Thursday, February 16, 2012

*Click!*


Guess what goes *click?*
My Big Black Beautiful Camera, charged and loaded! That's what.
Yes! After weeks of going around in circles trying to figure out where I left the charger for my camera, I finally discovered it at the bottom of an overnight bag. Where did I go overnight in the last month? (Don't worry.. that is a rhetorical question.)

Thank you for wishing the charger back home in my arms. And Miriam, I promise to remain on the look out for your wanderers. It was almost (almost) to the point where I was going to just order another one, and I even scared myself with the prices, looking online. Then I thought of one more seemingly unusual place to dig around, and thank goodness, there it was. Anyway, I will spare you all the details of my leaping elation, and ear to ear grins of finding-joy.

Do you know what else *clicks*?
Answer: me and wool.
We're in love.
Uh-huh. And we're gonna get married.
Not really.
But we are having a long and romantic affair.
I felt I should share this with everyone, because being in love with wool is grand!


Back in November I hinted at my new romance with wool, and all the fun we were getting into, like making bracelets, and the felting balls, and soap. I'd long heard of something called needle felting, but it wasn't until about two weeks ago that needle felting and I discovered each other. Now I am even more woolly, woolly in love!

I found a seven dollar kit at the craft store. It included wool batting, a foam pad, two needles, and a 4x6 cut of wool with a printed butterfly, with simple directions. Because I was unsure of how difficult this craft might be, I thought the kit was an affordable, possibly helpful, way to get my feet wet.

Needle felting is super easy, people!
Probably you already knew this.
But if you have ever wondered, then trust me: it is not difficult!


I whipped through the butterfly, and Maria punched needles into the roving, too, and in no time at all we had a decent looking, fluffy butterfly. So then I sketched a gnome onto some cheapy acrylic felt I had in the stash. I was hesitant to trust my amateur skills on real wool. The gnome is felted with real wool, but on an acrylic base. He's about the size of a playing card. It took about... an hour? Maybe. I was so meditatively blissed, I hardly noticed the time.


Maria and I both fell in love, and Suki joined us, too. She made a huge starfish bow. Maria started the Benjamin square, the one I went overboard helping her with. It does take patience to complete an image, and get the wool strongly attached and felted. She and I have both been poked, once each. No tears. It's no less an issue than any other sewing, I guess, but I wouldn't do either without paying close attention to what I am doing.


I like making small images, because it seems easier making small projects of them. I am not sure what I would do with a 12X18 felted daisy. Actually, I am not sure what to do with a wallet sized daisy field.


My button closure won't hold this bag closed as well as it does on the smaller coin purses I made. Also, I really ought to adopt advance planning and design skills, since I don't know what is going to fit in here... just a scant bit narrow for crochet hooks... tiny oversights are disappointing. But. I am not crushed. Just eager to try again, play some more...



A Valentine gift for Maria... a little bunny coin purse. It will hold love notes and treasures, and remind her of our dear Joe.


All wool. No more acrylic. Wool feels so good, and it is easy to work with. I've been using discount bin scraps, and I found some shrunk-felted thrift shop sweaters, too. Those will be re-purposed soon! The wool holds warmth, and has a sturdyness that is really nice. Did I mention? It feels good.


This one is for me. Just little scraps and found bits. It only takes the littlest bits of wool roving to make a whoo friend.


Inside I keep all my important cards and id. I do have to remember not to shove this in the pockets of my jeans. The wool felting does get roughed up. Maybe I need to felt it better, or maybe I just need to be a kinder, gentler wool carrier.


Buttons, crochet, hand-stitching, wool and felting... all of it together, for me to play with, and my camera charged and ready, so I can share the fun?! This is a happy affair, indeed.

13 comments:

Alison said...

Oh, I've been a bit frustrated not having time to comment on your blog the last few days! (YAY for yoga!!) Now, when you say you're not sure what to do with a field of felted daisies, I have one word for you: Etsy! Because my dear, I can tell you are addicted. And then you can pass it off as a "side business," helping to build college funds or extra paint for robots or whatever.

Or you could have a giveaway. I don't think we'd mind. ;)

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

oy! Trouble commenting? I'm so sorry. One thing I have noticed on all Blogspot blogs, like mine, sometimes the commenting field is absent... when I find this I hit refresh, and then the comment field appears. Kind of a pain, I know, but I hope you will see if this works. I hate to miss hearing from friends.
Etsy... hmmmm... that is a sweet compliment, my dear. Thank you.
In the college fund/daisy ratio... I need meadows and meadows of daisies!!

Miriam said...

What a lovely love affair. Your projects and photos are so charming I think your affair is about to turn into a threesome, or a foursome, or just a whole lot of people converted to the joys and pleasures of wool felting!

[I have to tell you I am so often gobsmacked by your gift for filling your life with beauty - in all its tangible and intangible forms. Joy, community and beauty - you are the master of creating all three, and you inspire me every time I come to visit!]

Kara said...

Amazing! Love the bunny and owl...

nikkipolani said...

So glad your clickety-click is back in action -- just in time to share these adorable projects!

Alison said...

My only trouble commenting is in lack of time! It's been a busy, exhausting week. Blogspot has been behaving lately. For once. My life has not. :)

Tracy said...

WOW...these are all so beautiful, Natalie! You are a crafting wonder! And so EXCITING to hear you're trying yoga...OM--it feels great, doesn't it?!If you need an online yoga buddy, I'm here. ;o) I'm late visiting, but the LOVE coming your way is no less... Hope you've all had a LOVE-filled week there ((HUGS))

judy in ky said...

I love your projects; they're all so charming.

Frogdancer said...

You're so clever! I felted one thing (a rug) and that was it!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I wish I could hug you right now, Miriam.
Your kindness has filled me up.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

So easy! I had no idea how. very. easy. this would be. And I think if I felted something as big as a rug, I might stop at one project, too!
Thank you for all the sweet comments.

unschool said...

These are all so beautiful--I love them!

Anonymous said...

Incredible!! Truly beautiful. I am moved to tears because of your enthusiasm, creativity and love of your family. And I WANT the one with the owl! bobbie