Friday, November 18, 2011

Orange Flower Purse- Part 1 of 2




Layout...using a wool batt with multi-colored cotton dots.


Prepping for the first petal layer.


Laying out the first petal...


...and the second...


...and the third...

...then adding snippets of variegated pencil roving to the flower's center.


Felting the purse until it passes the 'pinch test'.


Cutting out the handle...


...and stuffing it with wool roving, prior to stitching, to give it a nice, rounded shape.


My across-the-sea friend, Deborah and I...

...have been using each other for inspiration quite a bit in the last few months!

I was especially taken with a flower cushion that she made recently...

...as was our friend, Kelly, who tried one, too...

...and in orange, no less!!! :)

But because I made so many pillows for Christmas gifts last year...

...I was feeling a little 'over them', and wanted to try something new...

...and, surprise, surprise(!), I thought of making...a purse!! Giggle.

 I designed a new, smaller resist with a narrower handle...

...and since I was making it for myself, I decided to make it in orange!! :)

I covered the resist with fiber from a wool batt that was blended with multi-colored cotton dots...

...then made 3 resists out of pieces of bubble wrap, cutting holes into each center.

As each petal was finished, I layered the project with another piece of bubble wrap...

...keeping the holes centered, so that all of the petals would connect in the middle.

 As a decorative element, and to ensure that my layers would felt together well...

...I made basting stitches in the flower's center with a length of silk yarn.

Next time: the finished purse...

...with pearlescent vintage buttons!

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35 comments:

vilterietje said...

oh heather, thanks for a very clear tutorial! i never thought i would learn to make aflower like that, but i'm sure i can do it now:)

Heather Woollove said...

Riet--It's a really fun project. I hope you'll have great success with yours! XXO-

Hedwig Schumacher said...

Wauw, that's look really exciting!
Hadiah

WonderWhyGal said...

Orange makes everything awesome, doesn't it? Love how this purse is looking so far.

Heather Woollove said...

Hadiah--Thanks! I hope you will like the finished bag. I think it came out really pretty.
Andrea--Yay, orange!!!

Elizabeth said...

Oh, a giant poppy color bag! Sweet! Or at least it's poppy color while it's wet. :-)
Do your scissors get really dull very quickly from cutting wet wool? I keep a special pair for just that so I don't ruin my nice sharp ones.

Anonymous said...

Definitely one for the advanced manual. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one...

Heather Woollove said...

Elizabeth--I use my 'best' sewing scissors for cutting the wool and haven't noticed any special dulling...but I understand the impulse to guard your 'good' scissors!! (I have four children, after all!!) :)
Rachel--It was a little tricky, but I think you'll like the finished bag.

pinkundine said...

Oooh, orange, my favourite!

Melissa Plank said...

I'm glad to see you have made something for yourself, its wonderful!!!

Heather Woollove said...

Natalie--Me, too!
Melissa--Thanks! (It IS rare when I actually keep anything, isn't it?!?) Giggle.

Hooked On Felt said...

Way Cool Heather! Love it!

Carlin said...

I love the layered petal flower. Quite stunning!

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks, Suzanne and Carlin!

Vivian said...

Like all the non-knitters would say, you really should consider selling this! I imagine a table at a holiday craft fair, or an etsy store, or video tutorials on YouTube (for ad revenue). You are so good at this!

Voie de Vie said...

Yes, yeah for orange! This is all so much magic to me ... can't wait to see the final bag.

Tamara Miller said...

I really enjoy your step by step approach to sharing your projects. I like to see your process. Your work is beautiful.

Kelly said...

Brilliant!! I love my pillow and have a few of them in the works for my week off! A perfect flower purse!

Spinster Beth said...

At first I thought you were making a felted guitar ... :-) lovely color!

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks, Vivian--but then it would take all of the fun out of it for me! :(
Denise--"Orange you glad" we both like orange so much? :)
Tamara--Thanks for your kind words!
Kelly--I wondered what you'd think of it! (I made a purple one, too, that I can't share yet...it's a Christmas gift for a friend who reads my blog.)
I can't wait to see the rest of your pillows!!
Beth--Hahaha...I see what you mean about the guitar shape! :)

Anonymous said...

This bag will be gorgous!! I once made a bag witha flower upon it and that bag is really my favourite now :) enjoy the felting!

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks, Kim! I have been enjoying carrying this purse! :)

AllyB said...

I always enjoy watching your projects develop. This looks like another stunning purse on it's way.

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks, Ally!!

Andria said...

It is always good to see orange love, it warms my heart. I love see what you create!

Anonymous said...

Oh, this is really fun! I am really a newbie to the world of felting but falling in love fast...this happens to me and wool:) Thanks for visiting my sunny corner of blog land and I look forward to checking back in on yours.
All the best,
Mariah

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks, Andria! There are a lot of us 'orange-lovers' out here!! :)
Mariah--I know what you mean about 'wool love'! Giggle...
....and I'm so glad you came to visit!!

maya =^o^= said...

thank you sooooo much for sharing this!!!!!

Heather Woollove said...

Maya--You're very welcome!! :)

Jackie said...

Thats an amazing achievement. I was looking at a leather bag today when I was out and it was a similar style but weird in leather. Its gorgeous in felt.

Heather Woollove said...

Jackie--Leather, huh?!? That would look a bit strange. I'm glad you like the felted one, though!! XXO-

Lois said...

You are *so good* to share the process with us.

Thank you!

Heather Woollove said...

Lois--You are very welcome!! :)

The Monko said...

thats a brilliant tutorial, a bit beyond my skill level but one to keep for when i suddenly become amazing!

Heather Woollove said...

TM--Thanks! Yes...I wouldn't start here, but you may have luck looking at some of my posts filed under 'peanut-shaped resist'...like these: http://woollove-functional-fiberart.blogspot.com/2011/01/tale-of-two-purses-details.html
http://woollove-functional-fiberart.blogspot.com/2010/12/peanut-shaped-resist-purse-part-1.html