Needle felting update

Needle felting update

arty stuff crafty stuff

Hello. The weather is a bit better today, still windy but at least it's dry. I need to mow my lawns in the next day or two so I hope that's the end of the rain for a while. Here's me trying to get on with a bit of stitching, but Heidi is having none of it. No, you will fuss me because I demand it, she says. 

Here is a little update on the felting, seven minutes long. My videos are in the raw state, I don't know how to edit them. I make cock ups, and I stumble over my words, one day I might get it right, ha ha.



I've just had a BIG sandwich lunch and now I need a coffee, so I'll leave you to it. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Getting excited

Getting excited

arty stuff crafty stuff

Hello. If I get a good feeling about a new project from the start, it usually turns out well. As we have had a lot of rain in the past couple of days, and it's raining now, I am getting on with this. I have to go with the flow while the brain is engaged. Early mornings are best for me, yesterday up at 4 am, today at 4.45 am. 

As I said yesterday I found the design in Stitch magazine, and got the needle felting kit out which had been languishing in the spare room for months. Time to get a grip. 

I have used a piece of net curtain for the backing, the wool sticks to it nicely. When all the felt is in place I shall be putting a thicker backing onto it before I begin stitching into it. 

The colours aren't exactly right on the photo, but you get the idea. I don't follow the instructions in the magazine article, I put my interpretation on the design and do it my way. I end up with something similar but not the same. This is more an exercise on technique, getting to know how to manipulate the wool by altering the angle at which the single needle enters the work. If you want a sharp edge to the shape push the edges towards the centre. If you want a more  softer edge so that it merges gently with the background, push the edges away from the centre towards the outside. All good fun.

Some of my newer readers might ask what's this got to do with money saving. Well, while my brain is engaged with something interesting to do, I don't feel the need to go shopping. People shop out of boredom, the buzz they get from treating themselves helps relieve boredom, for a while. I suggest anyone in this position who sees shopping as a feel good factor might find a hobby which keeps their brain occupied. Shopping is not my hobby.

Nearly 9 am and I have got to go out in the rain and walk Bailey the poodle for Joyce, she is busy this morning. Later I shall be visiting the mobile library to change my books and have a natter with Stan. The rest of the time I shall be working on this, it's a no spend day today.

Gawd, it's a raincoat and brolly day, I shall have to go. Enjoy your day, we'll catch up soon.
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Bargains from the car boot sale.

Bargains from the car boot sale.

car boot sale cheap crafty stuff

Hello, back again. It's been wet and miserable outside, so when I got back from Crafty Club I decided to stay in and get on with another project. I bought some wool and felting needles from the Scrapstore ages ago, and apart from having a play with it, I haven't touched it since. Time to get serious and make an effort to produce something. 

I've seen a project in the latest Stitch magazine, June/July, it was wet felted, with an abstract design, and has a lot of machine and hand stitching on it. It was made into a cover for a kindle. I thought I could make something similar but bigger, dry felted with the needles, and make a wall hanging. So I've spent all afternoon on that while watching Heatbeat videos on yooootoooob. Early days but it's coming together nicely. 

I went to the local car boot sale yesterday morning, at the football ground. I don't go very often, about three times a year, this is the first one I've been to since last summer. I found a few bits and bobs which might be useful. I already have a lot of tiny beads, but often when I am making something I can always guarantee I don't have the colour I need. I found this box of beads for £1. 

All this lot was in a box on a table with a label saying £2 the lot. I asked the woman if she was trying to get rid of them, she said yes. I gave her the £2 because it was worth it.

Here they are sorted, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Some of it is too big and a bit ugly so those pieces will go on the cat table to sell. The small beads and small shiny items will be used in crafty projects. 

I was looking for a straight up and down plain glass vase, and I found one. It's 10 inches tall, cost £1, and I have an idea for it.

I'm going to get on with a bit more needle felting, so I'll say tatty byes. Thank you for all your comments on yesterdays post, you really are too kind. All I do is live my life the way I want to. I am just being me.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Cushions and cat beds.

Cushions and cat beds.

crafty stuff sewing

Hello. That's another job done, the duvet which was passed to me, is now ten cushions and six cat beds, like mini quilts. I used every bit of the quilt, and I had some stuffing from another donation of lumpy cushions which I used to add a bit more bounce to these cushions. 

The covers can be removed from the cushions and washed, the brown fabric was donated, from a blog reader I think. People give me stuff and I can't remember where it came from, but it all gets used or passed on to the ladies in the Crafty Club. The patterned cushion covers were a curtain which I no longer required.

The cat beds are covered in donated fabric.They can be put in the washing machine as they are.

I've made a little video showing a few other things I have made from recycled materials.



I'm glad that jobs done, I'll drop the cushions off at the church in the morning. Now I can move on to another crafty project.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Making crafty and useful stuff with fabric.

Making crafty and useful stuff with fabric.

crafty stuff recycle reuse

Hello. It's a lovely morning and I want to get on the bus and go to Hull, so here is a quickie. The notebook cover I started on Monday is finished. They are so easy to make, sew strips of fabric together with the machine. Add cross stitch and sequins, make a lining for it, and blanket stitch the top and bottom together, making inside pockets to slide the front and back cover in.  

Front. 

Back.

Inside front.

Inside back.

My next project. Unpicking the stitching on a duvet to separate the layers, which will then be cut up and made into cushions and pet beds.



Phew, I'm busy. Don't forget, walkers unite, it's the last day of the month. Tomorrow is check in day for the Walking Group, we want to know your mileage, whatever it is. I know some of you are forging ahead and doing splendidly, but it isn't a race, it's all about taking part. It's about doing some walking, it doesn't have to be marathons, you just need to get up off your bums and walk.
Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Making art out of a tennis racquet

Making art out of a tennis racquet

arty stuff crafty stuff

Hello. I'm having to choose the times I go outside because it's swelteringly hot out there. Early morning is best when the sun is behind the trees, then late afternoon early evening when the sun is over the other side of the house. I'm halfway through painting the garage doors, and have painted a couple of pots. The lawns are mowed, and the wheelie bin is full of hedge trimmings, and they don't collect it until Wednesday. I did my walk last night at 9pm, nice and cool. 

Sounds daft but the hot weather is keeping me indoors, but hey, I've been getting on with this tennis racquet project and now it's finished. You may remember I bought it for £1 at a car boot sale a few months back. 

 Make a template out of paper and check if I have made enough embroidered circles.

Wrap the frame of the racquet in strips of red velvet, and add white/silver wool.

A piece of snooker table green baize for the background, with strips of green fabric machined on.

Arrange circles and hand stitch them on, using the same stitching adding to the designs already there. Sequins and beads then added to make it sparkly.

I backed the green baize with a piece of old blanket to make it thicker.

Pin it in place and hand sew it together with tiny green stitches. Silver sequins and tiny yellow beads decorate the frame. The back is completely covered with a piece of red felt.

I'm well chuffed with this, it's exactly how I pictured it when I thought of the idea. It reminds me of sea anenomies swaying in a gentle flowing rock pool.

The weekend is here, and it's a Bank Holiday, enjoy. I hope you are all keeping up with your walking, I am ahead in miles but still aiming to get out most days. I feel as if I am cheating if I do not walk. Thank you to Elaine for the package, the fabric is lovely and will be used for something special.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Keeping it under control

Keeping it under control

crafty stuff experimental food food

Hello. For ages now I have been buying Aldi cheese, the big blocks for £1.45, and always the extra mature cheddar because I like tasty cheese. I was eating too much of it, nibbling it every time I opened the fridge door. It had to stop. The fact that they increased the price, it shot up to £1.75, was another reason to cut down on my cheese habit. I started studying cheeses, prices and different varieties, and found other alternatives, so no more big blocks of extra mature cheddar. 

Last week I popped into the local Spar shop on my way back from the vet, to see if they had any reductions. They never have much here, but worth a look if passing. I found this pack reduced to 80p. The sticker covered the label so I peeled it back to see which kind it was. Luckily extra mature cheddar. I don't like mild cheese at all, might as well eat a packet of lard. 

So, a much smaller pack for 80p. I tried it, and my goodness is it tasty. I thought it would be similar to the Aldi stuff, but it isn't, it's ten times better. I won't be scoffing loads though because it's doubtful that I will find any more like this reduced, and I won't be paying full price for it. Just as well, I don't want to get hooked on it. Hard cheese is now in the same category as chocolate, only buy it when it is on special offer or reduced. A treat rather than a must have. By the way, Aldi have their big blocks on offer at the moment, at £1.50 something. I won't be buying it.  

This is the next stage of my latest artwork, the embroidered circles. I have used a piece of recycled snooker table green baize as the backing. Looking good so far.

The lawns need mowing, it rained yesterday, they might be dry enough to mow today. Last time I did it I raised the blade on the mower, but I'm going to lower it again because I like a close cut. Don't have to do it so often then, it saves me time and electricity.

I'm getting all excited about sandwiches now, thank you for your suggestions. Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your weekend. We'll catch up soon.
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