| Summary: | The first half of the interview Bonnie Johnstone discusses the art of felting, how she became involved with it, and the various processes of felting. The second half of the interview Bonnie discusses the Heritage Commitee in Witless Bay, her role in it, and the importance of recognizing and celebrating heritage. 0:33 - Upbringing in Quebec; 1:14 - How her and her husband ended up moving to Witless Bay; 2:08-Felting as an ancient textile art, the appeal of felting; 3:05 -Introduced to felting through weaving; information on felting became more accessible in 1980’s; took courses in USA; 4:47 - Beginning of felting as a hobby; experimental time; 5:15 - Two main felters in Witless Bay; learned at Devonhouse in early 1990’s; 5:56 - Teaching at “Arts Smarts” program in Torbay; teaches piano: taught school in England before moving to Witless Bay; 7:18 - Other artistic interests; using driftwood for art; knitting; keeping goats and now sheep; 8:18 - How the first felting techniques were created in ancient times; felted garments and saddles dug up in prehistoric sites; 9:27 - Explains the process of turning prepared fleece into felt (“wet felting” process); the array of colors in the fleece from her sheep Bobbi; 11:18 - Buys colored fleece; dislikes using harsh chemicals to dye wool; 12:53 - The process of needle felting; different needles used for it; 14:27 -Another felting process of knitting wool and washing it, thus shrinking it down into felt; 15:15 - Discusses first needling piece she did; 16:48 - How she prepares fleece from her sheep to use for felting; 18:21 - Different types of things she makes by felting; 19:59 – The patterns she can make with her sheep Bobbi’s fleece; 21:33 - Discusses a felt and found mixed media art piece that was made to show human/animal equality; a felt hanging she made for her daughter; felt piece she created about a Tibetan monk who lived off nettles; 24:19 - The process of “scrapping” (or starting over) with already used felt; 26:02 - Acquiring wool from the sheep of Beatrix Potter; ...
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