A Plethora of Peculiar Projects- Part 13 ('Chicken Drumsticks' Purse)

Wetting out the project...

...prior to final felting.

 

The finished purse (pre-blocking)...

...with its ugly little 'chicken drumsticks' arms! :)

 

Machine-stitching around the edges of the bag...

 

...in order to transform it into a more symmetrical-looking piece.

 

Trimming off the 'chicken drumsticks' :( ...

 

 ...and the excess felt.



Finally...

...the purse, turned inside-out... 

 

...with its 'seam allowances' hidden inside the bag...

...and its 'interior pocket' now residing 'outside'! :)

 

Shown here with the flap pinned down in place...

...to give you an idea of what one of you might choose to do with it later...

...using a button and loop or other closure.

 

Finalement, I come to the end of my 'Peculiar Projects' series...

...and it's time for those of you who like this sort of challenge to come forward!

I apologize ahead of time to my readers who live outside the US...

...but due to the recent expenses with my daughter's wedding...

...this give-away will be open only to those who reside in the 48 contiguous US states.

Please post a comment on this post if you would like to be entered in a drawing...

...for some combination of the polka dot bag...

...the neuronal tablet cover...

...the eco-dyed helmet...

...today's 'chicken drumsticks' purse...

...or the multiple-resist bag.

In your comment, please tell me which project you would prefer to zhuzh the most...

...and I will try to coordinate your 'most wanted' if you are one of the winners.

I will draw three names only...

...and these winners may be surprised to find additional finished and un-finished projects or supplies...

...among their 'booty' when it arrives.

This drawing will remain open until midnight EST on November 5th, 2013...

...and I will announce the winners in my November 6th blog post.

Please make sure that I have a way to contact you by e-mail!

Wet-Felted Nylon Strapping Tape Bracelets- Part 2 of 2

Bracelet number one...

 

...with wiggly 'petals'.

 

 Bracelet number two...

 

...with a surprise golden center nestled among the folds.



The three giveaway bracelets...

 

...can each be worn singly...



...or all at once... 

...for an 'explosion' on your wrist!! :) 

 

As you can probably tell...

...these bracelets were a lot of fun to make.

Even though I'm no 'dab hand' at felted jewelry...

...it was really exciting to explore shape and color in this new way!

If you would like to be entered in the drawing for this set of three bracelets...

...please comment on this post (or on Part 1 of this post, if you haven't already)...

...before 12 Midnight EST on March 12th.

Good luck!

Felt Jacket 'Details' and Giveaway Winner

The finished coat front...

 

...and back...



...and a close-up of some of the Mawata silk hankies that I used.

(The blue wispy bits near the center of the photo.)

 

The cuffed sleeve.

 

The bit of raw silk at the edge of the hem.

(I'm grateful to my good friend, Kathy, for her masterful 'serging'!)

 

Adding a leather buttonhole and button 'support'...

...shown with coat open...

 

...and closed.

 

The completed jacket.

 

Since I've been home from my workshop...

...I've managed to finish the last few details on my jacket.

My friend, Kathy, machine serged (overlocked) the edges of the raw silk for a more finished look...

...and I added a lovely ceramic button with leather buttonhole and button 'reinforcement'.

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For my blog anniversary giveaway (the 'Sandwich Felt' purse)...

...a random number generator chose Karen.

Congratulations, Karen!!

Fused Glass...and A Winner!

One of the fused glass 'nuggets' that I made this summer at the Creative Felt Gathering...

...and another.

The finished shawl...

...outdoors on an unseasonably sunny day yesterday...

...and here I think you can finally see its true colors. :)

The fused glass nugget photos have been lying around for some time...

...and I thought it was finally a good time to share them.

I was able to take the shawl outdoors yesterday in the sun...

...and I think you'll have a better idea, now, of the color green it actually is. :)

From a random number generator site...

...I drew the number of the winner.

Grazyna, you have won this shawl...

...please send your full name and mailing address to...

...heather(dot)woollove(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks to all who commented and entered the drawing.

Leafy Cobweb Shawl- Part 2 of 2

Adding dyed flax bits...

...here in close up.

The back side of the finished shawl...

...and the front.

Some close ups of the finished color additions...

...but they are not quite 'true', color wise...

...since the actual color of the shawl is closer to this.



In true cobweb fashion...

...this scarf sports some 'open areas'...

...read 'holes'. :)

I've taken photos over a couple of days, now...

...but some are too washed out, and some are too green!

Suffice it to say that the true color lies somewhere in-between...

...and I think it would look pretty with lots of different jackets.

If you would like a chance to win this shawl...

...please leave a comment on this post (if you haven't already on Part 1)...

...and I will add you to the list.

I will close the drawing at Midnight (EST) on 11/27/11...

...and will announce the winner on 11/28/11.

Good luck!

Leafy Cobweb Shawl- Part 1 of 2

Laying out roving...

...with my friend, Dawn, who was visiting from Michigan at the time. (Yay!)

Filling in the outline...

...and adding my own hand-spun orange yarn around the perimeter.

Wrapping wool around the yarn to make a firm edge...

...here, wetted out and seen in close-up.

While my friend, Dawn was here in August...

...we took the time to make a few projects together.

I'd been wanting to make another cobweb shawl (even had a particular shape in mind)...

...and Dawn was gracious enough to help!

It's always a treat for me, having someone to felt with, but Dawn is especially entertaining...

...the only 'down side' being that I often had to stop working to clutch my side for breath from laughing so hard!!

We laid out a single layer of variegated fresh green and yellow roving...

...then carefully placed a length of orange hand-spun yarn close to the perimeter.

We added a second layer of roving just to cover the yarn...

...and folded the roving over the yarn to encase it.

***************************************************************
Because this time of year can be especially stressful...

...(especially for those of us who make handmade gifts for holiday giving)...

...I am offering this shawl as a give away.

You are welcome to keep it...

...or 'gift' it...as you see fit. :)

Please leave a comment on this post, or Saturday's post (11/26)...

...and I will add your name to the drawing.

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

Next time: the finished shawl...

...and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers!! XXO-

Banana Bread Recipe..Plus Bag Winner

Banana bread...

 

...a fall treat that's easy and satisfying.

 

Well, the winner of my 2 Year Bag-i-versary bag is Riet...

(Riet...please send your mailing address to me at heather(dot)woollove(at)gmail.com)

...and for the rest of you, here's a sweet recipe to try!

BANANA BREAD

1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 very ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 &  1/4 c flour
1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts

Cream butter and sugar.
Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.
Spread into greased 10 X 13-inch pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.
Enjoy!

Note:I buy extra bananas and let them get overly ripe, then pop them into the freezer for later use.