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Monday 30 July 2012

Wool Felting and Sheep Shows

Did you know that knitting has become popular again? I have a couple of quilting friends that have started to knit again and they were on the hunt for a particular wool. They decided to go on a day trip to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.
Bendigo is about two hours drive from Melbourne so we got there in time for an early lunch and then made our way to the showgrounds for the big show.

I had no idea what to expect and I am sure that there were plenty of live sheep and that sort of thing but it was a huge show and we went to the Art and Competition displays and the vendors. I have never seen so many beautiful hand dyed wool, threads, wool tops, wool dyes and books on the subject. Usually at quilt shows there are one or two stands. This was an incredible amount and I was really taken by surprise.

The competition work was amazing but I was absolutely blown away by the work of Jenny Romano. After looking at her website I realise that she is very talented indeed. I think that I might like to do a class with her.
Work by Jenny Romano

Possum by Jenny Romano
The work was behind glass so the photos are not the best.

Wombat by Jenny Romano
Face by Jenny Romano
I never expected to go to a Sheep and Wool show in my life and so it just goes to show that inspiration can be found in the strangest places.

Bye for now,
Linda

6 comments:

Cathie said...

The face is incredible Linda, even more lifelike than a patchwork one would probably be. What wonderful work.

Linda Steele said...

I agree Cathie, I didn't realise how effective wool felting could be.

ozjane said...

Wool felting brings back dreaded memories of a lovely woolen article ruined in water that was too hot or sometimes it just happened. I can appreciate the work but somehow it does not tempt.
I found it funny to feel cross to see people turning from hand work to knitting. It seems to be going backwards.
Totally irrational but I guess I knitted to 40+ years until it got to the stage where I could not really wear wool any more without being too hot. But I do still have a store of handmade items and while I gave my main woolen stash away, I kept some favorite yarns.

I have a friend whom you would never pick to be a knitter and she loves to make scarves, so I often pick up a spare one and knit along if we watch TV together.

Seems odd to find young people who cannot knit..I think it was one of the most early things I learned to do. Crochet began when I was going out with a boyfriend..no heating in cars in those days, so suggested Mum made me a rug. She suggested I made it so began year of crochet also.

Frances Clements Fawcett said...

Hi Linda! Beware! Now that you've been exposed to the delights of fibery wool it just might sneak into one of your beautiful quilts! Knitting is one of my favorite 'calm down' activities, and it has led to my passion for shrinking sweaters and felted artware. You just never know where one 'thread' will take you!

Thanks for a great post and sharing Jenny's art with us! xo Frances

Linda Steele said...

Thanks Jane,
I know what you mean, I have never been a wool fan, always too itchy for me. But these felted articles took wool to a new level.

Linda

Linda Steele said...

You are so right Frances. My mind was spinning about how I could use wool in a quilt.