Felt workshop...just for me!

 I felt in need (ha ha!) of a workshop to make something JUST FOR ME!!!!!! When I saw on Facebook (it does have it's uses, after all!) that Meg , my Yoga teacher, was giving a felt making workshop I booked it. A treat after all my hard work ;) She's a very creative person & used to make felt hats & scarves & hangings before teaching took over her life.

Above are the samples having been whetted out & rolled a little.

A snowy view of Bla Bheinn (Blaven) from Meg's sitting room

 After a delicious lunch we knocked up a simple scarf shape, which I will probably cut (gasp!) into a couple of books to keep the samples in. I haven't done much wet felting so wanted to do little tests - on the left is a little 'pocket' using a resist - I'll make it into a purse. To the right is a piece of muslin with pink on the reverse, the idea is the fabric is 'ruched' when the wool shrinks. I'd taken some thread to stitch on small pieces of fabric at prefelt stage but I was probably talking (& listening!) too much. tho the right is a 'blend' of purple & turquoise with a silky top & thread embedded, above that is pale wool with dark fabric - only natural fabric will felt together with wool. To it's right is a deep pink & black with a 'moon' of black velvety fabric which is held on with whisps of wool, trapping it. I'll stitch for definition later.

 The bottom middle piece is your classic 'sea' colors with threads on the surface - I do like this! then a thick wool 'spiral' embedded & beyond that the 'real' colors of the shore outside my house - yellow ochre, terracotta & blood red with a dash of dark & lime green added, not the usual idea of sea colors, I know, but true. At the bottom right burgundy &  green wool trapping burgundy organza. Some lovely experiments.

 Above & below are subtle (for me)  but interesting bits of the scarf/book cover/hanging backing, whatever it turns out to be with bits of gold organza & gold threads 'trapped'.

A wonderful day of experiments & I will now have the confidence to throw more at it next time - it's amazing how bits of color disappear once embedded - & it'll be a lovely bit of fabric to stitch into of an evening once I've invested in a daylight lamp - the glow from the telly just doesn't cut it! I discovered I had 'Creative Felting' by Lizzie Houghton ( I had tried to get Meg to help me make one of Lizzie's coat's but she wasn't having it ;)  feeling a little guilty as I knew I had the book but hadn't realised it was by the same beautifully creative person I saw at Knitting & Stitching. So I look forward to pouring thru that using the renewed inspiration Meg gave me.

A very quick back of an envelope sketch - literally, it's all I had in the car of one of the views down the Elgol peninsua to where Meg lives in Torrin, half way down. I see views all the time, I'm so lucky but once back in the studio I need a visual reminder of what went where & what the actual colors were. I used to think a sketch had to be a worthy piece of work; now I'm getting better at just scribbling....for me.

Fairs over & a Mini Tutorial

Made a few things in the week to top up my table

Had a looksee for any half made cards in the studio but the moon ones always go so these are new

Was going to sit at the fair & stitch a few dangling beads on these quirky tree decorations but it was so busy it didn't happen, busy all over but I didn't reach my target so I won't do a school fair again.  I don't expect a fabulous fair each time (well, deep down I do!) This one is 40 mins drive each way of petrol, & I was in between the Lifeboats - how would I not support them with a child in the merchant navy? - & a school kids project to fundraise to go help kids in Peru - the Eldest had been on a World Challenge trip to Peru, a worthy cause of course. But it makes my table look so expensive! You live & learn.

Given that I found the switch to turn off the flash on our little camera, chuffed me!, I kind of forgot to turn it back on when there was hardly any light about. Oops, if I had you could see some color in the cuffs & all the moons would look like the 2 at the top - that was the New moon I saw on the way to the studio 2 weeks ago.

I thought to celebrate 3 years blogging - sometime in November but I deleted some early posts to try to make more storage - I'd give a mini tutorial.

Star Cards.

 I had some bits & pieces on my desk - I tipped the white/lace bag over to face the tipped jar with some delicious color in it for the close up pic.  I'm looking forward to clearing all this away now, but it does invite you in there to explore some exciting possibilities, doesn't it?

 So, if you can find some space, lay out 2 strips of cream cotton, about 1 inch wide, 8 or so inches long. I thought I could fit 6 little piles of snippets on each strip. I used my ironing square so I could carry it back & forth from the iron to the messy desk. Fuse thin strips of Bondaweb onto each piece & remove release paper. Go over to the desk & lay out your snippets. I made the top row pinks & purples & found enough blue velvet, cutting as I went,  to add to 3 or 4 piles, the pink silk went further & I'd go back & forth adding a bit here & there to the piles. It's not an exact science, use what you have.

You don't have to make so many, but if you need them this is a time efficient way. I added some threads before placing a small piece of lace cut from a long recycled strip so it didn't seem so bad to snip bits off. Take it all over to the iron & give it a minute or 2 on medium heat. Of course the lace at the top is no where near the bondaweb so after fusing you could pin each pile for sewing, or invest in one of those tables that has the machine sunk into it so nothing falls off over the edge - on my Christmas list.......2020! Using the lace at the top is so you can see color peeping thru the little holes & the stitched star shape is better defined.

Using gold metallic or light thread I stitched 2 tram lines up one side, leaving a loop & turning round to go back again. I had an idea to 'pull' the thread between each individual piece so I'd have more dangling thread but it got complicated when cutting & didn't help my tension....Iz, where are you! The pic I took of that was a blurry mess so use your imagination!

Having trapped all your little bits with stitches you can now cut the strip into the 6 pieces. Fray the edges of the base fabric a little, choosing the orientation of each tiny card to be - I turn it round & round & just choose the 'side' I like best.  This is where the production line stops & you give each little card your undivided attention ;) Make a pile of them & then find some darker base fabric, for a little contrast & to make another stablising layer. Cut a strip a little wider than the top piece , fray the edge & place each piece onto it cutting it to size & making another pile by the sewing machine.

I know we can all draw a star but above is how I do it! I find it helps to have a little drawing by the machine. Thread your machine with black or dark thread. I start at the bottom right & continue following the arrows. (is this how everyone draws their stars?!) So the first line is reverse stitch, the next forward stitch etc; with the first reverse stitch look at your drawing & aim for where you think the top should be & the rest sort of follows. (If it doesn't follow then draw it out on the back, stitch, turn over  & then your second pass can follow the shape made by the bobbin thread.) Then I go over the whole star again - if you're good at free motion stitching go right ahead!

I leave my threads hanging, you may have noticed! For a rustic look I used some brown paper for the last layer - this happens to be the paper that comes between layers of apples at work, lovely texture - cut roughly to size keeping everything together in yet another pile, ready to glue. Use the glue stick on the paper, it doesn't like fabric & press each piece firmly, then go thru the pie again glueing the back of the piece before placing on the card.

 Voila, a lovely pile of cards - they did well, I'm glad to say. Choose your favorite & scan it if you want to make an 'e card' as well for long distance friends & family. There's nothing like a handmade card.

The card bottom right went a little 'wrong' in the position of the star but instead of binning it I went over it with gold visually ooching it towards the 'right' direction. I try not to use those word very often in my studio!

Hope you've enjoyed this little tut. I'll leave you with a pic of moonrise from my bedroom window

& moonset on the way out this morning.

He's gone.....to Australia

Well, that's the Youngest gone, waiting to fly as we speak! I was pleasantly distracted tho at a very successful craft fair today, probably my best, very happy!

 I managed not to be overemotional, just enough to let him know I'd miss him like bu%*$ry!

We had a fabulous weekend together, truly my very own Thanks Giving

Oh, they're all lovely!

I took a pic of a rock 

& then saw some circles

This one on the right the lovely DH gave me so I put it by some lichen

I got quite carried away; I'm sure there are some left if you'd like some ;)

Family weekend

Just a quick one this morning as the family is all together this weekend, for only the second time this year. As they're still recovering from going out for a drink last night - the 3 brothers legally having a drink together for the first time! - I thought I'd jump on the computer.

I did my first Christmas  craft fair yesterday about 16 miles away which went pretty well - couldn't not do the first of 3 & knew I'd be off early & back before they new it ;) Above is some new work I made last week, heart decorations & a new design of a star card & more doves from fabric paper which I designed last year. There's a cuff on the left I made from some bitty fabric I found tucked in my WIP drawer & a purse from the piece of fabric I just made, using the rest of it for the hearts - there are a couple of hearts there from other bits from that drawer.

 A couple more of the star cards, 'scuse the reflections - what, take a pic before I bag them up while the car engine is revving to go? Cuffs were the name of the game yesterday - great for gifts & small enough when travelling to see family. I'll be making a few more of those this week ;)

An overall pic - I decided to loose the tree that displayed he decorations - too bulky & I don't think people realise the decs are for sale despite the size of the price tag! I did sell one tho - they smell deliciously of French lavender, still smelling wonderful, even tho I asked my friend could I cut it back 2 summers ago on holiday there. When I did this fair in the summer my profit was £4 & quite despondent I was, but yesterday my target was 'a reasonable weeks shops worth' & I achieved it. Delighted I am. The boys were impressed, didn't think I'd get THAT much!

Despite them making a lot of happy noise when they came home last night, it's a wonderful feeling to have them all here & as this rainbow outside my French windows this morning proves, yet again, this is truly my pot of gold.

Oh, Monday Morning already!

Working hard to finish off 3 pieces for Skyeworks gallery Winter Exhibition, I totally forgot we had a neighbors party to go to on Saturday night - we never go to parties! So my post went out the window, as it did last night due to slight fatigue after a good long days work (not in the studio). Hunkered down in front of the fire instead to watch Homeland with the Youngest. We won't have many more nights of these family viewings as in less than 2 weeks he  heads of to Sydney, Australia......for 5 months of working & travelling. 5 months?

Welcome to my new followers, tried to follow one & no links on a couple of others - comment so I can come by, thanks!

Seedhead, based on the fennel in my garden. I had thought a hint of green but blue got in there....

 Landscape. very less is more for me, but the DH thought it was veering too much towards the less! I just laughed ;)

But these 3 variation pics have me stumped. It just seemed to get too busy, even with the added bits below

Better completely cropped? But now it's too small. The others are about 8x8" to be mounted on a canvas of 10x10" & if I crop it as below it's only about 5x5"

 & the Youngest described it as a bit grim - meaning too dark & said it looked like underwear. Wasn't happy when I agreed there was a bit of underwear in there.....but you shouldn't be able to tell should you? Specially when you're only JUST 18 end of October!

Strangely this one had actual real inspiration - I meant to post this pic last week - love this gnarled old Rowan tree outside the one derelict house in the village (I think every village has one) Then the image was reinforced at my Yoga class - during Yoga Nidra, the relaxation bit, we were to bring an image into our mind of the words Meg said & one of them was 'rowan berries against a blue sky' so in my pic I just shoved the berries along a bit. Anyway, would you cut out the business & give it a plain surround? In gold, rust, grey,  blue or white lace? I'd love your opinion.

 I was given a commission by some lovely holiday home neighbors, who've bought from me before......

 A coffee pot warmer. This caused me a lot of anxiety considering I'd never made one before & well...

 It could be something you wear up top, or a notebook cover, or really a great big cuff - that was my approach so I could get round the idea of making it. The DH couldn't believe how neat it was!

& look, I'm practically a quilter! (it has that squishy stuff inside & a top & a lining) They appreciated the Zophany & Sanderson fabrics & loved it...so I'm happy & that's what counts ;)

The made up purses & cuffs from last week, working on the rest!

Lots of bits around so I made a couple of cards.

 & then my first part of my shoe!

I have a confession to make, I have an addiction to chocolate, mainly snickers bars. I love chocolate but I don't want the addiction so I'm trying to make something a little crazy to keep me distracted, like the shoe & this above which will take years to come to fruition as this piece (the shoe piece is a better color representation) is only about 3x3"!

Some PhD's (projects half done ;)

I left production till the last minute this week, well, as usual, really.

I made a piece of fabric using some of the lovely gift from Heloise & got a chance to practice using my new gardening free machine embroidery gloves - fabulous! They're covered in little rubbery dots. It still 'pulls' in my forearms/elbows doing fme but the gloves make it less painful - I got one pair for the garden too ;)

Under my hands is one piece of fabric covered in purply snippets one side with purple organza & the other side pinky, orange & green bits covered with lime green organza - delicious stuff. It's the size of 2 pieces of A4 paper/computer printer paper & I couldn't find my bondaweb or a big enough piece of sticky stabilizer so imagine me grappling with a million tiny snippets under moving organza - lots of pins were used (but not hurt) in this excersize. You can be sure bondaweb & the other are on order!

 So I cut out 2 purses with 'buttons'

2 cuffs & 2 'patches' to decorate book covers

2 heart shapes for decorations

& was left with the above remains - I can see a couple of bookmarks, 2 or 3 brooches, lots of earrings & buttons. Quite pleased with the amount I got out of it. I ended up using small pieces of sticky stabilizer, ironing the pre cut shape onto the back of the fabric (obvs!) Oh, what a dream it is stitching with stabilzser instead of wriggling organza, why don't I learn?


Went off to Portree in the week to the North End of the Island to make 3 deliveries - some work to the Aros Center where the art group I belong to 'Aos' is having a winter exhibition, I hope we have a party! Then on  to Tippecanoe, a lovely little gift shop/gallery with absolutely everything you could want in it, with a small order of cards, then on to Skyeworks Gallery     with a top up of cards & a discussion about dates for giving a workshop, not till next year, now. All finished off with a delicious Latte & baked cheesecake in their bakery cafe, wonderful.