Rainbow Faucet Table Runner- Part 1

Covering prefelt faucet with black roving.

 

After needle-felting.

 

Applying finished faucet to the prepared table runner.

 

Adding the first rainbow stripes.

 

If you're 'une femme d'un certain age', like me, you probably remember a thing called 'customer service'...

...when clerks or tradespeople could regularly be relied on for expert help and assistance.

Sadly, this is an experience often lacking in today's busy world...

...but I recently was reminded of just how great it can be!

I have a new plumber who exemplifies the term 'work ethic'...

...he is friendly, honorable, and goes out of his way to help.

I wanted to thank him for contracting a large sewer replacement job for me recently.

...so I made him this table runner.

I started with a layer of white roving and cotton scrim...

...then added two more layers of roving...

...folding the edges in to make a nice, clean rectangle.

I cut a faucet shape out of prefelt...

...and needle-felted black roving onto its front and back surfaces.

I applied the faucet to the prepared runner...

...and began adding rainbow stripes.

Next time: the finished runner.

My Maryland Sheep &Wool 'Booty' :)

I couldn't resist showing you one more cutie-pie in regal profile!

 

Some of my 'spoils'!

 

Raw Jacobs fleece...you know how I love this!! :)

 

More new roving.

 

My children convinced me to think outside of my usual color box this time...

...and purchase roving in some new colors!

Although I did buy solid white, grey and black, I was especially happy with my new variegated roving...

...since I think it produces finished felt with depth and a wonderful visual texture.

Of course, I needed to buy some more raw fleece, too...

...(you know how I adore the multi-colored, textural quality of Jacobs wool!)

I indulged myself with a few other fun things, as well...

...pewter buttons with sheep on them, large, colored buttons that look like they were cut from a branch...

...scented handmade soap (patchouli and lavender)...

...a festival tee shirt and note cards...

...and a drop spindle that I now have to figure out how to use!! :)

If you've never had the chance to experience a Sheep and Wool or Fiber Festival...

...I highly recommend planning a trip around one, sometime.

The combination of 'fibery people', amazing supplies and "all wool-all the time"...

...is quite an intoxicating experience!!

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival '11

Little cutie!

 

Glorious color.

 

Don't interrupt me while I'm eating!

 

Beautiful felted goods.

 

I spent Sunday at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival...

...and it was an absolutely marvelous day!

Unlike last year when the heat and humidity hit record levels...

...it was pleasantly warm and sunny, with no rain in sight!

I caught up with a few felting friends...

...and ate the obligatory funnel cake and kettle corn! :)

I also spent a lot of time drooling over all of the wonderful fiber supplies...

...and the adorable animals!

This is just a small sampling...

...of some of the wonders of this festival.

I'll show you what you really want to see next time...

...when I post photos of what I bought! Giggle.

'Love Messenger' Bag- Part 2

The back of the finished bag with the flap open.

 

The embroidered love message!

 

The trimmed, reinforced strap.

 

The finished bag (back).

 

Because this was designed as a messenger bag and not a purse...

...I didn't convert the 'extra flap' into a pocket...

...but merely trimmed it off at the top for ease in access.

I had designs on this extra bit of felted fabric, anyway...

...since I needed it to sort out my bumpy strap snafu. :)

After cutting the strap below each elbow...

...I cut a rectangular piece of felt...

...large enough to cover the center of the shoulder strap like a sleeve.

I sewed the strap back together by hand...

...then wrapped the matching felt piece around it, and securely hand-stitched it.

I like that the new shoulder strap pad serves two purposes...

...acting both as 'disguise' for my error and as extra padding for when carrying heavy loads!

I needed my 'love message' to be subtle...

...because no child, no matter how 'grown', wants to walk around with a big sign that says, "Your Mama Loves You!". Grin.

I decided to add it as cursive embroidery just below the flap...

...in a shade of green that matches the bright green felt.

I think that most people won't be able to tear their eyes away from the wonderful large orange button...

...(a gift from my dear friend, Nicola).

And my message will remain nearly private...

...for my darling daughter's eyes only! :)

'Love Messenger' Bag- Part 1

Laying out bright wool roving.

 

'Embedding' a layer of silk gauze in the body of the bag for strength.

 

Cutting out the bag flap and handle.

 

Hanging the bag to dry (this is the back).

 

My second-eldest daughter is graduating from college with a degree in Civil Engineering in a few weeks...

...and I'm really proud of her!

I wanted to make her a special gift that would show her how I feel...

...and also be something useful for graduate school in the Fall.

I decided on a messenger bag, since they're handy for schlepping laptops...

...the thick felt acting as an insulator against shocks and bumps.

I cut a large rectangular resist from foam floor underlayment...

...rounding off the corners with scissors.

I laid out several layers of wool roving on the resist, like I do with my purses...

...this time, sandwiching in a layer of silk gauze.

I rolled the bag until it was shrinking and becoming felted...

...and the resist was starting to curl up inside the bag...

...then cut out the flap and bag strap in the usual way.

Since I used a rectangular resist, rather than my usual rounded-off one...

...there were two unsightly 'elbows' in the strap when the bag was finished. :(

I'll show you how I remedied this problem...

...plus photos of the finished bag...in my next post.

"Key To Warmth Cowl"...and More!

Dyed raw huacaya alpaca fiber from 'Sprite'.



Raw suri alpaca locks from 'Sunshine of Wonder'.



Magnets, note card, fiber and the wonderful cowl...all wrapped up in orange paper! (What else??) :)



Outside...and inside with wooden 'Wonder Why Alpaca Farm' tag.



Reading blogs is often a real window into the lives of others...

...and some very special friends have come into my life in this way!

Andrea and I were newish blog friends...

...when we had the opportunity to meet in person when I was in Michigan in February.

I felt comfortable with her from the moment that we met...

...and I left that evening feeling like I had gotten to spend time with an old and cherished friend.

Andrea is a wonderful young woman with lots of energy and enthusiasm...

...and she is becoming adept at each and every fiber art that she can get her hands on!

During our dinner, we arranged to do a swap...

...and yesterday, all of these amazing gifts arrived at my door!

She sent natural and dyed raw alpaca locks...

...and an awesome cowl in a 'Greek key design' that was knitted from her own handspun yarns.

The cowl is SO soft ('like buttah') and was made in my favorite, Fall colors...

...and I can't wait to felt something special with the raw locks!

Thank-you, Andrea, for these wonderful gifts...

...and for the love and care that you put into each one!

Turmeric-Dyed Nuno Scarf Part- 2

The finished scarf after dyeing.

 

Close-up of one of the circular sections that was left bare of fiber.

 

Look at the color change in the undulating stripes!

 

The lovely texture of nuno felt.

 

After felting...

...I placed the scarf into a solution of turmeric, boiling water and vinegar.

I let it 'steep' overnight...

...then rinsed it quite a few times to remove the yummy Indian food smell.

As you can see...

...the turmeric altered both the color of the silk, and the wool roving...

...and gave my hodge-podge color scheme a lovely uniformity.

Turmeric lends fibers and fabrics a very intense color...

...that I think you either really like, or really don't.

I didn't get much of a chance to wear my new scarf, though...

...since it disappeared after Spring break with one of my daughters! :)