Masking off sections of my resist in preparation for the layout.
Adding a pencil roving moniker and handle design...
...notice that I'm again working 'inside-out'. :)
After removing the paper and stones...
...covering the resist with sections of a batt made from orange wool and bright cotton dots.
...covering the resist with sections of a batt made from orange wool and bright cotton dots.
Wrapping the resist in additional layers of fiber.
After felting and turning the tote 'right-side' out...
...trimming it...
...and stuffing it to hold its shape as it dried.
This is a Christmas project that I made for my dear friend Jackie...
...who just loves paisleys! :)
I used my usual circular tote bag resist...
...but marked off the handle area and added some writing, this time...
...prior to covering it in fiber.
After felting, but while it was still wet...
...I blocked the bag by stuffing it with cloth placemats...
...and steaming it into shape.
Next time: the paisleys!
24 comments:
A Gorgeous Tote Heather and i love the color, must try another bag one day lol
I particularly love the color you chose. It is beautiful!
Beautiful!
Greetings from Poland:)
Vibrant and cheerful - great for winter weather - I am sure Jackie will be thrilled with it!
Karen--Yes...absolutely! This one is particularly easy...just felt a circle, trim and voila!! :) XXO-
Pumpkin--Yes...we orange lovers know what we like, right?!?!?!
Iza--Thank you for stopping by!!
Rachel--Thank you! I am partial to this color in every season! Giggle.
Amazed and impressed as always!!! This is such a neat design and very functional too, love it!
Orange is wonderful color for a tote! Cannot wait to see the paisleys....I enjoy seeing your felting process.
What a great creation. Jackie is very lucky!
you are so unbelievable diligent---when do you sleep???
From a flat circle to a basket, it's like ... magic! You never cease to amaze me with your creations.
lovely! it reminds me of a basket i got many many years ago from my neighbour, he made it of orange twiggs. loved watching him working (i was 4 years at that time)
OMG!!! That is the greatest bag ever! The color is perfect and the name looks so stylish...is that a word that anybody uses anymore? Ah well, you are very talented.
I am continually impressed with your creative use of fiber. Absolutely beautiful and inspiring.
;)
I love the shape of that bag.
I have to say that I would love to watch you work. I imagine it would be very thought out but still a little bit crazy. :-)
It's lovely! And very nice color to see in January!
I like how you marked off the handles. When I have tried this shape I always cut something wonky. Did you stitch around the handles and openings or is that just how the fiber felted when you made the cut?
and how did you get her name to felt so perfectly? Goodness, I would make a major mess of that.
Oh, ladies--Thank you for the many wonderful comments!!!
Anu--I have a great work schedule and grown children who are all working or away at college, so I have a nice chunk of time to work every other week. :)
Ally--I love the word 'stylish'...also 'modern'!! (My children make fun of me for that one!) Hahaha.
Kathryn--Certainly a little 'wild'. I'm not the most 'controlled' felter ever! :)
Andrea--If you work inside-out, the name won't shift as long as you are careful laying fiber over it at the start of the project. (One of the big reasons I often work this way.) I only make one small cut to remove the resist before it's fully felted. Only at that point, do I make the cuts for the handle. This way, my edges stay thick and strong.P.S. You need to really KNOW where your initial cut must be made...mark it with a bright color of wool as you work!
VERY cheerful color, I love your "corporate" color orange. The shape of the bag is wonderful, so functional. Your design is detail and inspiring. THANKS for sharing.
Heather you always amaze me! How on earth do you manage to get your cursive so beautiful - when its all back to front and everything as you lay it out??! It just FLOWS!
I remember when my son was 5 or 6 he sometimes used to write back to front and even upside down without even realising it.. I always remember him doing that when I see your mirror image writing layouts :D
You are so darned clever lady!
xx
Terrie--You know me...I love anything orange! :)
I'm always happy with these tote bags. They are plain and functional and can be 'dressed up' in many different ways!
Deborah--Maybe I'm just dyslexic?:)
Ik love this bag! And the color(s) too!
Margo--Yes...we are ORANGE girls!!
Giggle.
Now that you've explained the cuts, I see where you laid out the roving. That makes sense and keeps the bag shape more consistent.
hmmmm, me thinks it's time to attempt another bag.
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