Easter bunnies workshop

And what an amazing day it was. The sun was shining we had hot cross buns and tea and coffee flowing.

Such a lovely group of ladies. We felted, chatted and laughed all day. 

One lady sent me this one after she had worked on him a little more. Isn't he just so cute! 

I'm so pleased with how this workshop went. 

Lisa x

Time flies

How fast is this year going? Or is it just me? 

I have been busier than I ever thought I could dream of. I can't believe that four and a half years ago I had never heard of needle felting and now look how it's taken over my life. 

I've started doing workshops for two local craft shops as well as my own and I've been busy making new workshop ideas too! 

And...... And...... And...... I have finally had my first sale on my Etsy shop! Whoop whoop! 

As it's coming up to Easter shortly, I decided to try and master bunnies for a workshop. 

What do you think? 

I have a workshop booked for the 25th March. It should be fun! 

2017

Well it's the start of another year and I'm hoping for it to be a life changing one, well part of my life anyway.

I have had a busy christmas, busy felting that is. 

Here are some of the things I've been working on. Some are for future workshops too.

For workshop details check out my page

Www.facebook.com/feltsforever 

Christmas workshops

Its not too far off that time of year and never have I had  such fun in the run up to it, as I have doing the christmas workshops. Not only have I had fun but I've some wonderful people and showed them the joys of needlefelting.

Watching the creations come to life is so exciting, especially when it's someone who isn't particularly crafty and they can't believe they have made something so good.

Didn't they all do well!  

Instagram

I've always scoured the internet looking for inspiration for needle felting projects, usually pinterst.

But recently I joined Instagram, I love the fact that like Pinterest, it's so visual.

I came across a lovely instrammer called joyful gnomes.

They had some wonderful gnomes and one inparticular caught my eye.

I thought she would be lovely to felt, so I asked joyful gnomes if they minded if I felted her, they said they would be honoured.

A few weeks later I finished her. 

I posted her on instagram and joyful gnomes was so delighted they posted this picture.

I'm looking for more inspiration now! 

I think I have found it.

I have been needle felting for four years now. I have dabbled in all kinds of different ideas from christmas decorations, rabbits, frogs, dogs and characters. And although I have been happy with what I have made I have always had that niggle inside me that 'it could be better' or 'it wasn't just what I had in mind' not that half of my creations turn out like I expect them to, they just morph and I like it that way but something always niggled.

I always knew whatever I would end up making would be something fantasy, mythical or character based, thats what I'm drawn too but I needed to find 'it' you know that one thing that I can create, but replicate in different ways. 

Well last week I found it. Something clicked. I've done it. I feel like this is it. 

I have found my path and can see a way forward. 

Here is my first of what will be many.

Meet Erci

I just love him. Do you? 

Time flies

I can hardly believe how crazy this last month has been! After completing my July workshop, I was asked to do another in the Highlands of Scotland! I love this country, despite the 6 hour drive the views are worth it.

I had an incredible time and so did everyone! 

And we made some great Owls!

I am hoping to go back up nearer christmas time for a festive workshop.

Since I've been back I've been making sheep and snowman workshops and kits with more on the way!

Back to my makes and orders and planning my next workshop! 

Lots of small steps this month.

What a hoot!

Although I have done a lot of needle felting workshops for the Womens Institute, I had never done one for myself. 

I had a few ladies ask me if I did them and the last lady made me go for it! Whats the worst that could happen? No one comes? 

I approached the local community centre and agreed to hire it on 7th July. I then had a mad panic!

What happens if no one comes. Oh dear it was a risk I was going to have to take....

I advertised it on facebook, creating an event and made a poster to advertise in the local shops, then crossed my fingers.

I didnt know how to get people to pay for the event beforehand ( please tell me if you do) so I had to hope for the best.  A few people put on Facebook that they were 'going' but were they? Really? 

What do I get them to make? Now that was a decision. I decided after much thought that owls were a good choice. 

So I set to making tutorials and samples and buying in different coloured wool. I did use my own carded core which gave me great satisfaction I must tell you. 

I started to get a few phone calls asking if they could book on and my nerves calmed slightly.

With everything made and the car loaded up, I went to set up still wondering if I would have anyone there.

With everything ready the first car pulled up, then another and another. I was so relieved I nearly cried.

I had 8 ladies all excited to start.

And how did it go?

Take a look 

ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY WELL.

They all loved it and want to book again for another one and I sold 4 of my kits! 

They have given me such good feedback and reviews on my facebook page 

Www.facebook/feltsforever 

That I haven't felt ( excuse the pun) so happy and fulfilled in a long time.

Will I do another?

Oh yes! 

I cant wait!

Please come! 

More small steps

I have a busy bee over these last few weeks and made quite a few small steps to hopefully being where I would like to be in time.

I am still waiting to hear from the Lancashire Federation Womens Institute to see if I have been successful with my audition. But keeping my fingers crossed....

To stop myself thinking about it, I have been.

I have been making kits to hopefully sell.

Making tutorials for my workshops.

Carding more wool.

Making items for a craft fayre I am doing this weekend. 

As well as my normal job!

What a triumph!

Dah dah!

My fleeces have been a triumph!

I am so pleased. I have carded a bit and look! It's amazingly easy to felt with too! 

I've even had a little try colouring it. This one was coloured using turmeric. Its a lovely shade of yellow ( but smells a bit spicy) still small steps are what I'm taking. I will get there in the end.

Face update, feeling better

I put my last post on some needlefelting pages I am a member of on facebook. And the result? Lots of advice and encouragement, just what I needed.

She is looking now much more like I wanted her to.

What do you think? 

Faces!!

Faces, real looking faces elude me.

I am always scared to start them and when I am happy with my result, one pops up on a needle felting page and I want to give up felting completely. I am my own worst enemy. I have a vision of what I want the faces to look like but making that happen is another story.

I like to take photos of my work as it progresses as I think you can see mistakes on a photo that you don't see in the 'flesh'. 

So today, as I have a quiet,peaceful, no one in the house but me (and the dogs, the cat, with an occasional duck wandering past) day.

 I sat in the conservatory plucking up the courage to start. 

I had been doing my research and had images round me to help, so with no other obstacles in the way, I began.

After two hours and much mumbling to myself here was the progress ( no laughing) 

At this point I stopped.

Im not happy with the lips nose or eyes as yet. The temptation to rip it all off is like trying not to eat chocolate whilst dieting, but I'm not giving up quite yet. Or the diet. 

Does anyone else have this problem? Why I don't just stick to character faces and leave realistic faces to the ones that can, I don't know? 

I'm such a wimp!

Making it up as I go along and constantly putting off felting the hands and face.

I'm such a wimp!

Ch ch ch changes and embrace the strange.

Needle felting never ceases to amaze me. You start off with an idea in your head and as you stab the idea changes constantly.

Now even with my ventures into wet felting my ideas have changed. What started out as a cloak is now being made into a dress. 

I got so carried away I forgot she was still flat chested! 

So today, I made boobies.

I've added grapes!

What do you think? 

Easter Eggs???????

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching a group of ladies to needle felt. I thought since Easter was looming that I would show them how to make Easter Eggs.

 They had other ideas. We ended up making chicks, minions, bunnies, cats, owls as well as eggs.

These ladies had such fun they were crying with laughter.

Great fun was had by all. I hope they ask me back soon.

Details details

My most favourite part of any piece I make has got to be adding the details. With the mistakes and rescues I have made with this cloak I have to say have been worth it. I still have more to do but it's coming along nicely.

I think the nebbs actually look better being a bit more random and mixed in the other fibres.

What do you think?

Determination and disasters

Well I made my purple coloured wet felt I showed you in my last post into a hooded cloak. Thankyou Sarafina for your wonderful tutorial.

I have in my head what I want it to look like and I remembered that I bought some nebbs a couple of years ago, just because I thought they would come in for something. And now they have.

Trying to needle felt them onto the clock was a nightmare, they just kept sticking to the needle!

I was given a few tips from the Sarafina felting fanfare facebook page but non worked. One suggested wet felting them so I began.

Here they are on place.

They looked lovely and I was Scared to start but I did.

After two hours of rubbing etc they just weren't sticking. On hindsight ( a wonderful thing hindsight) I should have wet felted them at the same time as ai did the cloak. ( next time) 

I then tried rolling which seemed to help.

I shocked it when my fingers could take no more. 

It is now drying. I have to say some bits have stuck while I'm hoping the others will needlefelt a little easier.

My how you live and learn. Onwards and upwards, lets see what it looks like tomorrow....

Wet felting, the results

Well for my first attempts I am really pleased.

A few 'thin' areas thay need to be worked on but all in all good!

I can't wait to make them into clothing.

The purple one will be a hooded cloak as seen in the Sarafina tutorials and the green one ended up smaller than I wanted it to be so now will be part of a dress for the same project.

Watch this space!