"Bedecked Christmas Tree" Hat- Part 2 of 4

Adding additional layers of fiber to the resist surface...

                         ...and narrowing the brown (trunk) area a bit on each side.

                                Layers of wool are added over a small pocket resist...

                                        ...and yarn-embellished pre-felt squares...

                                                  ...decorate the 'tree skirt'.

                              Three narrow felt cords are fashioned on each side...

             ...(prevented from 'felting in' by a thin strip of bubble wrap down the middle).

                                     A star shaped resist is cut from bubble wrap...

                ...and the resulting tree-top star is embellished with golden tussah silk...

                                                   ...and pre-felt accents.

                                              After partially felting the star...

                                               ...it's stuffed with loose roving...

                                         ...and attached to the top of the tree...

                                               ...using large basting stitches.

                                          Next time: 'tree branches' are added...

                                                   ...and the felting continues!

"Bedecked Christmas Tree" Hat- Part 1 of 4

By enlarging and modifying the resist that I originally crafted for this hat...

                                      ...I was able to fashion a tree-shaped resist...

               ...just the right size for my son-in-law's 'special request' Christmas hat.

                    Placing my newly created pattern under a sheet of bubble wrap...

                           ...and drawing around it to create a bubble wrap resist.

                               Using wool and dyed tussah silks in each colourway...

                        ...I created custom blended batts in both brown and green.

                                            Laying out the first layers of wool...

                                                    ...and wetting them out.

                                            After flipping the project to side two...

                            ...and wrapping the wool 'rays' from side one to side two...

                                          Additional layers of fiber were added...

                                                        ...and wetted out.

                                   Next time: I fashion a star for the top of the tree...

                                        ...and decorate the Christmas tree 'skirt'! :)

A Trip "Down South" to Visit Feltmaker Friends!

Ripe persimmon on a shibori placemat.

                                                         Cobalt blue glass...

                                                    ...and handmade quilts...

                                              ...adorn my friend, Lorin's studio.

                                                         Bookmaking tools...

                                                              ...and leather...

                                        ...develop into gorgeous finished samples.

                          
                                                  Spools of shimmery thread...

                                                       ...jars of bottle caps...

                                            ...and journals, all provide inspiration.

            Here, my friends Lorin and Kathy prepare signatures for their handmade books.

                                    Along with dabbling in bookmaking last week...

                                       ...I did manage to get a little felting done. 

                             Here's a shade, designed for Lorin's wooden lamp...

                                                  ...drying on a glass bottle.

                                             Since I was already in Tennessee...

                       ...it seemed a reasonable thing to make a side trip to Asheville, NC...

                                                  ...to visit my friend Paddy.

                                   Here, Lorin and Paddy enjoy a delicious lunch...

                                       ...at the terrific downtown eatery, Modesto.

                                                  For dinner that same day...

        ...we were treated to Paddy's splendid artichoke heart, sun dried tomato...

                                                      ...and pesto pizza!

                                          (Just look at my beautiful friends!)

                                                    Once back in Knoxville...

                                  ...we took a brisk morning walk through the city...

                                                 ...to visit the Sunsphere...

             ...site of the 1982 World's Fair and an engineering marvel at the time...

                         ...(according to Paddy's 99 year old father-in-law, Ridgeway...

                                             ...who had a hand in its creation)! 

                                        We also enjoyed a spectacular breakfast...

                                        ...including melt-in-your-mouth biscuits...

                                            ...and make-your-own omelets...

                                            ...in this charming Knoxville eatery...

                                                 ...The Tomato Head!! :)

                                             Thanks, again, Lorin, Kathy and Paddy!

                                               

"Roaring Twenties Cloche" (Red Version)- Part 2 of 2

Making rows of slits in the partially felted wool...

                            ...and trimming the bottom edge into individual teardrops...

                                              ...prior to completing the felting.

                                                     To me, the finished hat...

...has a rather '1920's' appearance...

                                              ...and despite its airy piercings...

                                                 ...it's quite a warm winter hat!