Gifts

Here's a peek at a few interesting gifts I received this year.

Isn't this a unique gift for an embroiderer! I have seen yarn bowls before but never one for a ball of embroidery floss. This particular thread bowl (my name for it) was gifted by a friend who attended last summer's EAC Conference in PEI. The bowl was made by an artist from that province.

Gale, my granddaughter, decided that I needed a real plant for my studio. She chose this one because she liked the bowl the best. I think she did a great job of selecting the perfect combination!

This ornament is the Signal Hill Star. It was created by Darrel Pike, Saltwater Pewter, NL. Each Christmas season, a large star like this one, is hung on Cabot Tower, St. John's. It's light can be seen from all over the city.

My brother, Don Eady, Sandy Point Stained Glass, made these for our tree.I have quite a few of his gorgeous stained glass pieces.

I was entertained by humming birds on my patio, last summer. My daughter found this delightful beaded humming bird for my tree. She usually gives me an ornament on Christmas. Many of them have been from her past travel destinations.

I treated myself to one of Anne Lucas's needle felted Gnomes when I was in Newfoundland in early December. This is a 'cute' one!!

Did you get a chance to check out the links on the previous post? Well, here's more:

• Interesting felt ornaments HERE (scroll down)
• Stained Glass Ornaments HERE  
• Beaded Christmas Tree Ornaments HERE 
• Yarn Bowls HERE 

 Enjoy!!  

New Books

I wasn't going to purchase any more books for awhile as I already have an excellent collection. But since Gale, my granddaughter, has shown an interest in needle felting, how could I pass up Sweet & Simple Needle Felted Animals by Sachiko Susa. Step by step instructions and photos show you how easy it is to make basic shapes, attach components, add details and attach findings to make accessories. This book is one that felters of all levels will enjoy.

My second purchase was Simply Stitched with Applique by Yumiko Higuchi. This book combines embroidery stitches with applique using felt, cotton and linen. You will learn to create beautifully layered designs full of texture and contrast, then embellish with just a handful of basic embroidery stitches. The colourful photos of over 30 motifs inspired by nature, are beautiful.

Enjoy!

Wool Pets

Back in October, I blogged about my granddaughter needle felting two penguins during craft hour at the  Lunenberg County Lifestyle Centre. Well, two weeks ago, her cat got hold of the larger one and tore it to shreds! Gale was not a happy camper but realized she had to put her small stuffed toys out of reach. Lesson learned (until the next time).

Yesterday, Gale decided she wanted to make another small animal. We had borrowed Wool Pets from the library and still had it. This is an excellent book to use with children as it gives step by step photos and written directions for each pet.

Gale chose to make a bunny. Here's the book photo:

 Here is Gale's masterpiece:

I couldn't find my seed beads to use for eyes so French knots to the rescue. The mouth is black roving. I did this part for her. We measured the length of the roving and rolled it up. Both of us needle felted into the body. Gale made the head and we both did an ear. She did the legs and puff tail. The pattern called for two legs but she was determined to give it four. I told her she was on her own for that (under supervision of course)! Gale's bunny has a ribbon on its ear because it was to show that this is a girl bunny. She was very happy with her new felted pet. 

• Felt Ornaments with Decorative Machine Stitching 
• Ribbon Candy Felt Ornaments  (Hoping to do this one with Gale) 
• Needle Felting Tutorials on Pinterest HERE,   
• Felted Snowball Ornament 
• Felted Gnome Ornaments 

Enjoy!!
      

It's Never Too Young . . .

Monday is craft day at the local library which is situated in the LCLC - Lunenberg County Lifestyle Centre . I've been taking my 6 year old granddaughter, Gale,  there after school. Today, the children were introduced to needle felting. Gale looked through a book on 3-D felted animals, and choose to do a penguin. She was the only one to tackle a 3-D object. The directions were pictorial with written directions for each step (shown in the first photo). She read each direction and followed along with the photos. I helped her with the small parts : eyes and beak. She did the rest. Of course, she had to be reminded to watch what she was doing or she could stab her fingers. She also had a tendency to not hold on to the yarn with her left hand. All in all, she did a good job! She was a very happy camper!!

I have a feeling she will want to do a few more felted animals.

• Needle felted animals on Pinterest HERE, HERE
• U-Tube Felted Animals
• Needle Felted Sheep  

Enjoy!
    

Workshop at Espanola

As you may already know, I've been invited to teach at the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival in October. My Felted Fibre Art Pendants were of particular interest. Some of the details for this workshop, can be found HERE.  Registration starts May 1st.

I've driven through Northern Ontario many years ago so I'm looking forward to spending time in Espanola.

Needle Felting

This afternoon, with the sun shining in my studio window, I did a bit of needle felting. I totally ignored my felting machine as I wanted to see how long it would take to do a piece 4" x 6" using a single needle. The felting machine is much faster. However, on another note, the surface texture was more pronounced than from the machine. The machine tends to flatten the piece out. Flattening out isn't an issue, as that can be fixed with the addition of more fibres and gently felting into them.

I started out with two pieces of dark gray felt and added wool roving, bits of cut up felt and yarns.

 Usually, using a sparkly thread, l will free motion stitch over a piece that will be used for wearable art. I didn't do that for the first two pendants below. Instead, I hand stitched into the felt.

You can see the back stitch in the oval. I used lime green purle cotton #5

beading completes the pieces (colours are a bit off in this shot)

Spring Snow!

I wasn't going to mention anything about the weather here in Newfoundland BUT . . .  records have been broken for this time of the year! My brother, Don, sent these today of his place in central NL.

We didn't get this much snow here in St. John's!

This was yesterday!

Today - jeep (photo from a different location)

Today I signed my contract to teach at the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival in October. I've been asked to teach two classes of needle felting, specifically the Fibre Art Pendants. I will be posting more about the festival in a later post. Also check out the festival on Pinterest HERE. 

Enjoy!!

Which Would You Choose?

This afternoon, I packaged up some needle felted mitten ornaments. Of the two below, which do you prefer - the more abstract ones in photo one or those in photo two?

 

• Needle Felted Ornaments on Pinterest HERE,   
• Felted Christmas  
• Felted Snowmen 
• Needle Felted Cookie Cutter Ornaments  

It's still "WINTER" here in spite of the fact spring came this month so please don't chuckle over my Christmas theme on this post!!

Enjoy! 

Altercation With Paper

When I was a child, my mother said I would trip over a pencil mark (grin). Well, I'm not a child any more but instead of a pencil mark, I had an altercation with some builder's paper on the floor. I have banged up my right shoulder - well actually, the top part of the bone going into the shoulder socket had a fracture! Groan! And I have so many things to do. I can't even drive my car. The arm is in a sling and I will see an orthopedic surgeon next week.

So much for getting things done. I will try to get some interesting links tomorrow. Right now, I going to relax an have a cup of tea!

Felted piece done for a show. It is in someone's private collection.

Today!

Not a lot got accomplished in my studio today. I did cut out some needle felted trees and stockings but helping with renos took up most of my time. I did check out a few sites to visit:

• Quilt Story 
• Kelly Fletcher Needlework  Kelly on Pinterest HERE 
• Pattern Pile 
• The Sewing Directory 
• Tutorials from Don't Call Me Betsy   

 Enjoy!

Felt ready to be cut for trees, mittens, stockings, caps & sweaters!

             

Work in Progress

Besides helping with house renos, I've managed to get started on a few other small projects.

Early stage of making Fantasy Fabric

These two top pieces aren't the same ones. I finished the one below ages ago.

Finished piece of Fantasy Fabric ready to be used in a project.

Half finished piece of needle felting

Needs lots of stitching with sparkly threads

Lots of Shimmer Ornaments have been stitched too as I'm getting ready for the Wholesale Show at the end of the month.

By the way, don't forget about my giveaway on Monday. Go HERE to enter for a chance to win.

Enjoy! Goodluck!

Yarns

I added more yarn to my stash. These will be used in a variety of projects. I couldn't resist the variegated ones as there are so many different colours in one ball. Since I don't knit with them, I can cut them up and felt them or lay them out and eventually make 'fantasy' fabric to use in a project.

• Pinterest: Yarn and wool felt projects
• Felting, More HERE, 
• Felt Projects to Make 
• Free Felting Projects     

 Enjoy!!
    

Felted / Beaded Wearable Art Pin

I finished a couple of one-of-a-kind felted / beaded Wearable Art Pins recently. Here's one of three. These will be for sale at the Anna Templeton Christmas Tea & Sale this weekend. I will be on the 3rd floor.

Thank-you, Heather for requesting a fish to be stitched on your felted pin. It motivated me to do a few more like that.

Have a look at these links:

• Painting With Beads
• Felting & Embroidery (eye candy)  
• Wet Felting (tutorial)   
• Felted Snowflake Ornament 
• Felt Christmas Ornaments on Pinterest    More HERE
• 11 Felt Christmas Ornaments 
• 30 DIY Felt Christmas Ornaments    

I've also linked up with Linky Tuesday

Enjoy!!

New to Studio

November 17th and this was the temperature in the back garden this afternoon:

Amazing!!!!

A new 12 needle felting machine or embellisher, as they are called in industry, was added to my studio yesterday.  This one replaces my 5 needle felting machine. The 5 needle machine is in excellent condition but the 12 needle one is much faster for my needs. I will be selling the older one.

An added feature of the new machine is a holder for yarn and a place to thread the yarn so that it comes out by the needles for easy felting. I am making a few new needle felted Wearable Art Pins to replace the ones sold at the Christmas Craft Fair. There is also a place on the front of the embellisher foot to thread ribbon. I'm looking forward to 'playing' with this new machine!!

Here are a few felted projects / tutorials to check:

• How to Make Flat Wet Felting   
• Wool Felt Projects on Pinterest  
• Felt Goodies to Make 
• Felt Projects   
• Free Needle Felting Projects   

Enjoy!!

New Pendants

Here are a few new Fibre Art Pendants. The backgrounds have been needle felted then stitched with matching thread. Metallic threads are used for the objects (except the poinsettia). All original designs were stitched on a Brother PR 1000e, 10 needle embroidery machine. Of course, we can convert the designs to be stitched on any machine out there. Other designs include a sailboat, anchor, another tree, and an abstract three triangles in a circle.

Various background colours: wine, black, blue, turquoise, dark gray. I will also be experimenting with a felted background using various colours.

The maple leaf really stands out. I've had lots of compliments on that one (it's the only one I've worn yet and have kept one for me).

Needle Felted Wearable Art Pins

Here's a sample of my latest needle felted and beaded wearable art. These and more, will be available at the Craft Council Christmas Craft Fair next month.

Felting

I've had some productive time this week. However, the internet has been slow to nonexistent, especially when I want to do a post.

Both machines (embellisher and regular sewing machine) were in use yesterday. I used some of the roving purchased in Wolfville at Gaspereau Valley Fibres. Don't you just love the vibrant colours. I might have to go back for some more of the first colourway.

Stitched with Sulky Sliver thread

image is a bit fuzzy

Stitched with Sulky Sliver thread

As Promised . . .

I'm having a great internet moment! (GRIN). It seems to be working well.
As promised, here's Gale's needle felted piece. It does need further stitching with the sewing machine using a sparkly thread and ironed to flatten it out. That will happen the next time I need to keep her busy!

Making Fibre Art Pendants

I may not be as active lately writing this blog, but I have been busy. I have a few more Fibre Art Pendants ready for the wholesale market this month.

I used a white felt base and added other coloured bits of felt, wool roving and decorative yarns. This was then needle felted to hold everything together and free-motion stitched with Sulky Sliver Thread.

Linked up with Linky Tuesday (Freemotion by the River)

This is the start of the base fabric used in the pendants.

Finished base showing a tear drop pendant cut-out

Some of the finished pendants.