5 DAY RUG MAKING IN KONYA, TURKEY.
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Here is a little taster of what you can expect by speaker Barbara on her one hour talks, usually with a short demonstration.
Day 1 - Travel : Birmingham to Konya via Istanbul
Arrived in Konya 10pm and greeted by the friendly faces of Mehmet, the feltmaker and a few students.
We travelled to Mehmet's house where we spent the next 6 nights. The house was interesting! a wide staircase, large wooden ornate doors, colourful rugs and large cushions over the floor, antique furniture with a lived in feel.
I was joined by Leiko, a Japanese student and Theresa. We chatted into the evening over a light meal then we were set to work and shown how to roll our felt outline. We got in to this and dropped into bed at 2am. Only to be woken by the sounds of calls to the temples at 5am. Welcome to Turkey!!
We were up early for breakfast then walked to the shop for the 8 am start... and this is the way we continued for 5 days.
Day 2 - Design : Laying out the wool fibres
1st Image -The shop was large and in this atmospheric street in Konya.
2nd Image-Working on the floor the whole week. I am laying the merino wool fibres onto a clear plastic with the design below.
There was enough space for four people to make the large rugs and there were four students.
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Days 3 to 5 - Felting the rug
The wool fibres bind together with soap, water and friction. If you can imagine your favourite woolly jumper coming out of a hot wash two sizes too small...this is due to the water was too hot with a lot of heat and friction, the similar process is what binds the rug together, the work is primarily done by hand, foot and whatever form of friction you can muster!
Day 3 - Continued to lay down my design work, replenished with Mehmet's delicious lunches. Glasses of chi with heaps of sugar and the most delicious peaches would appear before us on a regular basis to keep us energised.
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Day 4 - We went to choose our fleece, a very interesting experience to see how the local farmers worked in rows of old garages, all very friendly and provided chi with lots of sugar. Then we watched Mehmet dye the gold background of my rug, using all natural produce, twigs, leaves, pomegranate peel etc.
We managed to see the local colourful markets for an hour on another day, amazing if you love textiles.
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There were a few power cuts but we needed to keep working by candle light or the rug wouldn't be ready to take home on Saturday morning, we didn't want to leave them behind!
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 The final roll of my completed rug
 After approx 60 hours of hard back breaking work and I am proud to show you my completed rug.
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Please message me Barbara@feltworld.co.uk
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BALI - WORKING HOLIDAY MARCH - MAY 2019
I have travelled alone before in Europe, but travelling almost halfway around the world on my own was something else.
Travelling on your own is not that scary or lonely. You just have to choose your country, where there are not so many couples but single travellers of all ages. You would be amazed at how friendly people can be, you are never really alone when people have so many stories and interests to share if you are happy to just say hello. I made many friends from all over the world, I did a lot of Yoga, ate the healthiest food the whole time. I met a group of creatives, musicians etc who I connected with and did creative charity work with them to raise money for a family in need.
During my time in Bali I taught Feltmaking to 3 groups as well as doing charity work and working on my laptop for 3-4 hours each day.
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I found the best Batik courses (some not so good), sat often with a Balinese painter, had the most amazing full-body massages and foot massages for a few pounds. So, for a glorious 6 weeks travelling around the south coast of Bali and bustling jungle area of Ubud where the paddy field nestles between the hotels and affordable homestays, oh and the waterfalls and Temples. With an abundance of colourful art studios and markets to get lost in. One of my loves was batik painting but I really needed to have some special tuition, where else to learn but from the masters! I found some not so great teachers but 2 absolutely amazing family run batik schools that I kept going back to. I was in my creative heaven. |
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Painting my second design. It was so intricate that I needed help with the detailed design. Widga and his assistant were at hand to help on a one to one basis throughout but I soon got the hang of not spilling the hot beeswax all over the cotton....not a good idea! |
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I give talks on my experience. I cover my Batik painting journey with a demonstration. I talk about the charity work I took part in with a lovely group of creatives and visits to remote areas of the south of Bali including exploration of the volcano, temples and waterfalls. |
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Please email me to find out more barbara@feltworld.co.uk More Images can be found under: Courses - Batik Painting and Feltmaking |
