Lizet Frijters

A Christmas gift

2011-12-24T22:01:00.005+10:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88569968/white-and-grey-nuno-felt-shawl-in-the

20% off in my etsy shop until 27th of December, by using the coupon code CHRISTMAS20 at checkout. I want to make some room in my shop so that I can start the new year with some fresh work.

I wish everyone a nice Christmas.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88531005/freeform-textured-nuno-felted-scarf-in

Last minute Christmas gift

2011-12-22T15:49:00.003+10:00

Are you looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Do you have friends who would like to learn a new craft? Feltmaking maybe. My felt tutorials are delivered instantly after payment and can be downloaded as a PDF.

-get 30% off until 26 December 2011 with the coupon code blogchristmasgift

-buy from my site: http://lizetfrijters.com/tutorials.html

-buy for a minimum of $10

I wish you all a very nice festive season.

Lady of the lake

2011-12-06T22:27:00.004+10:00

Nuno felted dress. Very happy how it turned out and the photos as well. It was felted in white first and dyed afterwards.

Different ways of wearing a scarf

2011-11-13T19:08:00.002+10:00

Creative way of showing different ways of wearing a scarf

Natural versus synthetic dyes

2011-11-10T23:10:00.006+10:00

I just read an article on the ecotextiles blog : Can it be an organic fabric if it uses synthetic dyes.

This is a great point. I like to keep it as natural and organic as possible, I think we all need to decide where we put our boundaries.

If we use natural dyes and go on using toxic mordants, I think we are not doing much good to the environment. However, there are other ways of using natural dyes that are harmless for the maker, the environment and for the wearer.

Another critique towards plant dyes is that if the use of natural dyes increases, more land is needed to cultivate the plants needed for our dyebaths, this land could otherwise be used for growing food. What if we:
-explore local dye plants that are weeds and need to be cleared anyway
-use tree prunings
-grow flowers as a companion plant in between food plants
-use veggie scraps and fruit peelings
-use the dye plants more than once, so that less plants are needed, this will give different shades
-use waste from the florist
-use techniques that need less plant material to give colour

windfalls after the cyclone

How to use less plants for dyeing:
-when the plants come out of the dye bath, dry them and you can reuse them later, you can extract more colour that way
-by eco printing: using the plant material directly on top of the fabric, roll it and steam or boil. There is only very little plant material needed for this technique
-by using fermentation dyeing, especially the technique re-invented by Anne Rieger, using an acid and an alkaline bath. With this technique, a bit of plant material goes a long way and it keeps releasing more dyes over time.

mandarine skins in fermentation vat

I can understand that all this is of not much use for big industries, but if we start to make a change in our own small world, that is a good beginning.

Grow your own food, grow and collect your own dye plants!

"Autumn leaves" on its way to Canada

2011-10-28T22:18:00.005+10:00

My nuno felt scarf "Autumn Leaves" is on its way to Canada. It had so many views on etsy and was in many treasuries. That is probably where the views came from.

Five pieces are on its way to the timeless textile gallery in Newcastle, the eco dyed nuno poncho "Yellow anemone" being one of them.

Some eco-prints

2011-10-24T18:35:00.005+10:00

Left: red cabbage, middle: red cabbage and red onion skins, right: yellow cosmos and rusted nails

Left: casuarina and iron, middle: one day lily and rust, right: rose leaves and rust

Left: mangosteen skins and rust, middle: gum leaves in bath with nails, right: casuarina and rust, steamed.

detail of the steamed casuarina and rust.

More baby booties

2011-10-20T10:17:00.013+10:00

There are a lot of patterns for sale on the internet, but these crochet baby booties, I really love them. They are made by Hook Candy Crochet Patterns.

little button loafers

sandal baby booties

double strap baby booties

moccassin baby booties

baby cross over strap booties

baby Mary Jane Skimmers

2 strap Mary Jane baby booties

Feltmaking Tutorials

2011-10-11T10:14:00.003+10:00

I have now uploaded all my feltmaking tutorials on my own site and they can be purchased from there. The advantages over purchasing them here rather than in my etsy shop is, that it is an instant download after payment. You will not have to wait anymore until I find out that I have made a sale on etsy. This is a big improvement for both me and my customers.
Check it out on http://lizetfrijters.com/tutorials.html

Help for Julie-Ann Twigg and her family

2011-08-22T21:51:00.004+10:00

Julie-Ann and her 15 year old daughter Jacinda were involved in a horrific plane crash...
Julie-Ann is in intensive care and so sadly Jacinda and the pilot did not survive.

Julie-Ann is the team leader of DUST (Etsy Down Under Street Team)
Dusters across Australia are devastated by this awful news, and are actively donating and raising funds for Julie-Ann and her family.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/girl-pilot-die-in-mercy-flight-tragedy/story-fn7x8me2-1226115479475

Colourful dirt

2011-06-17T23:33:00.005+10:00

Here is a link to an article on John Marshall's blog with a beautiful garment, dyed with colours from the earth. Colour is all around us, we just need to use it....

johnmarshall.to/blog/2011/05/19/john's-art-pick-of-the-week-focus-on-dirt/

In the text, he also explains how to make your own pigments from the earth that you can find near you.

Introducing Isabel

2011-04-20T07:52:00.005+10:00

I know I have been absent for a while. However, I was working and got side tracked by enjoying work in the garden more than feltmaking.
I found this great woman at the "waste transfer station". I decided to give her a nice white coat of paint and here she is, working for me. Isabel is great, always willing to model and in a good mood, she leans a bit over to the right, but that's okay for me. She wants to be carried though. Well, I am happy with her and in between modeling she shares my bedroom. And so, I have done my regular task of recycling.

Sandra's Loom Blog: Wood Dye

2011-03-03T21:12:00.002+10:00

Sandra's Loom Blog: Wood Dye

I found this a very interesting article about natural dyeing, so decided to post it here.

Lavender Curls

2011-02-10T17:04:00.003+10:00

As promised, here is the finished felted poncho that I made with the eco printed silk from previous post.
On etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/67591584/silk-eco-dyed-fairy-nuno-felted-poncho

The day after Yasi

2011-02-04T20:44:00.009+10:00

Yasi came, brought wind and rain, more elsewhere than here. All together, we were enough to the north of the cyclone, to be spared from a lot of damage. The areas more south are seriously affected with a lot of structural damage and loss of houses. Only one death so far.
It was a long night and we were all very tired. I needed the whole day yesterday to relax.

For dyers like me, there are lots of leaves and twigs to collect. Above are some casuarina and eucalyptus leaves. I have still to find eucalyptus leaves here, that give another colour than yellow or tan.

I felted a poncho today, using a silk piece that I dyed more than a month ago with the eco print. I don't know the name of the flowers. Here is a close image of the flower:

Here is the silk with the flowers and some rusted iron on top of it, ready to being rolled into a bundle. The middle row has fresh flowers, the other rows frozen with bits of iron:

The fabric after steaming

The fabric lays in the other direction here than with the flowers still on.

The flowers turned a more beige colour with iron. I have now frozen the flowers and am dyeing another piece of silk with them in the freezer. I might take that out soon. It has been in there for a few weeks now. I just don't know yet how long to leave it in there, but I am getting curious.

I will post a photo of the poncho in a few days, when I have one.

Cyclone Yasi

2011-02-01T23:33:00.004+10:00

It looks big and will be big. I better go to bed and have a rest, as this will be hitting tomorrow night. It is a monster cyclone.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/yasi-could-become-category-five-monster-20110201-1abmx.html

And if I don't answer emails, approve your comments or answer the phone, this is why.
I hope to be back online soon.

Feature on Maddabling

2011-01-28T22:29:00.002+10:00

I am so pleased to be featured on the maddabling blog today:
http://maddabling.blogspot.com/2011/01/friday-friends-dusty-divas-lizet.html

Check out every Friday, as there will be another Dusty Diva featured every week.
http://maddabling.blogspot.com/

Australian Flood Disaster Relief

2011-01-14T07:18:00.005+10:00

I just donated an item for the Australian Flood Disaster Relief. Take a look at this etsy shop to all the items people have donated.

Freeform Lace Shawls

2011-01-05T08:35:00.005+10:00

First I wish everyone a very creative and abundant new year.

I made some new freeform lace shawls this week. Together with my daughter we have been assembling, stitching until we couldn't anymore.
Here are some pictures already, more to come:

This is what happens when my daughter doesn't feel like modelling.

You can find them all and many more in the shawls section in my etsy shop

Giveaway of my Ebook on Felting Craft Gossip

2010-12-31T07:22:00.004+10:00

Felting Craft Gossip is hosting a giveaway of my ebook.
Go to their page and read what to do so that you have a chance to win:
http://felting.craftgossip.com/giveaway/3-day-giveaway-ebook-launch-gorgeous-little-bags-how-to-feltmaking-tutorials-in-pdf-international/

New ebook - Gorgeous Little Bags

2010-12-24T07:35:00.005+10:00

As I have promised awhile ago, I have now finished my ebook with 5 tutorials for hand felted bags. I did my best to illustrate almost every step in the process and wish that those who buy it will learn a lot about feltmaking.
Until end of this month, the ebook is at a launch price of $15. After that it will be $20

You can buy it here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64629674/ebook-launch-gorgeous-little-bags-how-to

Enjoy Christmas and make 2011 into a very inspiring and creative year.

The future of natural dyeing

2010-12-08T08:27:00.007+10:00

Or is it the future of fashion? ( found this on India Flints blog): Read what designer Zac Posen says

Modern Japanese Temari

2010-12-03T08:22:00.006+10:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50042454/iris-hand-embroidered-thread-ball

Temari is the ancient Japanese folk art of silk embroidered thread balls, originally made by noble women from silken threads pulled from old kimonos. Used originally hundreds of years ago for child's play, today the art of temari is becoming more regarded around the world.

When discovering julieandco on etsy, I was really amazed by her beautiful geometric work. These embroidered thread balls are a great gift idea.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54762818/pumpkin-butterscotch-hand-embroidered

Julie has four daughters and has been a homeschool mom for almost 19 years!

She says: "It's hard to believe it's been that long! I have graduated two girls already and have yet a 16 year old and 13 year old at home. I love my husband of 26 years and love being a stay at home mom. Having an Etsy shop is wonderful and I love making and selling my Japanese temari thread balls. They have a really neat history (see item listings for more info) and I am fascinated with the geometry, symmetry and color combinations you can make with them. I have sold temari all over the US and the globe....including Ireland, the UK, Norway, France, Canada and even the Yukon Territory near Alaska."

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50777202/temari-pincushion-teacup-hand

Julie recently opened a fiber art and wool felting shop on etsy as well: julieandco2.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59024472/twinkle-christmas-ornament-hand

And while you are checking out her shops, you might as well have a peek at her daughters' shop: LaurelMae.etsy.com filled with their amazing art.

Is silk eco friendly?

2010-11-29T09:02:00.004+10:00

As with all fibres, there is often a debate about how environmentally friendly they are. I found this article on the site of Beautiful Silks, my supplier for silk, talking about silk and soy silk:
http://www.beautifulsilks.com/pages/products/ecofriendly.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58897727/plum-nuno-felt-shawl

Life as an artist

2010-11-27T07:27:00.004+10:00

I found this on twitter today:
There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it - Henry Moore

Totally true for me. I can't stop creating.

Here is a new one out of recycled fabric:

Green upcycled nuno felt shawl - squared