Student workshop

As part of end-of-year activities at her local school, Lis Mertens ran a workshop for a group of Year 6 students. After a demonstration of the basics of feltmaking, the students made a sample of felt. They then chose to use their sample to cut and sew a mobile phone holder, to make a bracelet or to make another piece of felt in another design. The students were busy all day and very motivated and engaged in their chosen project. See for yourself their designs and wonderful colour combinations.

New arrival

With desert scarves and wraps selling fast in time for Christmas, Lis has added "Inari" to the Summer Exhibition at Studio Altenburg, Wallace Street, Braidwood, NSW. 

"Inari" was inspired by a visit to the famous Fox Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and depicts the tunnel formed by the vermillion tori ( or gates) leading into the temple. It is a wrap of handfelted merino wool on a double layer of silk and fine wool.

Felt Objects Exhibition at Picture House Gallery, Gunning

An exhibition of Felt Objects created by members of Canberra Region Feltmakers opens at the Picture House Gallery, Gunning, NSW, on the 27th December, 2008. Lis Mertens has entered an evening clutch of merino wool hand felted with hand painted silk fabric by Alison Alder.

There will be a closing at a time and date to be announced.

More desert pieces

"After the storm" is a hand dyed silk chiffon and merino wool hand felted scarf. 

Due to popular demand it has been added to the desert pieces available at Studio Altenburg in Braidwood, along with "Paddy Melons", a hand dyed silk chiffon and merino wool hand felted evening wrap. Both pieces are suitable to wear on cool summer evenings.

Outstanding Country Artist Award

On Sunday, Lis Mertens received the Country Artist Award at the Gundaroo Bush Festival Telstra Art Show. 

The award went to the most outstanding country artist who lives in the Southern Tablelands shires, including the ACT.

"Making Waves" is one of three pieces currently showing in the Group Exhibition which will run from November 6th 2008 - January 31st 2009 at Studio Altenburg, Wallace Street, Braidwood, NSW.

The two exhibition gallery rooms at Studio Altenburg will be open to the public showing artworks from many artists all over Australia. 

Gatherers

Taking "Goodnight in the gully where the white gums grow" by printmaker, Jessie Traill, Australia 1881-1967, as a starting point, Lis has begun a series of images using merino sliver and spun yarn to make an art quilt celebrating "Woman". " Gatherers" attempts to reflect the Australian landscape and the various ways in which women "gather" from it: be it tranquility, it's sheer natural beauty of pattern and colour or it's seeds which can both literally and metaphorically be sown to continue to reproduce in diverse manifestations.