'Art Nouveau' Zippered Bags- Part 3

Neatening up the felt envelopes...

...by trimming off the 'cutting line' portion.

                                                           The striped side...

                                                            ...the interior...

                                                       ...and the motif side.

                                                     Choosing bright zippers...

                                     ...that coordinate with the colors in each bag.

                                                 Trimming the zippers to fit...

                                                 ...pinning them into place...

                                                   ...and hand-basting them...

                                                ...with strong nylon thread.

                                                Next time: the finished bags!

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 4

The relatively dull interior of the finished bag...

                                                 ...receives a 'color infusion'...

                                        ...with the installation of this bright zipper!

                                                           The finished bag...

                                      ...with its larger pieced nuno pre-felt 'cousin'.

                       It's interesting to note how the colors of the printed silk change...

                                 ...depending on the color of the wool underneath! 

                              I'll be taking a short blog break to visit with dear friends.

                                                     See you in early April! 

Long-Limbed Creature for Hayes- Part 4

After fulling the project...

                                       ...the creature is gently pulled into shape...

                    ...and a few strands of bright wool yarn are used to create 'hair'.

                                                     After soaking and rinsing...

                              ...the toy is stuffed with small pieces of bubble wrap...

                                                            ...for blocking.

                              Once the exterior is dry, the bubble wrap is removed...

                                       ...and the felted doll is allowed to dry fully.

                                                                  "Whee!!"

                                         Spongy wool roving is used as stuffing...

                                         ...and care is taken to softly, but firmly...

                                                   ...fill all of its appendages.

                                                   Strong beading thread...

                                        ...is used to close the opening in the back.                          

                                             Next time: the finished creature...

                                            ...and my grandbaby's reaction! :)

Tunic Class- Part 2 of 3

Our instructor, the brilliant Pam de Groot...

...helping one of my lovely classmates.

                                                                   Luckily... 

...Pam brought several of her beautiful tunics along...

                                                            ...for inspiration!
                                                                 

                                                 Laying out my pattern pieces...

                                                     ...and cutting the silk...

                                                   ...and nuno pre-felt to size.

                                                   Using sturdy nylon thread...
                                     

                                                ...the pre-felt embellishments...

      
                                           ...are basted to the front of my tunic.

                                                  Next time: the finished project!

"After Gee's Bend" Pieced Felt Purse- Part 1 of ?

Assembling commercial pre-felt snippets...

...(re-purposed from other projects)...

                                      ...and piecing them together like quilt blocks.

                              Trimming a large, seamed piece of pre-felt into shape...

                                                     ...for the purse bottom.

                             Wrapping the resist with the 'pre-felt coat of many colors'...

                       ...in order to discover where any additions might be needed.

 

                                                      
                                   Adding small rectangles of contrasting pre-felt...

                                          ...to cover any gaps in the stitching.

                                         Using nylon thread and a sharp needle...

                                    ...the foam resist is sewn into its pre-felt 'skin'...

                                          ...and the opening is pinned closed...

                                      ...to keep the felt covering taut during felting.
  

                                               Next time: additional fiber is added.

"Bricks and Mortar" Pillow- Part 3 of 3

The felt side of the project (turned right-side out)...

                                                     ...and the leather side.

                           Inserting a pillow form into the felt and leather envelope...

                                  ...punching stitching holes into the leather side...

                          ...and sewing the opening closed with nylon beading thread.

                                          The finished pillow, ready for gift-giving.

                                              The 'bricks and mortar' theme...

                                      ...harkens back to another project of mine.

                                        Both pieces were made as wedding gifts...

                                      ...because I like the implied symbolism.

                                               I believe that a strong marriage...

     

                         

                                         ...requires both fixed and fluid elements...

                     ...and allows for the beautiful inevitability of change and growth.

                             Best wishes on your joyous new adventure, Chris and Jay!