In the making: what is felt. I

 

…the process of felting is like a witch craft. Wool, silk, flax, all the natural fibers and water and you get a whole that puts a spell on the observer. Archaic codes that we recognize in our collective subconsiousness…
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….vėlimo procesas – lyg kerėjimai. Vilna, šilkas, linas, visi natūralūs pluoštai ir vanduo – sukuriama visuma, kuri užburia stebintįjį. Archajiški kodai, atpažįstami mūsų kolektyvinėje pasąmonėje…

“bored with seeing collections that have no soul, no feeling, no seduction”

Some of you were quite curious to know more about Josephus Thimister, the designer with whom I had honor to collaborate for his AW 2011/12 collection this year. I found some quotes on the internet I would like to share for others would get at least a little sense of uniqueness of Josephus, and some photos from his last year collection, some looks I just love.

                

“So what made you decide to start over?
Actually, it happened quite naturally. My intuition told me so. When I observed the fashion world over the last eight years, I saw a declining story. But recently I started to make clothes for my own pleasure, to show that I still have things to say and share. With experience, you know what to do and what not to do, and at the same time you’re much more free creatively. I am stronger now than I was ten years ago. And I was bored with seeing collections that have no soul, no feeling, no seduction—just a product on a hanger. I am not a bling-bling person.”
Read more: Josephus Thimister Haute Couture S/S 10 Paris - Page 7 - the Fashion Spot http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f60/josephus-thimister-haute-couture-s-s-10-paris-95032-7.html#ixzz1Haq68bLD

                 

“and that's the beauty of Thimister. nothing is ever without meaning....nothing is ever shocking for the sake of shocking. everything is so bound together with utter poetry”.
Read more: Josephus Thimister Haute Couture S/S 10 Paris - Page 8 - the Fashion Spot http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f60/josephus-thimister-haute-couture-s-s-10-paris-95032-8.html#ixzz1HarjzI3h

                   

THIMISTER
The origins of Josephus Thimister are eclectic: he is Russian, French, Belgian, Orthodoxe, Catholic, Jewish... A mix that he bluntly calls "garbage". After passing through Karl Lagerfeld and the fashion house of Jean Patou, he worked as a decorator before being named artistic director of the very prestigious fashion house Balenciaga. During these 5 and a half years, he gave Balenciaga a breath of fresh air, then he created his own Parisien label in 1997, under which he has since presented his Haute Couture and ready-to-wear collections. At the same time, he became art director for the Italian brand Genny, and from 2005 to 2007 for Charles Jourdan. He has also worked for a number of ready-to-wear brands as well as being a consultant. The creations of Thimester posess a certain lightness and poetry which creates an elegance devoid of any vanity. Thimester seems to rejuvinate the traditional Haute Couture, notably by using unconventional materials.

photos from: 2e-bureau.com and Fashionologie

P.S.: Some internet sites offering THIMISTER: Barneys New York, Boutique Roma, Anastasia Boutique, Case Study Space, Antonioli

THIMISTER MMXI-MMXII

I’ve just returned from Paris fashion week where I was to see a collection of Josephus Thimister, for whom I made 2 coats and several capelets. And… I don’t want to say more right now except the text of Josephus that accompanied the collection…


THIMISTER MMXI-MMXII
SNOW MYSTIC CIRCLES OF FALLEN ANGELS
DARKNESS STARES OUT THROUGH ENDLESS TIME AND YOUTH, TAKING FORM OF FALLEN ANGELS – BLACK COMPILES ILLUSION AS INNOCENT SOULS ENLIGHTEN SHADOWS – BROKEN WINGS GROW OUT OF CIRCLES, TOUCHING EARTH WITH FLOWING MEMENTOS – INTRICATE CUTTING OF FABRICS, ENVELOPE BODIES LIKE FLUID SCULPTURES RUNNING FROM MEDIEVAL CLOISTERS AS MODERN WARRIORS – BIG BLACK COATS BECOME SHRINES OF SOULS – CONFUSED THOUGHTS ARE FROZEN INTO WILD KNITS AS WHITE OPPOSES BLACK – THUNDER AND LIGHTENING STRIKE THROUGH THE MUSIC THAT RINGS IN OUR EARS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ECHOES OF SHATTERING HEELS – EPHEMERAL WRAPPINGS STORM AROUND BODIES WITH HURRICANE FORCE – THE SOIL IS ALIVE AND PROCESSING WHILE NATURE RECOGNIZES ITS BALANCE – STORMY CLOUDS DESCEND UPON SHOULDERS COVERING THEM IN HUES OF GREY – NORTHERN LIGHT APPEARS FROM THE DEEPEST PROFOUNDNESS – SNOWFLAKES MURMUR QUESTIONS AS BLACK SNOW BREEZES SOFT POETRY – BIBLICAL WOOL OF JACOBIN SHEEP IS FELTED IN ANCESTRAL WAYS INTO CAPES AND COATS TRAILED BY ETHEREAL CHIFFON – SNOW BREATHS THE REMINISCENT AIR OF OUR DEAR TOLSTOI
- JOSEPHUS MELCHOIR THIMISTER

 Photos from style.com

These are the felt pieces I made for Josephus. See the whole collection at style.com

felt and fiber women

Not too much time left for the blog with all the projects going on and preparation for the workshops this Spring (though you can always find some little updates in my Facebook page), but I just wanted to share and enjoy a beautiful idea of other fiber artist Ricarda Assman to connect many fiber women in one e-book of artists. And I am also happy that Ricarda and Hans have designed a beautiful page with my profile for the book.
You can find all profiles here.

As I read my profile now there is so much more I want to add about my connection to felting process, but the space was limited. No time right now, but I think I am going to share more insights about that in my blog in a near future.
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Nedaug laiko belieka dienoraščio rašymui, kuomet tiesiog užgriuvę įvairūs projektai bei pasiruošimas kursams, kuriuos vesiu pavasarį, nors visgi Facebook puslapyje karts nuo karto atnaujinu naujienas. Tiesiog norėjau pasidalinti labai gražia kitos menininkės idėja sujungti daugelį moterų, užsiimančių tekstilės menu vienoje elektroninėje knygoje. Vienam menininkui – 2 knygos puslapiai. Labai džiaugiuosi ir šių puslapių dizainu, kurį sukūrė Ricarda ir Hans. “Felt and fiber women” knygoje – daugybė menininkių portretų.
Dabar skaitydama savo profilį, manau, kad dar tiek daug galėčiau pasakyti apie savo santykį su veltiniu, tačiau, žinoma, vieta puslapiuose nebuvo beribė, tad… manau, kad savo įžvalgas paliksiu kitam kartui pasidalinimui šiame dienoraštyje.

News. Workshops

If you haven’t yet noticed, I have made a section “News” on the right column of my blog where you can find all updated information about the workshops I give: News

 

Workshops:

March 11-13 and March 15-17, 2011 - "Archaic felt in modern couture" at Italian Felt Academy
April 8-10 and April 11-13, 2011 - "Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses" at studio Filt Viltwerk, the Netherlands
April 15-17, 2011 -  "Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses" at VrouwWolle studio, Belgium
May, 2011 - "Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses", " Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation. Creative samples". UK - info will be updated.
June 21-23; 24-26, 2011 - "Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses". Moscow, Russia, Проект "Шерстяные чудеса" совместно с интернет-магазином "Шкатулочка".

There might be some spots left in the workshops in the Netherlands and Belgium or probably just the Netherlands during the dates April 11-13, 2011. So if you were interested in learning how to felt nuno dresses my style, hurry up.

Book “Veltinis”

So a month of intensive work of editing and curating photos for my book “Veltinis” has passed and the book is already on the shelves of the bookstores. It is the second edition of my book that was first published in 2008. But this time it has even more techniques and tips for success, as well as new photos and new design.
Here I must say big thank you to young talented designer who worked on the book with me – Tomas aka promopocket. Love his contemporary and clean approach to the design. Thank you, Tomas!
Thank you to everyone who helped in any way to publish this book. And really big thanks to my readers who were contacting and contacting my publisher until he asked me to repeat the book again :)
It has been the first book about felt in Lithuania. The book is in Lithuanian language only, but it is full of inspiring photos of works of Lithuanian feltmakers (as well as 2 from neighbor countries).
The book covers basic felting techniques, lots of tips for success and creative surface decoration. It's a book for inspiration and encouragement for your creativity in the world of felt. Could be purchased here.

Workshops: Beyond the surface: fabric manipulation in making nuno felt dresses

Glad to announce another workshop in April, this time in the Netherlands!

More information at FILT studio website.

Corner shop – for fiber supplies

As every fiber artist I sometimes have a weak point when it comes to buying fiber supplies and sometimes I buy too much what actually becomes excess supplies. Or as my works evolves I refine the ways and materials I work with and sometimes some of them loose interest for me as I move forward. That’s why I decided to open a little corner shop for my excess supplies on Etsy – feltfeltfelt. Please stop by and see whether some materials would be asking you to be used in your projects rather than laying in shelves at my place ;)

Glimpse of the process

photos by Svetlana Batura

Workshop updates

As you might have noticed I have added News section to my blog where I will be updating information on the coming workshops and other events connected with my felting.

As the first workshop at the Italian Felt Academy has been filled, the second workshop has been announced in March 15-17, Verona, Italy. More information on Agostina’s website.

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Na ir kalėdinis siurprizas lietuvaičiams, mylintiems veltinį. Nors buvom nusprendę nebekartoti mano knygos “Veltinis” leidimo, bet, vis gaudamas Jūsų prašymus, leidėjas nusprenė dar kartą išleisti šią knygą. Redaguotą, papildytą nauja informacija, naujais skyriais, dar daugiau patarimų ir atnaujintų fotografijų! Tikiuosi kažkam tai taps gražia ir naudinga kalėdine dovana :)