Purple Flower Purse- Part 1 of 2

Beginning the layout with an inner pocket.

Adding layers of deep purple roving.

Wrapping roving around the resist in preparation for the petal layers.

Adding bamboo fiber to decorate the flower center.

Beginning to felt the petals...

...and working on each petal in turn.

Hanging the purse to dry with clamps holding the petal folds in place.

This purse was a Christmas gift for a purple-loving friend...

...and I made it in the same manner as the orange one that I blogged about a month or so ago.

Working from the inside to the outside, I covered the resist with layers of wool roving...

...then added petal layers in various shades of purple.

I used bubble wrap with a hole cut into the center between the layers....

...in order to keep the edges separate (from the bag and from each other).

After felting each petal and the purse itself...

...I clamped the petals into place for drying.

Next time: the finished purse...

...with felt-lined pocket.

Faux Two-Layer Scarf: Redux

Laying out grey wool roving.

Covering the wetted-out roving with a frame of thin plastic foam.

Adding layers of brown merino roving.

After wetting out the piece and folding in the edges.

A view from the back...before felting.

The finished scarf...

...again, with a top layer that only appears to be separate from the bottom...

...and this time, with leather 'buttons' instead of metal washers.

Because using a bubble wrap 'frame' last time ended up being a bit 'fiddly'...

...I decided to try felting one into the piece...

...and then cutting it out after the scarf was partially felted.

I sandwiched a wide foam frame between the two colors of roving...

...then felted the scarf until it passed the pinch test.

Next, I cut along the outer edge of the scarf...

...removed the foam frame, and finished the piece.

When the scarf was fully felted and dry...

...I trimmed the top layer so that the bottom layer would show.

I cut squares of grey leather for the 'attachments' this time...

...and machine-stitched them to each corner of the scarf.

Overall, I found it a bit easier to use this method...

...but I think I prefer the more organic edge of the top layer from my first try.

Next time: a very purple purse! :)

Faux Two-Layer Scarf

Two thin layers of brown roving in a long rectangle...

...and two of gold blended with sour-apple green.

As I worked...

...I placed a narrow bubble-wrap 'frame' between the outer edges of the two colors.

The finished scarf with small, gold, metal washer accents.

You'll notice that the outer edge of the yellow-green layer is free from the brown layer...

...but the two layers are otherwise felted together into one.

The finished scarf appears to be made from two separate layers...

...held together only by the metal pieces.

I wanted to make a couple of men's scarves for Christmas gifts...

...and I remembered a wonderful alpaca scarf of Chad Alice Hagen's...

...in her book Fabulous Felted Scarves.

Instead of making two thin scarves in different colors and joining them with buttons after drying...

...I took a 'cheaters way out', and felted them together...except at the very edges!

The scarf is very light and soft, and I think it 'reads' visually as I had intended...

...but working with the bubble wrap 'frame' was a little fiddly.

Next time: modifications...

...and my second attempt at this type of scarf

Christmas 2011: New Decorations!

In this photo, it looks like it's just the 'usual suspects'...

...until, inexplicably, a wizard and a mermaid show up with the angel of the Lord!!

Wise men (with bejeweled gifts)...

...and the Holy family with a sheep.

(What other animal would a felter's daughter choose to make?) :)

Plus a wizard, a mermaid and an angel (all singing otherworldly lullabies, I presume!)

Our new tabletop Christmas tree with garlands of felt balls, raw cranberries and popcorn...

...and a pre-felt angel (back side)...

...and bejeweled, smiling front!

As soon as my 20-year old twins arrived home from their respective colleges...

...it was "game on" with the Christmas crafting!

H-1 built a creche and a manger out of popsicle sticks...

...then added painted details and glue-on gems.

She also made a whole cast of characters from wooden doll blanks...

...with hair and beards of wool roving, and remnants of finished felt for the clothing.

I'm not 100% sure why the 'extra' individuals are there, exactly...

...but I say "the more, the merrier" at such a thrilling event!!

H-2 chimed in by bringing home a table-top tree from a craft store...

...and customizing it with silver rick-rack and 'old-timey' decorations.

I especially love the 'blinged-up' pre-felt angel...

...with the happy smile on her face!!

Do you know what thrills me the most about these new decorations?

It's that my nearly grown daughters can still imagine and create...

...like...well...like children! :)

*********************************************************************

I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas today...

...and a peace- and blessings-filled 2012!!

Red and White Raw Fleece Bag- Part 2 of 2

The finished bag...

...with all of its little 'boingy bits'! 

Don't these stitches look like Dr. Frankenstein did them?!?

The leather strap is long enough to be worn cross-body if desired.

Yet another Christmas gift out of the way...phew!!

After felting, I was relieved to see that my mystery fleece perked up proudly...

...and I like the combination of grey and brown in the finished felt.

The choice of a leather strap was the right one, I think...

...and I expect that it will be sturdier and less prone to discoloration...

...than a felted one would have been.

I also chose to use a pair of earth magnets this time...

...for a more subtle closure than my usual "one-button" one. :)

Next time: This year's handmade Christmas decorations...

...made by two of my daughters!!

Red and White Raw Fleece Bag- Part 1 of 2

Covering a resist with white and red wool roving.

Adding loops (for the handle) and raw mystery fleece. :)

The finished bag...sans handle.

Machine piecing a brown leather strap...

...and attaching it to the loop.

This is a purse that I started at the Creative Felt Gathering last summer...

...since which time it has languished, sadly, in a darkened corner of my studio. :)

I finally decided to finish it (for gifting this Christmas)...

...and at first thought, I decided to try a felted strap with toggles at each end.

Unfortunately, when I fashioned one from white and red roving...

...it just didn't suit.

I then decided to craft a wide leather strap...

...by cutting up a piece of brown leather with my rotary cutter, and piecing it...

...then machine stitching it to the loops on each side of the bag.

Next time: the finished purse.

Pre-Felt Snippet Nuno Rug- Part 2 of 2

The back side of the finished rug...

...and the front.

A close-up of its highly textured surface...

...and here...

...and here, too. :)

I don't often 'play favorites' with my projects...

...but I have to admit that this rug really makes me smile.

After felting, the pre-felt snippets just 'melted' into the rug's surface...

...and the cotton gauze ruched up beautifully, giving this piece a very soft, pebbly texture.

The colors from the bottom layers of art batts migrated through the cotton layer, as well...

...adding to the absolute 'riot of color' in this piece! :)