This glorious riot of autumn colours is a piece of felt that I made in a wet-felting workshop about 21 years ago and then began to embellish by embroidering with Exotic Lights silk embroidery yarn hand-dyed by Robyn Alexander for her Colourstream label.
Back then I worked part-time in the original Colourstream studio, packaging up orders of hand-dyed silk embroidery yarns and ribbons amongst other things. I look back with nostalgia on that time, the only paying job I was able to hold onto for a few years while struggling with ongoing ME/CFS.
I thank you always, Robyn, when I use the silks and handle the things I have made using them. I still love the embroidery silks, and use them exclusively when I sew where stitches will show.
Unfortunately, though, fine needlework has gone by the way a bit in the last five years due to neuropathy. Especially frustrating when I look at photos of various elderly relatives still doing fine embroidery into their eighties.
But you read that right. Twenty one years, plus or minus. I tend to keep textiles I’m emotionally attached to, however unfinished and or decrepit they may be. Where the feeling in the title comes in.
This piece of felt is in no way decrepit and though it’s been packed away for years, looks as good as new. At the time, I sewed it onto a canvas backing thinking to make a fancy cushion cover. That obviously didn’t happen. It would’ve been a waste as any cushion in my house puts in the hard yards.
But you know, a 40×40 cm almost-square like this isn’t much use other than as a cushion cover. Every few years I get it out, I have it hanging around for a while, and even maybe think up a new possible idea for doing something with it. At one stage I planned to make it into a wallet-type bag. I don’t know what happened. I must’ve got frustrated with the idea and packed the piece away again.
Rita de Heer 
Phwoar! This is absolutely gorgeous! I’d hang it on my wall. REALLY makes me miss felting; this was similar to the direction I was going- except I was making wearables ( which are sooo nice and warm…you can’t beat that Merino wool..)
Anyway, excellent work. I can’t stop looking at it. I’m sorry that health matters make this sort of thing difficult now. It’s frustrating to not be able to do the things you normally would. It’s awesome that you’ve held onto this piece, though.
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Thank you, hang it on my wall. You don’t think it looks unfinished? That’s always what has held me back. But on the positive side I am much closer to a shop now where I can get a frame. Will look into that
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It doesn’t look unfinished to me, but, then, we might just have different ideas about aesthetics. I personally would definitely hang it on my wall “raw” and as is. I’ve made hangings by attaching fabrics/ woven stuff to nice big sticks before ( sanded them up, etc.) It wouldn’t need to be a stick, though; a piece of dowel would work? But that’s me; I enjoy hangy thingies. Your piece here would look equally amazing framed- it’s just that you’d miss out on that organic shape. Either way, it’s the texture and colour that makes it so delicious. Hope you come up with a solution!
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