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From the Studio Table: How Fiber Art Is Made in My Surprise, Arizona Studio
There's a moment in every felting session that I live for. The wool is laid out, the colors are chosen, the warm water goes on — and then something shifts. The piece stops being a plan and starts becoming itself. Where It All Begins My studio in Surprise, Arizona doesn't look like what most people imagine when they think "art studio." There are no easels, no paint-splattered floors. Instead, there are baskets of wool roving in every color you can imagine, rolls of bubble wrap
Rita Chester
5 days ago2 min read
5 Beginner Wet Felting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
When I teach felting workshops in my Surprise, Arizona studio, I see the same handful of beginner mistakes come up again and again. The good news? Every single one of them is easy to fix once you know what to watch for. Mistake #1: Using Too Much Water Too Soon New felters tend to drench their wool right away, thinking more water means faster felting. But too much water actually floats the fibers apart instead of helping them bond together. Start with a light sprinkle of warm
Rita Chester
5 days ago2 min read
What Is Wet Felting? A Beginner's Guide to This Ancient Fiber Art
If you've ever wondered what happens when you combine soft wool, warm water, and a little patience, you've already started thinking like a felter. Wet felting is one of the oldest textile arts in the world — and one of the most forgiving for beginners. It's the technique I use in my Surprise, Arizona studio to create everything from delicate wool paintings to sculptural vessels, and it's the art form I love teaching most. So What Exactly Is Wet Felting? Wet felting is the pro
Rita Chester
5 days ago2 min read
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