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! 

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 3

After turning the project right-side out...

                             ...felting continues with a bit more rubbing and rolling.

                           The purse is placed in various orientations during felting...

                                                        ...for even shrinkage.

                                            As with my earlier nuno pre-felt bag...

                                  ...the wild colors and patterns of the silk pieces...

                                   ...become quite muted and subtle after felting.

                                                  The finished project, drying...

                                                    ...awaiting a leather strap...

                                                         ...and festive zipper.

                                              
                                                Next time: the completed bag...

                               ...along with its earlier (and slightly beefier) 'cousin'.

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 2

Adding layers of black wool...

                                          ...to both sides of the project surface...

                                           ...and attaching the hanging loops...

                                                        ...to the top of the bag.

                                                Fashioning an internal pocket...

                                           ...from scraps of colorful nuno pre-felt...

                                       ...and covering it with layers of black roving.

                                              After rubbing and rolling for awhile...

                               ...the pocket resist is beginning to work its way out...

                               ...and the felt begins to shrink and to become firmer.

                                              Next time: the resist is removed...

                         ...and the purse is turned right-side out for further felting.

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 1

Machine stitching...

                                             ...strips of nuno pre-felt together...

                                          ...and, from them, cutting two layers...

                                              ...just slightly larger than the resist.

                                        Clipping the sides and bottom into place...

                                                  ...with the silk side 'inside'...

                                      ...and machine stitching the pieces together.

                                 Placing the resist between the two pre-felt layers...

                                                   ...and covering both sides...

                                                    ...with layers of wool roving.

                                             Fashioning cords for hanging loops.

                              Next time: An interior 'pocket of many colors' is added.

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! :)

'No Particular Place to Go'- Part 1

Sometimes...

                                                   ...I like to go into the studio...

                                              ...with no particular goal in mind.

                                                             In this piece...

                                        ...roving, fabric and bits of failed crochet...

                                       ...become part of a textural pre-felt piece...

                                                     ...with hidden inclusions.

                                                    This experimental project... 

                               ...made from lengths (and clumps) of silk selvedge...

                                           ...plus wool from a soft, bright batt...

                                      ...is likewise felted just to the pre-felt stage...

                        
                                                 ...so it can be used later...

                                        ...in some 'as yet unthought-of' project! :)

                                    Next time: two more small felting experiments.