Batt-sh*t Crazy!

We have a cheeky expression that we use here in Philadelphia...

                           ...when talking about someone who is certifiably insane.

                                          We say that they are 'batsh*t crazy'!! :)

                                                 Well, I am crazy about batts...

                                           ...and I love having them on hand...

                           ...because they can really streamline the felting process...

                                                  ...and make layouts a snap!

                                        Using rumpled, tatty bits of leftover wool...

                                                      ...plus dyed tussah silk...

                                                      ...Angelina or Firestar...

                                                             ...dyed nepps...

                                                     

                                                              ...silk noil...

                                                          ...cotton sliver...

                                                                ...mohair...

                                                                   ...yarn...

                                                   ...and little pieces of pre-felt... 

                                            ...I used my trusty Pat Green carder...

                                              ...to fashion a big pile of art batts!

                                                           Here they all are...                                     

                                             ...just waiting for the right project!

Portugal- Felt Flower Rings

Laying out the ring front...

 

...and back.

 

One finished ring...

 

...with a raw Bordeleria lock center, silk embellishments and beads.

 

A second ring, accented with mohair off-cut strands and Angelina...

 

...and cut into individual petals (on left).

 

A multicolored ring...

 

...with extra colored beads for 'bling'. :)

 

On our last morning of class...

...Nicola did a demonstration of felt flowers, beads and rings.

While I'm not generally much of a jewelry maker...

...I was rather taken with the jaunty style of her felted rings!

I made the first one with orange, short fiber merino...

...embellishing it with a small raw lock from the farm...

...(for remembering).

I also tried several more in different forms...

...cutting some into petals...

...and stitching on glass and colored beads for fun.

I may try making a few more of these at some point...

...since Nicola did a 'spiky' version that was really appealing! :)

'Della Robbia Wreath' Swap Shawl

My glorious swap gift...

...with yummy, fringy details.

Knitted leaves and dyed locks...

...and 'spun-in' flower accents.

So many kinds of fibers were used in making this hand-spun yarn...

...and look at the cunning little knitted fruits!

You'll notice that it's in all of my favorite Fall colors...

...and each time I wear it, I continue to discover new kinds of fibers and little knitted surprises! :)

My sweet friend Melissa and I arranged a swap together...

...and this is the amazing shawl that she made for me!

It's WILD and colorful and full of various textures and fibers...

...and I continue to discover new surprises each time that I examine it!

This scarf reminds me of a Della Robbia Christmas wreath...

...chock-full of knitted seed pods, fruits and leaves!!!

I know that this project was a long and complicated undertaking...

...and I am so grateful to Melissa for this delicious gift!!

Wet Felted Baby Blanket- Part 2

More 'bleeding' of the blue roving (and pink sari silk) plus a new friend!

 

The finished blanket.

 

A close up of the wayward blue dye.

 

"Hello handsome!"

 

As you probably already know...

...I'm not a huge fan of 'cute' for babies.

Odd? Yes. A little aberrant, even? Bien sur!...

...but, please, nothing too saccharine for those impressionable little minds!

That's why I had to add a spider to an otherwise tame doggie blanket...

...and I think it makes the piece much more interesting! Giggle.

You may recall an earlier baby blanket of mine that I decorated with pre-felt germs...

...in comparison, this one's positively tame!!

I used dark grey pencil roving to make the spider...

...and yes, I know that it doesn't have the proper number of legs...

...but hey, I'm an artist here, and six looked better to me than eight! :)

You'll also notice that the errant blue dye moved around some during felting...

...and although I'm not exactly happy with it...

...I don't think that it ruined the piece, either.

If you don't look too closely or even squint a bit...

...you might think that I marbled it on purpose! Grin.