a life of felt

Posts Tagged ‘bunting’

Are you celebrating?

Friday, March 16th, 2012

This is the question I was asked this morning by a neighbour. I think perhaps it has something to do with taking this photo.

Finally, I have finished my last piece of bunting. You may remember some heart bunting made from Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) fibre. Well, this was made at the same time and has then sat quietly in the cupboard waiting for another finishing off session. As it’s Yarnival tomorrow I knew I had to make the effort to finish so I could take it with me.

There are five strings in total, each 2.5m with 10 flags along each length. The flags are made from Manx, Jacob, BFL, Cheviot and Shetland so another all British offering.

Heart Bunting

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

I began this set of bunting in August I believe. Although it’s not complicated to make sheets of felt for cutting up I just didn’t find the time to finish – looking back I seem to have had quite a few projects like this last year but at least they get finished eventually. It’s all made from British Blue Faced Leicester wool, the pink was hand dyed by me, do you think it’s bright enough?

The edges are hand stitched in plain running stitch with embroidery thread and each flagĀ  has an appliqued heart. They’re machine stitched to the tape. I didn’t do running stitch along the top and I’m now wondering if I should have – opinions?

There are 12 flags on each set, flags are 12cm wide by 18cm long. I made sufficient felt for five sets but only three are completed as I ran out of tape. And yes, the yellow really is that vivid!!

Finished bunting

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

It hasn’t been fantastic weather for bunting this week but here’s a few pictures of the finished butning.

Shame I couldn’t get of all of it into the sun but you can see from the last pic that they sparkle in sunshine so I know they’re going to look splendid by candlelight. Next and last pictures will be of the party day!

Sixty!

Monday, October 4th, 2010

I’ve done it, I’ve done it! You have to imagine the jig I’m doing at the moment in celebration of reaching this milestone. These are the final four.

All I need to do now is string them together – photos of that later. However, just 60 flags wouldn’t be enough would it? No, of course not which is why good friend Kate has loaned me these (thanks Kate).

Just need to work out where to hang them all and pray for dry weather for the birthday, then they can all flutter in the breeze.

Nearly there

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

It seems like a very long time since I began my project to make felt bunting for my daughter’s birthday. After twenty I realised I was struggling and many of you came to my rescue -thank you so much.

These are my latest contributions from Susan Hibbert. They’re gorgeous with little bits of silk and stitch for added bling. I knew my daughter woule be very taken with the blue one and she is. Susan has also been involved in a very large project at work. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society have commissioned a piece of felt wall art based on a David Hockney image. Take a look at the website to see how it’s progressing.

I decided to go away and add up how many flags I had, expecting the total to be 50. Imagine my delight to discover that I’m actually at 56! Dashing off now to try and finish the last four – I hardly dare believe it.

Lucky me!

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

I;m so lucky. Today I received two more pieces from my lovely friend Tracy. I’m not sure where Tracy has found the time but I’m so glad she has.

They’re very well made and have lovely beads hanging from the point. I think it’s time I went and got something to start stitching them all together. :)

New Batch

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Life certainly seems to be very busy at the moment but I have managed to make four more flags for the bunting.


Only after I’d made the brown ones did I realise I’d set my sights on not using any neutrals. However, my daughter came home from school and loved them so much that they get to stay. I’ll add some bling tobunting, felt, flags them which’ll be a nice little project for me whilst watching TV. Tracy has promised me two more (thanks Tracy) which means I now only have 12 left to make. Getting closer!

Crikey

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

In just over four weeks I’ll be the mother of a teenager! How did that happen? Time definitely accelerates as you get older, I’m sure summer holidays went on for ever when I was a child but the summer holidays this year flew by. My ‘little girl’ is now 5’4″ (and still growing), has pierced ears and a rather smart bob and looks way older than nearly thirteen.

It won’t be long before she’s taller than me and I’m not at all sure how I feel about that. One of the most noticeable things about her development is the change in how she moves. It’s no longer the movement of a child, unbeknown to her she’s moving differently and even starting to gain a modicum of grace. Now that really is unbelievable for a child that’s always been rather clumsy and accident prone. Apparently some people can even injure themselves in bed – trust me I know.

I’ve also realised I don’t have enough jars for birthday party candles so I’ll be appealing to the neighbours for extra and I still have 18 pieces of bunting to make so I’m off to get some work done and hope to show some more pieces soon.

Happy bunting

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Not sure if the bunting is actually happy (although it’s not complaining) but it certainly makes me happy to receive more. The two beautiful flags below are courtesy of Kim in the Netherlands who is incredibly busy herself and still found time to help me out. Thanks Kim.


I particularly like the embroidery on the red flag. Kim has embedded some bling into the felt and then cut back to reveal it at the end. The metal scrollwork in the red one is a nice touch too. Below are three more from me which have been made from my felt stash and then I’ve added bling with sewing and sequins to the purple ones but the blue had the bits added during felting.

My total is doing really well as I’m now at 42 – more than two thirds of the way there. With such a boost from other people the target of sixty flags now looks achievable :)

Ilkley Flower Show

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Our daughter has participated in the flower show before and has even won a cup in the children’s entries but my husband and I have been onlookers, until now. We’ve decided this year that we should all be involved this coming Saturday and have chosen a few classes each. The first is an adult class for photography. Hubby and I have entered the ‘winter scene’ class.

These two were taken by my husband and below is my entry taken early one morning.. He’s threatening not to speak to me if I win.

The next category we’ve entered is ‘something red’ and this time the whole family is head to head. First up are my husband’s entries.

The insect on the flower was taken by my daughter and as I just happened to have some hanging around, I took the one of the bunting. I wonder who will win and will we still be speaking. I don’t think mine will win but at least it’s a different subject. Our daughter has also entered a children’s photography class with a picture of her best friend.

This is our youngest cat Pan and the one she adores the most. You should see them cuddled up in bed together watching a DVD – sweet. Pan is the most amenable cat ever, he never minds what you do to him and is just as happy to be upside down as curled up asleep with his brother.

Our final marital head to head category is ‘something new from something old’. A few weeks ago my husband had to build a new fence panel and salvaged the timber from the old one which he has now turned into a striking aysmetrical bird box. In my usual way, I decided to use this opportunity to do a project that’s been in my head for some years and which hadn’t even got started yet and that was to make a cushion. It’s going to be made from parts of jeans which belonged to my daughter and which were trashed beyond the point of being able to be passed on.

I’m sure you’ve all spotted the problem with mine – it’s not finished yet. I’ve one last seam to cover with yarn and then I can begin to make it up. At least putting it in the flower show means it will get finished. I am worried as I know that the judge will be from the WI and will spot all my little mistakes which my daughter won’t notice and wouldn’t care about if she did. Yes, of course this is for my daughter – again.

These aren’t the only categories we’ve entered. My husband has entered the lemon drizzle cake class and I’ve committed to making cheese scones. We think our lemon drizzle recipe is a winner but if you have an award winning recipe for cheese scones now would be a good time to share it with me!

I’ll tell you more about the other categories later – wish us luck.