Scribble Artist Interview with Sharron Parker!
Scribble Town (ST): When Andi, aka Chief Scribbler, met Sharron Parker at the recent Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York City she was amazed at how felt could be manipulated in such amazing ways. We are lucky to have Sharron share with the Scribble Blog about her craft. Sharron, where are you and what are you up to these days?
Sharron Parker's display at Architectural Digest Home and Design Show NYC 2013
Sharron Parker (SP): I live and work in Wake Forest, North Carolina, in an old stone mill on the Neuse River. Since the mill was once a textile mill, I feel I am continuing that tradition with my textile studio there.
ST: Not only are you continuing the tradition, but to be surrounded by such beautiful nature explains how your fiberworks resemble your environment. When did you start creating with felt and what piqued your interest?
SP: After being a weaver and trying other textile techniques, I discovered handmade felt over 30 years ago, when I saw 2500-year-old pieces of felt that had been found in Siberian tombs. I learned that the technique is the oldest way to make cloth, dating to the Stone Age. Basically, you shrink and lock wool fibers by using moisture, heat, and pressure. Nomadic people did things like dragging the wool in a roll behind their horse, but I just press on the wool in hot water in my sink or bathtub.
ST: I’m so interested in your fiber technique! You explain it really well here, but we are eager to learn more.
Step 5 in Wet Felting by Sharron Parker
SP: This is called “wet felting” and is different from “needle felting” where you use barbed needles to tangle fibers – which I do occasionally. I work with dyed, unspun wool or roving since I like to work with color. It’s something like “painting” with wool: I comb and layer several background layers, and then arrange the dyed wool wherever I want, often in thin watercolor-like layers. Lines can be created by using wool yarns, and more texture can be achieved by using wool curls, etc. After making a piece of felt, I can stitch more onto the surface, sew pieces together, etc.
Raku Flight I for Merrimon by Sharron Parker
ST: On your website you have a picture of yourself and a tiger. Is that real?! It’s a beautiful picture and we’d like to know more about it.
Sharron Parker's Tiger friend
SP: The tiger photo in my artist profile was taken when I was a volunteer at a tiger rescue preserve; I had been bottle-feeding a baby tiger for several weeks. Maybe not surprisingly, tiger-like stripes appeared in my work after that (see Madagascar Moth detail).
Madagascar Moth detail by Sharron Parker
ST: Wow! With such adventures in life you are sure to find inspiration around every corner. Is there a particular place or environment you find yourself feeling really inspired to create? The categories on your site are Earth, Light, Living Things, and Color. Perhaps these are a window to your points of inspiration.
SP: Ideas come from lots that I see in the world around me – rocks, shells, bird wings (see Raku Flight), flowers (see Rose Petal Screen), sunsets, and more. And, of course, the river and rapids right outside my windows. The view of trees outside my window, and the river mists behind them, can be seen in the triptych Intertwined.
Sharron Parker's intertwined felt
SP: For those who want to try wet felting, there are a number of books available. Or my specific techniques can be seen on a DVD called Teach + Learn, Volume 2, available through the Surface Design Association. My website “News” also lists workshops I will be teaching.
ST: Thank you Sharron! Nature in itself is a point of inspiration and your artwork add to the cycle. To get started with your own felting supplies please go to Scribble Shop.
Rose Petal Screen by Sharron Parker
This cute little purse is a sure way to bring a smile to the face of your little girl!
The best part is, this can be sewn on and layered with other similar patches to dress up a bag, a hat a coat or more!
To do this first do a single stitch coming up through the felt and then down through the fabric about a quarter inch apart. Next, come up through the felt directly though the stitch you just made. This will split the stitch- a split stitch. Then pull the thread through and go down about a quarter inch away from where you came up. Continue doing this all around the circle.
Starting from the back, come up through the felt and then down about a quarter inch away through just the fat quarter and the felt. Come up on a diagonal through the felt, again about a quarter inch away. Before you pull the needle all the way through, loop the thread around. Now, pull the needle through.
Go down again straight through the fat quarter and felt. Continue all the way around this circle.
To do the chain stitch, come up through the back. Go down into the fabric and weave the needle back up about an 1/8 of an inch away (do not pull though). Loop the thread around the back of the needle and then pull through. Place the needle back down almost exactly where you came up and repeat.
Anyone can make crafts, but sometimes coming up with the ideas can be a little tricky. By using simple kits, you can make fun crafts with your little ones that will surely be fun and inspire their creativity!
You will need to insert the ear and antler pieces. Slip the needle through the hole in the front body piece fabric and press the needle firmly through the ear piece, then slip the need through the hole in the back piece.
Repeat this, making two holes for each ear and antler.
Glue on the mouth, eye and additional pieces and your finished!
Once your animal puppets are finished, engage your kids in a little imagination and story telling time! Have fun!
This project is a fun way to inspire creativity and bring a smile to your kids’ faces. The finished craft is something they’ll want to hold on to and they’ll have so much fun helping you create the design!
-Buttons
-Ribbon
-Thread
- A Needle
-Pom-poms
-Lanyard
-Puffy Paint
and used Puffy Paint to add detail to the petals and leaves!
We experimented with different types of flowers but in the end, we choose to add a plain flower and embellish the mitten with a split-stitch sewn stem!
On the other mitten, we made a cute little frog out of felt and added googley eyes for extra fun! These mittens are your own creation- who says they have to match?
Winter mittens tend to all look pretty standard. To make a statement, gather a few creative supplies and have fun Getting Scribbley with your little ones!
This garland craft is a great way to bond with your little ones. Just have each member of your family decorate their own garland piece!