Needle felting - my new addiction

equipment and fleece

I made three resolutions at the beginning of the year. One of them was learning to needle felt.  I had no idea how much fun this would be, or how quickly quite reasonable creations could be made.  I am still a long way away from the works of art that I have seen on PINTEREST and in some of the ETSY shops but I am very happy with my progress so far.  I have found that felting half light is not a good idea - a double stabbed finger before I came to my senses and realised I couldn't see what I was doing.  I now have a useful little lap tray with magnifying lamp (purchased at the WAR AND PEACE SHOW of all places http://www.thehopfarm.co.uk/events/176/the-war-and-peace-show/) which makes things a lot easier.

seahorses and a heart

So far I have discovered that although you can get fleece from Hobbycraft (my only local craft shop) it is rather coarse in texture.  I much prefer the feel of the fleece I brought years ago from READERS UNION book club.  I have been looking on line and have found a couple of firms. http://www.worldofwool.co.uk/index.php 
There is a good range of colours at a reasonable price.
http://www.bloomingfelt.co.uk/ 
A more general range with lots of pre-formed pieces.

I have also discovered  that the brush type needle felting mat, although expensive, does make a lot of the work easier. 
Since I shared my first attempts with you I have made purses, seahorses (lots of seahorses), a couple of little GREEN ALIEN bag charms and a vintage looking bag charm of a COUPLE OF CHERRIES WITH LEAVES.  I have begun to list my creations onto my new shop http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/Green-needle-felted-coin-purse.html

needle felt cherries

little green winged alien

This piece with seahorses is a work in progress.  Having created the design I am embroidering highlights.

 
  It is hard to say how much I am enjoying this craft and I hope that with practise I may become as talented as the people who inspired me on pinterest.


http://pinterest.com/idamaecouch/needle-felt/

http://pinterest.com/kelbug/nuts-about-needle-felt/ 

CAR SHOWS AND NEEDLE FELTING

A most glorious weekend of sun,seashore and cars.  The first DEAL CLASSIC CAR AND MOTOR SHOW was held on Saturday on Walmer Green next to the beach.
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/deal_classic_car_and_motor_show_set_for_walmer_green_1_1377870

I have been to a lot of car shows over the last few years and I really liked this venue.  It was very well organised, within easy walking distance of deal town centre, the bands playing ranged from good to exceedingly good and it had some very nice cars.  This 1929 Triumph that was parked next to us was one of the 'barn finds' that you read about.  It had been in a very sorry state when its current owner found it in 1979 and started restoring a couple of years later.
Our Mercury Cougar sparkled in the sunshine and attracted lots of attention. It was definitely worth spending the time giving it the extra care.

For some unknown reason with the big American cars I went all arty and took pictures of the fins and grills.

I really hope that they will hold this show again.  I think it must have been a success - towards the end of the afternoon there were still crowds of people walking around.  The weather must have helped a little.               

 

 

 The RETRO MARKET was better than some that I have seen.  I brought a few items from some of them.

There was even a vintage pram.

Because the show was so close to town I had a chance to look for NEEDLE FELTING needles (I had broken one on my first try).  I managed to get some and started felting again.  It was a lot easier to do my little dragon with a single needle.

NEEDLE FELTING - a beginners experience

At the beginning of the year I made three resolutions: - to learn to use my craft robo (I have made a start on that), to do goldwork embroidery (I have everything ready now to start), and to learn needle felting.
http://www.wizpick.com/about_needlefelting.htm 

Ever since I discovered Etsy and Pinterest I have been seeing the most amazing needle felt creations.  Life like miniature animals, fantastic dolls and so much more.  It was all so beautiful that I wanted to see what I could do. http://pinterest.com/Deeliciousdee/needle-felting/ 

This weekend, having collected all the things I needed, I decided to take the plunge.  I did a quick bit of Internet research and immediately found I had the wrong sort of felting needle. I also found all sorts of tips, help and tutorials.

I meant to try and make a penguin as it looked fairly simple.  Not surprisingly it was not that easy.
 http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/needle-felted-penguin#slide_0 
I rolled my first shape and started work .... I love my creation and am really quite proud of it although I am not sure what it is exactly.

my very first piece of needle felting

Still a lot more practice needed.


A trip to the shops to get some other needles - it should be easier to do the finer detailing.

not quite sure what this little creature is

http://www.cdhm.org/tutorials/learn-to-needlefelt-a-bear.html


 This looks like a very good tutorial - so trying to make a bear could be the next project.

Although my creation did not end up quite as I had intended I liked needle felting so much that I am really glad that I decided to give needle felting a go.

he looks a bit like a rabbit dressed as a dragon

 I found these little creatures when I was searching for information on how to needle felt. 
 Twenty of the coolest and weirdest needle felted creations
http://www.oddee.com/item_97881.aspx 

my second piece of needle felting

I also tried the other method of needle felting (the type my needle was for)  and made this butterfly. 
This was felted on to a piece of grey felt roughly cut into a butterfly shape.