drawing on my artistic background and influenced by nature and world cultures. My aim has been to push boundaries, producing objects with intrinsic beauty and paying attention to detail.

This massive boost of confidence and acknowledgment of my skills and supreme encouragement from my family, gave me the courage to start out in a new direction. So taking a massive leap of faith, for the past three and a half years I have been running a very successful business as a self employed textile artist in my studio. I was working in house alongside selling to the public and building up a loyal client base many of whom became friends. I also ran numerous workshops and exhibited in the local sculpture exhibitions.

I recommend studio based working to artists starting out in their career as an excellent confidence booster situation, especially good, if like me, you can find a situation where there is an opportunity to work in close proximity to other artists. Interaction with them means ideas bounce around and the support is there when any difficulties arise.  

It is an excellent training ground for running a business and for interacting with the public. Some of the public come up with some brilliant ideas if you are open to listening and are up for taking some of the challenges on board that they are expressing. I had no business experience at all prior to opening my studio. I remember on my first day when thirteen people all came in to the studio at the same time. My heart was going nineteen to the dozen and I literally felt like crawling under the table. With a lot of sales on my first day I was encouraged. They were so enthusiastic and over time I was able to learn so much about valuing my work and myself. I was someone who had so little confidence in what I did in life in general so this was a huge step for me.

 Recently I have decided to have another change of direction in my life and after a lot of deliberation, decided to leave the studio based at the Jinney Ring mainly because it meant I had to be there six days a week and as a sole trader left me little or no time for any social life or personal development. I missed doing things with friends and family. I still continue to teach workshops as I really enjoy the pleasure the students get out of making stunning objects from a few fibres rubbed together. Even if they have no design skills etc. each and every one has always created fantastic results.

Formally a successful watercolourist, mixed media artist and tutor of textiles, fashion and art, I say at the moment my medium now is painting with fibres.

I try and create inspirational contemporary designs which are described as bold, dramatic, artistic, organic, flamboyant, exotic, colourful.... All individual, one-off pieces are inspired by the textures and colours found in the natural landscape and life. I work using a modern twist on ancient felting techniques to blend merino fibres together with other luxury fibres including silks, bamboo, soya bean, banana and Alpaca and anything else I can get to felt in, together with fabrics.

My creations also include one off sumptuous wraps, scarves, bags, jewellery, accessories, mobiles, wall art & sculptural forms etc. Customers are overwhelmed by the fantastic range of articles which have been created using just fibre as the starting point. Felting skills, patience and a very vivid imagination are brought into play in this therapeutic craft.

I always welcome commissions and use my knowledge of colour mixing and blending to colour match to customer’s requirements both in fashion and interiors.