Note to Self and The Rest of The Bag

A bit ago I made a bag but only showed part of it. Now here it is in it's completed form. While I like it, I don't love it and I know why. Lessons learned, however slowly!
When I started out making this bag, I wanted the inside to be brighter in color and chose a golden yellow color. I thought it would be better to look into and actually find what one might be searching for. Might be nice in theory, however, when I applied the colors to the outside of the bag, the golden colors migrated through to the surface and rather "dirtied" the surface colors. The best example of the color differences is that the handle of the bag and the bag itself are made of the same color wool. The impact of the gold color is significant.
Note to self: Think it through better

Turning Points / Full Moon Rises

I started this hat yesterday, but finally finished it today. It was planned to be unplanned, with many twists and turns along the process. Usually I 'll start out with a weighed and measured goal in mind, but this one was deliberately "Let GO" in the design of the resist. The top of the hat has roses in it but are difficult to show. Perhaps when it is completely dry they will show up better. This hat is made of hand-dyed merino, black was the first layer with the multi-color atop the black. I think it made the colors richer.

As I am writing this, my family is asleep, it is 11:18 pm, there is a beautiful full moon playing peek-a-boo with huge puffy clouds. It is a time to enjoy the quiet of the day, thank God for blessings I cannot even describe and enjoy the nighttime beauty that is all around me. I love a full moon.
Shalom to all of you,
Suzanne

PS:
MUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE A PEEK AT PAM DEGROOT's SITE. YOU"LL BE AMAZED AND INSPIRED! to say the least! Her link is on my side bar

At the Speed of Life

There are times in my life, and I think yours too, when things just come at you hard and fast, and then more things come harder and faster. It has been that way these past few weeks and "joy in the moment" has been hard to find or to be. I think that finally, things are beginning to settle, ....because I see dust all over the place!

Today, I will tie up loose ends, clean things, put things away, throw away non-needed items, pack up unwanted items and will spend time with my much loved, precious family.

I have a felt hat design going through my head, and I've cut the resist already. I am anxious to try it, but first things first. ADD makes that very hard for me, but I am going to put maximum effort into staying focused on the thing that need to be done. Sometimes, life gets too far out of control, and mine has been there. I've got to create my own calm then I can make felt.

The hat shown was needle felted onto the large needle to wet hat form, then removed from the form and wet felted. It is not as hard has I'd like it to be so I may work on it further in a few days. But now, I'm off to gather up the dust!

Lamb, Love and Hearts That Are Broken

In honor of my beautiful daughter, my darling lamb child, this vessel was made. It is merino with silk on the surface. Her heart is broken, but her spirit is strong and this is my felt prayer for her.

Mental Ctrl, Alt, Delete

When things get stuck on my "puter", Ctrl, Alt, Delete comes in handy... sometimes, but when it comes to my brain, sometimes it is looking at the fabrics I've already made and seeing if they will play well together. My mental version of ctrl, alt, delete.
This piece of felt made up of many different fibers. The backgroud is made of wensleydale locks, the sprites are made of bluefaced lecister, sewed into place with gold colored thread, and the "moons" are felt balls with metallic fabric felted into them, sewn into place. This piece measures 26" long by 9" wide. I think it needs to hang on a window to show off the locks that made the background felt. I'll see if I can get a photo of that. The locks are so pretty. Or you can click on the photo to see the lock structure too.
That's all for now.
Cheers!
Suzanne
Post Script to this entry:
The day after I made this piece, I taught at the local library. It was to a group of children who also loved this piece. I was asked if it was for sale, and I declined selling it, but did donate it to the Ransom District Library in Plainwell, Michigan. It will be on permanent display in the children's area of the library, displayed low so they can touch the wonder that we call felt.

Bloomin' Felt

Bought a magazine for organization yesterday, not to do it, just to see how it is done, of course!, got a hair cut, which is a bit too short for my taste, beloved husband likes it though, worked in the woods and burned brush that I'd cut last week, helped put in two room air conditioners, spent some time with my grandchildren, and slept so well last night. No felt was made yesterday, but did dye locks, but only a few. There is so much to get done that I am finding myself pulled in many directions. I did manage to put this flower together. I think it will end up on a bag. Ah, now to get the bag made.

To Flower or Not to Flower

Am thinking of adding this flower to the hat. Any thoughts? Without the flower is two entries below.

Simply Felted Flowers + Dads and Do

Severe "MIND MUSH" has set in upon me and I am trying to just let it run its course. Sometimes if I try to force my way out of it, everything turns to rust, so I am enjoying the benign process of "MIND MUSH" and allowing myself some rest and play time. These flowers are the result of playtime. I am also making felt sprites and felt balls, with no particular end product in mind, nothing special, just time with the fiber is soothing to my soul. For some reason, I cannot even think about making a hat right now. Time to fill up the soul with new light, fresh light, and just remember to breathe.

Knows a good thing when she sees it

Frankie, one of our three Chihuahuas, jumped right into the teeswater locks I am dyeing and made her little self right at wool lovers home! I had to grab the camera, just a little too cute not to share!
And oh yes, another hat! Imagine that?

Shalom,
Suzanne

Felt Bangle

Only this today, just too tired for much else.

Let me sleep on it

The best laid plans are often shifted into another direction for me. I'd hoped to make some felt cuffs this weekend, but only got one done, and it is rather unimpressive. Late last night I decided to lay out this hat, then the hour grew later and I thought it best to finished it this morning. I wet all of the fibers so when I started out this morning, it felted rather fast. It feels like a good start to a Monday, that is rainy, overcast, cool and peaceful. I love rainy days!
Peace to you,
Suzanne

Pod Life Musings... Give Me Shelter

While I was working in the woods clearing away the underbrush, I was looking for natural pods, things of natural shelter and found these two lovely examples of pods. The first is a pod of flowers about to be and the second is from a tree, with both old and new pods on it. What a great find. Then my musings went on to the egg, a pod we are all familiar with, then on to our lives in pods. We start out as an egg, nice little pods we all are, then we grow in another pod of sorts, a warm womb, an expandable pod, then out into the world...a floating pod!
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What is POD:
(pod)

n.

1. Botany

a. A dehiscent fruit of a leguminous plant such as the pea.

b. A dry, several-seeded, dehiscent fruit. Also called seedpod.

2. Zoology A protective covering that encases the eggs of some insects and fish.

3. A casing or housing forming part of a vehicle, as:

a. A streamlined external housing that encloses engines, machine guns, or fuel.

b. Aerospace A detachable compartment on a spacecraft for carrying personnel or instrumentation.

4. Something resembling a pod, as in compactness.

v. pod·ded, pod·ding, pods

v.intr.

1. To bear or produce pods.

2. To expand or swell like a pod.

v.tr.

To remove (seeds) from a pod.
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Even our bodies are a kind of pod that our spirits travel in. I hope that you have a great pod and that your days in your pod are filled with joy in the journey.
Off to make felt!

The Sweet of Home

I had good travel and a good show in Wooster Ohio, but I can say without equivocation that it is wonderful to be home again. Spent time with good friends, slept well, ate well on some wonderful Greek food, saw wonderful fibers, purchased a couple of sheep mugs, sold hats and a bunch of other stuff and made it home without being too fatigued.

This hat was needle felted while I was in the booth and wet felted this morning. It is made of merino, with hand dyed tussah silk inlay and a felt flower for garnish. Being able to needle felt a hat while I am in the booth is so good for me. I feel the need to be productive, or sleeping and some days it doesn't matter which, just as long as I am doing one or the other. Needle felting a hat also gives a potential buyer the oppertunity to see the hat in it's stages and serves as a teaching promp for me. I've named this hat:
Winter Royale

I am still catching up on some rest and getting back to the woods to continue my work there. Have some vessel ideas going through my head that I am anxious to try. I'll keep you posted on that.

Oh, before I forget, have you checked out the www.midwestfeltingsymposium.com page yet? Oh is this going to be a great time. Hope you'll be there. I'll write more about it later. It is the high point of my felting year. Once you go, you'll know why. It is so the BEST!

Dyed and over dyed silk scarf--Might be a Keeper!

I love the colors in this scarf. Usually I will sell just about anything, but I do like the way this scarf turned out. Keep it?... Sell it? How can splashes of color give me such a pause for wonder?

Gypsy Feet and Silk Scarves

Jan, the Village Weaver, has invited me to share her booth at Wooster, Ohio, so I am packing the Big Van (Gypsy Wagon) with my wears and preparing to head on down the road again. I'm packing up hats, wool locks, needle felt hat forms and tool and a bunch of wool, traveling light this time. I will miss my time in the woods, my dogs, but most of all, my dear husband. I miss his company so much when I am away. I am so blessed to be loved by such a wonderful man. It is a rich blessing, far beyond what I deserve.
I did manage to get a few more scarves dyed before leaving for Wooster. I love the overlay of color upon color in this scarf. I hope that someone else will love it too. Now, off to bed and then off to Wooster! Stop in to see me if you have the chance.
Happy Gypsy Feet!