Inspired by Craftyfolk - NEW Team Challenge

I'm a member of a lovely supportive team on Etsy, Craftyfolk.

One team member suggested that we interpret, using our own particular media, an item from a team member's shop.  This lovely item from WhimsyWoo Designs was chosen http://www.etsy.com/listing/84986626/ipad-sleeve-story-fruity.  A beautifully made item in a gorgeous fabric.

I have been wanting to make a new range of items for a while and, coincidentally, have been thinking about patchwork and quilts, so this was the perfect catalyst for this major procrastinator to get going. A bit like being at art school and being asked to do a transcription of a painting.

It's still drying at the moment and waiting to be lined, but I thought I would blog about it anyway.  Today I received a delivery of very muted coloured wools from World of Wool but I am now inspired to make some bright pieces so will have to order some more.......

Afternoon.  I did try again.

I have now made, and it is packaged ready for dispatch, a brooch for Deborah.  The bird is sitting on some pink flowers with blue leaves, in case you were wondering...

Starts out as one thing ends as another...

A few months ago, I sold some work at an event in Bodnant Gardens Pavillion, which was organised by the manager, Deborah. I was going to thank her by making her a brooch, which I started on Sunday.  However, it turned out larger than expected and has become decorative hanging ornament instead.   Deborah kindly donated a virgin fleece from her lamb, Bertie Wooster, so his fleece forms the main body of the bird.  It has been decorated with merino wool:

Have just added it to my Etsy shop and I'm off to my work room to try again!

No new felt work!

Have been so sidetracked lately, house decorating, decluttering, and spending hours trying to redo my website which is now located at:  http://www.froufroufelt.co.uk, that I have made no felt. I still need to add a gallery to the website but felt that I should put something out there, or is it up there (?) in the meantime.  So no new felt....  Back to it next week.  Made a lovely treasury for a team member on the lovely Craftyfolk team on Etsy,

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAxMDk1MTR8MjcyMjk3OTcxNg/pastel-shades-of-silhouettes

Off to make some fudge now!

World of Wool - Featured Artist for June!

Have only just finished making these, so they need to be lined ready for my Etsy shop.  Decorating and decluttering has meant that I have been very sidetracked, but I definitely feel 'lighter' for the decluttering. Street party for Jubilee celebrations this weekend, lovely sunny day today but we are forecast rain for Sunday, I think.

Bag making turned into bowl making

As you can see it started out as a bag, complete with handles and ties.

Unfortunately, the opening I created was just too large and there were just no sides to it, so I felted and I felted to create a smaller opening.  Using a metal spoon and a wooden spoon, I created ridges.  These have been held in place with pegs, the base of the now vessel has been hard felted with the help of a glass.

In order to hold its shape, I have wrapped sari threads around the base and the top.  It's now waiting patiently on top of the boiler to dry so, some time in 2013, it might just be.  (Too mean to have the heating - it is May after all).

Seven Months Later...

I can't believe that it is so long since I last posted.  I have been making, but not blogging.  Recently I was asked to make a hare purse for Louise who has a lovely shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/glassdaft?ref=pr_shop_more.  I, therefore, had a lot of cream coloured felt left over, so rekindled my relationship with the sewing machine.  You can get quite out of practise - so there were a number of false starts.  This is the first one I have listed on Etsy.

Also trying to be a bit more experimental (on the side) - I have become a bit too absorbed in making felt flowers, lately - show images and staged photos later.  But I have found this brilliant book http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-Felt-Objects-Series/dp/160059705X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336510545&sr=8-1 and it's only £9 at the moment.

As a by the by, sad that Homeland is finished but really glad it's going to be continuing at some point - no doubt Sky will grab it (please don't).

Handmade Felt - Machine Embroidered Purses

After making some cream coloured felt using Merino wool and also Icelandic wool (coarser), I spent quite a few hours decorating each purse individually using machine embroidery.

Seamless Felted Bags

It's taken ages, but have, at last, completed making some seamless, felted bags.  Previously I have needle felted large pieces of felt and then chanced a cycle in the wash to complete the felting process.  This has not always paid off, as I have left wash cycles on for too long  and consequently ended up with pieces on a smaller scale than I had anticipated - particularly distressing, if it's taken a number of hours to create the basic design.

Here are some photos of the work before I list on Etsy:

A Seamless Bag

When viewing listed felted items on Etsy, it seems to be a badge of honour if you have made a seamless bag, coat, flower whatever.  For some time I have been making fabric and then using the sewing machine to piece the item together.  So decided that I would create a seamless bag.  It took 2 days, practically and a lot of slog and many wet floors, tables, and towels but I did finally make that seamless bag, with pocket.  It was pretty massive to start off with, it is still quite large now despite masses of rolling, throwing and alternative throws in hot and cold water.  Anyway, here it is.

See the image bag diary:

Addicted to Dyeing

Having bought some Easy Acid Dyes, which do not require any additives at all, made some pre-felt discs in Icelandic wool tops, ready to immerse in dyes.

I also made some felt balls to creative the centre of the flowers - I plan to halve these and then perhaps decorate with beads.

Used tie dyed method.

I love the vibrant colours, and am going to make some cobweb felt which I will also hand dye, and will attach the flowers to the ends of the scarves.

Embroidered Purses Continuned

Went back to the drawing board, back to the sewing machine.   Making doodles in the sketch book followed by a doodle or two onto the sewing machine.  Spent two whole days making these, but was rewarded by sales on Etsy and some really nice feedback.  Have made some more cream felt ready for more sewing machine lines but have been side tracked by making flowers using hand dyed Icelandic wool - which is incredibly hairy and quite rough but which has an attractive decorative surface.