Barbara Potoczny ~ Fiber Artist ~ Teacher

Last Friday marked the opening of a new exhibit at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville, VA.  (PiedmontArts.org)  This show is a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Many wonderful artists have items on display, including Sandra Wright, with a breath taking cape, including beautiful textures and thousands of handsewn beads, Fog, Snow, and Ice on the Blue Ridge.  Linda Fiedler has Rain and Shine, as well as another wonderful machine embroidered Flora of the Blue Ridge.  The threadwork she uses to make the flowers is spectacular.  

 There are also wonderful pieces showing mixed media including Karen Fridy’s, Rising, as well as Priscilla Hair’s,  Emergence.   Scott Murkin has some of his wonderful Strata series Sunset and Midday on hand.  All incredible work, with too many artists to mention.  You’ll just have to make it up to the show! 

The Art of the Quilt will be running from November 13, 2010 through December 30, 2010. 

The Art of the Quilt, is an invitational exhibit curated by Linda Fiedler.  Linda is an exceptional machine quilter and teacher with national and international awards to her name for her quilting as well as her quilted clothing.  You’ll have to see her work up close!  Fabulous.

Following are two of my pieces you can see in this show: 

Bountiful Blue Ridge Laurels

 

Blue skies with feathery white clouds rushing by above the colorful mountains.  Fluffy soft Merino wools as well as silks have been needle felted to make a backdrop for the beautiful Mountain Laurel flowers.  The flowers and  leaves were individually needle felted, wired and beaded to depict the bounteous foliage and flowers found along the Blue Ridge.  Complete with hand stitches across  the mountain sides to add depth and dimension across the landscape.    Here is a close up of the many flowers and dimensional leaves. 

Driving Through Paradise

Driving Through Paradise depicts the fabulous color display you will see each fall on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.   I had such fun creating this piece with the tree and it’s many textures, from the tree bark to the dimensional leaves.   Working with everything I could find that would needle felt and give me the textures I love.   

Near the bottom of this scene, you will see an abundance of textures.  These were made with curly wool yarns  and fabulous bits of hand dyed wools depicting vegetation along the roadside.  As you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway,  the colors surround you and never seem to stop on a beautiful autumn day. 

Here is a closeup:

Both needle felted works are surrounded with beautiful handspun yarns for a natural frame.

WOW, It has been almost a year since my last post.  It is hard to tear myself away from my felting fun to take time to write!

In October I taught  2  new needle felting classes at Accent Sewing in SC.

 The first day I taught a beautiful needle felted beachscape  to a wonderful group of ladies.   I think they all had a great time looking through  the piles  fibers I brought to work with.   I brought along  Merino wool, merino curls and locks, Angelina fiber, silk carrier rods, firestar for shine, yak fiber, llama wool, yarns, romney fibers, shells and more. 

After showing how I use the fibers and my techniques, the group came up to choose their own fibers to work with.  I enjoy  having each person create the image that they envision.   Once completing the base project, some added their own special touches, of palm trees, sail boats, bushes and more beach scenery.

As I told the class, I love needle felting so much, that some of the time (most all of the time)  I get carried away.  When I am teaching, I  not only show how to make the current project, but I go way beyond and have to tell every little secret and wonderful new item I have found that felts.   We have a great time.  The first photo is the class sample, followed by some of the ladies in class.  This class I enjoyed working with Karen, Carol, Lillie, Ray, Jacque and Diane.   Great work!  Some little extras added in here and there.  absolutely beautiful.  Not to mention, one person totally new to using an Embellisher.  Once you get the knack of keeping that foot down and moving your work a moderately slow  pace, it’s easy.   Please send me a photo of your finished projects once you have them completed.   

My second workshop was Double Clutching.  Making 2 different clutch handbags.  These bags were made with a wool base and merino wool.   The top layers consisted either of Sari Silk ribbons, or Sari Silk threads.  For the closures I brought crocheted rounds for buttons, felt balls and shell buttons. 

Another fabulous group of needle felters working with all the ribbons and fibers.  I enjoyed working with Helen, Angelique, Joyce, Pam, Jacque and Diane.  Each person had a different direction in designing their bag.  Once again, 2 ladies totally new to felting.  Great job!  Remember you can reach me at countrypastimes@aol.com if you have any questions.   I’m here to help.

I always enjoy the wonderful ladies attending my workshops at Accent Sewing.  Some have taken almost every class I have had there in the past several  years and some totally new to using a Babylock Embellisher.  It is such a thrill to  bring new felters  into the wonderful world of Machine Needle Felting.   I am so pleased to have such a fabulous group of felting buddies, and the group continues to grow.   Thanks to all.

I’ll be back early next year with more projects and  more ideas to share.

 This time I will be bringing  a wonderful new felted cloche style hat class.  Hats are a must for those cold, breezy winter months.  I’ll have heavy and lighter weight hats for the warmer temps.   I’ll be sure to have several different styles on display. 

Until next time……………….Be Happy.

My daughter Stacey is taking part in the fundraising efforts of the Winston Salem Police Department which will benefit the Special Olympics.  Stacey is once again taking the Polar Plunge………..brrrrrrrrr. 

To assist her in raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics, please check this out:   www.firstgiving.com/wspdstaceyp

I know she would like to thank you in advance for any help you would like to give.

More posts coming soon,  on this event and other recent happenings.   =-)

Here are a few photos from recent classes.

The first are from the Angels All Around.

 

 

 

      This doll class is great fun.  So many embellishing ideas to make each Angel doll unique.  Good work ladies. 

The next is a photo of some of the beautiful new journals made in class.  One journal cover is made of a variety of luxurious fabrics that were needle felted, and the other journal cover was needle felted using a variety of  fibers, including beautiful silk hankies.  All finished with handdyed and handspun yarns.  Absolutely beautiful.  I had a great time with the journals. They are so addictive.  A wonderful canvas to try new ideas in a small form.

I just returned from another week of teaching workshops  in South Carolina.  We all had so much fun.   Accent Sewing has expanded, with even larger class space.  You KNOW I love that.

I started the week teaching my Angel doll class, followed with a new needle felted journal, and finished the week with my newest addition to my needle felting workshops, the  Poinsettia wallhanging.  All of the Needle Felting workshops are my original designs, which I plan to put into pattern form.  

I was so pleased to have  several of my fabulous needle felting buddies in the workshops, as well as a few new ladies.  It’s always great to see the newest students  having a good time with needle felting.  They all did such a great job with the projects.  I am so proud to see the students working so hard  and especially, their  finished items.

Everyone did so well in class, I’m looking forward to photos of the finished projects.  I have one here to share with you already. Absolutely beautiful!!

Maxi’s poinsettia turned out great.  What do you think?   It is almost 20 inches across. 

I’ll have several more class photos to share with you  in the next few days.  Be sure to check back.

I’m back.  I have some wonderful new classes I’m teaching  this November at Accent Sewing, in Murrells Inlet, SC.  For all of you who love making needle felted flowers,  here  is my new Poinsettia Wreath.   It would look great on a front door, or anywhere.   It is made by needle felting loads of fabulous fabrics to create the petals and leaves, then 3D Effects are added, along with lots of sparkle.  I think you’ll love making this one.  Especially if you are a person who loves color and textures.  But who doesn’t!

Another great project is the Book of Secrets.  I’ll have two choices for you to choose from.  First is a White-on-White cover mostly felted with silk,velvet, and satin.  You may choose to do your felting with all fibers.  I have wonderful fall colored wool fibers that felt so easily.   To complete our projects, we will add handspun yarns, beads, embroidery stitching, and more to make them even more fabulous.  This would make a great  notebook for the college crowd, a new bride, or your best friend.   Easy to create, yet it looks very time consuming. (That will be our secret.)  Before long, you will be designing one to fit each personality on your list. 

 

Also, we can’t forget this cute little doll – Angels All Around.  This is a very easy doll to create and embellish to your hearts desire with laces, trims, beads and fibers.  I’ll share several techniques for creating hair and some great new wing ideas.  Most supplies for her are provided in this class. 

If you have any questions about these or any other classes, please email me at CountryPastimes@aol.com 

I have some wonderful photos of recent student work to share with you next time.

Here are a few more photos of the Tiger Lily class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m back from teaching for another fun filled week in Murrels Inlet, SC.    I can’t say enough good things about all the students I have had this week.  I enjoyed seeing many of my past students and had the pleasure of meeting several new ladies.   I think they have been bitten by the needle felting bug.  I don’t blame them.  I’m hooked as well!

In my Cat Dancer class I enjoyed teaching a young lady, new to dollmaking.  She did a wonderful job, worked so hard, and left with a completed project.  All I can say is WOW.  Great Job!   

The kitty claws came out among the others trying to see just who could be teachers pet.   =-)    I think it was a 3 way tie.  (You know who you are.)  So many laughs and so much fun.  This class begins with a little sewing, then hand painting, then sewing, stuffing, more sewing, more stuffing, and finally embellishing and making their own style of hair Lots of hard work, but well worth all their efforts to create their own Cat Doll.   A memorable day for us all.  We had a great time. 

This week we also made some machine needle felted Clutch bags.  I am very proud of all these ladies.  Beautiful work.  Just a few more stitches, and they are ready to go out on the town.    Very stylish………..

 

 

 

 

 

Finishing off the week with the Tiger Lily class.  The ladies each choose a main color of fabric for their lilies.  Then added additional fabrics from a mound of silks, velvets, satins, sheers, and more.   Add in some  fibers and the fun begins.  They made the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen. 

I am to eager to see all the Tiger Lily wall hangings once they have all their finishing touches.  Beautiful!

I’m very excited to be teaching in Murrells Inlet again in July, at Accent Sewing.   I am unveiling 2 new classes, Tiger Lilies, and Needle Felted Clutch.  Here are some photos of each. 

This is a close up of the 3 dimensional needle felted Tiger Lilies.  Using a combination of fabrics to create the flowers and leaves.  Additional embellishments are used for the flower centers.

Here are 2 of the needle felted clutch bags.  Several color choices will be offered in class.  This bag is needle felted using silks, velvets, satins and more.  It has a magnetic snap closure and beaded embellishments to add that extra sparkle. 

I am also teaching the very popular Cat Dancer doll.  This is a wonderfully creative doll using several techniques, including face painting, beading, creating the mane, and many more techniques discussed in class.   Although previous doll making experience would be helpful, even beginners can create this fabulous doll.  Original pattern by Magic Threads.

Here are a few more journal covers made by Pat.  She took my journal cover class a few months ago and has made just a few more.  She has added a few shells and other sealife for some wonderful dimension.  Thanks for sharing you wonderful creations.