Zingy!

I love making these cute little fellas! 

Every time I post one on my facebook page 

Feltsforever.

I always get asked to make more. 

Lisa xx

You never know? One for me the result!

A while ago ( 22.7.14) I started a 'one for me' felt sat in the sun.

Today as the sun shone again I finished him.

I love doing pieces like this where I never know what the outcome is going to be. At first I was heading down the troll line but now Im not sure. 

I like him and Ive enjoyed making something for me for a change. I will be taking him along to a local show tomorrow, Ive been asked to spend the day demonstrating, so a full day felting for me! Cant be bad.

Back to my orders now!

Lisa xx

Fame at last!

Yesterday I showed you my sloth and today I got this on twitter!

From Sofaworks!

How on earth they saw my sloth I have no idea but it made my day!

Lisa xx

Neil the sloth

I last posted the makings of Neil back in May. 

He is now completed and is with his new owner, who is delighted with him.

It was the largest and most difficult thing I have made so far. But I am pleased with how he turned out.

Lisa xx

Feet

Feet! 

They will be troll feet when I have made them mucky! 

These are the first feet I have ever made!

A lot of fun to make! 

Lisa xx

One for me

I have been so lucky this year to have had a regular supply of orders coming through. Some have given me the ability to learn new techniques. Others to use wool I havent used before, while others have been a challenge to my skill. I have enjoyed them all. My favourites being the Alice in wonderland characters. 

Now I have almost completed my last order to date I suddenly got all excited and realised for the first time this year, I could make something I wanted to make! 

I had a look at my inspiring board on Pinterest and decided I would make a troll.

Not sure what he was going to look like ( there's so many different looking trolls) but I would just see what happened. 

I sat wool and needle in hand, sat on a steamer chair, on the decking, in the garden, in the sun, could life be any better? And started stabbing.

3 hours and burn't arms later this is how far I have got.

Loads more to do but I think im going to like him.

What do you think?

Lisa xx

Needle felted cocker spaniel.

A while ago I was asked to make a cocker spaniel to look like their own cocker called Chocolate.

Of course I jumped at the chance, another challenge. 

I had in my head a traditional cocker spaniel like this

So when I asked for some photos I was a bit surprised to see these.

I did get quite a few photos but I knew I was going to have my work cut out with this felt!

I had never done a long haired dog before and had no idea which wool to use.

Some of my lovely friends on a needle felting forum on face book helped me out and even sent me some from the USA!

I started with a wired frame and covered it with with core wool.

Then I covered with a base brown wool.

I decided to use these two pictures of him and due to the different lighting I choose and average of the colouring.

This is how he turned out. 

The new owner was delighted! Im so glad a did it, at one point I wondered if I would ever manage it

What do you think!

Lisa xx

NOOOOOOO!!!

When I started needle felting nearly two years ago now, I treated myself to some needles from Kay Petal at Living Felt all the way from the U.S of A. 

I had been told they were the best, more expensive than others but neither the less, the best. 

They didn't disappoint and they have soon become my favourite. 

I do still use others for the beginings of my work but for the details, they cant be beat.

The one use the most is the red tipped one, its always the first one I pick up and today it broke....

It owes me nothing! It must have stabbed into wool millions of times for me. And to be fair has had a little bend on her, yes her, for a while now. 

Good job when I bought them, I bought more than one red one! 

Yeah my nice new shiny and very sharp red tip feels like she's, yes she's come out of her box and ready for action. 

I hope she lasts me as long 

Happy stabbing!

Lisa xx

Alice with a difference

When I finished my Alice in wonderland characters, a lady asked me to make an Alice to match her daughter who is called Alice. She showed me a photo and she had beautiful red hair. Why not!

Here she is. What do you think? 

Lisa xx

You need hands.

Whenever im asked to make a character, there are two things I worry about. One is whether I can get the face right... That will be another blog. And the other is the hands.

When I first started felting I cheated and always put 'hands' in pockets or mittens on. But it comes to a point you just cant get away from it. 

My first 'real' hands were done on 'Arthur' a character I made for myself based on my grandad.

When I did them I was really pleased with them but looking back I could see they needed improving.

The hard thing about felting very small hands, is the amount of stabbing your finger ends take. 

Ouch ouch ouch

I had to make quite few pairs of hands for the Alice in Wonderland characters I made..see previous blog pages... 

These ones are for another 'Alice' but with a difference...watch this space.

As you can see they are better an 'Arthurs' hands but I still have some way to go before I'm happy with hands.

Feel free to leave a comment.

Lisa xx

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Can you guess what it is yet?

Write your answers in the comment box and I will let you know if you are right! 

Happy guessing 

Lisa xx

Nightmare before christmas!

Its strange sometimes how one thing can lead to another isn't it.

Tonight my daughter finished her degree by exhibiting her final pieces. She is now a qualified photographer and I thought it was time she showed her images and opened a facebook page.

It made me remember how scared I was about starting my page 

www.facebook/feltsforever.com but soon orders started to come in and things are going strength to strength slowly but surely. 

I started to think of how one person tells another and how I ended up with some of the orders I have done.

A while ago a friend me asked if I would make the characters from nightmare before christmas. I was excited to make them.

Here they are

When I posted them, a lady who liked my page, shared it on her wall and it was one of her friends who asked me to make the delightful Alice in Wonderland characters and from making them, I have been asked to make more! 

Funny how things turn out isn't it

Thanks for reading

Lisa xx

A week off

A week off work this week was meant to be spent felting my orders and gardening.
The truth, I have spent the majority of the time doing things for others, not that I mind but sometimes you just need a little 'me' time.
Today I managed it! Three hours of bliss, my own music, no interuptions, no can you justs or would you minds.
I planted Petunias and tidied the garden ready for a hopefully good summer. Then it was time to felt. Its so relaxing I nearly fell asleep. I was working on ' Neil' I didnt get as much done to him as I had planned to this week but every little helps.

The Scottish Bagpiper

Last year I was asked to make a Scottish bagpiper for my friend's husband's birthday. 

He is in a bagpiping band and she wanted to surprise him with an image of himself in felt. 

It was by far my biggest challenge to date but i was up for it.

She sent me a few photos off him to go off and here was the result.

A fellow band member approached me a few months ago and asked if I would make on of him too. 

He sent me these photos

And he said there was no rush! Thank goodness...

I finished him yesterday and sent him these photos last night. 

He was thrilled to bits and collecting him tonight. 

More slothing tonight now...

Lisa xx

Neil

Well he is changing everyday...

I think I am happier with the shape of his face now so a little more detail can be added.

Its strange how things look so different in a photo to real life and I like to use photos to see how things are coming along.

The thing with felting is one, just one stab of the needle can make such a change so I do try not to judge it at this stage. Very hard but lets see what a few more stabs will do.

Exciting things

I was emailed the other day from the chairman of the Lancashire W.I. Federation. If that wasn't exciting enough, she said she had heard how great my needle felt classes were and would I like to do a two day workshop for them next May!

I think I answered the email within 4 seconds with a very big YES. 

Since then we have spoken to sort out the details and now its all booked. Im so happy things are doing in the right direction for me and at a pace that isn't going to make me stressed.

On the other hand something has has been making me stressed is Neil the Sloth! 

Here is an update on him.

He now has his claws which when very well but then I decided I didnt like the colour of his fur so went over the whole body again!

I have made a start to the proportions of his face..... That will be another challenge.

I have until the end of July to complete him so plenty of time yet...

Lisa x

Getting furry

Neil the sloth is making progress. 

Still lots of work to do! And detail detail detail.. My favourite part! 

I had an lovely email this morning from the chairman of the W.I. Federation asking me to do another needle felting class. Im so excited! 

Sloth in the making

Been busy catching up on felting orders after finishing the Alice in Wonderland characters.
Today I made a start on Neil the sloth from the TV adverts. I have got the intial shape and now I am just testing out different wools for his coat. Mmmm its harder than I thought but I am sure I will get there with it. I have tried, Icelandic wool which didnt felt in easily at all. Then I tried Corrindale which i think I will manage with. Its all trial and error!
Does he look like a sloth yet?

Not mine but I liked it

I found this poem today and wanted to share it.

I sit here in my quiet space

Putting aside the day I’ve faced

Eagerly pulling my basket out

This is MY moment without a doubt.

So soft, the fiber between my fingers

I only wish this time could linger

For so many ideas run through my mind

If only I could find a little more time!

In and out the needle goes

What shape is next? Maybe toes?

Maybe eyelashes, or a tiny pout….

Alas, evening turns night…time has run out!

Yet tomorrow is another day,

I’ll do my work and then I’ll play!

I’ll sit there in my quiet space

and felt away the day I faced.

It sums today up well.

Lisa x

Bye bye Alice and friends

In January when i was asked to make these Alice in wonderland characters, I had no idea how much pleasure making them would give me.

With each one needing different techniques, some of them that were new to me, some that weren't, each piece involved moving up and down my learning curve.

I got to the point with two of the characters, I very nearly contacted my client to admit defeat. I just couldn't get them 'right' in my eyes. 

Putting them down and walking away for a day or so did the trick though and after ripping off a faces a few times, I can say that i am very proud of all of them.

Today it was time to give them a final check then wrap them up ready to go to their new home in Austrialia. 

I can't thank you my client enough for giving me this opportunity to make these. I have enjoyed them so much, I really dont want to let them go. 

All checked, ready for wrapping.

Lisa x

Artisan market. The results!

As posted yesterday, today was spent at my first Artisan market.

I have done a few craft fairs before but this was different. The room was bright and warm and central heated, they had 'runners' to bring you food and drinks and the company from the other traders was wonderful.

Over 200 people visited and I had a good few sales, lots of interest and some good potential business growing opportunities!

One of the things I was selling was my needle felting start kits. I have teddies, bunnies, ladybirds, flowers, owls amd hedgehogs. 

A little boy came to the stall with his mum, a lovely very chatty liitle boy called William. He was only 6 but chatted like a 12 year old. He took a liking to Rodney ( see meet Rodney blog) and begged his mum to buy him. I had to tell him Rodney was my friend and I would be lonely without him. He bought a little teddy instead and then spotted the hedgehog kit. 'Pleeeeeaaase can we make a hedgehog mum' he said. And they bought one.

Later on his evening I got this photo posted on my feltsforever facebook page.

It was William and his new friend hedgehog! 

I was so pleased they had posted it and to recieve such good comments about my kits and how much they enjoyed making him. 

Isn't he such a cutie!  Thank you William! 

Lisa x

Artisan Market

Today was spent preparing for my first Artisan Market.

I am not sure what to expect but if you don't try you don't find out.

I havent many makes to sell but I am going to concentrate on selling the tutorials and starter kits i have recently been making.

I will let you know how i get on.....

Lisa x

Making steps

I came across a photo today of the first craft show I did.
On the first look I smiled and thought 'yes it didn't look too bad' then as I looked closer, I looked at the work on display and I thought, 'wow I have sold all of those now and wow look how far I have come'
It's hard to put your own work on show for others to see and I was amazed at the great comments I had after the fair. but looking back at that work, has made me realise how much I have improved which is good for me to know.
So another small step in the right direction. I wonder what I will think of todays work, next year?

Funny!

I was preparing for an Artisan market I am attending this weekend and trying to have a tidy up of my 'fluff' as my other half calls it. When i came across this...

Yes you can laugh!

This was my very first attempt at needle felting, the day I got my wool and needles.

I think I have come along way since then.

Womens Institute bunny

Last year i had the pleasure of being invited to a local Womens Instiute to show tell them all about needle felting and to show them how to make a christmas bauble.

36 lovely ladies came and made me very welcome and we spent two hours felting away creating the their own decorations. 

Later I got some really good feedback from them and recently was asked to go again to show them something a bit more challenging. This session was only meant to last for an hour and a half but they enjoyed it so much it lasted for three hours! And during that time we drink tea, ate cake and felted furiously!  

I got some lovely feedback again and today one of the ladies who didnt have time to stay and finish her bunny off. Send me this lovely photo to show me she had completed it and how happy she was with the demonstration I gave. 

Here is her bunny

And here is the one i made for them to recreate.

I think she did a really good job, dont you. 

I will post some more photos of the other bunnies soon

Lisa x

Caterpillar has his pipe!

I have been meaning to put a pipe with the caterpillar I did, for a while now and here it is!
I have nearly completed Alice, which means I have nearly completed this commission. I will be quite sad to see them all go I have grown attached to them. that's the thing with felting, you start off with a lump of 'fluff'' and after a few thousand stabs, it comes alive!
I have just been asked to make a twenty inch long Sloth, like the one that on the settee adverts at the moment. that will be fun!
watch this space
lisa xx

Gru and minions

I have had a very busy week and just not had time to blog. It's weekend now so here we go.

A while ago I felted a minion from the film Despicable Me. My daughter loves them and once word got round I was asked to make a few more. Then my asked if I could make a Gru as well. Why not! 

It turned out to be a lot harder than i thought but here he is with his two helpers. What do you think? 

Lisa xx