Just because felting has been around for thousands of years doesn’t mean we are as accustomed to it as a form of fine art as we are a painting or a photograph.
If you are wondering what to do with your piece of felted fine art you are not alone. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are some tips and tricks to both displaying and caring for your fiber art.
The simplest yet more costly route would be to take it to a framer.
Now that you’ve made an investment into a piece of art, you may want to have it displayed in a beautiful frame that compliments both the piece and your home.
There are many reputable online framers or you can take your piece to a local frame shop.
Here you can see the corner of a piece that has been stitched to the mat and framed.
It’s up to you whether you want to leave the organic edges of the piece exposed or cover them up.
A more modern look may be to carry a mat over the edges. Or perhaps you love the natural look and just want to have your piece mounted onto a matboard cut to fit your favorite vintage frame.
The last thing to consider when framing is whether or not to keep it under glass. Felting can be highly textural and some of my pieces have a 3-dimensional quality to them. For that reason you may want to opt for no glass. Glass will offer more protection from UV light but ideally you will not be hanging any of your art in intense direct sunlight.
Here are some other suggestions, especially helpful if you’re handy and would rather DIY:
Stitching a dowel rod( or a branch for a more rustic look) along the top, back of your piece. This a traditional way that many of us are used to seeing fiber art displayed. If you go this route I would stitch from the back so that the your stitching doesn’t come all the way through to the front of the felt.
Mounting your piece onto art board or a canvas. This look will keep your edges exposed and can be relatively simple and easy to hang. You can paint the background of the or canvas in ca color that compliments your art if desired. You can either stitch it to the canvas or use 3M command velcro strips or tabs which is much easier on the fingers! You can see some photos of this in the next suggestion.
If you want it to appear as though your artwork is floating (so the mounting and hanging mechanism is hidden) you can mount your piece onto a board from a craft supply store that is smaller than the artwork and apply the 3M velcro tabs to you work. Here is an example with one of my earlier works:
Notice how it appears to float against the wall. The velcro has held this piece put for years. One of the advantages of working with such a lightweight material!
Care Tips:
Felt is very durable, after all in Mongolia it used to make yurts and home families and it withstands every season of elements. But, there are a few special things to keep in mind.
Like all artwork, it is best to protect it from direct sunlight. Framing under glass with UV protection may be best if this is a concern for you. But the dyes used in the wool are made to resist fading to a certain degree.
If left exposed to enjoy its inherent texture, it will gather dust like everything else in your home. Gently using a lint roller when necessary is recommended as is dusting with a feather duster. If you need to you can use a vacuum attachment but id cover the end with some pantyhose or gauze and do it on a low setting.
The other consideration is insects. Fortunately, moths aren’t as much of a concern as people think because they don’t like the light. Other pests that like wool are carpet beetles and silverfish but as long as you aren’t keeping your pieces on or close to the ground or in dark, dank spaces they should be safe. It’s a good idea to check in the crevices of artwork along framing etc. just to make sure no unwanted visitors have made themselves at home. Fresh air and light (not direct UV) will help keep away the pests!
Lastly, as with all art, avoid excessive touching and handling as oils from our skin can build up an affect the appearance. Felting can be so tactile it is hard to resist but it will help to protect your investment.
Don’t be sheepish, contact me if you have any other questions
