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31/03/25

European Wool Day coming up
Wool for Health
On Sunday the 6th of April we will celebrate the annual European Wool Day called into existence by the European Wool Exchange Foundation - EWE-
- live at I CASALI DEL PINO + workshops
Via Giacomo Andreassi, 30, Rome, Italy
- live streaming at the EWE Foundation’s Channel
www.youtube.com/@ewefoundation-europeanwool255

We will be presenting some European initiatives with focus on the therapeutic properties of the wool. On the psychological realm, working with wool provides many benefits, in particular to the brain. It reduces stress and anxiety, promotes calm, improves concentration, boost self esteem. It has even been proven that, wool working can reduce the effects of brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer disease. Wool can also be used externally to cauterize wounds with the active agents present in lanolin, the wool-fat. And what is more therapeutic than a healthy sleep on woolen-mattress, woolen pillows under fluffy woolen blankets?

Health is also the condition we find in society and the environment. For example, anthroposophic schooling has long recognized the importance of materials and Waldorf-Steiner-Montessori-Forest-schools include wool-working in their curriculum. We will also discover innovative usage of the precious wool and how artist Folke Köbberling, professor for Art-related architecture at the University of Braunschweig, implements raw wool as a building material.

Follow the manyfold participations live on line in a 7 hours marathon. Check the program to target your interest: 

https://www.ewe.network/european-wool-day-2025

25/03/25

Woolers United!

Here is our annual gathering

This year the thematic is focusing on

WOOL and HEALTH

the therapeutic aspects of using wool: externally when it is applied on the body, the benefits of sleeping on wool, of wearing wool, the meditative and calming properties of working with wool and how good it is to transform and be transformed in a peaceful process rhythmed by the cycle of nature, by our metamorphose and the slow but steady changing of times. If the fight against global warming starts at the materials we choose, wool is a secure path to a healthy planet and a world of care.

We are delighted to be part of the crew once again, in fact we will be presenting the Chapter: Updates from Previous Presentations.

Watch it infiltrating everywhere: the return of the wool is unavoidable. 

European Wool Day will be celebrated on the 6th of April this year

Live in Rome and on-line.

Complete program of the wool marathon below! Check the many initiatives presented this year and tune in to celebrate the benefits of wool for health.

10/02/25

Hosted by Alexine Good at her studio and gallery Rhinower Str. 10, 10437 Berlin

11:00-14:00 o’clock

• Workshop one 23rd February: participants create an individual object for their own use

• Workshop two 2nd March: participants work together to create a collaborative piece

Wet felting dates back to the Neolithic Age and is still practised all over the planet. No elaborate tools are needed and local wool is available cheaply. The slow craft makes space for listening to each other but also to ourselves.

Satisfaction can act as resistance
Wet-felting is a transformative process of the material, an accessible skill towards autonomy and self-determination. Beyond the playfulness of a creative process in which we let go by doing; beyond the sense it makes to work on reversing the damage caused by over-consumption of petrol based garments; the wet felting workshops are an opportunity to touch wool, the material of care. Touching wool is touching.

For workshop one, we suggest making a small bag from local sheep wool –a bag large enough to contain a phone and keys – wearable art. We start with wool the size of an A4 sheet of paper. The process of mingling the fibres reduces the size by 25 to 50 percent.

 Materials
Participants can bring a shoelace or a ribbon for the sling and any small colorful scraps of fabric and yarn to incorporate into the felting work. We recommend wearing old clothes or an apron because we might get a little wet.

The wool used in the workshops was salvaged from dump yards on the island of Lesvos (Gr) or comes from the endangered Skudde sheep, collected from the Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin (D) both hand processed and the endangered Kalarítiko breed, provided by the Pokari Project in Epirus (Gr).

07/02/25

Empirical Discovery N°42

The wool on the bottom of my last sack had molded. It was wet and broken. But a few centimeters higher, the seeds trapped in the shorn wool had GERMINATED.

Wouldn't it be appropriate for hydroponic cultivation?

Anyone out there willing to experiment it?

06/02/25

Three Bertoia cushions made to measure, compact local wool, wet-felted.

photo-documentation of 

-washing the wool at sea, 

-placing wool in several layers

- wet-felting

-burning keratin-hair

-vinegar bath

-final position on the Bertoia chairs

25/01/25

ΤΑ ΕΚΑΤΟΣΤΙΣΑΜΕ 

100 colors

White, grey, brown and black wool from Lesvos and Chios, wrapped in colored wool of various origins. Thank you Georgia Fragaki and Eva.. As a result, each small woolen ball has a different color. 

Made by hand on commission for Diana Assad aka Origamography. 

Adored project, reminiscent of childhood toys, diving in depths of pigments, endless Chinese palm massage.

14/01/2025

FROM HEAD TO TOE

Every hat is tailor made to the shape of your wish and the circumference of your head.

Send us outline of your feet for a perfect fit.

Pièces Uniques

We take orders

01/12/2024

Last days to see the exhibition

THE SENSE OF THINGS

in Café Pi, Samou 2, Mytilene

THE SENSE OF THINGS is research on coherence rooted in the context of daily life. It is the material expression of immaterial references in a healing process. As I try to make sense of things, sometimes I actively produce meaning when I repair an object or transform raw material. At other times, sense reveals itself to me, as when a figure appears in a stain. This brings a sense of spirit to my daily life and motivates my creativity.

Initiated into watercolor painting as a child and using public or private walls as my canvas, I soon chose ink as a medium and feathers as brushes. This technique allows for spontaneous and swift visual expression. For fifteen years as a musician on tour, I painted hundreds of CD covers. In recent years, I have also worked with local sheep wool, a contrasting medium that involves a lengthy, multi‑stage process. I research its transformation and potentials, activate a discourse through networking, and pass on the craft of wet‑felting. Restoring the value of wool makes sense.

The exhibition at Cafe Pi consists of nine portraits painted with ink and feathers on paper and three wall hangings made from wet‑felted local wool. The works were produced between 2021 and 2024 in Mytilene.

TO NOHMA ΤΩΝ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΩΝ ειναι μια ερευνα για τη συνεκτικοτητα, που εχει τις βασεις της στην καθημερινοτητα. Αποτελει την υλικη αποτυπωση αυλων στοιχειων και αναφορων 

στο πλαισιο μιας θεραπευτικης διαδικασιας. Καθως προσπαθω να κατανοησω τα πραγματα, καποιες φορες παραγω ενεργα νοημα, οπως οταν επισκευαζω ενα αντικειμενο η μετασχηματιζω μια πρωτη υλη. Άλλες φορες, το νοημα αποκαλυπτεται απο μονο του, οπως οταν μια φιγουρα εμφανιζεται σε εναν λεκε. Αυτο δημιουργει μια αισθηση πνευματικοτητας στην καθημερινη μου ζωη και τροφοδοτει τη δημιουργικοτητα μου.

Μυημενη στη ζωγραφικη με ακουαρελα απο παιδι και χρησιμοποιωντας δημοσιους η ιδιωτικους τοιχους ως καμβα, συντομα επελεξα το μελανι ως μεσο και τα φτερα ως πινελα. 

Αυτη η τεχνοτροπια επιτρεπει την αυθορμητη και γρηγορη εκφραση. Για δεκαπεντε χρονια, ως μουσικος σε περιοδειες, ζωγραφισα εκατονταδες εξωφυλλα CD. Τα τελευταια χρονια, ασχολουμαι εικαστικα με το τοπικο προβειο μαλλι, ενα υλικο που, σε αντιθεση με την αμεση ζωγραφικη, προυποθετει μια μακρα διαδικασια με πολλα σταδια. Ερευνω τη μεταμορφωση και τις δυνατοτητες του, ενεργοποιω εναν διαλογο με τη κοινοτητα γυρω απο το μαλλι και μεταδιδω την τεχνη του υγρου πιληματος. Η αποκατασταση της αξιας του μαλλιου μου δινει νοημα.

Η εκθεση στο Καφενειο Π αποτελειται απο εννεα πορτρετα ζωγραφισμενα με μελανι και φτερα σε χαρτι, καθως και τρια επιτοιχια εκθεματα απο τοπικο μαλλι πιλημενο με υγρη μεθοδο. Τα εργα κατασκευαστηκαν μεταξυ 2021 και 2024 στη Μυτιληνη.

30/11/2024

G.O.A.T

group exhibition symposium

05.12.2024 - 08.12.2024

DOT WIP

Address Zacharitsa 40

Dimitris Ameladiotis, sculpture/performance

Eva Giannakopoulou, performance

Epimilides (J.Loi & N.Ermis)

Petros Lolis,sculpture/performance

George Samantas, sound installation

Panos Sklavenitis , video installation

Stratis Vogiatzis, photography, sculpture

The exhibition G.O.A.T. attempts to subvert the dominant anthropomorphic gaze and to retell our relation to the non-human world. In which ways goats look back on us, how goat paths show us the way, how the progress of our civilization evolved into an endless goat-race, and what is it like to mourn a baby goat? The participating artists question the alliances and contact zones between the human and non-human worlds through curses and droppings, relics and chimeric shapes, devils and saints, bells and bucolic chants, people, animals and monsters living in an indefinite time, holy madmen, sphinxes, shields and kites. Seven artists challenge entrenched binary hierarchies and representations by illustrating hybrid pluralisms and potentially symbiotic futures just a step before ecological collapse. In the carefully designed space DOT WIP, the goat refuses to be a bear feast and boa to anthropocentric appetites fantasies, it claims a voice and recognition from its idol in the mirror in a variation of the Lacanian parable, emphatically declaring that she is the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T).

19/11/24

Cats Hair Felt

In Berlin, a couple of weeks ago, we had a revealing wet-felting workshop. After last winter’s periment with a blend of Berlin Skudden sheep wool and cats fur, artist Christl Mudrak invited us to process 100% cats hair. Her loved ones have a large body covered with fluffy angora fur. If she doesn’t comb them for two days or so, they immediately develop dreadlocks behind the ears, on their waist, under the tail etc which she has to cut with scissors. 

The airy hair felted in no time into a soft homogenous garment. We realized hands-on that any fur with the tendency to form into dreadlocks will felt in no time. When something reveals itself to you and you give an expressive “Ahaaaa!”, we call it “Aha-Erlebniss” in German. 

Sheep were bread by humans over centuries for their fur, which is the most efficient animal fibre. In particular, they were bread not to shed their hair so that the fleece can be processed in one go after sheering. Sheering in our regions happens once a year in the late spring.

11/10/24

Report on last week ends' seminar

Cycle of the wool, from fleece to felted object and natural dyes.

Because of the rich documentation by participants, below some more impressions of the three days activities. 

The space put at disposition largely participates to the successful workshops. Thought through by artist Stella Tsakiris and built by architect Eleni Boubari, it combines traditional technologies and innovative methods creating various spaces and atmospheres where all the stages of the wool transformation flow simultaneously.

We learnt techniques, applied various ways of washing the wool at home, plucked in meditative gestures, carded the wool is soft combed "tulips". We wet-felted projects in 2 or 3 dimensions ornamented with improvised or decisive designs. Finally, we cooked natural chemistry in the outdoor kitchen with the precious knowledge of heritage conservator Adonis who researches natural dyes for restoring old books. 

Each participant had brought a specialty, a dish, fresh eggs, tools something to share. We learnt to work in a group, to deal with each other and ourselves.

Once again everyone left satisfied and satisfaction is resistance.

Happy fall, see you soon in Chios again!

20/08/24

Bella is a political refugee hosted by vegan Senseï Jimmy Georgiadis. Bella is a sheep of Lesvos breed of chiné white and cinnamon color, almost pink.

Spinner and knitter Ηλέκτρα Βαλάση uses her grandmother's spindle to process Bellas wool. To be continued...

15/07/24

Northern Hemisphere

Shearing season is ending

The fight against climate change starts at the choice of materials we use

For the sheep’s health it is primordial to cut the wool off at least once a year. In fact, over the last eight thousand years, sheep had been bread mainly for its wool, The process is not painful for the animal, on the contrary, it feels lightened and relieved.

We attended the sheering of several flocks in various parts of Lesvos Island. We collected and salvaged wool from dump yards and roadsides, received presents from proud farmers, collaborative shearers and mostly, we bought off the cleanest and best quality fleeces to create a fair value chain.

According to the International Monetary Fund, in April 2024, one kilogram of raw fine pure white wool was worth about 92,5 cents of a Dollar on the stock market. Washed finest quality wool may reach up to 2,72 dollars a kilo. Most of European breeds produce stronger wool, which won’t reach half a of those prices. The tendency, in the European Union, is, at best, to export raw (unwashed) wool to third countries. Smaller initiatives exist to certify local processing and feed the artisan market.

A sheep of the Lesvos breed is of small constitution, it gives maximum 2,5kg of raw or 1,2kg of washed wool. Sheering costs between 1 and 5 Euro per head. Breeders are to discard the material by law. There is no monitoring thereof. Clipped wool ends up burned or buried, in land fields and clogging up rivers. It is a source of biohazard and an environmental issue, mostly unaddressed. 

If we can spot a sick cat from its fur, the same goes for the sheep. In order to revalorize local wool, we start at the source by encouraging breeders and shearers to care for the material. We thus search for fleece of healthy animals, well fed and cared for. A respected fleece is shorn off in one piece and on a clean groundfloor, the animal is comfortable in the process.

We select the wool according to its usage, first removing the dung-loaden edges for fertilizer and regulation of irrigation in agriculture and gardening. For example, wool is used world-wide to protect the roots of wine-plants. 

Wet-felting gives best results with a mixture of strong and soft wool. Such is the local wool of Lesvos Breed. We will use the selected wool for wet felting more poetic objects and to keep on transmitting the craft.

All of the fleece can be put at use if processed correctly. The starting point is a healthy sheep and a happy breeder.

24/06/24

Wool for oil

Last week we traded 7 touloupes of carded wool, about 215gr, entirely hand processed (sourced, selected, washed, plucked, carded), from Bella the sheep, for 7L of biological cold pressed olive oil and 9 handmade soaps.

Exchange of precious goods are more frequent they we may believe and so satisfying!

Thanks to Jimmy Georgiadis occulist vegan aikido Senseï, father of Bella and thanks to Ηλέκτρα Βαλάση, spinner, weaver, soap maker and olive oil producer.

10/06/20024

Washing Wool at sea

There is a beach in the north of Lesvos where washing the wool connects us to ancient gestures. After the last taverna you walk towards the end of the beach, pass the stream, pass the cliffs falling in the sea and you get your feet wet, unavoidably, and there opens up the second part of the beach where people seldom come. Planted in the coarse sand is a tilted rock of 1,5m with a heith of about 1,2m. Fishermen hit the octapus on it. We hit the wool and this gesture connects us with all the persons who made this gesture here. A connection in time through the movement.

Revaluing local wool

Berlin 2023

This weekend we started transforming the skudden wool from the herd of Tempelhofer Feld.

Grün Berlin is an enterprise of the state dedicated to developing the sustainable infrastructure of the city's green spaces. In order to maintain the landscape, approximately two hundred and fifty sheep graze in the metropolis. 

Tempelhofer Feld is the on former airport of West Berlin. On sunny weekends, say Mr Wasem, there can be up to fifty thousand visitors per day. Mr Wasem is chief shepherd at Grün Berlin. On Tempelhofer Feld he takes care of 75 sheep of the skudden breed.

Here starts the Berlin local wool odyssey.

We collected the wool from big bags in the gardeners's stables and tool-rooms of the parc. We could choose and compare textures. Mr Wasem is eager to find citizen using the wool directly. Later that day, another person would come take some wool to spin. With the left overs, Grün Berlin makes compost-pellets and distributes them for free.

We selected the fleece in the backyard. Skudden wool holds more lanolin than Lesvos breed "because it rains less in Greece", says Mr Wasem smiling. The sheep are marked with water- soluble spray "so that all of the wool can potentially be used". The raw wool offered clean long silver hair.

We soaked the wool in two portions: one, in a basin in the garden, another one in the canal, with Rosa Lxemburg.

To be continued.

Lesvos Wool season 2023

F Drying the wool 

Once we have removed all dust and dirt from the fibres we dry the wool completely. In the next stage we will plunge the wool in a hot bath. If the wool were wet, the change of temperature would chock and stiffen the fibre.

We can let gravity do its job, hang the wool or place it on a sort of hammock, old bedspring, chicken wire, etc. Best is to keep the wool in the shade. Like human hair, wool gets damaged by sunrays. Also, heat melts the protective lanolin (wool fat). 

Lesvos Wool season 2023

E Bashing the soaked wool - remove dirt

As part of the washing process, we hit the fibre so as to open the scales and release dust until water runs clear. Because this process requires much water, we choose the sea. 

One may stamp on the wool with their feet in the shower, hit it with a stick on a rock, with a paddle or, at best, with a “basher“, in Greek a kopanós.

We take a handful of wool, hit it about 10 times, put it back in the water without shaking it. The dung dissolves, the dust leaves the wool in a brown cloud. Gently remove the wool from the water, let it drip. Repeat until water runs clear and no "cloud" forms around. Dusty wool does not bind well in the felting process. Grass, herbs and leaves tangled in the wool will fall at a later stage. 

Watch that your back be straight and let your arms fall on the target, rather than hitting it, you will avoid choc of the bones and secure endurance. Physical work.

In the two sessions pictures below, with Brigid Shannon, we used a paddle found on the shore, it keeps dislocating from the stick but it's efficient. The surface is a rock or a plank found on the shore. The remains of a stem, or cross section, from a dinghy boat. Part of the wool was left in the net-bag and walked on, under water. One may also use a hose with a grid, an old fence, a grill, below to let dust go.

Lesvos Wool season 2023

D soaking the raw wool at sea

We wash the wool in several stages. Following a recounted tradition of wool procesing in the islands, we soak (approximatively 300gramms) in the sea over night(s) by placing the fibre in a closed net, which we ballast. Wool fibres trap air and float on water, so we need to use a counterweight, in order to make the net and the wool sink. 

Sea water disinfects. The nutrients contained in the dung feed wild-life. Iodine is a repellent for rodants and fungus, is it also deterring moths?

----

Berlin Wool Odyssey 2023

Earlier this month we were invited by Kinderbauernhof am Görlitzer Park in Berlin Kreuzberg to initiate the kids crew to wet felting local wool. There are 7 sheep in the inner city farm along with goats, donkeys, ponies, rabbits, hens, ducks, all sorts of insects on the farm.

To illustrate the non-flaming properties of the wool we created a lampshade for the traditional lampion-parade on Saint Martins' celebration. On the 11th of November, children walk in the early darkness of the evening singing songs about the light (which is decreasing) and holding a self-made lampion.

The workshop was attended by 13 children aged 7 to 13 as well as a visual artist, who experimented felting her cats hair. Yes.

The open minded education approach run by the team is specifically non-didactic. We learned to cope with lengthy process and patience, non-expectation and freedom in the process. After three hours everyone rejoiced at their individual or collaborative piece of work.

"The interaction with the elements fire, water, earth, with plants and animals promotes the children and youngsters to directly experience nature and the environment. The children are made aware of environmental issues and encouraged to act responsively." 

By the way, we discovered that the Kinderbauernhof has a self-made carding machine and even a spinning wheel. 

12 November 2023

Ημερίδα

WET FELTING – ΥΓΡΗΣ ΣΥΜΠΙΛΗΣΗΣ

Εργαστήριο Πρακτικού Πειραματισμού με την Julie Lesvos Wool  Julie Loi

Παρασκευή 1-12-2023 Καρδάμυλα Χίου

Διοργάνωση Γυναικείος Σύνδεσμος Φίλοι Χιώτικου Χωριού 

 Η  κατασκευή υφάσματος με την τεχνική της υγρής τσόχας χρονολογείται από την νεολιθική εποχή και εξακολουθεί μέχρι σήμερα σε όλο τον πλανήτη, επειδή το τοπικό μαλλί είναι ένα πολύτιμο υλικό που βρίσκεται εύκολα και δωρεάν. 

Πέρα από την δημιουργική διαδικασία, την συλλογική δημιουργία, την χαρά να δημιουργήσουμε ύφασμα, ένδυμα με φυσικό υλικό κόντρα στην κατανάλωση ενδυμάτων με βάση το πετρέλαιο, το εργαστήρι υγρής τσόχας προσφέρει την ευκαιρία να έρθουμε σε επαφή με το πρωτογενές υλικό το μαλλί, το σύμβολο αγνότητας και φροντίδας. Η ιδιότητα του για θερμορύθμιση και προστασία είναι ότι καλύτερο σε καιρούς περιβαλλοντικής μόλυνσης και αδιεξόδων. 

Η χρονοβόρα διαδικασία κατασκευής της υγρής συμπίλησης προσφέρει την χαρά της επαφής με τους συνανθρώπους μας και τον εαυτό μας. Το να δημιουργούμε μαζί προσφέρει και ενισχύει την ικανοποίηση της δημιουργίας και αν η ικανοποίηση μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως αντίσταση, τα wet-felting  είναι μια δεξιότητα προς την αυτονομία και τον αυτοπροσδιορισμό. Στο εργαστήριο θα χρησιμοποιηθεί μαλλί τοπικής προέλευσης.

Διάρκεια 10.00 με 14.00 με ενδιάμεσο διάλλειμα.

Οι συμμετέχοντες δηλώνουν συμμετοχή στο τηλ 6945319737 θέσεις περιορισμένες.

      Ώρα προσέλευσης 9.45 με ρούχα εργασίας (που να μην λερώνονται από πράσινο σαπούνι) και 

1) Ένα μπουκάλι ψεκασμού (αρκεί ένα άδειο μπουκάλι από υγρό καθαρισμού τζαμιών)

2) Ένα κομμάτι ύφασμα βαμβακερό 40Χ40 εκ

Λίγα λόγια για την διδάσκουσα

Η Julie Loi πολύγλωσση ποιήτρια και ζωγράφος μεταπήδησε από performer και μουσικός σε πρεσβευτή μαλλιού διαχέοντας το λόγο και την τέχνη του wet-felt ως ανθρώπινο αγκυροβόλιο, πολιτιστική πρακτική και περιβαλλοντική λύση.

2 November 2023

Contaminating satisfaction

During the Just For Today event, a research seminar over three days organised by PLANT at the Duncan Dance Research CenterCentre in Athens 27, 28 and 29 of October 2023, up to 50 participants wet felted local wool provided by The Pokari Project.

The ancestral technique opened on discussions, laughters and memories, it confirmed the accessibility of covering our basic needs.

24 Octobre 2023

Two wet felting wool workshops in Athens

28th and 29th of October 

starting at 11:00

at the Duncan Dance Research Centre

Invited by PLANT: Performing Life Akademia Network

In the frame of a three days event investigating the notion of common ground: Just For Today

An occasion to rediscover the figure of Raymond Duncan in the exhibition Aura bearing traces and stories gathered in a two years research. The premiere screening of the film Omen, presented with live vocals, where the artist researchers interprete the route taken by the Duncan family in 1903.

A full program with unusual activities and thoughts, such as a Walk: how do we relate to the things from afar, Translation Workshop: paying attention to the impact of the words we use, Dance and Permaculture Workshop: Listening Grounds, a Dialogue on the Gestures that bring us close to the things the world is made of, the Five Phases Practice inspired by the Chineese transformation seasons and elements, a Silk screen printing workshop, a Conversation on Alliances of People.

Please look at the dense program attached and join us.

Looking forward to meeting you there!

Where?

at the Duncan Dance Research Centre, Chrisafis 24 Vyronas, Athens

Free participation

Some workshops, including the wet felting, require reservation 6945714119.

12 Octobre 2023

Yianis Makridakis

October 3

  · 

Ξέρετε τι είναι αυτό;

Sakiz koyunu , Χιώτικο πρόβατο. 

Φυλλάδιο από το Φεστιβάλ Χιώτικου προβάτου που γίνεται κάθε χρόνο τέτοια εποχή απέναντι, στον Τσεσμέ. Έγινε και το περασμένο σκ και πήγαν από τη Χίο, προσκεκλημένοι του Δήμου Τσεσμέ, μουσικοί και χορευτές.  

Ο Δήμος Χίου, όπως έχω ξαναπεί, έχει την πλάτη του γυρισμένη στην απέναντι ακτή. Τόση είναι η αντίληψη που διαθέτουν, τόση η γνώση της ιστορίας και τόση η αίσθηση της πραγματικότητας. 

(Οι Τούρκοι λοιπόν κάνουν κάθε χρόνο φεστιβάλ Χιώτικου προβάτου, αφού η ράτσα αυτή είναι παγκοσμίως αναγνωρισμένη για τα εξαιρετικά χαρακτηριστικά της. Φανταστείτε τώρα εσείς τι θα γινόταν με τον πατριδοθρησκοκάπηλο εσμό της από δω μεριάς αν κάναμε εμείς ένα φεστιβάλ πχ Οθωμανικών μνημείων Χίου ή κάτι τέλος πάντων που να αναδεικνύει στοιχεία από τον πολιτισμό των απέναντι.

Δεν λέω τίποτε παραπάνω).25 September 2023

Wool transformation alphabet

D soaking raw wool at sea

Revisited

After discussion with Αργυρώ Βλάχου  and shared experimentation, we can confirm that, in order to avoid felting during the soaking:

1. The sea has to be totally calm. 

2. A bag made of a net works, whereas a thin fabric doesn't.

3. The corner of a small harbour is a better spot than the jetty.

---

In today's load, we added a small wooden step, which is under intense attack by the woodworm. Two in one. 

This wool was graciously provided by vegan Aikido Senseï Jimmy Georgiadis : "one day this ewe just came at my doorstep. She is our pet now." Lucky her: the fleece is of excellent quality, clean of dung and of a honey cream color. One can read the animal's health in it's fur.

21 September 2023

Revaluing Berlin local wool

2023

Last full moon we completed the cycle of transforming Berlin local wool collected from sheep which live in, and maintain parks & green spaces. In particular we worked the Skudden sheep wool of Tempelhofer Feld, the largest inner-city park in the world.

After washing wool in a street art performance of ancient gestures in a contemporary setting, we boiled the fibre, dried it in a warm cellar and the fluffy curls were ready for plucking, carding and felting. Soft and fastly binding, the skudden wool is perfect for felting: it has both long sturdy hair and shorter curly ones, providing a just balance for a solid mesh with bouncy body. Mr Wasem, head shepherd of Grün Berlin was delighted with the under-cup and the Kinderbauernhof in Görlitzer park invited us to run a workshop early November.

The true reason of such success was the collaboration of flatmate Gorbi aka Kurva, who, ecclectically, slept on the woolen mattrass.

06 September 2023

Berlin local wool odissey

Along Maybachufer, and in many places in the city, one can find water pumps. Free running water, like in Rome.

We washed the wool in a large bassin for 3 hours. A whole fleece. Bashed and rinced the dirt away. The oiled fibres were not to be saved.

About 1500 people passed by, busses, cyclists, cars, the police passed 30 times. Nobody asked what I'm doing there. Noone stopped to stare or watch. Just the security person for the building behind, which is, of course, in renovation works. And a four years old girl who wanted to activate the pump.

With such casualness, I wonder why there is not more people doing unusual stuff... such as washing wool in the streets of Berlin .

04 Septembre 2023

Even Chat GTP knows

IWTO

We asked ChatGPT to tell us the top 10 reasons we should wear or use wool.

Here's what everyone's favourite chatbot replied:

1. Natural Insulation: Wool fibers have natural crimps that trap air, creating an insulating layer. This helps regulate your body temperature by keeping you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather.

2. Moisture Management: Wool can absorb moisture without feeling wet, wicking away sweat from your skin and releasing it into the air. This keeps you dry and comfortable.

3. Breathability: Wool is breathable, allowing air to circulate around your body. This prevents overheating and reduces the risk of odors caused by trapped moisture.

4. Odour Resistance: Wool has natural antimicrobial properties that prevent the growth of bacteria and odours, making it ideal for activewear, socks, and other items that may be prone to odour buildup.

5. Durability: Wool fibers are strong and resilient, making wool products long-lasting and resistant to wear and tear. This is particularly useful for items like coats, blankets, and rugs.

6. Fire Resistance: Wool is naturally flame-retardant, making it a safer option compared to many synthetic materials that can melt or burn easily.

7. UV Protection: Wool provides some level of UV protection, shielding your skin from harmful sun rays. This makes it a great choice for outdoor activities.

8. Natural Elasticity: Wool fibers can stretch and recover their shape, making wool garments comfortable to wear and less likely to lose their form over time.

9. Biodegradability: Wool is a renewable and biodegradable material, making it an eco-friendly choice that doesn't contribute to plastic waste.

10. Versatility: Wool can be used in a wide range of products, from clothing and accessories to home textiles. Its natural beauty, texture, and variety of colors make it a popular choice for both fashion and interior design.

Thank you, ChatGPT!

🐑💚🐑💚🐑

Regenerate

03 September 2023

Berlin wool odissey 2023

Retrieving Tempeholf Sudden wool from it's soaking in the canal. Terrible idea: the canal has oil, black tar smelling sticky stuff.

Ce qu'il fallait démontrer: wool collects oil spillage and can be implemented in cleaning Ocean waters.

Lush nettles, goji cousin, black waters, Rosa.

28 August 2023

Revaluing local wool

Berlin 2023

This weekend we started transforming the skudden wool from the herd of Tempelhofer Feld.

Grün Berlin is an enterprise of the state dedicated to developing the sustainable infrastructure of the city's green spaces. In order to maintain the landscape, approximately two hundred and fifty sheep graze in the metropolis. 

Tempelhofer Feld is the on former airport of West Berlin. On sunny weekends, say Mr Wasem, there can be up to fifty thousand visitors per day. Mr Wasem is chief shepherd at Grün Berlin. On Tempelhofer Feld he takes care of 75 sheep of the skudden breed.

Here starts the Berlin local wool odyssey.

We collected the wool from big bags in the gardeners's stables and tool-rooms of the parc. We could choose and compare textures. Mr Wasem is eager to find citizen using the wool directly. Later that day, another person would come take some wool to spin. With the left overs, Grün Berlin makes compost-pellets and distributes them for free.

We selected the fleece in the backyard. Skudden wool holds more lanolin than Lesvos breed "because it rains less in Greece", says Mr Wasem smiling. The sheep are marked with water- soluble spray "so that all of the wool can potentially be used". The raw wool offered clean long silver hair.

We soaked the wool in two portions: one, in a basin in the garden, another one in the canal, with Rosa Lxemburg.

To be continued.

30 July 2023

Lesvos Wool season 2023

F Drying the wool 

Once we have removed all dust and dirt from the fibres we dry the wool completely. In the next stage we will plunge the wool in a hot bath. If the wool were wet, the change of temperature would chock and stiffen the fibre.

We can let gravity do its job, hang the wool or place it on a sort of hammock, old bedspring, chicken wire, etc. Best is to keep the wool in the shade. Like human hair, wool gets damaged by sunrays. Also, heat melts the protective lanolin (wool fat). 

In the pictures below, a first draining on the shore, after washing at sea, before transport (we avoid moving the wool when wet, it makes it felt) and hanging in a shady place until completely dry.

23 July 2023

Από το περσινό εργαστήρι επεξεργασίας μαλλιού με την Julie Lesvos Wool .

Φέτος ,καθώς εξάλλου προείπαμε, οργανώνεται από το Πιτυός Προορισμός - Κοινσεπ  στις 2 Αυγούστου στο Πιτυος,  για αρχάριους και στις 3 Αυγούστου στην Βολισσό για προχωρημένους.

Καλά να περάσουμε.

20 July 2023

Interactive workshop in Eressos

Cycle of the wool and wet felting local wool

Sunday 23rd July

6 pm

In the frame of Eressos Free Beach Festival

19 July 2023

Η έκθεση Ποιμενικά - Pastoral Ομαδική έκθεση εικαστικών στο Πιτυός της Χίου ξεκίνησε με μεγάλη επιτυχία την Παρασκευή 14/7, και διοργανώθηκε με αφορμή τη Γιορτή Βουνού & Κτηνοτροφίας Χίου.  Θα συνεχίσει μέχρι τις 6 Αυγούστου με διάφορες δράσεις που θα την πλαισιώνουν, όπως: 

- εργαστήρι κετσέ ( Wet felt -  Κετσές Διαδραστικό εργαστήρι με τη Julie Loi / Interactive workshop στη Χίο)

- Περίπατο μυστηρίου με το συγγραφέα Κώστα Στοφόρο (Kostas Stoforos), 

- εργαστήρι κατασκευών. 

Η έκθεση γίνεται στο παλιό Καφενείο της Ηρώς που βρίσκεται στην πλατεία του χωριού και παραχωρήθηκε από τον πρόεδρο της Πιτυός Προορισμός - Κοινσεπ, κύριο Μιχάλη Φυτούση, για το λόγο αυτό.  Έργα επίσης φιλοξενούν ο Καφενές του Γιώργη και το Παλιό Σχολειό στην ίδια πλατεία.  

Είναι μεγάλη χαρά μου να συνεργάζομαι με τόσους αγαπητούς δημιουργούς και ακόμα μεγαλύτερη η ευγνωμοσύνη μου που ανταποκρίθηκαν άμεσα και με ενθουσιασμό για τη θεματική αλλά, κυρίως, για την ιδέα και τη φιλοσοφία της Γιορτής, στο σύντομο αυτό χρόνο που υπήρχε για την προετοιμασία.  

Τα σαμάρια που βλέπεται είναι παλιά, φυλάσσονται σε μόνιμη βάση στον ίδιο χώρο κι έτσι έγιναν μέρος της. 

Μπορείτε να την επισκεφτείτε Τετάρτη και Παρασκευή με Κυριακή, 19.00-22.00 και κατόπιν ραντεβού.  

Χορηγός της έκθεσης είναι το MyCafe [CHIOS]  https://www.facebook.com/people/Mycafe/100054269750037/

Eυχαριστούμε θερμά τον κύριο Σαραντή για την υποστήριξη.

27 June 2023

Lesvos Wool season 2023

D soaking the raw wool at sea

We wash the wool in several stages. Following a recounted tradition of wool procesing in the islands, we soak (approximatively 300gramms) in the sea over night(s) by placing the fibre in a closed net, which we ballast.  Wool fibres trap air and float on water, so we need to use a counterweight, in order to make the net and the wool sink. 

Sea water disinfects. The nutrients contained in the dung feed wild-life. Iodine is a repellent for rodants and fungus, is it also deterring moths?

20 June 2023

Felt you close

Blended dog hair and Lesvos black sheep in a lampshade.

Two years today

Your DNA

Deep light jasmin

Ioulietta

17 June 2023

A new website presents some of my work with the wool.

Www.julieloi.com

Thanks to Anna Housiada for text editing support, Carolin Seeliger for photo advise and son Paolo for building it in the first instance.

15 June 2023

https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/111752-001-A/re-shepherds-in-training/?fbclid=IwAR3AmKINhjM1w1-xgmG3lTUJIJIajkX0IwpwEPzJEjBEfyGtb8k34Diws08

06 June 2023

Lesvos Wool season 2023

In the previous 7 weeks, we worked all stages of the wool transformation with textile artist and yogi Brigid Shannon.

B & C Selecting at sheering site

We visited the breeder with an experimental mind to whitness the sheering of his ewes. We found the same workers as last year, cousins of Edward Scisorhands. 

Not to be underestimated, the selection of the wool in a fleece will save much precious time in the washing process and save your nerves. Seen the hundreds of tons of discarded wool on Lesvos, don't hesitate to be radical with the edges, the legs and anything stuck in dung. In doubt, leave it.

Selecting on the sheering site has many benefits: neighbours don't get incomodated by the smell and the cats don't compete marking their territory on the bags with raw wool.

We used a net tied to canes, pulled apart like a hammock. Efficient and portable selecion table. We found very soft wool indeed among Mr Kostas' genetic manipulations and a black sheep with long red hair. Inspiring.

23 May 2023

Lesvos Wool Season 2023

A. Scouting

Continuing our research on Lesvos wool: black sheep, flat tail, coarse hair. Three weeks ago, assisted by Catherine Dauban, former breeder and felter from France, we crossed the island, visited farms and compared fleece ahead of shearing. Rubbing hands.

Breeder Michalis, our trusted source for local breed, introduced us to breeder Kostas who experiments, as a hobby in his own words,  crossing the sheep with imported breeds. He recognised their fragile health. We found exotic textures.

Breeder and veterinary Mr Alekos keeps his sheep just out of Mytilene, in the remains of large factories by the sea. Herds are protected from winds and foxes by old stone walls and, at the same time live outside, benefitting from iodine and fresh air, because the roofs are long gone.

14 May 2023

https://iwto.org/a-closer-look-at-wools-flame-resistance/?fbclid=IwAR2JOJ4zDRSEQT7mcW_KCn9J7XpZVeBubLvVYHyy-lyP8_6RQAFKjNqRPWo 

27 April 2023

Wool as an undergrounding for path and roads building, A Roman technique revived.12 April 2023

Roman road building technique using wool revived in Co Leitrim

16 April 2023

New wool friends in the Balkans reporting about our meeting at the European Wool Day in Zlatibor, Serbia. "wool is a gift of the sheep, wool is there to be loved"

Thank you Mia for the tenderness.

12 April 2023

Our friend Leta operates an atelier of transformation of the wool in Albania, employing women and creating a safe space. Their product line experiments with traditions and new motives. Haute couture brands commission them as well as private collectors, such as Angelina Jolie.

06 April 2023

The European Wool Exchange Foundation, created few years ago, has called in the official European Wool Day on the 9th of April. 

Wool is care.

The foundation is an initiative of Dr Alberto Costa, international oncologist, who observed that his patienst were recovering better if they were knitting, at least psychologically, sometimes physiologically. Dr Costa looked out for scientific support of his observations and indeed, working with wool combats Alzheimer, dementia and cancer. Beyond the tactile and psychological benefits of a material anchored in our memory and memories, wool reveals tenderness, it makes sense.

05 April 2023

Preparing for the 9th of April

European Wool Day in Zlatibor Serbia 

Viewing striking videos of initiatives across Europe: analytic, poetic, basic, elaborate, networks, education, awareness-building, factories, crafts-persons, children, elderly, rural, urban, businesses, dreamers, Mediterranean, North Sea, Balkans, Iberic, all concerned with the revalorization of the wool. 

On Sunday 9th of April is European Wool Day, this year in the snowy mountain town of Zlatibor. I shall introduce some initiatives adressing the use of the wool today and tomorrow with a focus on education and awareness raising. 

Inspiring

27 March 2023

Workshop INTRODUCTION TO WET-FELTING

European artistic crafts days

Thursday 30th of March 15:00-17:00 

Mytilene centre. Contact us for participation

Saturday 1st of April 15:00-17:00

Asomatos, in the frame of BIO.ME's visit (self-run cooperative factory www.viomecoop.com )

- hands-on presentation of wet-felting

- production of a soap wrapped in natural sheep's wool for light scrub

- no previous knowledge necessary

25 March 2023

Beautiful stock for sale

My favourite embroidery shop in mytilene is closing. 

Rare and fine.quality sewing- and embroidery garn, carpet wool, knittting wool, zippers, ribbons etc made in Greece, in Spain, Germany and Italy of the last three decades. 

The stock is precious and not so large. Still, I can't buy everything and I am convinced you conaisseurs can put these jewels at use.

I attach direct contact, some photos and remain a your disposition for info or help in shipping.

21 March 2023

Black sheep and sea 

Hat and bag for every day 

The hat is blended with pieces of silk ties in the nuno technique, silk threads (Marie Foyer), embroidered with hand spun wool&cotton and mother-of-pearl (ex-broken bracelet). 

The bag is of one piece, moulded over a larger box, shrunk in the process. Blended silk threads from Asmi Scherrmann, 

Sling and shells found. 

Salvaged Lesvos Wool.     

#Nuno,#nunofelting,#upcycling,#wearableart,'#lesvos,#lesvosisland,#felt,#felting,#feltcraft,#feltcreations

28 February 2023

Visit of the Wool-Felt Factory in Greece

There are 8 natural wool felt factories in the world, one of them is in Greece: Viokets. Ten days ago we had the privilege to visit the Viokets Factory in Mosxato, Athens. 

Mr Hadsiagapoglou welcomed us (Lena Gerothanassis from The Pokari Project, visual artists Eirini Tiniakou and Anna Housiada and I) in his office to unfold the story of his family run factory, which started when his refugee grand-mother, who was spinning the wool of their mattresses, set up a small enterprise with her husband and her neighbor, an Armenian felter. Four generations on, The Felters produce own designs of slippers, bags etc exported world-wide. Since this factory is comparatively small, it can adapt its production to special requests and works on demand. It is the industry that contracts them most because it cannot part with the wool unmatched properties for machinery and polishing thereof.  

Mr Hadsiagapoglou then showed us in the premises of the factory. Bales of wool from Greece, imported and recycled from carpet factories are mixed upstairs and fall from the first floor into a first “ordering” machine. I was particularly amazed by the super long carding machine producing a tulupa of 18 meters x 1,8 m in just five minutes. Five minutes! 

The pre-felting process is done on another century old machine (blue one) which has just undergone its maintenance service. It presses the carded wool with water at 120°C. The final process is done by a fourth machine where the ribbon of pre-felted wool is frictioned until the desired result is achieved. All four machines are activated manually and need constant supervision. The processes have not changed in years, yet, the outcome is of paramount quality.

We thank Mr Hadsiagapoglou for the generosity of his time and revere the genuine of his company. We hope to see this factory bloom together with the unavoidable return of the wool.

21 February

#The Pokari Project is a lighthouse for revaluing the wool in Greece.

Last week our friend Lena Gerothanasi, member of the cooperative, traveled to the island of Andros to set up a weaving loom on request of a creative group.

So, if you want to rebuild an abandoned loom, Lena is the  person to call.

14 February 2023

Wool Workshop in Modousa last Friday

On the sunny 10th of February, the Cooperative Modousa (https://modousa.gr/) invited us to introduce the wool to three schools of Gera Bay, in Lesvos. All children of 5th and 6th primary classes in the neighborhood of Modousa attended several workshops and introductions: recycling, wool felting, bee-keeping and bottling of the cooperative olive oil, in the stone built factory premisces housing the social enterprize.

It was particularly enriching for us to run three tailor made workshop sessions to the young rural population. An interesting dialog opened. We ran through the transformation of the raw wool to a finished felted item. Children participated with their hands, their personal history and their unbeatable enthousiasm.

Thank you very much Avlonas Kostas Artakianos and Modousa for your generous invitation. I look forward to your blossoming.

10 February 2023

Μαλλί προβάτου ως λίπασμα. Η “καινοτομία” των Ουαλών αμπελουργών, που είχε προτείνει το Γεωπονικό Αθηνών και το ΕΜΠ πριν 5 χρόνια!

https://cibum.gr/nea/malli-provatoy-os-lipasma-i-kainotomia-ton-oyalon-ampeloyrgon-poy-eiche-proteinei-to-geoponiko-athinon-kai-to-emp-prin-5-chronia/?fbclid=IwAR1VUV_xcLMB_UalcYLP4sR5EsfhYtG4ONVN3IbnDlWJ3ZnYKhr7DVgF_GU

22 January 2023

Woven art in Tate Modern. For anyone doubting the unavoidable return of crafts in the highest instances of recognition.

Step inside Magdalena Abakanowicz's world of woven sculptures in 'Every Tangle of Thread and Rope', at Tate Modern until May 2023. 🧶

09 January 2023

WOOL EVERYWHERE: a felt shop in Monastiraki Athens, self-knitted baby-wool hearts of my neighbor on the plane,  in the Museum of Technology and many many woolen consumer products from market stands to upper market boutiques in Berlin.

16 December 2022

Lesvos Wool Winter Tour 

Last week during a journey around the Island of Wool Lesvos: 

On the creative side I had the opportunity to felt with textile artist Asmi Scherrmann, experimenting with stripes of silk in between layers of felted wool. In the Ksampos of Eressos, on the South coast, wet-felting art therapist Eva showed me her impressive collection of abstract and exact felt-paintings.

In the olive groves, north of the island, I visited sculptor and visionary Andreas Sell who runs the artists residency Hermitage Sykaminea.

Researching on site for wool-washing plants. In Lambou Mili I met dystopia and a dried up stream. In Dafia, the former Factory used to wash wool of the sheep-rich western part of the island and also produce garment and flokati, a traditional hairy blanket often used as carpet. Nowadays, the large premises are split between a car mechanics, the fire brigade and a big space filled with old sacs of wool. Until a couple of years ago, unwashed wool was still compressed and sent for export.

Finally, during a walk around the castle of Mytilene, I found fluffy sea and rain-washed wool of a very different texture than the Lesvos Breed. Imagine that wool came from Asia, blown up the coast and the rocks to become...  soft hats possibly.

21 November 2022

Great experience with The Pokari Project and Lena Gerothanassi invited at the "Textile Trip" fair Voyage Textile in the medieval town of Chinon in France. With Ismini Herberichs and Leta Mlogja we were honored to represent the Balkans among many wool workers, artists and craftsmen/women, sharing good vibes and spreading wool virus.

17 Octobre 2022

Laines Paysannes

October 10, 2022

  · 

LA CAMPAGNE LAINES LOCALES, C’EST PARTI !

La campagne Laines Locales continue à défendre et faire connaître les filières laines locales en partageant la parole de celles et ceux qui la composent.

En partenariat avec Fashion Revolution France, les personnes impliquées dans l’élevage, la garde, la tonte et la récolte de la laine partagent leurs photos et leurs messages sous la bannière « I made your wool ».

Pour que les Laines Locales retrouvent leurs voix.

🐑 Photo 1 >>> Arianne Legrand, éleveuse avec Emmanuel de brebis Avranchines, Manche, Normandie.

« Lors des premières chaleurs, nous tondons nous même nos brebis  et nous trions ensuite la laine.  Une partie est   vendue pour être  transformée (lavée puis filée) auprès de petites structures locales dont l’objectif est de recréer « une filière »  pour notre secteur, l’autre partie, je la  transforme sur la ferme. Je lave de plus petites quantité pour la carder puis la feutrer ensuite .

En apportant de la pédagogie sur le circuit, les délais, les étapes, les coûts auprès du public, c’est  lui permettre  justement de se réapproprier cette  belle matière, naturelle, locale et accessible sur presque tous les territoires de France. »

🐑 Photo 2 >>> Les Bergères s’en mêlent, éleveuses de brebis Limousines, Haute Corrèze 19, Nouvelle Aquitaine

«  Nous sommes deux éleveuses-bergères installées sur le Plateau de Millevaches. 2 fermes différentes, 2 personnalités mais une motivation commune : valoriser la laine de nos brebis Limousines. Nous nous sommes donc réunies sous forme collective pour réaliser des produits avec notre laine : Chaussons, mules, semelles en feutre, laine cardée. »

🐑 photos 3 >>> Pierre et Faustine, GAEC des bêtes à laine, éleveur.euse de brebis Préalpes du Sud, Hautes Alpes, PACA

« Nous reprenons une exploitation familiale, notre activité principale est l’élevage ovins viande avec une valorisation de la laine, ainsi qu’une ferme pédagogique.  La laine de nos moutons est triée, lavée, filée et tintée afin de mettre en valeur ce produit naturel de moins en moins exploité.

#laineslocales #imadeyourwool #fashionrevolution

Fashion Revolution

Pour participer, écrivez-nous!

contact@laines-paysannes.fr

11 October 2022

Wet-felting Workshop in Kypseli, Athens

1st part Saturday 22nd

2nd part Sunday 23rd of October

Time 15:00-18:00

Looking forward to hearing from you !

At the community restaurant Khora, Kastalias 13, Kypseli. 

(Closed on weekends) 

The weather helping, we can work together in the courtyard.

08.Oct 2022

Ready for the wet-felting workshop today and tomorrow from 10:30. Centre of Mytilene, message us for details.

30 Sept 2022

Wool-washing-water analysis underway:

Many thanks to the team at the Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean.

We washed a sample of local wool in the laboratory and collected water at four stages. Chemical analysis will measure the amount of soil and organic waste, trace Escherichia Coli, determine Chemical Oxygen Demand,  etc. 

But also, mosquitoes attacks, a plant called "control" and chemical reactions explained by the sea.

06.Sept 2022

Thank you Stella for hosting our collective felting workshop in your beautiful spaces. It was a pleasure to meet new and old friends, share in making and exchange solutions.

The revelation of Chios, for the felt maker, is to roll the work on the traditional "votsalota´" where black and white pebbles, arranged with local designs, decorate mansions and streets for centuries.

For three days we worked all the cycle of the wool. We witnessed the livelihood of a craft which breaks free of mothy museums or folk reenactments to come and touch us.

Thank you Elena Margaritidi and Elena Chatzeleni for the photos

August 23, 2022

  · 

Shared with Public

Volissos, Chios

Workshop on the wet-felting technique. 29-30-31st of August

We will wash, card and felt local sheep wool into objects and develop the discourse around the wool.

We invite visitors, members of the local community, arts and crafts makers, children, holders of ancestral techniques and visionaries to explore and exchange practice of the wool. 

29th Afternoon we shall select, wash, boil and bash the raw wool

30th Presentation and hands on: opening carding, placing and mingling the fibers with soap and cold water

31st Create a felted object: from exfoliating soap wrapped in wool to microphone-hood or insulating brick, simply sous-plat? 

The time-consuming craft makes space for listening to each other but also to oneself. Doing it together enhances the satisfaction of making. If satisfaction can act as resistance, wet-felting is a simple skill towards autonomy. 

The workshop shall take place on 29-30-31st of August with a participation fee of 20€/day on the 30th and 31st .

---

Ανακοίνωση πραγματοποίησης εργαστηρίου συμπίλησης μαλλιού (felt) με την τεχνική της επεξεργασίας με νερό. 29-30 και 31 Αυγούστου 22

Θα πλύνουμε, θα ξάνουμε και θα επεξεργαστούμε μαλλί από πρόβατα που παράγεται από τοπικούς παραγωγούς για να φτιάξουμε αντικείμενα από τσόχα με την τεχνική της συμπίλησης με νερό (wet felting) και παράλληλα θα μιλήσουμε για το μαλλί και τις ιδιότητές του.

Το εργαστήριο είναι ανοικτό σε επισκέπτες, μέλη της τοπικής κοινότητας, καλλιτέχνες και βιοτέχνες, παιδιά, γνώστες παλαιών παραδοσιακών τεχνικών και οραματιστές. Θα είναι χαρά μας να σας έχουμε κοντά μας για να ανακαλύψουμε και να μοιραστούμε τεχνικές και πρακτικές γύρω από την χρήση και την επεξεργασία του μαλλιού.  

• 29 Αυγούστου, 17:00-21:00, αμφιθεατρο: διάλεγμα, πλύσιμο, βράσιμο και δούλεμα (χτύπημα) ακατέργαστο μαλλί 

• 30 Αυγούστου 10:00-14:00, ατελιέ: Παρουσίαση και πρακτική άσκηση στις ακόλουθες τεχνικές: ξάσιμο και διαχωρισμός των ινών, τοποθέτηση και μίξη/συνδυασμός ινών με χρήση σαπουνιού και κρύου νερού

• 31 Αυγούστου 10:00-14:00, ατελιέ: δημιουργία αντικειμένου από τσόχα: Θα φτιάξουμε θήκες για σαπούνι από μαλλί, καπελάκια για μικρόφωνα, μονωτικά τουβλάκια ή ακόμα και σουπλά… 

Η ιδιαίτερα χρονοβόρα τεχνική της συμπίλησης μας δίνει χρόνο να ακούσουμε ο ένας τον άλλο αλλά και τον εαυτό μας. Η συνεργασία μεγαλώνει ακόμα πιο πολύ την ευχαρίστηση της δουλειάς. Αν η ικανοποίηση είναι πράξη αντίστασης, τότε η συμπίληση με νερό (wet-felting) είναι μια απλή δεξιότητα που προάγει την αυτονόμηση. 

Το εργαστήριο θα πραγματοποιηθεί από τις 29 ως τις 31 Αυγούστου. Ημερήσιο κόστος συμμετοχής για τις 30 και 31 Αυγούστου: 20€

19 August 2022

Με μεγάλη συμμετοχή ξεκίνησε σήμερα η 6η Γιορτή Αμπελουργίας στην Ανεμώτια! Η μέρα άνοιξε με το Εργαστήρι Μαλλιού από την Julie Lesvos Wool και τον Argyris Chatzimalis το οποίο συνεχίζεται αύριο και μεθαύριο.Το απόγευμα στις 17:30 ακολουθεί περιήγηση στον Πρότυπο Βιολογικό Αμπελώνα και τα καλντερίμια του χωριού. Η βραδιά θα κλείσει με την θεατρική παράσταση "Ιστορία ενός σκύλου που τον ελεγαν πιστό" στις 21:00. Η Λέσβος αγκαλιάζει τις δράσεις του Συλλόγου Αμπελουργών Ανεμώτιας! Σας περιμένουμε όλους!!

#6ηΓιορτηΑμπελουργιας

#Ανεμώτια

#clldleader

August 17, 2022

Εργαστηρίου συμπίλησης μαλλιού, 29-30-31 Αυγουστου, Βολισσός Χίου. Wet felting Workshop 29-30-31 August, Volissos, Chios.

• Ανακοίνωση πραγματοποίησης εργαστηρίου συμπίλησης μαλλιού (felt) με την τεχνική της επεξεργασίας με νερό. 29-30 και 31 Αυγούστου 22

• Θα πλύνουμε, θα ξάνουμε και θα επεξεργαστούμε μαλλί από πρόβατα που παράγεται από τοπικούς παραγωγούς για να φτιάξουμε αντικείμενα από τσόχα με την τεχνική της συμπίλησης με νερό (wet felting) και παράλληλα θα μιλήσουμε για το μαλλί και τις ιδιότητές του.

• Το εργαστήριο είναι ανοικτό σε επισκέπτες, μέλη της τοπικής κοινότητας, καλλιτέχνες και βιοτέχνες, παιδιά, γνώστες παλαιών παραδοσιακών τεχνικών και οραματιστές. Θα είναι χαρά μας να σας έχουμε κοντά μας για να ανακαλύψουμε και να μοιραστούμε τεχνικές και πρακτικές γύρω από την χρήση και την επεξεργασία του μαλλιού.  

• 29 Αυγούστου, 17:00-21:00, αμφιθεατρο: διάλεγμα, πλύσιμο, βράσιμο και δούλεμα (χτύπημα) ακατέργαστο μαλλί 

• 30 Αυγούστου 10:00-14:00, ατελιέ: Παρουσίαση και πρακτική άσκηση στις ακόλουθες τεχνικές: ξάσιμο και διαχωρισμός των ινών, τοποθέτηση και μίξη/συνδυασμός ινών με χρήση σαπουνιού και κρύου νερού

• 31 Αυγούστου 10:00-14:00, ατελιέ: δημιουργία αντικειμένου από τσόχα: Θα φτιάξουμε θήκες για σαπούνι από μαλλί, καπελάκια για μικρόφωνα, μονωτικά τουβλάκια ή ακόμα και σουπλά… 

• Η ιδιαίτερα χρονοβόρα τεχνική της συμπίλησης μας δίνει χρόνο να ακούσουμε ο ένας τον άλλο αλλά και τον εαυτό μας. Η συνεργασία μεγαλώνει ακόμα πιο πολύ την ευχαρίστηση της δουλειάς. Αν η ικανοποίηση είναι πράξη αντίστασης, τότε η συμπίληση με νερό (wet-felting) είναι μια απλή δεξιότητα που προάγει την αυτονόμηση. 

• Το εργαστήριο θα πραγματοποιηθεί από τις 29 ως τις 31 Αυγούστου. Ημερήσιο κόστος συμμετοχής για τις 30 και 31 Αυγούστου: 20€

• Fb: Julie Lesvos Wool

• Insta: julieloipoesie

• Τηλέφωνο: 697 697 193115 August 2022

Workshop on the wet-felting technique. 25th-26-27th of August at the European Wool Exchange Foundation, Cyprus.

In the Western World, the devaluation of local wool is a matter for entrepreneurial and artistic visions, anthropological and sociological research, political and environmental policies. In Greece and Cyprus these topics are picking up too. Where Cyprus has the haloumi, Lesbos has the feta.

05.July 2022

https://www.politikalesvos.gr/julie-lesvos-wool-i-lesvos-xana-ston-quot-dromo-toy-mallioy-quot/?fbclid=IwAR3Sj0j0tiZyG70y-nZReARC8QcASwW0GxVgAwUDLks6gldoYSoOFJJf6b4

02.July 2022

Parakila in the 60s - 90s used to have 7 weaving factories transforming the local wool. A rich and unique tradition, expertise and topical history worth a museum.

Today we met villagers on site who forwarded the following article in which the heir of one factory wonders where the promises of transforming his donation into a museum remain as, elsewhere on the island, a former Atelier of luxury carpets is nominated.

Με αφορμή το δελτίο τύπου 6/6/2022 του Δήμου Δυτικής Λέσβου και ειδικά σχετικά με την τελευταία παράγραφο και μετά από κάποια τηλέφωνα που δέχθηκα, θα ήθελα πλέον να ενημερώσω τους συγχωριανούς μου στα Παράκοιλα Λέσβου (Official Page) τα εξής: 

Τις δεκαετίες '60-'90 η κλωστουφαντουργική τέχνη γνώρισε τεράστια άνθηση στο χωριό, κανοντάς το γνωστό πέραν των ορίων του νησιού. Στο σύνολο λειτούργησαν 7 μονάδες, του Καμπεζά, του Χαμαλέλλη, του Παπαδόπουλου, του Πιτικίτη, του Χατζηγιαννιδέλλη, του Γιαννιόγλου και του πατέρα μου. Επιπλέον, υπήρχαν και πλήστες υφάντρες με παραδοσιακό αργαλειό δημιουργώντας έτσι μια ξεχωριστή για τα Παράκοιλα παράδοση. Περιττό να αναφέρω την αξία της προσφοράς εργασίας που παρήχαν αυτές οι μονάδες.  

Έτσι μετά από παρότρυνση της προηγούμενης κοινοτικής αρχής και σε συνδυασμό με τη συνεχή ανάμειξη του πατέρα μας με τα πολιτιστικά του χωριού, πήραμε με τον αδερφό μου μια απόφαση που τριγυρνούσε χρόνια τώρα στο μυαλό μας με ΜΟΝΑΔΙΚΟ σκοπό της ανάδειξη της παράδοσης αυτής του τόπου μας.  Καταθέσαμε φάκελο-πρόταση στην προηγούμενη Δημοτική αρχή με την οποία δωρίζαμε όλο τον εξοπλισμό του υφαντουργείου με σκοπό την δημιουργία μουσείου υφαντικής τέχνης. Επίσης στην πρόταση υπήρχε και η παροχή του ακινήτου έναντι συμβολικού αντιτίμου 35.000€ (αντικειμενική αξία 110.000€) που λόγω θέσης και μεγέθους θα μπορούσε να στεγάσει το μουσείο και τις δράσεις του. Μετά από συναντήσεις με τον τότε Δήμαρχο Λέσβου, κο Γαληνό, η πρόταση έγινε δεκτή με ενθουσιασμό και εγκρίθηκε.

Αμέσως μετά, έγινε η διάσπαση του δήμου και η σύσταση του Δήμου Δυτικής Λέσβου. Γνωρίζοντας την υπάρχουσα απόφαση σχετικά με την πρόταση μας, κάναμε κάποιες επαφές με την νεα πια δημοτική αρχή η οποία μας υποσχέθηκε την εκτέλεση του έργου, απλά σε αργότερο χρόνο λόγω της πολυπλοκότητας των εργασιών για την σύσταση του νέου δήμου. Μάλιστα, πραγματοποιήθηκε επίσκεψη του υφυπουργού Πολιτισμού το 2021 ο οποίος ενθουσιάστηκε με την μονάδα και την πρόθεση μας. 

Έκτοτε,δεν έχει συμβεί το αναμενόμενο και κάποια ενημέρωση. Δεν γνωρίζω που οφείλεται η κωλυσιεργία της εκτέλεσης της υπόσχεσης, αν είναι θέμα Δημάρχου, Αντιδημάρχου Πολιτισμού, δημοτικού συμβουλίου, μηχανικών ή άλλης υπηρεσίας, αλλά το γεγονός της πρότασης αξιοποίησης υφαντουργείου στον Σκουτάρο στην υπουργό Πολιτισμού, με άφησε πραγματικά έκπληκτο μιας και ποτέ -τουλάχιστον εγώ- δεν γνώριζα για την παράδοση αυτή του Σκουτάρου κι ότι ήταν αντάξια του μεγέθους αυτής των Παρακοίλων. 

Η ανάρτηση αυτή μοναδικό σκοπό έχει την ενημέρωση των συγχωριανών μου για τις αρχικές μας προθέσεις και ενέργειες. 

Καμία διάθεση δημόσιας αντιπαράθεσης και επίρριψης ευθυνών. 

Τα λέμε στην πλατεία 🍻

Τοπική Κοινότητα Παρακοίλων - Ενεργοί Πολίτες

01 June 2022

Cycle of the wool

Sheering season in Lesbos 

Breeders Michalis and Vassiliki Kamnorotsi invited me to the sheering session of their herd. In the large stables, two workers cut the wool of the sheep with the traditional method: scissors. They allowed me to place a sheet on the floor to save me wool-washing time. They worked on end in an impressive tempo and with care. Placing the sheep between their legs, they cut the fluffy felt with precise and rapid moves. The sheep looked confident during the process, even smiling.

Introduced to me by the cooperative “Lesvos breed” https://www.provatolesvou.gr/, family Kamnorotsi breeds five hundred sheep for their milk towards the famous local yogurt.  Income isn’t sufficient and Mrs Kamnorotsi takes on a second job working during the summer season as a cook. The mountain of wool sheered will be discarded, possibly burnt, with great difficulty since wool does not burn. 

Our initiative to re-value the wool in Lesvos aims at helping breeders, inspire local arts and craftsmen/women and attract recognition for the work around the wool.

We now have four bags with all shades of colors felt to experiment with. Look out for wool-washing sessions coming up!21 May 2022

Last month, we had the chance to visit the wool mills of Longo Mai in Chantemerle, close by the French-Italian border. 

https://filature-longomai.org/

Established in 1976, this collective project with social and political foundations, perpetrates the factory where wool is processed from fleece to finished products in centuries old buildings using hydraulic energy. 

Marie-Thérese Chaupin, of the network Atelier Laines d'Europe, guided us through the mills where heavy machinery of various periods and origins address each stage of the cycle of the wool, washing carding, threading, looming, scruffing,.... 

The diverted river powers a central turbine which produces all the energy required and allows to sell electricity back to the network. 

The attic holds sacs of precious wools from all over Europe. Decades of propositive and anti-fascist posters decorate the walls. 

In the documentation centre of Atelier Wools of Europe, we grasped the density of the members and their manyfold activities, looked at rare art books and touched wool from different breeds and countries. 

https://atelierlainesdeurope.eu/

Thank you for inviting and inspiring us to a fine combination of natural power, know-how and activism: a project that makes sense.

//////////////

Cycle of the wool

Sheering season in Lesbos 

Last week, breeders Michalis and Vassiliki Kamnorotsi invited me to the sheering session of their herd. Two workers cut the wool of the sheep with the traditional method: scissors. They allowed me to place a sheet on the stable floor to save me wool-washing time. They worked on end in an impressive tempo and with care. Placing the sheep between their legs they cut the fluffy felt with precise and rapid moves. The sheep looked confident during the process, smiling at the camera.

Introduced to me by the cooperative “Lesvos breed”, family Kamnorotsi breeds five hundred sheep for their milk towards the famous local yogurt.  Income isn’t sufficient and Mrs Kamnorotsi takes on a second job working during the summer season as a cook. The mountain of wool sheered will be discarded, possibly burnt, with great difficulty since wool does not burn. 

Our initiative to re-value the wool in Lesvos aims at helping breeders, inspire local arts and craftsmen/women and attract recognition for the valuable work around the wool.

We now have four bags with all shades of colors felt to experiment with.  Look out for wool-washing sessions coming up!