Textured 'Neutrals' Journal Cover- Part 1 of 2

Laying out a few tangles of neutral yarn remnants...

 

...and adding bits of silk, lace, and cotton gauze.

 

Tufts of camel fiber, tussah silk, flax, neps, coppery strands of Angelina...

...bamboo viscose thrums, silk noil and milk fiber all come next.



The marbled layout, as seen through the foam underlayment resist...

 

...and through the first layer of wool.

 

This dot of blue keeps the 'front' and 'back' sides straight.

 

The fully felted piece...

 

...blocked and drying.

 

Making a journal cover in 'neutrals' was a recent challenge...

...but I didn't want it to be too plain.

Looking through my bins of fabric scraps and fiber...

...I pulled out everything that I could find in neutral tones...

...and added it to the mix.

Next time: the finished piece...

...with faux burl wood bookmark.

Striped Cotton Sliver and Flax-Embellished Purse- Part 2 of 2

The back of the finished felt.



Cutting out fabric for the lining and large inner pocket. 

 

The finished purse with linen strap (front)...

 

...and back.

 

I top-stitched the flap with variegated thread for interest.



The lining and inner pocket.

 

A textured button picks up the golden theme.

 

I trimmed the flap after top-stitching...

...but before sewing the buttonhole (to remove some of the bulk).

 

Because this bag is so sunny...

...it seemed to call for a darker strap and lining.

I fashioned the linen strap from a re-purposed thrift store top...

...and the lining from some of my favorite stash fabric.

I used my work ID as a pattern when sizing the inner pocket...

...and it's just right for quick removal when I need to 'badge'-into the parking garage. :)

Since I wanted my purse to be a bit more secure this time...

...I used a button and buttonhole closure, rather than a magnet.

Striped Cotton Sliver and Flax-Embellished Purse

For a deeper purse this time, I made a longer resist.

 

Adding tufts of striped cotton sliver...

...and long wisps of flax.



Adding a layer of yellow wool roving. 

 

After several layers of wool were added to both sides of the resist...

...(the black roving stripe marks my cutting line).

 

Removing the resist and turning the purse right-side out.



Drying the finished felt. 

 

The fully felted and dried piece, prior to adding a lining.

 

A close-up of the cotton and flax additions...

...and the black roving 'cutting line'.

 

The purse that I made most recently to use as my 'work purse'...

...now seems way too autumnal for our latest heat wave...

...so I decided to make myself a new one! :)

I chose yellow, because I think it's a fresh and sunny color for summer...

...and I dug around in my stash for some long-neglected embellishments to use!

(I last used the un-dyed flax wisps in this piece...

...and the cotton sliver was last seen here.)

I added a thin strip of black roving to one side of the resist each time that I laid out new wool...

...so I wouldn't lose track of my 'cutting side' or its placement.

Next time: the finished purse...

...with a fabric lining and strap.

Tote Bag Failure Becomes "Happy Cat" Bed

Wool roving pulled through cotton lace.

 

Bag layout.

 

"It's all mine, now! Mwahahahahaha"...Chloe.

 

Erykah gets a turn, too!

 

This was the first project that I attempted after my lovely week away...

...and boy, did it come out badly. :(

I was trying to integrate some of the new techniques/equipment that I used in Michigan...

...and in my hurry, I also made the layers of wool way too thick!

One other 'issue' is my continuing struggle with getting lace to felt in...

...a feat which my friend, Kim, claims is easy!! Kim, help!! Giggle.

I spent a good deal of time sewing tufts of roving through squares of silk- and cotton- lace...

...a technique that I thought would guarantee their felting in.

Unfortunately, even after felting, the squares kind of 'flap around in the wind'...

...and it's obvious that I haven't yet 'cracked the code' on working with lace!! :)

When I realized (early on) that this bag was doomed...

...I also knew exactly what to do with it.

I stitched up the slit that I made while removing the resist...

...and cut a large hole in the center of the 'felt balloon'.

It now makes a nice spot for my feline daughters to rest...

...and, since then, I've redeemed myself a little by making the bag I'd originally intended...with revisions! (Next time.)

Orange Flower Pillow Cover- Part 2

Fully felted, trimmed and beaded pillow cover.

 

Hand sewn beads and outlining embroidery.

 

The rear view...neighhhhh!

 

The finished pillow cover.
(The background looks orange in this photo, but it's yellow.)

 

So, ok...

...here's the disaster part of this story:

As I was felting this piece, I noticed that the piled up bits in the flower center...

...were NOT felting together!

I don't know whether it was because the pile I made was too deep...

...or whether I should have covered the back with a layer of roving for stability?

In any case...

...I was left with a center that looked kind of like a healing scab (sorry for this graphic image)...

...with cracks that went all the way down to the cotton gauze backing.

Shudder

I went ahead and finished felting it, anyway...

...and anchored the unstable parts of the center with small stitches.

Since I was fiddling around with embellishment at this point, anyway...

...I decided to add multicolored beads and embroidery, too.

I used some fun 'horsey' fabric for the reverse side...

...and I like the way the fresh green color of the back coordinates with the yellow front.

Orange Flower Pillow Cover- Part 1

Pile of pre-felt confetti.

 

Pre-felt petals and variegated pencil roving.

 

Yellow roving background.

 

The front side, with dyed flax additions.

 

Since my gracious and indulgent readers are not yet pulling their hair out...

...I've decided to show you one more pillow cover before I share one of my less than stellar garment posts. Har.

I took small cubes of pre-felt that I had cut from leftover scraps...

...and piled them up to make a multi-colored center.

I cut and added large pre-felt petals...

...and swirls of thick variegated pencil roving.

I covered the empty areas (background) with yellow wool roving...

...and felted it a bit, until it was sturdy enough to flip over.

Once it was right-side-up...

...I added strands of dyed flax to the petals for interest.

Next time? Disaster strikes...

...but all is later redeemed!

'Wool Ribbon' Pillow Cover - Part Deux

 

After trimming the pillow cover square with my rotary cutter.

 

Sewing the inner line of stitching to make a flange.

 

Check out the amazing Heather Ross riding accoutrements fabric!

 

Looks a lot better, doesn't it? :)

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I know that some of you had your doubts...

...after seeing the felted pillow cover from my last post!

My bf, J, wasn't so sure how well this one would come out, either...

...but look what a difference a little judicious trimming makes!!

I really love the fabric that I used for the back of the pillow...

...like Barbie clothing for a tiny horse enthusiast!

I hope you're not getting too tired of pillow covers, though...

...since they are my 'Christmas gifts de l'annee'...

...and you'll be seeing a few more of these as time goes on! :)

'Wool Ribbon' Pillow Cover- Part One

 

Variegated batts (some made from wool sent to me by a friend in Chile!)

 

Wool ribbons laid out in a geometric pattern.

 

White and natural flax fibers laid out over the wool.

 

The finished piece...prior to trimming.

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

Last Fall, I bought some beautiful wool roving at a Sheep and Wool Festival...

...unfortunately, when I got it home, I realized that it was very ribbon-like and nearly impossible to lay out or card. :(

I really love the warm red and pumpkin orange colors, though...

...so I resolved to find a way to use it somehow.

Since teasing fibers apart from the hank wasn't possible...

...I decided to cut and lay out the fiber chunks, as is.

It seemed to me that a geometric pattern would work best for this...

...so I designed a lay-out which resembles a quilt block.

You'll be shocked to see the difference in this project after trimming...

...so stay tuned for Part Two (next time) for the big reveal!! Giggle.