'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!!

Painted Silk Messenger Bag- Part 2 of 2

Trimming the inner 'pocket' flap...for better fit inside the bag.

The finished bag (back side)...

...and front (with un-trimmed front flap).

A closer look at the back...

...and front.

Preparing to sew the inner pockets.

The finished multi-pocket flap.

The finished front flap after trimming and top-stitching.

As per my friend's preference...

...I made a 'pocket flap' with discrete, segmented pockets this time...

...in order to create more organization within!

I used 'doves of peace' fabric to line the pockets...

...both for it's complementary color, and it's energy. :)

I considered leaving the front flap untrimmed for some time...

...but finally decided that I preferred more of the silk showing...

...and that by trimming and top-stitching it, I could showcase it better.

I made the bag handle very long on this one...

...so that Melissa can wear it 'cross body' as she likes.

Next time: Something wonderfully orange (for me!!)...

...and P.S. : Melissa was well pleased with this gift!  (Whew!!)

Painted Silk Messenger Bag- Part 1 of 2

Painted silk gauze and coordinating merino roving.

Laying out roving along the resist perimeter.

Adding the painted silk gauze.

Covering the gauze with roving...

...white over the design so that it would 'pop'!

Adding more roving to the back side of the purse.

The finished layout...front side with encased silk...

...and back side.

Cutting out the handle and removing the resist.

This is a messenger bag that I made for a swap with my friend, Melissa...

...and it was a first for me, since it was a collaboration!!

She provided the hand-painted silk gauze (oh, so lovely!!)...

...and I found complementary colors of roving and then felted them into a bag!

It was a bit nerve-wracking for me at first...

...wanting to 'do right' by her work and show off this amazing design!

Next time: I'll show you the finished bag...

...and tell you what she thought of it!! :)

Bag With 'Resist-Dyed' Accent- Part 2 of 2

Sewing the floral pocket lining to the inner bag flap.

The finished inside pocket.

Sewing on the resist-dyed accent piece.

The finished bag from the back...

...and in close-up (I think you can really see the purple/blue color blend here).

The bag front with tagua nut button...

...and up close.

When I returned home from the Creative Felt Gathering this year...

...with several lovely but modestly-sized resist-dyed felt pieces...

...I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them!

Certainly, they would be delightful as framed art pieces...

...and some might even be large enough to use in fashioning a zippered change purse or two.

So far, however, this is the only one that I've used...

...because it seemed clear to me that this bag (in these colors)...

...was just meant for this particular piece of patterned felt! :)

I machine stitched it to the flap of the bag...

...sewing very close to the edges of the resist-dyed piece...

...and placing it in such a way as to allow for a centered button closure.

Bag With 'Resist-Dyed' Accent- Part 1 of 2

Blue wool roving layer.

l

                                             Adding light- and dark-purple layers.

                                             Next, a pale lavender layer with blue tussah silk accents.

                                            Stuffing the handle with a core of wool roving to round it out.

                                           The finished bag front (as yet unadorned)...

                                                        ...with the flap 'up'...
                                                     

                                                          ...and from the back.

 

This messenger bag is one that I made for a swap recently...

                           ...and I used layers of different colored roving to build depth in the finished felt.

I wanted the strap to be quite round and firm this time...

...so I stuffed the cut out handle with a 'filling' of wool roving.

Next time: the resist-dyed addition...

...plus another tagua nut button!

                                   

'Peace Felt' Swap Gifts

Here are the wonderful gifts that I received from my Peace Felt partner this week.

 

A lovely silk nuno scarf made with dyed locks and Angelina.

 

A long, beaded necklace featuring felt discs.

 

A stunning (and certainly labor-intensive!) scarf made with geometric flowers.

 

I'm sorry that the last few days here have been so overcast...

...because these photographs don't do the gifts justice!!

My swap partner really outdid herself, making all of these pretty and feminine things...

...and though she claims to be a 'beginning felter', I just can't believe it!!

I'm so happy that we 'met' through the Peace Felt Project...

...because now I have a fun new friend!! :)

Thanks, again, Nancy!!

"Peace Felt" Project- Part 3 of 3

The back of the purse.

 

The inner flap.

 

My finished Peace Felt project.

 

The front flap with hand-spun yarn Peace Sign.

 

Check out this perfect vintage button!

 

The opened purse (back side)...

 

...and front.

 

Happy Peace Felt Day to you all!!

Peace Felt is a project that's intended to "create a continuous circle of peace and sisterhood that has no beginning and no end".

I loved making this gift for my 'receiving partner'...

...and I'm sure that I will love the gift that my 'sending partner' sends me as well.

Peace baby, peace!! XXO-