Just Listed on Etsy

Just listed a few new things on Etsy including this Rosy Posy quilted vest - my samples are getting out of hand - waaaay too many things so as much as I don't want to, I'm having to list some things to make room. This short quilted art-to-wear vest is all free motion stitched and it was so much fun to create - the lining is as much fun as the outside.

I've had some questions about the difference in weight between the small bags of Snippets on Etsy and the larger - the small bags are 8+ ounces and the large I weighed was 40+ ounces but please keep in mind it does vary -- build your stash while you can and I'll include a surprise!

Perfectec the green bag handle and now it is balanced perfectly - it is so sturdy and perfect for travel with so many pockets inside.

I posted about these fish before and now they are also listed on Etsy - let me know if you have any questions - I can just see these hanging from fishing line in a corner - they could be outside as well as indoors because they are both hand washable.

The picture of "Goldy" doesn't do her justice - it was so bright and sunny that there is a glare - she is so sweet!

Kind, Beautiful Granddaughters

. . . and very strong!!! A couple of weeks ago while we were waiting for our food to come in a restaurant, Emma and Meg were "thumb wresting" -- I had never done this so I wanted to play too -- well, evidently, Emma is much stronger than me! Today, thumb had two shots, traction and is now in a splint - what's a Nana to do? smile and consider myself very fortunate that we have a granddaughter with such strength!

Finished Felt Heavy Duty Bag

Here is my finished bag -- quite large (20 1/2" wide x 16" long) and lined with a heavier decorator fabric that has six pockets all around for cell phone and all those incidentals that we need to keep organized; I also added a magnetic closure. It is quite heavy so along the top back seam of the lining I stitched in a piece of small plastic tubing to keep it straight when it is full and the handle is attached to that; after using it last weekend on my trip to one of my favorite places on earth (Bluffton, SC) I do plan on making a slit in the top a few inches from the sides, moving the handle and reattaching it to the plastic tubing to redistribute the weight when the bag is full.

Notice the butterflies on the front - the larger one is on the bottom right front and was created with a piece of pleated shibori felted in with a little stitching added and the others are wool.

Will it All Fit?

YES!!!

I wanted you to see just how much will fit in a bag -- a LOT if it's crammed in!!! These are from my personal stash for sale on Etsy and include silk hand dyed fabric snippets, wool batts, roving and curls. For my Blog readers, they are 2 for $25 plus shipping with a special surprise included for each order. Each pack is different - they can be used for machine needle or wet felting detail! A great way to build your stash and have lots of colors for shading and texture. Let me know if you'd like a really big bag - $45 gets you lots with more curls!

New (felt) Beginnings

Needed a felt fix - and I have so much wool in the prettiest colors; so I'm going to make a very thick and functional bag.

Cotswold wool batts in lime/yellow, coopworth curls, silks, silk hankies, silk ribbon, and yarns - we'll see what transpires -- the texture is always a wonderful surprise once felted which keeps me coming back for more.

Gone (felt) Fishing

Blue Fish gone wild! Here he is still wet with no side fins.

Here he is dry but unstuffed.

Now he is fully stuffed and happy

in the garden.

I took a great class taught by Sharon Costello "Go Felt a Fish" the week prior to the MD Sheep & Wool - alas that first blue fish was "caught" by my little grandson, Win, and has since found another home . . . . . so

we now have a little goldfish too - made while we were at the lake (well it was impossible for me to be away without felting for a whole week!) and this past weekend my granddaughter, Allie and daughter-in-law Michele, came over to make more - we were so busy that they left before I could get a picture of their finished fish but we had a great time and now they are budding felters too!

MD Sheep & Wool Prizes!

"Song of the Earth" -- recognize the background? It was done some time ago but it needed "something" on the right side to balance and complete this piece. I didn't know that a cheeky little bluebird would emerge when I began! I started by sketching on to a piece of water soluble paper the shape and a little larger to allow for shrinkage. I used my embellisher to needle felt the wool before wet felting it. As I begain the felting process, I saw this sweet little guy begin to peek out and before long there he was, complete with worm and a few eggs secretly stashed in his cozy nest. He won a First prize ribbon!

"Circles" won a Second place at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. A gorgeous piece of silk from Emma Onesock inspired the rest - a hand dyed silk "circles" scarf was dyed the same shade of "leafy" green and some deep plum accents added to match the subtle flowers in the silk print as well as some embroidered and embellished circles - what fun to make and to wear!

The Maryland Sheep & Wool took place on the same weekend as we were leaving for vacation this year although I did get to take a class a few days before it officially opened. I did enter three items and won 2 "First" place ribbons and a "Second." This indigo vest -- all the various bits and pieces dyed in the vat, felted together, embellished in areas with my Babylock Embellisher then stitched; I had a great time designing this and it fits like a charm.