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 

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? 

Neatest hands to date ☺️

I always put off doing hands and faces, I always think they are going to be a disaster and never look the way I want them too. Well today after making 32 fingers (some blooded ones, my poor fingers) I managed to choose 10 that I decided were the right size for what I wanted.

The results? I'm happy and think these are the neatest hands I have done to date. 

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.

Raymond Van Barneveld 40th birthday surprise!

I while ago I was asked if I could make a felted darts player, Raymond Van Barneveld for an avid fans 40th birthday.

 Well I'm always up for a challenge, so I said yes.  I must admit there were times where I thought I'd bitten off more I could chew, with a few complications along the way. 

After looking at photos of 'Barney' for the last few months I must say I feel like I've got to know him and when I delivered him today I actually felt quite sad letting him go! 

I would say he is my best face to date but I'm still learning and have a long way to go and now, well I'm ready for my next challenge....

I enjoyed doing the details on the shirt

The darts were pins wrapped in wool and felted.

A bit of 2D felting, so much quicker to do.

Ears ears and more ears

What is it about me and ears?

Felting ears that is... They end up either too big or too small but I think these ones will be just right for this fella.

What a wonderful afternoon.

I spent the morning shopping for paint for the kitchen and since my other half had been rained off, he decided to make a start with the first coat.

So I spent the afternoon in the conservatory felting my latest project. Its a surprise one so no details yet!

Listening to the rain and wind, sat with the dogs, needle in hand and music on it had to be the best afternoon of the year so far.

Tilly must love the smell of the wool she always loves to get close and smell when ever I open a new colour.

To celebrate a new baby girl.

My dear friend Julie was going to be a grandma, how exciting.

Her daughter found out she was having a girl and Julie asked me to make her a little gift. 

I don't think she would have been too impressed to see it at this stage...

You can see it taking shape now. (Excuse the socks)

And here she is finished.

I really enjoyed making this. I might make some more..

Troy

This is Troy, a much loved family pet. 

When the daughter in the family was getting married she wanted Troy to come to the wedding. Her mum didnt think it would be suitable and asked me to make a felted Troy to sit on the top table so he was still at the wedding. 

Here is Troy

And here is Troy 2

The daughter was thrilled and now Troy and Troy 2 are great friends as you can see in the photo they sent me after the wedding.

I love this photo. He is such a cutey, I would love to meet him some day.

It's been a while......

Over a year in fact since my last post.
Quite a lot has happened in that time. I have still been felting ( I don't think I will ever give it up) I just haven't been on the social media network.
Part of my new years resolution was to get back to it! So for the next few posts, here are a few of the things I have felted recently.

Following the success of the first scottish bagpiper, I was asked to felt his friend who was in the same band. Here he is.

I felt (excuse the pun) more comfortable felting this one, probably as I had made one before and I was determined to get the face better. He was over the moon with him ( himself really haha) 

I have also been asked to make a few dogs recently.

The first one was Barney. He is the mascot for Southampton cemetery! And I was asked to make him for his owners retirement present.

They sent me a few photos to go off.

Work in progress...

And the finished Barney 2

Troy is on my next post. Watch out for him! 

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

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

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

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

Im late!

A break from queenie, shes having her finishing touches still. I cant make my mind up whether i have finished with her face or not. Ill let you know.

Until then here is one i finished a couple of weeks ago. The white rabbit!

For now back to the queen!

Lisa x

Facial expression

Working on the queen of hearts again today. I should get her finished tonight i think.
I love watching the felts come together. By adding a single needle stab to one area can change the look as much as adding more wool.
Incrediable really!
I think thats why i love felting so much, wool is a most forgiving sustance to work with. If your not happy rip it off, restab or add more! Fabulous!
Heres a bit more of the queenie.
Lisa x