a life of felt

Posts Tagged ‘handmade’

A late ta-dah and brotherly love

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Not drastically late. On saturday I began a bag as I find it the best way to help people learn is to demonstrate, but in a workshop situation I don’t have time to finish it off. I finished it on Sunday (very quick for me) , it was dry on Tuesday ready for me to show. Until that is, I took a good look at it and discovered that not all the soap was out. So another wash and dry later, here it is.

My apologies that these aren’t great photos but the sky is dark with sleet so it took me 4 attempts and over exposing it to get this far.

It’s a black Blue Faced Leicester base with some throwsters silk waste decoration. The flap is covered with Teeswater fleece which I put on it’s raw state and let it do what it wanted, I wanted some loose curls but not the whole lot.

The handle and closure is felted in.Instead of a button I decided to make a catch from wooden beads salvaged from a broken necklace. Contrasting textures make me very happy.

I’m going to finish today with a picture of brotherly love.

It must be love as they’re sharing one of the best seats in the house. Not only can they watch the bird table from there but it’s right above a nice warm radiator. Midi (short for Midnight, the darker cat) and Pan are our two youngest cats.

Tags: 3D. wet felt, BFL, felt, handbags, handmade
Posted in Felting | 3 Comments »

First workshop of the year

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Every time I run a workshop it’s fun and today was no exception. Good company, lots of laughs and some quite fabulous pieces of felt. So far this winter we’ve had very little snow, so why oh why did it have to snow today? Here’s a lovely winter scene from the village hall.

Isn’t it adorable. It’s not quite as out of focus as you think, it had started to snow. But enough of the weather, here’s a few of those bags you were all waiting to see – I did say it was a bag workshop did I?

This lovely bag was made by Jeni and has a pocket on the inside. I changed the workshop slightly today and brought Blue Faced Leicester fibres for people to use in oatmeal and black. It’s a brilliant British fibre and well worth trying for yourself.

In order, we have loveliness from Lindsay, Angela and Elaine. All handles and catches are felted in, the flashes of colour are provided by Merino fibres and Elaine’s bag also has vegetable bags included. A nice bit of recycling.

The top bag is by Cera with an all over spot decoration and internal pocket. The bottom bag is by Pauline and has Merino fibres and Wensleydale curls.

Top bag by Pauline, her first ever piece of felt, pretty good it is too, lovely solid felt. Bottom left is by Karen another first time felter who did a great job, you’d never have guessed it was her first piece. Bottom right is understated gorgeousness by Sue and it has 2 internal pockets. We tried really hard to finish early but what is this, a lone felter?

Yes, I’m sorry to say Lesley was naughty and had to stay behind. No, not really, this is what you call dedication and perseverance when all around you have left.

It was worth the work though wasn’t it and when the Wensleydale curls dry they’ll look even fluffier, what a fab bag. Thank you ladies for a great day and I hope everyone got home okay. Do please send photos when they’re dry and you’ve added buttons.

Tags: 3D, BFL, handbags, handmade
Posted in past workshops | 1 Comment »

Garment making – part 1

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

I don’t usually make garments, don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with it but it doesn’t normally enthuse me. This time however, I’m very enthusiastic. It’e to be a very feminine garment and for a larger lady with a 48″ waist. Given that when working with wool tops you need to start larger to account for shrinkage during felting it means it’s going to be a big piece of work.

Preparation is key and it’s really not worth rushing this stage. So lots of measurements, quick sketches, a look at images on the internet, thinking through the processes and various stages, then it’s time to start gathering equipment and supplies.

Lots of bubble wrap, bits of lace and a quick sample of how I might make it look very full through gathering.

Lots and lots of fibres, both tops and locks plus some yarns. I’m hoping to make an impression on my stash!

I’ll be laying out at 160cm x 78cm so it’s going to need two tables to work on or I’ll be crawling round the floor again. There’ll be more to see next time but do feel free to speculate in the interim.

Tags: felt, garment, handmade
Posted in Felting | 2 Comments »

Jacob pot

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Just before Christmas I was asked to make a pot in Jacob wool similar to the Devon one below.

Here it is. Jacob wool tops with added Tussah silk fibres.

I can show you now because it won’t spoil anyone’s birthday surprise anymore.

Tags: 3D. wet felt, handmade, jacob
Posted in Felting | 1 Comment »

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 flag 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!!

Tags: Blue Faced Leicester, bunting, felt, handmade
Posted in Felting | 2 Comments »

Handmade for me

Thursday, 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
Posted in General | 4 Comments »

Tidy up time

Tuesday, 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
Posted in Felting | 2 Comments »

I don’t want to let go

Friday, December 9th, 2011

I’ve finally finished the last of my Christmas commissions and can begin to concentrate on all that noise in my head of new things to do. I couldn’t take any photos for the last few days as it’s been so dark, wet and windy but this morning, the wind has dropped slightly and the light has improved somewhat. The river has broken it’s bank and if it continues to rain it’ll flood in more places and the journey home will be circuituous but here are a few pics before the items go.

It’s a while since I made a brooch in this style but it was a special request. The back two layers are Merino and the top layer is hand dyed Blue Faced Leicester.

Just like a firework in bright red Merino with gold, pink and orange silk fibres. Orange seed beads exploding from the centre outwards.

I just LOVE this fabulous ruffled heart shaped wreath. Do I really have to let it go, I do wonder if I could say I didn’t have time to finish it and keep it for myself. But perhaps, it would be better just to make another one.

Perhaps a red or pink one next for Valentines day.

Tags: handmade, heart, ruffled, wreath
Posted in Felting | 7 Comments »

Frilly scarf workshop

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

I just can’t believe how busy it seems at the moment and how near Christmas is getting, I really must start shopping. However, here for your delectation are the pictures from Saturday’s frilly and lattice scarf workshop.

These are just the sample pieces we made before starting on a longer scarf. Some are long enough
for neck warmers, I was hoping mine would make a wrist warmer but it’s too long.

Above, from left to right, is the work of Claire, Sue and Bev.

From left to right you can see the work of Anna-Louise, Jeni and and Ang.

Margaret’s scarf is on the left and the right one belongs to Liz.

Some people also had time to practice the lattice technique. The scarves were so beautiful on Saturday that I wanted to keep them all but no-one was willing to give theirs up. Nor did they want to wear a cold wet scarf for a photo shoot, I can’t imagine why! At least two people pushed themselves to work with unfamiliar colours and were pleased with how the scarf turned out. Claire was a joy to watch as the smile never left her face all day!

Thank you so much ladies for the help in setting up and putting away, I do believe ten minutes to clear up is a record and was very much appreciated. That’s the last workshop for this year, I’ve a few commissions to finish and then I can perhaps put together a new tutorial and work on a project for next March, more of which later.

Tags: handmade, scarves, wet felted
Posted in past workshops | 2 Comments »

Upgraded

Monday, November 14th, 2011

It must be two years since I made this Christmas heart.

It’s made from old curtain fabric, bits of lace and handmade felt and is embellished with buttons,beads and hand stitching.It was always a disappointment to me as It wouldn’t hang properly on the wall and you can barely see the word noel.