a life of felt

Inspiring January 10th, 2012

I’ve been subscribing to Craftsman magazine (now Craft & Design for quite a long time and have decided that some really need to go. My friend Liz is going to take them off to the charity shop but before they went I thought I’d take one last look through. There are some interesting articles but nothing I really needed to keep. However, there were several inspiring photos of some gorgeous craft work which I thought I’d share with you.

The jewellery of Yvonne Chadderton. It’s the fluidity of the lines that attracted my attention.

Basketry by Lisa Bech – again, I love the fluidity and the twist in the baskets.

The most amazing glass by Neil Wilkin. I so wish I had a) a larger garden to fit this in and b) the money to buy it. His garden sculpture is amazing.

Ceramics by Katrina Trinick this is also on my wish list but alas it is already sold – just as well as I don’t have the cash!

I wish there were more to show you but some have either gone out of business or changed their websites to ones I can’t find. If I could only have one I think it’s have to be the ceramic piece by Katrina.

Swapsies anyone? January 5th, 2012

I’ve been sorting through my crochet books and have decided that the following books really aren’t needed. They’re all in excellent condition and there are links to Amazon so you can read more about them,

Learn to crochet, This is a lovely easy to follow book for the beginner but I’ve found that I have the same instructions in other books and so don’t need both.

The Happy Hooker, I’ve completed the projects I was interested in making so this one is up for grabs too.

Crochet Jewellery and Crochet with beads, both of these were presents given because people knew I’m into crochet. Unfortunately I’m not really interested in crocheting jewellery so they’ve sat on my shelf unused for too long.

If you fancy doing a swap just get in touch. I don’t mind what I swap for: books on other crafts, a card, some yarn or any other suggestions but please, whatever you come up with, NO fibres. My fibre stash has suddenly grown so large I’m wondering what projects I can undertake to bust it before it rages completely out of control. I hope someone will be interested in these lovely books and I don’t mind if one person wants all four or if four people want one book each.

A spot of recycling January 2nd, 2012

After the celebrations of new year I knew it would be a late start for my daughter on new years day and so sought to keep myself busy with a little recycling. I began by taking some rusty washers (I really can’t throw such things away), some discarded packaging paper (book delivery- yippee, can’t have enough books) and some slippy shiny yarn that I was tempted to buy eons ago and never got around to using.

The paper was a little creased so I screwed it up and added a few more creases for extra texture. The washers I covered in thread then stitched them onto the paper, sprayed the whole thing with glitter spray, then stuck it onto card. It’s a birthday card for my Mum.

Surfing the net yesterday I came across an idea for making flowers from the cardboard insides of toilet rolls. It just so happened that I came across one of these yesterday and decided to have a go at a simplified version to see if I like the idea.

Start by squishing the roll flat then cut off five slices of any thickness you’d like, but they do need to all be the same width. Punch holes in one end of each piece then thread half a pipe cleaner through, twist to secure and form one end into a loop for hanging. Spread the five pieces out evenly. You can of course do this with any number of cardboard slices.

I’m pleased with this simple idea and will spray this one up white but they’d make a lovely garland in all kinds of colours and a great one to do with kids on rainy days. Think of the fun and mess of painting them! A second pipe cleaner round the outer edge would help larger ones to keep their shape.

Tags: recycling
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Spare a thought January 1st, 2012

Happy New Year everyone, I hope it’ll be a happy and healthy year for us all. I thought I’d start the year by sparing a thought for others. I know it’s a long time since the Japanese earthquake ans tsunami but there are still people without homes and in need of both physical and emotional support. It’s not enough, but here are two blankets I’ve completed for dispatch to Japan.

It was my aim to complete them by new year and I finished about 8pm yesterday. These will go off to Kate and her wonderful helpers, if you feel like making a square or two why not pop over and take a look at her site.

Tags: crochet, kyoyu
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Handmade for me December 29th, 2011

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are rested from the break. Usually I show items which I’ve handmade but today’s offerings are items which have been handmade for me.

This fabulous paper garland was made for me by my daughter who has individually designed and coloured all the patterns too. So much effort has gone into this simple garland but it’s not wasted for I shall carefully preserve it for future years.

This is just unbelievable – a wire sheep made entirely from imagination and was carefully worked out (and re-worked where necessary). My daughter knows I love rusted wire and this wire will rust but will definitely be remaining in the house where I can see it each day – possibly in my studio. I’m so lucky.

I was also lucky enough to receive one of these hand crocheted bags from good friend Kate. I’m sure she won’t mind me pinching her picture as it’s much better than the one I managed. Thank you Kate for the bag and the photo I hope you all received some great things too.

Tags: christmas, handmade
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A case of the wanties December 24th, 2011

About a month ago whilst surfing the net for other things I came across a pack of hearts made from birch bark and got a severe case of the wanties. When I visited the garden centre for some bulbs the wanties struck again and I came home with some silver bells.

The cones we picked up on one of our walks. This little hoard has sat around for the last month waiting for my attention and finally, this week, I found the time to play. I really wanted to make a garland with these items and began by drilling holes in the hearts so admiring the texture of each one whilst i did so.

It took a little longer to complete than expected but every time I look at it it gives me pleasure. I’m not quite sure what it is about it but I so love looking at it on the mantelpiece.

As I write this I glance up see the garland and smile. We’re ready for Christmas and best of all Mum is home for Christmas!.

Tags: garland
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Winter solstice December 23rd, 2011

I haven’t been able to log in to my blog for the last couple of days but Hubby has sorted it for me. Just thought I’d share a couple of pics from our winter solstice celebrations.

We lit so many candles it got quite warm in our front room. Hubby and daughter made a sun cake, we had some poems and some very very silly stories and lots of sweets.

This is Midi the largest of our cats and the least brave. He was quite fascinated by the candles at his level and watched them for ages. We were worried he might try to paw them but he behaved himself unlike ….. Puck who took our distraction as an opportunity to attack the tree again. Puck is nine years old and usually an angel, I don’t quite understand why she’s taken to attacking the tree now .

Tags: solstice
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Christmas greenery December 19th, 2011

My daughter and I had a couple of friends round yesterday and made a valiant attempt at some greenery for the festive season. The decoration below is residing in my living room and is on a round glass plate. I was so pleased not to have centered the candle. It’s a little heavy but I’m happy to live with it. Very little colour in it you’ll notice – it’s all about the greenery this year.

First attempt at a wrapped sray was last year when it all fell on the floor whenever I attmpted to hang it up. This year I used a spray holder with much greater success. I’m really quite chuffed at how this one has turned out.

We have a couple of candles on the mantelpiece and I sometimes worry about the naked flame near the wallpaper so decided lanterns would be a good idea. I like curvy storm lanterns but most are too large for our narrow space but then I spotted some ridiculously over sized wine glasses in the charity shop. If you ignore the stem the shape is a curvy storm lantern.

My first ever garland. It’s worked very well and it’s all down to the advice from good friend Kate – thanks Kate

Tags: floral, wreath
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Backgrounds December 15th, 2011

You may remember that I asked for your feedback on which background is best for my brooches and you responded magnificently. Interestingly there wasn’t an overall winner which says to me that a variety of backgrounds is best and I shoudn’t worry too much as long as the photos are good quality.

About eighteen months ago Hubby made a bench for the garden, it was very sturdy and looked really good. After the ravages of last winter we noticed that despite his best attempts with the varnish, the weather had found it’s way to the wood and we had some black spots and discolouration appearing on the bench.

Hubby was understandingly upset about this, I on the other hand am delighted as it makes the most wonderful background. Just look how it makes this brooch sing.

Tags: backgrounds
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Tidy up time December 13th, 2011

Having finished my commissions I reckoned it was time for a tidy up of my work room. Now logical people amongst you, of which I hope there are few, will expect that to mean picking things up and putting them away. Those amongst you with crafting tendencies will know this to be laughable.

I’ve picked things up shuffled them around, re-arranged piles and yes I can say progress is definitely being made, with the exception that nothing has actually been put away yet! With no workshops to distract me I find this a good time to take a close look at things and decide what to do in the long term rather than just putting them in a cupboard.

There’s been a couple of samples hanging around for months. The first is a piece of felt onto which I stencilled blue hearts in fabric paint and the other was an experiment with a skeleton leaf and a fine layer of Blue Faced Leicester fibres. I really don’t need these to illustrate any points in workshops so decided to make them into cards. First stop my inspiration box.

Obviously this needs tidying up too but it’s where I store my hand made papers, patterns and general inspiration from cards and photos to magazine cuttings. I always enjoy a browse through here and always think I should browse more often if I had the time. I found some lovely blue papers for my little felt hearts.

One has tissue paper pasted onto card and lightly painted, the other has painted card onto which I impressed bubble wrap which made a lovely pattern.

Little bits of scrap felt combined with a little time = a little bit of happiness. I’m pleased with these cards and now they really have been tidied away, going into the card drawer for some of those birthdays coming up in the next two months.

Tags: cards, felt, handmade
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