Starting a Rug

I am starting a small area rug, using some deep brown felted batting I had made a few years ago.  I recently drew (using colored pencils) a loose circle of sassafras leaves in their autumn colors.  I thought  this might make a beginning pattern for an area rug (or wall hanging) repeating the circle swirl outward to the edges of the rug.  Here is the drawing:

Next, I scanned the drawing just to get some cut-out patterns for the leaves I would use.  Then, I made some pre-felt in autumnal colors and began to cut out the leaves, pictured below. 

Here are some of the cut out, pre-felt leaves.  The next step is to needle-felt them into place on the background, then begin wet felting.  I need to do much more work on this, so stay tuned for updates!

Fast Felting Fun

Like most felters, I often have bits and pieces of wool around after making a project, and I sure have a large scraps bag.  One thing to do with these bits, that is fun and fast, is to make wet-felted spheres.  What can you use these for?  Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and jewelry.  Because I often make felted flowers, these can also be the center of unopened peonies. With a little practice, you can make them egg-shaped for Easter decorations.

The steps:
1. Take a bunch of lose wool.  Lightly form it into a ball shape by rolling it between your palms.
2.  Wet the ball of wool with hot water, and add a tiny bit of dish soap.  Continue to roll the ball around.  It will feel loose and squashy at this point.
3. While it is still loose and squashy, check for cracks or fissures in the sphere and fill these in with some fresh wool. I just wrap the fresh strands around the sphere.
4. Continue rolling.  As the sphere firms up, apply greater pressure to make it quite firm.
5.  Rinse.

To make balls of the same (similar) size, select equal amounts of wool.  If the ball is too large, keep rolling.  Too small? Well, it is hard to add more wool once the ball is firm.  Keep trying, and you will get the hang of it.

Keep playing with wool!  You will learn a lot about it!

My Student's Lovely Work!

Some stunning work by my students in my recent "Needle Felting with

Botanical Subjects" class at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond,

VA.  

 http://www.lewisginter.org/adult-education/adult-educationhappeningnow.php

Lovely work, Kay, Kathleen, Susan, Joan, Gail and Celeste! It was fun,

and I learned a lot from you!

Trillium

Finally finished my trillium wall hanging!

Happy Valentine's Day Felted Hearts

Here are some simple needle-felted hearts for family and friends, two felted with lace, two without. I made them directly on backing fabric and cut them out. (The one that looks like it is orange is really a pink-peach).  Needle-felting through lace requires fine felting needles and a little extra care.
Have a great day!