Creative Fibre Experience 2018 is now open to all Creative Fibre members.

Creative Fibre Experience 2018

This exhibition will be held in conjunction with the Craft & Quilt Fair, Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton Thursday 6-Sunday 9 September 2018.  An entry form pack (entry form, conditions of entry, packing slip) can be downloaded from the creative Fibre website.

Awards:
Selectors’ Choice $300
Sponsor: Events Expertise

Colour Award Product to the value of $100
Sponsor: fibre2go

Design Award $100 voucher
Sponsor: Majacraft

First Time Entrant Bag of Product
Sponsor: Prudence Mapstone

Outside the Square $100
Sponsor: Creative Fibre Waikato Area

http://www.creativefibre.org.nz/creative-fibre-experience-2018/

Felting day Saturday 15 May, All welcome

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday 5 May, 9 am.  I believe Jane is going to be making one of her wonderful felted vessels.  She is happy for people to watch how she does it.  This is not a lesson as such.  As usual everyone else is welcome to bring their own projects to work on and share ideas.

Dont forget something for the display table so people can see your finished items from last time or what you have been up to since.  Bring everything you need for felting plus  $10 door charge and your lunch.

Exhibition at Christchurch South Library
19 July to 10 August
We are booked to have an exhibition at Christchurch South Library (Beckenham).  We have had exhibitions here previously and it is a great venue with a huge number of visitors using it each day.  It is relatively easy to hang the felting and we can get it high enough that people cant touch or damage it.  The felting also looks fantastic hanging on their walls.

We will be calling for items to put in the exhibition and volunteers to help mount and/or take down the exhibition. 

Lynette Hartley
SOUTHERN FELTERS

Embellished bag challenge

Ashburton Creative Fibre Club Challenge 2018

Embellished Bag Challenge

The 2018 ACF Challenge is to embellish a supermarket shopping tote. Cost is $5.00 per entry.

Bags are made from woven jute with a waterproof finish on the inside. (These are exactly the same as jute supermarket bags but without logos and wording – retail price at a supermarket is around $6.00).  Embellishments must include something made from natural fibre using any techniques (eg. knitting, felting, crochet, sewing etc.), and ‘compulsory items’ supplied by your group. Any other embellishments or features can be added so long as the finished product is still a usable bag (ie. not a hat or a pair of trousers)!

PVA glue, sewing using upholstery or tapestry needles and any other attachment methods can be used to attach embellishments. (NB: Iron-on embellishments may damage the waterproof lining.)

Colours can be included using dye, ink, screenprint, etc.You will receive; 

A jute shopping tote,  

A few ‘compulsory items’: buttons, beads, woven scrap (fabric, ribbon etc), 

Label - write your name and your club name on the label and attach to the bag handle.

Payments and entries via your Creative Fibre Group

Entries will be judged at the Canterbury Area Day hosted by ACF in September.
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ACF Bag Challenge Entry Form

Entry fee is $5.00 per entry payable to your group treasurer.

Finished bags to be given to your group president before the Canterbury Area Day in September and will be returned to you as soon as possible.

Please complete a separate entry form for each entry. Please print clearly.

Name ...............................................................................................................................................

Group ...............................................................................................................................................

Title ...............................................................................................................................................

Alpaca entries invited

Creative Alpaca 2018 Display
'For The Love of Alpaca'

A showcase of the properties of Alpaca and Creativity

Entries are invited for the Creative Alpaca 2018 Display as part of the National Alpaca Expo 2018 to be held in Christchurch 5-7 October 2018.

We are looking for creations that show us the versatility, the warmth, the colour, the softness, the strength of alpaca. The silkiness, the drape, the wow factor. Traditional or new concepts we want to see them all.  We are also looking for high standard of craftsmanship and quality of process.

Open entry criteria, anyone may enter. There is no process limit and no size limit. No judging, just selection process in the interest of a fabulous display.

Use at least 70% of Alpaca fibre, bone, skin, yarn or a mixture, and create something wondrous for us to showcase at the National Alpaca Expo.  Attire (adult, child, baby), rugs, wall hangings, toys, sculptures, home wares, or anything else! Surprise us and have some fun!!

We will have many sponsors awards to be chosen by the sponsor or by public vote. The 3 main award are sponsored by Ashford Handicrafts Ltd, Awatere Alpacas and Creative Fibre.. Ashford have donated a 30cm wide Drum Carder (public vote).. Awatere Alpacas have donated a cash award of $250.. Creative Fibre have donated a Cash award of $250 for the entry which best shows the drape of Alpaca, to be selected by Creative Fibre.

Useful information on the TAFAN website

TAFAN, the Textile and Fibre Arts Network, are having their AGM on the weekend of 23 June 2018.  More information is available on their website.  There is also a list of dates of interesting textile events taking place in Christhchurch this year. Visit their website.

Website http://www.textileandfibreartsnetwork.org.nz/

Felting this Saturday 7th April

Our next felting day is this Saturday 7th April 2018. We are expecting a good turnout as everyone is back from their various summer activities. There will be lots to catch up on. Bring along any felting you have done over summer, it doesn’t matter what as it is always interesting to see other people’s work.

Looks like last meeting was a good one with an interesting visitor from Australia who shared some new ideas with us. We have no teaching plans for this Saturday but you never know what is going to happen spontaneously. Bring your supplies with you and don’t forget your lunch and the $10 door charge.

Other dates of interest

Creative Fibre, Canterbury Area, are having their bi-annual exhibition in the museum 14 – 23 September so it is a good time to start thinking about your entries for this.

TAFAN are having their AGM in Christchurch on the weekend of 23 – 24 June. There will be workshops and market tables. Keep your eye out for more information about this.

Our last felting day in March

Natalya's boot and bag workshops

Barbara King is at the point where she needs to confirm numbers for Natalya's boot workshops. Barbara has a lot of information about the workshops and about accomodation if you need somewhere to stay.  Email her for the full email of information.  Deposit due 23 March 2018

The workshop with Natalya has just got even better.
Natalya has developed a new basic template and you will learn how to make changes to it to make boots with laces front or back, zipper, flat or heel height from 5cm to 12 cm so it will be really amazing. It takes it to a whole new level as the original workshop related to flat heels only and lace front style.

The Christchurch boot and bag workshops dates are as follows:
Monday 1 October to Friday 5 October 2018 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (ish) or

 

Monday 8 October to Friday 12 October 2018 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (ish). 
Please note these are approx times and dependent on progress we may need to stay later.
These will be held at Redwood Primary School Hall, Prestons Road, Christchurch

The Blenheim shoe workshop will be:
Tuesday 16 October to Thursday 18 October 2018 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (ish)
Please note these are approx times and dependent on progress we may need to stay later.
Venue to be confirmed.

The Cromwell boot and bag workshop will be:
Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October 2018 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (ish) (this date may change given Monday 22 is Labour Day to Tuesday to Saturday - this will be confirmed with Bev Muir between the group of participants for Cromwell)
Please note these are approx times and dependent on progress we may need to stay later.
Venue to be confirmed.

Accomodation
Please advise if you wish to share with others and I will try and organise for people to stay in a motel unit together somewhere close. I may also be able to arrange some accommodation with other Christchurch felters but no promises at this point.

I will be sending photos and instructions to show you exactly how to measure your foot so we ensure the shoe last ordered for you will be the correct size. This is very important.
I have sent the wool that has been made into batts to Natalya to try to ensure she is happy with us using it. Once she has confirmed she is happy I will send further information on this, colours etc.

Pricing
Currently the pricing includes the price of the wool we are intending to use.If the wool choice changes there may be an adjustment to the price, but we are trying to ensure we use NZ wool. The boots and bag need approx 1.5kg of wool. The shoes require approx 400 grams. What is not included in the price is any embellishments you may wish to use on your boots, silk gauze, mulberry silk etc or shoelaces (you can felt shoelaces) as these are personal taste. I am trying to source some coloured viscose fibre, (I do have white) as this is great to use as decoration and Natalya shows you have to do this like a "cloud" to put some colour into your boots/shoes as she prefers to use natural colours in the workshops so the wool colours will probably be white, grey or a light or medium brown (to be finalised).

I have attached a photo of the shoes I did with Natalya last year which shows turquoise and orange viscose on grey wool to show how the viscose works and it is a beautiful fibre to work with. For those of you not familiar with this fibre, it is a cellulose fibre made from wood pulp and is usually called "poor man's silk". I use it on the inside of vests, bags, hats etc as it gives strength and elasticity and has a beautiful sheen. It is a dream to draft if you just wish to decorate with it. Also not included is any bag "hardware" should you wish to do one of the bags which requires hardware. This will be detailed later.

I have over allowed for costings so there are no shocks, so at this point I would expect the workshop costs to drop rather than increase. Please bear this in mind and the fact that the price includes materials, shoe lasts etc. I have negotiated a very special discounted rate with Natalya for these workshops, they would be a lot more expensive than this at her normal tuition rate.


The price of the workshop is currently $675 approx for the Christchurch workshops,$490 for the Blenheim workshop and $620 approx for the Cromwell workshop but once I have confirmed numbers I will approach Creative Fibre again to see if we can get some funding, Christine Marks and Bev Muir are also going to attempt to obtain funding and if we get some funding obviously the price will decrease - fingers crossed. The other thing that may affect the price is the Euro. Once I have paid the travel and student box cost I will make the adjustments to the costings.

As I have to pay Natayla's airfares very shortly I will require a deposit of at least $100 before 23 March 2018 please. Probably around May I will need to pay for the materials which will be coming from Natalya, being the "student box" as these will need to be posted in plenty of time to get the cheapest rate. A further payment of $160 will be due at this time.  Then a further payment due when I order the wool batts and a final payment during September. This is to spread your payments for you. Of course you are welcome to pay more or in full whenever you wish.

To ensure your place please deposit $100 into the following bank account number with your Name as reference

Barbara King
Westpac Bank
03-1700-0179616-000

The following will be supplied for use at the workshop:

Rivet/Eyelet Machine
Shoe Hammers
Shoe Mallets
Rubel Felting tool (a Russian felting tool but if you have one, please bring) - If you are interested in purchasing one - have a look on Etsy - they are great!. Photo below
Hotplate for the activation of the glue on the soles (but if you are in Christchurch and have a double electric hotplate - please let me know so we can have more than one)
Scales to weigh your batts (once again, if you are in Christchurch and can bring your own, please bring)
Trestle tables
Buckets for your water/ to carry your wet felt for the people not able to bring their own - please let me know if you require one
Paintbrushes to use with the glues and acetone
1 Electric sander and RCD plug - if you are able to bring your own please do
Scales to weigh your batts - if you are able to bring one please do
Some wooden felting tools may be possibly be available for use - photos below

The following is included in your student box:
Shoe last - these can be used for slippers,boots and shoes post workshop and are very good ones
Soles
Innersoles - these are texon board with strengthening for your shoes (shoemaking innersoles)
Heelbox
Leather for heelbox covering
Eyelets - 40
Waxed Thread
Nylon Thread
Awl hook

The following is included in the price of the workshop (these are separate to the student box):
Wool batts
Gauze for strengthening
Glue for Innersoles and Heelbox
Acetone for Heelbox
Glue for Soles

Natalya is a great teacher, patient, easy to understand and shares her techniques and knowledge freely with you.

Contact Barbara for more information and a list of the things you will need to bring to the workshops.

Happy felting ladies!
Barbara
021 2900 283 or 03 329 8283 evenings or Barbara King <arly@xtra.co.nz>