ABOUT

WENDY BAILYE (photo by Barbara Makepeace iM photography)

CONTEMPORARY FELT ARTISAN 

 Wendy has been felt making for over 16 years and runs a vibrant felt art studio from her home in the Samford Valley, close to Brisbane. Here she runs monthly workshops as well as working on commissions and refining her felt making practice. Her classes very much revolve around individual creativity being brought about by the felting process. Wendy has taught her skill nationally ,her career highlight in 2009 being Featured Artist with Expertise Events traveling with the Craft and Quilt Fairs to each state. In 2010 she ran an inspiring and successful  Felting Studio at the Craft and Quilt fairs nationally.  Felt has proven to be an enduring medium that has gained in popularity immensely over time. When Wendy first began making felt there were only two books available that were inspiring –now we are inundated with wonderful new titles every year!  

An award winning felt artisan,Wendy works with a very eclectic mix of wool fibers, fabrics, silks, threads and recycled materials to produce  rich alchemical artworks. Each piece tells a story.  

The making of handmade wool felt is an ancient technique that has developed into a very advanced contemporary art form including the use of a wide variety of modern materials in the process. Felt making is indeed a process of transformation.  

For the past three years Wendy has been working with Mixed Media artist Sharyn Hall combining their skills to further each others’ artistic development. This has been a very rewarding continuing collaboration. Wendy is always refining her skills learning from many other talented artists and students who so generously share their wealth of knowledge with her.  

Felting provides Wendy with a creative outlet that is both unique and full of challenge. It is always the process that inspires her and fires her imagination; the finished product is often far from her thoughts. By playing so much is learnt!  

 Felt is such a versatile medium that has so many practical applications-the possibilities are never ending. It is this that intrigues her most about felt.