I have chosen the wet-felting process as my primary technique because of its greater flexibility in design considerations, structural integrity and the ability it gives me to finesse the fibers into a sculptural shape, all of which are important factors in creating the final product.  I begin by laying the fibers out over a backing of woven fabric (often a silk chiffon) to create a design. This technique of laminating wool to woven materials is referred to as “nuno” felting, which allows for different effects and results in a lighter drape. Using a sponge, I press the layers of fibers and fabric together with hot water and soap. The piece is then rolled until the fibers begin to migrate through the open spaces of the fabric.  Each piece is finished by hand, scrubbed on a glass washboard and shaped on a waterproof table.  It is a transformative process where the results are often surprisingly different from what I might expect when initially laying out the fibers, especially as the piece can shrink up to 40% of its original size.

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