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Category: Needle Felting

Textured art yarn made from locks on a skein winder
A bit of this, a bit of that

A bit of this, a bit of that

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Hello! The writing of this blog post comes to you on a day where I am quite sleep-deprived, so you will have to excuse my possibly being a little off my writing game…

Allow me to start by showing you some art batts I created a little ago. I love art batts in general, there’s so much texture and colours to look at. I do so enjoy the batt-making process as well, looking at all my fibre and deciding what goes where, and how much… Anyone else feel this fascination when creating textured fibre sandwiches?

Speaking of textures, I recently spun an art yarn using some Leicester Longwool locks in their natural formation and I swoon every time I look at that texture…

Textured art yarn made from locks on a skein winder

This will become a weaving of some sorts, I am handing over the yarn to a fellow Edinburgh guild member so he can create some magic. I told him I wasn’t sure whether I was handing him treasure or a lemon (I believe textured weaving is new to him and I also have some plying inconsistencies on this skein), and he replied saying he would think of it as a pomegranate instead. I thought that was quite funny.

It is one heavy skein, as you might attest by the silly photo I took of it on my head.

Eleanor holds a massive skein of art yarn on top of her head

Finally, I also have news on my needle felted raven! The photos aren’t the best, forgive me, but this chap is almost complete. Unfortunately my customer didn’t like his blue eyes (a colour only present when they are young) so I have ordered some new ones to replace these. Once I do that I think he is complete. What do you think, is he finished? Would you change anything? Feedback welcome.

That’s it for today, let me know your thoughts and have a lovely week!

top of landscape sowing sky sea and rocks with cut outs from the oican
Maureen Shared her vacation, which became A Little Needle Felted Landscape

Maureen Shared her vacation, which became A Little Needle Felted Landscape

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I know some of us are very lucky to live near an active guild.  Many fibre arts people don’t have that source of fibre friends and inspiration. One of our guild members was on a road trip. She kindly brought us along vicariously through her posted shots.  Some were of the spots where she had stopped and spun yarn. One of the shots she shared with the guild particularly caught my eye.  It was a good composition, but the tilt of the horizon bothered me.  I could fix that…..

the original photo of Maureen’s Vacation spinning picture “spinning in front to the Arches at Arches Provincial Park”. not the odd tilt of the horizen. 1) Maureen’s Vacation spinning picture “spinning in front to the Arches at Arches Provincial Park”

Tuesday, July 09th: I was at the Kanata Games Club on Tuesday night, Glenn was busy and I had wool, a nametag size piece of green wool, needles, and scissors, now where is my felting mat and the fine Sharpie I thought I had?  Ok give me a minute, I know where the dollar store is, just down the hill from the gaming. It’s a bit too far to go with the walker, but really close by car. I was back with a garden foam kneeling pad and 3 fine sharps (and snacks) by 6:30 pm.

one print out of the photo to use as a template and another few to use as reference. i have croped the picknick table and some of the width mostly trees2) 6:30-ish pm at the Kanata Games Club.

The piece of green I had grabbed was a bit shorter in length than I wanted. It was also not as rectangular as I would have liked. It’s wool, So not a problem!!! I just added more wool fibre to make it the size I needed.  A bit of work with the Clover multie-needle tool and I had a solid felt base the size I wanted.

I am again using the template method of image transfer and a bit of divine editing of the angle of the horizon.

template method; cutting out the sky then using the remaining image to mark the sky, i have flatened the horizen so the picture is now on a slight angle. i did not add reference marks since the image fit over the felt i was working on. that will come back to hont me later.3) Cutting off the sky and then straightening the Horizon.

sky and horizen in, fixing not squaire felt base 4) Straitened the horizon, and squared up the short corner of felt.

cutting the next section of the photo out and then adding the sea5) cutting the next section out and then adding the sea

Cutting out the rock and the next section of ocean.6) Cutting out the rock and the next section of the ocean.

Continuing to cut away a section of the photo, draw in the new edge then felt in the open area7) Continuing to cut away a section of the photo, draw in the new edge then felt in the open area

I am not the fastest of feltres, this is about 3.5 hours.  Glenn has just finished his gaming and it is time for me to pack up and head home. I am pleased with the progress so far.

 

Wednesday, July 10th:

Resumed felting, ……time for a break, I got over-focused on felting.  Where did I put the camera? On drat, I missed a big chunk of time,  I had better stop for a photo break.

Continuing to cut out a section, then use sharpie to denote the edge, then add wool. replacing the remaining picture to check angles.8.1-8.2) Continuing to cut out a section, then use a sharpie to denote the edge, then add wool.

Laying over the un-felted space with the remains of the reference photo, to see how the image is coming along. You can also see that I have stuck the wool mat in a heavy freezer zip-lock bag. It has not entirely kept the fiber from transferring but the migration has been reduced drastically. This is the third name tag/ picture I have been working with the green base wool on this wool pad. I have been using the same side of the pad but now have rotated the plastic bag. I should last till the end of this picture then I will likely change it for another freezer bag. If you are curious let me know and we can investigate this further, looking into ways to reduce wool transfer to your work surface.

9) My Reference image is now on the computer, note zip lock baggie with all pieces that have been cut out so far.9) My Reference image is now on the computer, note the zip lock baggie with all the pieces that have been cut out so far. it’s above the Right corner of the felting.

I now have my reference image up on the computer, as I am working while waiting for Marie, from Texas, to start Wooly Wednesday on YouTube. You can see the parts of the image I have already cut off in a zip lock baggie so I can refer to them if I need to. (such as the area at the top left where I still need to add a tree in front of the water I have already felted.

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 10.1-10.2) This felting experience was enhanced by the nibbling of blackberries,  just make sure your fingers are clean before getting back to the wool. note the Sharpie it’s double ended (Fine and Extra fine tip)

I am now adding the outline for the right arm. In addition, note the double-ended sharpie (Fine/Extra Fine), and the heavy zip lock bag over my wool felting mat is reducing the amount of wool wanting to transfer into the pad. Blackberries are also very inspirational but don’t let them change the colour of your fingers and then your wool.

the arm is in11) Arm is in

adding shorts12) adding shorts

this is about at 10.5 hours13) This is about 10.5 hours

I still have a lot of detail work to do adding all the flowers a bit more edge defining and tree extensions. But I am quite pleased so far. Time for bed.

 

Thursday;  Finished writing my blog post for the 14th and started writing this one. Ok, I am as slow at writing, as I am at felting. (I did wind up writing about Ann’s Name tag before getting back to finish this one.)

 

Monday, July 15h: I brought the little landscape in to get Ann’s opinion. She said it looked like Maureen’s hair was curly I will try to fix that. I also consulted on the sheep name tag I was making for her.

picture in zip lock bagie, held on to shelf by a magnaet.14) Waiting for a consultation with Ann and I was working on her sheep name tag

I worked a little bit on Wednesday and got the tree in the top left corner blocked in. as you will see when I got back to work at the social. I like to be able to put a piece down and think about what I want to do next, decide on my options and then look at it again with fresh eyes and Reassess.

 

Monday, July 22nd:

By this point, it’s getting down to details and finishing touches. You can’t tell but in person, the straw yellow is not as embedded and solid as it looks in the photo.

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15.1-15.2) Assessing the progress I have made so far.

I have added a bit of a suggestion of wildflowers and fussed with the green undertones but something is not yet right.

Helping your brain to not just look, but see what it’s looking at can be challenging.

When you are working and get to the point you are unsure, it may be that your eye and your brain are arguing.

The eye says “this is what I am looking at” and the brain says “I know what a tree looks like! I don’t have to look at another tree” There are a few ways to help the brain pay attention and actually see what it is looking at. Here are a few I learned while painting but can be applied to felting too (which is painting with wool).

  • Use a mirror to look at your felt image. By reversing the image, it gives a fresh perspective and often you can see a proportion or angle that is not quite right.
  • Photography (camera, cell phone, iPad); look at the felt image as a digital image. You often will spot something off in the photo you did not notice in the work. You can also digitize the image you are working from. It lets you scroll in close to part of the painting to see details,
    • see the image in black and white or
    • oversaturate the image with colour to see hidden colours.
  • rotate your image and reference until it’s upside down (inverted). It becomes easier to see negative space and spatial relationships when the image is not looked at in the usual way.
  • Set your work and image look at it sitting vertically (on an easel or propped up against something so you are not looking down at it) Step back and look at the work.
  • Take a break, go do something else. Come back with “Fresh eyes”.

16) ways to help your brain see what you are looking at 16) ways to help your brain see what you are looking at

Remember that it’s your image, it doesn’t have to be exactly the same unless you want it to be. You can be the god of your landscape and move a tree, make a shrub shorter or fuller or remove it. Do you feel the image needs more sky? Then add it. As long as the image makes sense  (no double points of light sources unless you are on an alien planet with 2 suns) it will be believable. You are unlikely to hang the photo reference beside your finished piece, so move a tree if it offends you. If you are working on a portrait, you have to be a bit more accurate. Then use the above suggestions to help get as close as you can to the original.

I have put my piece aside, so I can think about it and see the image with fresh eyes before I finish the fine details. So I have switched to work on another little project for Ann. (which you  have seen; https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2024/07/24/name-tag-sneaky/ .) Next time i will show you what i find and how i fix it. Have fun and keep felting!!

 

sheep name tag with no name yet
Name Tag: Sneaky

Name Tag: Sneaky

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Someone mentioned that her name tag was really old and missing. I can’t seem to narrow down what I want to do, so let me look at replacing the missing tag for Ann. Now I hope I can finish it before she finds her old name tag!

Hum, what might Ann like? Sheep!  Ok, off to Google Image to see if I can find an interesting sheep. What kind of sheep might she like? The Sheep Ann has are mostly mixed with Rideau Arcott (developed at the Animal Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada), but I have heard her say she likes black sheep. Ok, let’s look for “black sheep”, “Sheep in barn door”, and  “sheep and wall”.

There was a profile photo of a Black Icelandic-looking sheep, which was very striking.

profile of Icelandic looking sheep with horn and nondescript background.4 seep in barn doorway, i sheep in old wooden doorway sheep in white painted doorway1.1) Icelandic sheep in profile. 1.2) sheep in barns

 It did not have as interesting background as I would have liked. Ann likes purples so maybe I could do a sort of purple sunset? After looking through many sheep, I narrowed it down to about 6 options but came back to the black Icelandic in profile.

Ann had mentioned that she found the nametag pieces I had cut were too big. So I should stiffen the background and then reduce the size.  To firm up the odd green felt I added more white wool (Corriedale). When I cut the nametag down, you can see the path of the needle, as it pushes the white fibre into the green felt.

wool base with white wool added then cut in half showing insertion of white wool into the green felt. 2) Showing the wool being pushed through the felt

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3.1) adding more white wool to hide the cut (front View) 3.2) Adding a bit more wool to heal the cut edge (Back view).

two sizes of sheep image compared ageist size of name tag4) Now to decide the scale of the image, to the size of the tag.

As usual, I am working from the background towards the front. In this image, there are only 2 plains, the background and the sheep! Again, I am using the template technique, which you have seen me use before.

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5.1-5.2) Starting to add a background. background blocked in.

background blocked in, used sharpie to outline face (and shadow under chin)6) Background sort of blocked in, using a sharpie to outline the face and position the eye,  let’s see if can make a sheep

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7.1-7.3) Adding the sheep starting with the head, and horn and then adding the body.

Not sure about the shadow under the chin, but let’s block in the horn, and come back to the shadow. As i worked i kept asking Ann for her input. She didn’t seem to suspect i was making this for her.

As you have likely noticed, I often have issues with keeping 2D flat….. so I am making an ear…..a sheep needs an ear!

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8.1) making a black ear 8.2) ear attached

Oh drat,  good ear-age makes the horn look flat…. Got to fix that. I need to add more wool to create a more substantial horn to go with the ear. And the head is getting lost in the body…. Lest sift it lighter.

3D ear and horn9)  Now we have a 3-D ear and Horn that looks better.

I added a magnet to the back so she didn’t need to have a safety pin or sew-on pin.

adding magnet disk behind small pice of comertal wool10)  Adding a magnet by sewing a small pocket of commercial felt to the tag.  The second magnet is in the background.

I went back, added a bit more detail, and got rid of the shadow that had been under his chin.  now he might be looking back towards you, rather than ahead.

changed the sheep body to a lighter colour11) that looks better, no chin shadow, lighter coat

OH NO! Ann Found her old name tag but said it was looking a bit ratty and needed to make another one!! I need to felt faster!!!  she has seen what I am working on but doesn’t seem to have guessed I am trying to make a name tag for her!

Ann's old name tag 12) Ann’s old name tag had been found

I could not find a yarn that worked. But Ann offered a bit of her handspun yarn. Now What font?  “Ann” in Harrington font might work, it has a nice Art Neuvoue feel.

"Ann" in Harrington Font13) Ann in Harrington font which feels very Art Neuvoue

It’s hard to fit letters when the tag is smaller but let’s see if I can fit all of them. I had a few guild members wander over to see what I was felting but had my hand over part of the name. Maybe I am going with Jan with 2 N’s? Good thing we share letters!!

added Name "Ann"14) Ann’s Name tag done!

I hope I have not spoiled her fun by making her own name tag.

Ann trying out her new name tag15) She did seem to be surprised. I hope she will like it.

I was trying to complete this before Ann found her lost, older name tag, and felted much faster than I usually do.  I usually pause, and debate options as I am working. I can already see a few tweaks I would like to do. I wonder if I can borrow it, for a quick touch-up?

Up Date 07/22/2024:

Ann’s name tag, before getting back to work.16) Ann’s name tag, before getting back to work.

I borrowed Ann’s Name tag when she arrived at the guild social and got back to work.

First I edged part of Ann’s letters in white, to help subtly pop the name. I checked in with Ann again and she wanted me to change the angle on the “A” crossbar. I can do that!

“A” crossbar re-angled at Left baser and added white edging shadow.17) “A” crossbar re-angled at Left baser and added white edging shadow.

Now,  I need to add a bit more 3d-ness to face, and add a bit more shadowing on the horn.

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18.1) – edging on letters added, nest to build up forehead, bridge of nose and nose. 18.2) adding dimension to forehead, losing ear, will fix that shortly.  18.3) – ear fixed head showing more depth.  18.4) added fiber to forehead, front edge of the sheep face and nose. then added a bit of dark to the horn as well as make it a bit firmer. I also straitened the horizon.

There that looks a bit better! Time to check with Ann,

Ann inspecting updated name tag 19.1) She Likes It!!!

Ann inspects 3D sheep head19.2)  Much more 3D!

I hope Ann and her sheep will be happy and she can use it at socials, Demos and workshops!

Now that I have made a name tag for  Glenn and one for Ann do I have a better idea of one for me or will I pick on someone else next?

 

Nametags: Glenn

Nametags: Glenn

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Nametag for Glenn

As I mentioned previously,  this is the local Weavers and Spinners Guild’s 75th anniversary. One of my jobs to get ready for the party was to find and print out the nametags I had made for Demoing, quite a while ago, when I was demo coordinator.  This aligns perfectly with one of my goals for this year; to learn the names of more of the guild members.

One of the ways I am trying to do this is by suggesting using nametags. For the party, we seemed to run out of time to get everyone to make their own name tag, but I did have the old weird sheep name tags I had made when I was the guild’s demo coordinator. We used some of them last year for the Sale and Exhibition for vendors and demo people.

I dug through the computer and found an old file with some of the pictures.  After a quick perusal of Google image search, I added to the weird sheep pictures, then added them to the formatted guild name tag file. After a couple of days of work, I had the updated sheep-related nametags printed, cut, and ready to go into lanyards or pin-on tags for the party. This would also allow non-guild members to know who were guild members at the party.

a pile of nametags with odd or funny sheep photos and cartoons. printed on cardstock, cut out, and ready to use.1) Silly sheep Name tags for the Party Sale and Demos

As cute or silly as the sheep theme is, it does not fully represent all guild members as well as making their own personal name tag would. So for the long weekend, Monday social, I suggested we start the personal nametags-making project.

Name Tag Supplies: plastic bag with a bit of wool in a few colours. Bag of green wool felt underneath it. dollar store “embroidery” thread, little balls of acrylic yarn, bag of safety pins, Reece’s peanut butter cups and KitKat mini chocolate bars, plastic bin with sewing stuff, and bag with the last of the coridale bump In white and top black possibly merino wool.2) Name Tag Supplies: plastic bag with a bit of wool in a few colours. A bag of green wool felt underneath it. dollar store “embroidery” thread, little balls of acrylic yarn, a bag of safety pins, Reece’s peanut butter cups and KitKat mini chocolate bars, a plastic bin with sewing stuff, and a bag with the last of the corriedale bump In white and top black possibly merino wool.

I already have a nametag on my apron (one of the sheep ones and a magnetic needle felted sheep head), but Glenn is unidentified.  Glenn has been attending socials with me since he was released from the hospital in January. This might be his last for a while as he is finally starting a graduated return to work.  I had brought some over-washed green wool felt.  It looks like a pool or billiard table green, that’s been washed. Why someone would want to wash it, I have no idea but I found it second hand and it would either work for miniature war gaming or name tags.  It will make an excellent base to build up colour to make the nametags.

I suggested a landscape.  Glenn said he also wanted to have a train. (He likes those long, math-involved, 18XX train games. The trains are not X-rated!  it’s just that all the various versions of the game are covering the 1800’s involving trains laying track and the stock market. Board Game Geek describes them as: “18xx is the collective term used to describe a set of railroad-themed stock market and tile laying games. The 18xx set has two main branches: the 1829 branch (1829, 1825, 1853, and 1829 Mainline) and the 1830 branch (1830, 1856, 1870, etc).”)  it still doesn’t sound fun to me but OK, landscape with train. Ann kindly gave me about 6 inches of light blue combed top, for the sky, I had white, black and some weird bright green with flecks of orange and blue. I also had a bit of heathered purple with me. I overlaid the white first, it would tone down the billiard table green. Then added the green ground blended with a bit of the purple to tone down the green. As well as a blue sky with a few clouds.

covered green felt with white to make a slightly thicker baseand hide the intesity of green . starting to add sky and ground, using Clover tool and small pet brush for blending sky with clowds and grass with small flecks of colour suggesting posibly flowers3.1-3.2 ) Covering the billiard table green wool with white then adding the ground and sky. I used the Clover tool to block in the basic colours.

showing the back of the felt and how much wool has been pushed through4) The back of the wool base

Off to Google to find historical train silhouettes.

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5.1 a selection of train silhouettes

5.2) the train silhouettes under consideration in various sizes, then cut out to get approval.

-5.3) I thought he would choose this one

I had thought, “smaller train pulling the name “Glenn” behind it”.

Train selected, I printed out a range of sizes and cut a couple out to show him.  Glenn chose the largest one that obscured most of the landscape. I cut out the train and traced around it with a permanent marker. I should have cut out the train to make a stencil but oh well. I placed the train on the background and realized that a black train would overpower the tag.  so suggested a compromise, how about an outline of a train?  With the “Glenn” inside? That was agreeable to him and off I went outlining the silhouette.  I scaled up the train a bit further, so the name would be easily read inside the train.

outlineing train sillowet in wool outlineing train sillowet in wool6.1-6.2) Glenn chose the largest train which I traced with permanent marker, then started to outline in black wool

Next, what font to use? I went through the list available in Microsoft Word (2010 edition, yes I am retro but it still works just fine.) I found four options I liked and thought would work with the train, and then narrowed it down to Lucida.

4 text fonts “Glenn” in Freestyle Script, Gulim, Pristina, and Lucida Handwriting7) “Glenn” in Freestyle Script, Gulim, Pristina, and Lucida Handwriting

I drew a picture of the name on a card that would fit in the train. Going with Lucida as I like the letter spacing and the curves juxtaposed with the angles. Which I felt mimicked the feeling of the old train. Text isn’t just letters, it’s shapes, spacing and negative spaces and it’s filled with emotional content. Ok, that is likely just the dyslexia compensating for the rest of you telling me that b-d-p-q is not the same letter just seen from different viewpoints. Don’t get me started on the untrustworthiness of u-n-c, w-m-3-E or even t-f depending on the font.

glenn drawn onto a scap of file card to get spacing8) Drawing out the letters to make sure they will fit in the space available

Font decided, I worked from the guide and added the name to the tag, by this point it was after 11 pm but I was still inspired so kept going. The N’s wound up to be a bit off, so I blame the lateness and they are a tricky shape.

Well, it has all the letters, they seem to be in the right order, and I didn’t miss any of them (Glenn got both his N’s even if I think the second one is just there for decoration. Look how silly Jann would be with 2 n’s! well, actually, it gives it a bit more gravitas and does balance the weight of the J ……. Maybe I do need a second N too? No that’s just one more letter that could go horribly wrong!!!!)

text added into the train9) All letters are there and in the correct order! G L E N N

Now I am at the last step, how to attach it to the Glenn. I could add magnets, a broach pin or I could add a lanyard. I think the lanyard would be most practical for Glenn. So where did I put my kumohimo discs and fake embroidery thread (it’s braided so doesn’t actually come apart, so it’s not embroidery thread) from Dollerama.  No clue where the box with disks went. Glenn has been working through stuff in the living room and has moved everything… but I know where some of the dollar store embroidery thread is!! (Bedroom, wicker basket, little plastic bin with sewing stuff.)

I had the remains of a box of crackers so used a glass to make the circle and then messed up the bisecting of the segments. I need to divide the circle into 8 sections. Then cut a ¼ inch in at each section for the yarn to fit in. I have 7 embroidery thread bobbins (in plastic) to wind and I will find one of the big bulldog clips for a weight.

Cracker box cardboard with hole in the center divided into 8 sections. Plastic embroidery floss holders are my bobbins10) Cracker box cardboard with a hole in the centre divided into 8 sections. Plastic embroidery floss holders are my bobbins.

I want the cord to be reasonably thick so it will be comfortable on the neck so I divided the scenes in half. The tags say they are 7.3m or 23.9 feet. That should give me about 8 feet of braid. I will need enough to go around the nametag then up and around his neck. Not more than 4 feet. Just keep braiding until it’s long enough! You would need less if you did not want to outline the tag too. I got comfortable with making the cordage,  watching YouTube then listening to my book and realized I had enough cord and still quite a lot on the bobbins. I guess I can finish it while I listen to another book later.

Before I cut it off I sewed around the tag and got Glenn to try it on. There is enough! So did a bit more tied off and cut the braid. The last bit of sewing is to join the braid to the name tag and then assess it. Hmm, it needs a bit more wool to hide the stitches at the back and a quick touch-up of the front and it will be all ready for next Monday’s social.

Kumihimo cordage sewn to the name tag11) Border on and length of lanyard adjusted

testing the nametag at a guild social. yes it works12) Name tag working correctly at the guild social.

Ok, the tag works at socials, one last test will it work with the Kanata Board Game Group?

the Name tag works on gamers as well as it works on spinners and weavers!13) The name tag works on gamers as well as it works on spinners and weavers!

While Glenn was busy,  I started another little landscape on one of the name tag bases. I was inspired by a friend’s vacation photo and wanted to try it as a landscape, but I will show you how that turns out later.

June’s page is finished

June’s page is finished

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My June page is done.  I started late but once the mood hit, it didn’t take long to do. It’s not a very complicated one but June is a busy month. I work best against a deadline.

a pink piece of felt with stitching and needle felt

There is a birthday cake for my birthday. I hear I share June with several other blog members. It looks like grey icing and a grey candle but they are purple in person.  DAD is for Father’s Day.  It is International UFO Month so I had to have a cute little alien. International Bicycle Day is this month and it is International Blood Donor Month.

I drew out the different pictures on some washaway stabiliser. It worked well, except for the blood drop as you can see it looks fine here

water soluble stabilizer with pictures over felt

But when I washed away the stabiliser it looked like this.

The first thing I tried was needling the felt to move it back into place. it works well a lot of the time when things need realigning.  but that didn’t work.  So, I used more of the red thread to fill in.  I thought it might make the shape funny but it worked great.

I picked some grey for July. It’s neutral so it can take anything. I may just do abstract stitching but I haven’t decided yet. grey felt

Leafy Seadragon

Leafy Seadragon

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Several of my recent posts have been about the work that was being created by members of the Waltham Textile group for our Making Waves Exhibition. It’s been about six weeks now since that took place so many of our readers will have already seen images, and possibly the video, but if you haven’t, and you’re interested, you can view them on Facebook or Instagram.

Something else I had wanted to make for the show, but didn’t make time for, was a felted Leafy Seadragon. I discovered so many weird and wonderful sea creatures while researching for the exhibition but this species is in a category of its own!!

The ethereal looking Leafy Seadragon has leaf-like appendages that provide camouflage for this delicate creature
Image source: Treehugger.com

Leafy seadragons inhabit rocky reefs, seaweed beds, and seagrass meadows in waters off the coast of South Australia, where they have been adopted as the state’s marine emblem.

These timid creatures grow to between 20 and 30cm in length.  They use their ornate leaf-like appendages as very effective camouflage to blend in with their surroundings, becoming almost invisible to the untrained eye.

Belonging to the same family as seahorses and pipefish, Australian leafy seadragons are generally brown to yellow in body colour, while their spectacular appendages are typically olive-tinted and provide near-perfect camouflage in seaweed. Depending on the age and health of the individual some Leafies can also change their colouration if they need to.

The leaf-like structures are not used for swimming. They move very slowly using their pectoral and dorsal fins which are so delicate they are almost transparent.

Image source: @animalfactfiles


So I thought I’d have a go at making a Leafie this month and I’m hoping there will be space for me to display her as part of my submission to “Water“ – the 2024 Lincs Textiles Exhibition in Lincoln Cathedral at the end of August. Our work will be on show in the Chapter House at the Cathedral so if you are in the vicinity it would be lovely to see you there!
I know these creatures are normally pictured horizontally but for aesthetic purposes I’m using artistic lisence and hanging mine vertically! So, would it be wet felted and stuffed or needle felted? I liked the idea of wet felting the body but decided against it as I didn’t think it would provide enough support for the appendages.

Photograph of wire armature for a 3 dimensional Leafy Seadragon

Best to start with a 1.2mm galvanised wire armature and needle felt the body…..but what was I thinking when I switched to 0.5mm aluminium wire for the appendages? I was thinking I could form the leaf shapes using that wire and fill them in with painted lutradur……what I wasn’t thinking was that they would twist and bend and drive me nuts all the time I was needle felting the body! That wire was making the whole thing too fragile and too difficult to work with so it had to go!

It was replaced with 0.6mmgalvanised wire which, being retro fitted, would now require careful poking and anchoring to ensure they all stayed put! This also meant the leaf/seaweed shapes would need a rethink. They wouldn’t be outlined with wire, as I’d originally intended, because the replacement wire was far too stiff for that. But at least it was easier to work on now!

I began adding detail and colour to the head. When I was happy with that I moved on to wet felting several boney spikes to attach in rows along the back, front and sides and then needle felted colour to the body.

Next the new wires that will hold the foliage were wrapped with fibre and I made flat felt to cut up for the leaves.

This is where I’m at right now. There’s more foliage to add and the de-fuzzing to do so I’ll include a photo of the finished dragon in my next post. In the meantime I just have to share some inspiring Leafie sculptures I came across online.

I was blown away by the beautiful design and detail in these first two which are the work of artist Ellen Jewett Ellen says “Each sculpture is constructed using an additive technique, layered from inside to out by an accumulation of innumerable tiny components.  Many of these components are microcosmic representations of plants, animals and objects.  Some are beautiful, some are grotesque and some are fantastical.  The singularity of each sculpture is the sum total of its small narrative structures.”

In addition to her life as a professional artist Ellen operates a small scale animal refuge with the help of her partner on their Vancouver Island farm.

Image source: ellenjewettsculpture.com
Image source: ellenjewettsculpture.com

I also like this one made by Australian artist Dean Fox using recycled copper and brass on natural rock…… “I am much inspired by the beautiful environment of Kangaroo Island in South Australia where I live. The beaches and bush alike are a constant source of ideas and materials. During my working life in the building and metalwork industry I learnt the many skills I now employ in my creative work. I work in metal, copper and brass and may incorporate found objects and natural timber into my work.”

Image source: deanfoxsculptor.com

Mine is still very much a WIP but in my head I’m already working on a more abstract version for Leafie number two which may or may not involve fibre.

 

Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Blacksmiths, Moose Toungs and a bit of Spinning

Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Blacksmiths, Moose Toungs and a bit of Spinning

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First let me wish all of you Happy Solstice, with the excessive heat today I can tell the sun is working extra hard to celebrate! I hope you can take advantage of the extra Daylight to get in a bit more felting or fleece washing!

Today I want to take you back to last weekend (Father’s Day) and invite you to join me as we visit the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. I know the sign looks a bit less fibre-ry than you had hoped but just think about those muscular arms and have hope that I will eventually get to something relevant. It has been mentioned, I can be a bit verbose and have an obscure vocabulary to make up for the lack of spelling.

blacksmithing sign with shirtless blacksmith drawing1) Sign for the smith in with a muscle-y drawing of a blacksmith, there is something odd about the shoulder rotation, and thumb and wrist rotation but it does get the idea across. (Although this depiction will have you disappointed when you get there  by the lack of shirtless working smiths.)

Glengarry Pioneer Museum is having their annual Father’s Day blacksmithing Smith-in or Hammer-in (like a spin-in except differently aromatic and louder) on Saturday there are vendors, including one that had alpaca roving and one that had a support spindle and a couple of hand beaters. There will be just the blacksmiths on Sunday.

Spontoon project in various stages of production2) stages of this year’s project, a spontoon. Parts and various stages of the project are displayed on a wooden pick-nick table, there are two spring swages just out of the picture (you can see the handles).

This year the Workshop was to make a type of spear used for military parades (spacing people in columns and rows), but it can also be used as a spear. This is based on a historical piece and figuring out how it was constructed. It requires forge welding of very thin pieces of mettle.   I don’t want to overwhelm you with all the steps and the use of Borax to assist in the forge welding. Let me show you a few shots and then we will move on to a more on-topic, topic.

If you are really interested in the history of this weapon please check this or enjoy a browse through Google. (https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/halberds-and-spontoons/)

a series of picrures showing the curling up of the fan shape to creeat the coller, also using borax to forge weld it.3.1) montage of making the collar for the Spontoon, Borax is used to forge weld, since the area being welded is so thin we don’t want to see the magic Cross shaped sparks. The last image is one of the spring swages that will be used in this project.

2 samples of a Spontoon being held by visitors to the museum3.2 These are two of the samples being admired by other museum visitors

 (you can find more information on the museum at: https://glengarrypioneermuseum.ca/about-us-2/ )

I wandered over to the main office building, they have a washroom that fits a walker. While there I discovered they have a new to them CPW (Canadian Production Wheel. This is a fast-spinning wheel, popular in Quebec,)  it is waiting for the local Twistle guild to assess its spin-ability. A new great wheel is also waiting to see Gord, who is an expert on one of the local great wheel manufacturers. I unfortunately did not get a peek at the great wheel. This CPW has a Tilt Tension, it is missing its Footman and needs to have its treadle attached. It also is missing its drive band but that is an easy fix!

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4.1 –4.4)CPW new to the Museum it needs a new footman and to have the treadle attached

As I wandered back to the open sided area the blacksmiths were set up in, I spotted some of the local wildlife (yes I did see the deer running in the field across the road but this time I was looking up. the field behind the museum had been mowed recently and the turkey vultures kept circling the field eventually coming in to land in a little group. I am not sure what their impromptu meeting was about. Maybe who was going to order dinner? and did they want Chinese or pizza tonight?

These are truly odd birds, you can see them wheeling around enjoying the thermals. When they get closer you will recognise them by their red heads.

3 photos of tureky vultures, top flying in blue sky, middle 2 about to land, bottom 3 on the ground red heads are noticible on 25) turkey Vultures circling, coming in for a landing and then in conference, possibly discussing dinner?

I had brought my latest moose with me. But I could not find my reference photos when I got there. Oh, they must have been in the other moose bag…. So I focused on the lower jaw and inner mouth since I can work on both without checking the photos. (I had spent quite a while looking at Moose’s tongues when I was collecting reference photos. Google image search can be very helpful.)

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6.1-6.3) I was distracted by photographing the blacksmiths and forgot to photograph the moose tongue!!

I spend most of the day working on the mouth and taking (217 –day 1) photos of the blacksmithing workshop. Then it was time to drive about an hour to get home.

Sunday!!! 6 am wake up to get ready to get on the road for day 2 at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. Today I had my felting but also brought my Lendrum Rook spinning wheel. She is such a sweet wheel but still needs a bit of repair. One of the blacksmiths made some suggestions. I will investigate that after the guild anniversary is done.

first a few shots of the Smith-in and then on to fibre.

 7.1-7.2) Glenn getting answers to some of his questions

I took a stroll to the red building, with the textile and fibre display. There is equipment for weaving spinning and flax production. The great wheel on the floor has an interesting tensioning system with a garden tap-like nob. It also has a miner’s head or accelerator that increases the speed at which the spindle turns.

Red building top pictue also 2 vews of great wheel with tilt tention and odd nob to set the angle. looks like a bit like a garden tap.8) great wheel with interesting tilt tension.

 The flax tools are in a glass cabinet. The glass seems particularly thick and is very light reflective so hard to get a good shot.

tools of flax production hackles Skutching knife and flax with teasales9) Flax Tools, Hackles, Scutching knife, Flax and teasles

small saxony flax wheel with distaf infront of coverlet and blanket10.1) Small Saxony style flax wheel with distaff. Note the coverlet in red black and white behind the wheel.

close of of coverlet, looks like an overshot pattern in read black gray and white (the Gray may be the mid tone)10.2) Close-up of the coverlet 

There are also gardens, the roses, and peonies were particularly photogenic. I hope they will inspire you.

a few of the flowers in the museum garden, roses, peonies and a small purple flower i dont recognize11)Roses on top, unknown Purple flowers and Pink Peony

Lendrum Rook, small castle wheel made in the 1980's has an intersting tentioning for the flyer. this is a Canadian made wheel near Kingston ontario. 12) My Lendrum Rook spinning wheel from the mid-1980s. there is Cashmere on the bobbin, I will have to ply it to empty the bobbin

I had oddly only one bobbin with me, I wonder where I put the other 2, I will have to search later.  Since I had brought a braid of Bluefaced Lester (BFL) with me I had to remove the cashmere blend I had on the bobbin and ply it. I could not find Glenn’s book so tried my phone as something to wind a double ended ball around. It worked but was a bit larger than I would have liked. (it gave the yarn the opportunity to tangle if I wasn’t paying attention.) I took the inside and outside strands and spun them the opposite direction to ply a nice relaxed skein of yarn.  It was a bit fussy but it did eventually work out.

Now I can start the BFL braid, I split it into a thin section so it would be easy to draft.   I quite enjoyed spinning this braid and wish I had bought a second!

Combed top of Bluefaced lester my hand holding the fiber and my lendrum Rook wheel with some of the fiber on the bobin.13) Starting to spin the BFL

Through the plying and spinning my wheel had been unusually quiet…. Then the Blacksmiths started to pack up and stopped hitting mettle….. my wheel is a lot noisier than I remember the last time I spun with her. I think it may be coming from the footman. I guess I should start to pack up too.

Oh before you head out I just wanted to show you a display in the main building. You probably want to use the washroom before driving home (some of you will have a very long drive!)  there was a display of figures of rural life that I thot you might like to see. They are quite cute.

a figure with a knitty knotty and a man holding a skain figures Read Coat and lady winding a ball from her spinning wheel14.1 14.2) A display of figures, I have taken pictures of the fibre-related people

At the end of day 2 the blacksmith students brought their vehicles to load up their equipment.  Now I am sure this will make you feel that your wool horde is so much lighter than you did a few minutes ago.  You can have a lot of wool for just the weight of the anvil! Think how much more fibre you could get to equal a leg vice and forge!!!!

Packing up blacksmithing equipment, top photo blacksmith uses moving hand truck to move equipment. lower picture this blacksmith is takeing her forge home on the roof of her hatchback car. she is getting help from anther blacksmith to get te forge on the top of the car.15.1-15.2) Students packing up their equipment.  There were pickups, transit vans, a trailer, a cube van and a little hatchback car.

  At the end of day 2, I had taken 148 more blacksmithing photos (365 total)! As I mentioned that sign was very misleading, after watching, all weekend, none of the blacksmiths were shirtless.  I hope you enjoyed the weekend and will have a lovely Solstice today!

on far left small hand beater and suport spindle16) Oh I almost forgot to show you my perches from Saturday! a support spindle and a small beater for weaving

Theatre Textiles – Act 2 Scene 2

Theatre Textiles – Act 2 Scene 2

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This is a further Scene from my theme of costume and prop making for my local Amdram group, SNADS. The first one can be found here https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2021/08/23/theatre-textiles-part-1/  followed by https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2023/04/17/theatre-textiles-act-2-scene-1/

The next production for which I can remember making a costume was Sleeping Beauty in 2015.  I was asked to make the costume and do the makeup for Baskerville, the blood hound.  (You didn’t know that there was a dog in Sleeping Beauty did you? – How else did anyone find her inside all those brambles?)

After looking up some reference pictures (including one of Sir Clement Freud and his pet) I decided that the face would be part mask and part makeup.

Man - Sir Clement Freud and 2 bloodhounds
Sir Clement Freud and his look alike pet and another bloodhound – my reference images for Baskerville

The costume was in the main made from an old poly-cotton sheet which was a sort of mid brown colour with the odd dark brown markings in acrylic paint, and included a hood from which the long ears hung either side of the face. The mask was wet and needle felt, which covered the actor’s forehead, cheeks and nose, leaving large eyeholes.  This so that there was room for the eye makeup which revealed dropped lower eyelids.  The forehead had bloodhound-like skin folds, and the muzzle had my usual needle felted nose painted with Artist’s Gesso and then with black enamel.  The actor’s chin was visible beneath the mask so was made up to match it.

Boy on hands and knees dressed and made up to look like a bloodhound
Baskerville the Bloodhound

The next panto we did was Alice in Wonderland and I got roped into making bits for various animal costumes.  Unfortunately I don’t have any progress pictures and most of  the pictures I do have have been extracted from the DVD we had made of the show, so they are not of the best.  Hopefully they will give you a flavour of the costumes.

First there was the Cheshire Cat.  As with Baskerville, the cat’s body was made from an old cotton sheet, this time “dyed” ginger-ish with acrylic paint and with stripes added roughly following tabby cat images from Mr. Google (what would we do without him).

image of grey tabby cat face and brown tabby cat back
Reference images for tabby cat markings

The head and mask were also made from the same fabric and from felt.  The only photos I have of the Cat are of it inside a “tree”.  They aren’t very clear because the hole in the tree is faced with gauze so that you could only see through it when what was behind it was lit from that side.  This was so that the cat could slowly disappear as the light faded, leaving only a grin visible.

actor dressed and made up as Cheshire Cat and seen inside tree set.
Cheshire Cat inside it’s tree
actor dressed and made up to look like a grinning cat inside a tree set
more grins
Cheshire cat grin inside the tree set with 2 actors, (Dame and Joker) on stage
And just the grin, with Alice, the Dame (Alice’s nurse) and Joker (Queen of Hearts’ Jester)

Next there was the March Hare whose ears I had made from felt and attached to a felted hood; and the actor also used the muzzle with two front teeth that I made for her, also in felt.  Unfortunately it looks as if whoever did her makeup didn’t match the face colour to the mask so the Hare looks a bit odd.  This could be because the actor had a couple of other, bigger, parts in the panto, so her makeup needed to fit all three parts as far as possible.  I had made the mask so that it could be removed with the hood and that adds to the odd look I think.

Head and shoulders of actor playing Mad March Hare with felt ears and muzzle with 2 front teeth
March Hare with ears and teeth
actors dressed as Mad Hatter, Dormouse and Mad March Hare
The Mad Hatter, Dormouse (without his teapot) and March Hare in the final walk down.

The next and most testing task was the Hookah-smoking caterpillar and the subsequent butterfly which emerged from it. The script called for the actual metamorphosis to happen on stage, which was really going to pose a bit of a problem.  If this was going to work it would be necessary for the caterpillar costume to be worn over that of the butterfly.

In the story, the caterpillar sits on top of a large toadstool.   Usually depicted as a fly agaric mushroom – the one having a red cap with white spots.  This in fact is my scenery-making friend’s signature image and there are always some of these mushrooms somewhere about the stage in all our pantos (did you spot them at the bottom of the Cheshire Cat’s tree?)  Before the mushroom was made I asked that the back be cut away to enable the actor to be able to stand up against and behind its (chunky) stem.   I had decided that the caterpillar costume would be mainly affixed to the top of the mushroom and the head and “torso” would fit over that part of the actor which appeared above the mushroom.  The costume would have to be open down the back so that the butterfly could immerge from the caterpillar by stepping down and backwards.  I would need to make the butterfly costume first so that I would be able to fit the head and torso of the caterpillar costume over it with sufficient “ease” to enable her to get out of the caterpillar without assistance.

Again Mr Google helped me with reference pictures of a swallowtail butterfly, which I had chosen because of the lovely shape of its wings, and it’s caterpillar.

2 images - a green and black caterpillar and a swallowtail butterfly displaying its wings
Reference images for the caterpillar and it’s butterfly

I wanted the costumes to be as naturalistic as possible, which meant finding a way of making enormous butterfly eyes, remembering that the actor would need to be able to see through them.  I was sure that I had seen some half globes in clear plastic covering a large sweet, and after lots of buying and tasting (!) I found some, though I cannot now remember what the sweets were.  I made a mask which held these over the actor’s eyes and side of her head and which also covered the top and back of her head but left her nose and mouth free.  From the images on the DVD, it seems that I covered the globes in some way since it is not possible to see the actor’s eyes through them.  I can’t now remember what it was I used, but it must have been transparent at close quarters because the actor was able to dance around the stage without falling over the “little butterflies” which were dancing with her.

I made up the lower part of the face and I seem to remember making “mouth parts” and a version of the curled tube the butterfly uses to suck up nectar. These were attached to the mask between the bottom of the eyes.

head and shoulders of actor dressed as butterfly to give more detail of the head.
A very hazy image of the butterfly’s head (it looks as if she’s managed to dent one of the eyes, but I doubt that would have been visible from the auditorium.)

The butterfly’s wings, were painted white organza which had wire along the top edge.  I couldn’t add wire in the usual way the whole way round the edge of the wings because they would have to be squashed and held behind the actor’s back whilst she was still a caterpillar.  So we clad the actor’s arms and hands in black and she used her hands and arms to open and “flap” the wings.  This meant that the verisimilitude of the butterfly costume ended there – only one pair of legs instead of three.  I could have made some “pretend” legs to attach to the actor’s chest, but they would be likely to get hooked up inside the caterpillar costume and make metamorphosis difficult!

I made the caterpillar costume out of various bits of cotton fabric which I painted, and because the butterfly mask was quite large, the caterpillar had to be very large too.  The head of the real caterpillar is as wide as it’s body, which made that a bit easier.   I made it to fit right over the butterfly head and shoulders, with the actor’s black covered arms poking through as the first of the caterpillar’s six legs.  This was so that she could use the mouthpiece to smoke from the hookah which was sitting on a little green hump beside the mushroom.

Actor dressed as caterpillar with it's tail on top of fly agaric mushroom
Hookah-smoking caterpillar. You can possibly just see that the mouthpiece of the hookah is clutched in one tiny “hand”.
image of back of actor dressed as butterfly showing spread wings with empty caterpillar costume on top of mushroom and with Dame and Joker in background
The emerged butterfly showing off her wings. The empty caterpillar on the fly agaric mushroom is no longer smoking its Hookah and Nursie and Joker are seeing the little butterflies off stage.

Our next panto was Ali Baba.  I didn’t have to make any of the costumes for this.  I played the front half of Kamil, the clever camel, and when I wasn’t doing that, made up one of a trio of revolting looking gossipy women.

This was followed by “A Right Pantomime”, written by two of our members – “a comic conflation of almost every pantomime story you can think of.…”  I played one of Snow White’s dwarves (I can’t remember how many we were, but I don’t think there were seven of us) but wasn’t involved with more than helping with scenery.

I will end this Scene here, and yes I know that we still haven’t reached the Panto in which the Wicked Queen in the title image appears, but maybe next time.

 

moose bags and wicker basket with felt chichadee in curling arnena
2024 CanGames (and Felting) Convention Part 2 – Moose-bag

2024 CanGames (and Felting) Convention Part 2 – Moose-bag

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Beginning of another moose bag.

We left off on Saturday, having just finished the Chickadee, let’s continue from there.

compleated moose bag on white plastic chair moose bag in embroidery hoop ready to start22) the latest moose bag sitting on the table with the partly 3-D moose bag sitting on a chair full of bags of wool. (proof that noose bags make good project bags)

This time I want to peel part of the moose off the bag while leaving parts in graphic 2-D.  I may or may not leave the writing visible but I will need an armature construction. I want a head, antlers, lower jaw and neck. I also need a spot where I can securely attach the armature to the shoulder/neck of the moose print on the bag.

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23.1-23.2) Adding the beginnings of an attachment point at the shoulders and then using the shape of the moose to shape the armature for the head

I used the bag to guess the size of the armature I would need. I added a jaw so I could open the mouth and add pond lilies later if I wanted to or the moose seemed hungry.

extending wire for lower jaw24) extending the wire armature for the lower jaw

As I started to wrap I realized the mouth length was too short. So, I added a supplemental extension to the lower jaw. Once the wool is felted over it, the lower jaw should be quite secure.

fiber added to lower jaw 25) Needs more lip but looking good so far

Opps! I missed a step here, I built up to the spot behind the eyes where the antlers will attach and then stabbed a steel floral stem 20ga through. I used the end to make the main branch of each antler then added the 26ga floral wire as the points/ribs. I then added more wool around the base and between the antlers so they don’t slide

using reference to build the understructure26) Using Reference pictures to help understand the shapes of the moose face

As I was finishing the wire twisting, Glenn arrived from the game he had been playing. It was time to pack up and go home.

Sunday was a family visit and lunch at the cottage but we made it back in time for Glenn to attend the evening game. I found an empty table, beside the life size kill doctor lucky game! The convention was almost over but there were still games going on, and now the felting convention was back underway! I had one of the couples who had checked in to see what I was doing stop in to see how I had done with the chickadee and liked the beginnings of the moose.

Sunday night gameing at the curling rink felting suplys on table in front of picture 27) back at the curling arena, many of the games are finished but a few are still running. 

The last few moose I have used the Maori short staple batt fibre, both for the underlayer and the overlayer. This time I didn’t think I had enough of the colour to do both so I continued with the world of wool core carded roving for the underlayer.

securing the wool to wrap the antlers to the head 28) Using the head to anchor the fibre, then wrapping up the base of the antler.

wrap the main trunk of the antler then wrap the branches29) I focused first on the main trunk of the antler then worked on the branches/points on the way back.

moose with wraped anlers the wire is stuck into the woven willow basket30) wrapped wire armature of Moose antlers and head stuck in the weaving of willow basket. Kill Dr. Lucky game progressing in the background.

game bord is drawn on sheets on the floor. players are standing in various "Rooms"31) The Kill Doctor Lucky game.

The sheets have the Rooms drawn on them. Some rooms can see into other rooms. Doctor Lucky is very annoying and has made many enemies, all of whom are at his house tonight. They all want to kill him but not let the others see them do it. With each move, you end up in a new room (not a hallway), and you get a card. Sometimes it’s a card that helps you kill or save Dr. Lucky, sometimes it’s an extra movement card or room card.  If someone makes an attempt to kill Dr. Lucky you can try to save him from cards in your hand, or if you find him alone in a room no one can see into,  you can try to kill him yourself! He is Very annoying.  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257/kill-doctor-lucky

There is a board game version of Save Doctor Lucky if you are opposed to killing him, but he is annoying!

secure wool to armature to create a base to add the colour and webbing32) carefully firming up the wool wrapping around the antler armature

antlers and under structures ready to add colour to antlers. chickadee is stitting on the handle to the basket33)The underlayer of moose in progress and  complete chickadee supervisor

Next to add the brown for the antlers. It will take a lot of poking to firm them up to the stiffness I want.

starting to add and firm up antlers with Maori short staple batt fiber34) I switched between single-needle and multi-tool

I am starting to lay in the spaces between the finer wires. The multi-tool punch helps firm and things the felt.   go slowly and feel for the wires so you can avoid them.

The second game of Kill Dr. Lucky was well underway when Glenn returned from his game upstairs. So it was time to pack up and head home.

Long weekend Monday.

As with most Mondays, there was a guild social scheduled.  Since it was a long weekend it would start earlier and would have the option of sheep related board games!

Long weekend Monday sheep (and cat) related board games35) Long weekend Monday at the Gild Studio,  Sheep and Kitten games.

Sheepy Time (a push-your-luck type of game), Sheep in Disgise and Exploding Kittens, I have not yet played so I am not sure what to expect. Yes, Kittens are not sheep but I just bought it at the sale and was curious if I could get anyone to try it.

walker with bag of library stuff and 2 moose bags and a basket full of felting stuff36) walker carrying guild library bag, 2 moose bags and a basket of felting stuff

I brought the felting I had been working on over the weekend and the bag of library stuff with me.

I worked on the library for a few hours then set up for felting.

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 37.1-37.2) Bat on a stick and chickadee are supervising work on the Moose’s head. Close-up of supervisors.

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38.1-38.2) Ann was working on her May felt and stitch.

I had been adding bits of fibre to the antlers, creating the large curved shapes, then spending long periods of time stabbing it into a firm thin felt. It still needs more flattening and firming.

adding fiber to the space between the branches of the antlers39) This was the point I reached by the end of the long weekend.

Poor moose will probably have limited opportunities for further work until June 22nd which is the 75th anniversary party for the local guild (OVWSG).  I did get the antlers looking a bit better and have started the undercolour on the head. I am sure he will look much more moose like as soon as I add the ears and do a bit more nose sculpting.

using photo reference to get the nose angles closer to correct40) Progress; adding undercolour for the head and continuing to sculpt the face

I hope you enjoyed the last bit of the gaming (and felting) convention.  As well as the progress on the latest moose-bag. Until we chat again, have fun and keep felting.

 

 

 

Decorating a small blanket

Decorating a small blanket

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I spied a small woollen blanket in my local charity shop earlier in the year. I think it probably was used as a cot blanket earlier in it’s life. The blanket measures 38 inches x 46 inches, the colour of cream and has a lovely blanket stitch all along the folded edges.

 

No label on the blanket, but it is wool, and there are one or two nibbled areas from one or two moths.

     

 

I have a plan is to turn this old unloved blanket into a usable blanket for the younger grandchildren when they visit – to use in the house, or as a car rug, or to cuddle up with if tired. I will add a soft backing to one side – either a piece of flannel or fleece, and that should prevent the itchy scratchy feel of a woollen blanket that so many of us will be familiar with.

 

I decided to add some colour to each corner, and perhaps along the sides, throughout the rest of this year, and it may be done for Christmas time. I found my bag of scrap felt pieces and made a few layouts until I was happy with one that provided some colour and interest.

             

 

I have stitched these shapes down using my sewing machine. These pieces of felt are left from other projects, and some are prefelt (probably) and are placed with some artistic licence. I used a needle felting tool from Clover (green/yellow) to secure the pieces to the blanket, and I was quite surprised by how well it worked. I also have the fake/copy item (blue).

 

I continued adding to my layout, trying to give an impression of a little piece of my garden.

                 

 

To secure the work thus far, I decided to add some water, soap and some friction to ensure that everything will stay well and truly stuck on.

                   

 

I will continue working on this blanket through the rest of the year, and will show my progress in my posts. I am pleased with it so far, and now I must think of what to do for the next corner. I will also  attempt to cover with some wool or embroidery stitches on the areas where some moths have had a lunch or two. A little needle felting and some embroidery stitches should do the trick.

The garden is looking so nice despite all the rain we have had so far this year. Here is a photo of a bumble bee on one of the alliums, no matter how hard I tried he would not stay in one spot, and my beautiful peony with so many blooms, and keeping fingers crossed that they survive the rain.