The Crafter's Way 13

Each week I write a craft column for a local paper. I share it here with Bloggers.

A Fine Feeling For Felt: The Shared Bower Bird Gene is the current exhibition at Gallery 159.

The name of the exhibition is a fitting title for Annette Cooper and her daughter Melody’s work.

Annette is a talented lady who has a background in haute couture having been in charge of the dress design course at the Queensland College of Art and then the fashion design section of the Mt Gravatt TAFE. Annette later moved to Orange, NSW where she undertook a course in wool classing, developing an interest in spinning and felting.

Melody is a highly respected theatre and film costume designer. Mother and daughter collaborate often in their creative pursuits.

When thinking of felt most of us tend to conjure images of those washing accidents. Annette’s felt is gossamer light with exquisite detail.

Annete prefers to dye her own fibres, then felts each piece often using the nuno felting method. Scraps of thread, ribbon, lace and glitter are inlaid in the felt. While Annette has never attended any formal felting classes her felted garments and small articles are of exceptional quality. Her haute couture training ensures that felted garments are assembled and finished perfectly with no detail overlooked.

The exhibition will run from the 2-17 June at Gallery 159, 159 Payne Rd, The Gap, Brisbane. Gallery 159 is owned and operated by TAFTA (The Australian Forum for Textile Arts Ltd). The gallery is open weekends 11am – 4pm when an exhibition is being held; weekdays by appointment. Phone Janet De Boer on 3300 6491 or email tafta@iinet.au