Bits and Pieces

This month most of my hooky fun has been experimental or smallish projects...as I continue to bust my stash I thought I'd include some of the items I have made that are part of larger plans or one off items!

We sent this card to my father in law for Fathers Day

4g of navy wool

Experiments in Butterfly design
7g

3 BIG bloomers for a winter project
(should have been last winter hope it will be this one!)
Perhaps the weight will give you an idea of their size!
40g

All wiggly at the edges! 

Adventures in going round in circles!

15g

So, totals for June:
Bits and Pieces: 66g
Bow Tie: 2g
Daisies: 9g
Mini Owl: 8g
Coasters: 48g
(Elisabeth, the yarn is Anchor Style Creativo fino and Astri  - its an Ikea Apron!)
The special project in the next post: 13g
Sooooo June Total: 146g

Total for the first half of the year: 1127+146= 1273g
WooHoo!
 I didn't even think I had that much...and there's still loads more to have fun with!!
I'll stop writing and get on with the next project!

Owl Pattern

Huge 'Thank You's to everyone leaving such encouraging comments on my relatively new crochet  skills - I can't believe its only 8 months since I started hooking - once I got a rhythm I have had such fun! Please keep giving it a go if you would like to try..one day it might click!

A while ago I introduced these little feathery friends...

and was quite amazed when someone requested the pattern! So Becky  - here it is especially for you! Its the first time I have written my scrawly notes into something coherent for someone else to follow  - so please let me know how it works!!

Random-Wooliness Owl pattern: UK terms

Start with a magic ring and chain 3. Now hook 14 Trebles into the ring and join with a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the 3 chain. Pull on the short end to gently close the hole.

Chain 3 and join to the body with a slip stitch into the same stitch.

Slip stitch into the next 4 stitches. Chain 3 and join to the body with a slip stitch into the same stitch (ie 4th slip stitched stitch).

Finish off - I tend to use the wrong side as it has different texture, by giving the finished stitch a good pull as you wrap it round the back (in my case the right side!) you can create a notch similar to the one you have on the other side.

I have embellished mine with needlefelted features although felt or buttons may be used.

You may have noticed I like to add a splash of colour - this one is worked with 2 yarns on a bigger hook! Although the way the contrasting colours have worked makes his 'ears' a little quirky

I did experiment a bit with the ear - like bits - you could try just 3 slip stitches across the top to adjust the angle. I also tried a picot style but that owl would need to be a long eared one!!

......seen from a different angle they seem to shrink!

I am hugely aware of issues of copyright around blog-land and I'm sure whilst swooping around your brain picks up lots of images as you are browsing. As far as I know I have not seen an owl with the pattern above, however as it is so simple there may be others out there...hoot if you see one!

I have been doing loads of  fiddling, with stitches, yarns, scribblings and patterns, learning a lot as I fumble about. I have always been a bit of a rebel when following instructions or counting (particularly in music) so its quite fun to make it up as I go along!!
 I realise lots of talented people are working hard creating patterns to make an income - but for me, with my fledgling crochet skills its an amazing form of procrastination!

Work in Progress

There's been a chaos of creative activity at Random Wooliness HQ over the last few weeks...I am completely engrossed in crochet,  an inspiring workshop has filled my head full of new ideas, and I have been beavering away experimenting and working on my commission!

I think I am at a stage where I can share some of the commission project... other exciting and colourful acitivity will be revealed in further posts...(including a project I'm really pleased with made back in January) - when I put my hook and yarn down!

The first stage in the commission  project was to experiment and try to incorporate some shiny fabric in the felting process...

I already had a tiny slice of this

its amazing rainbowy organza-like and sparkly, from a larger piece of fabric - if anyone knows where I can find any more please let me know!

 As I was unsure on the colour scheme I invested in some ribbon...

and tried several ways of  incorporating it into the felt....

...just laying it on top...

....catching it round the edges...and capturing sari silk underneath...

and part wet felting, part needle felting...

..it is interesting how the needle has textured the ribbon when punching it...

However having chatted to the friend who has requested the piece we have decided to possibly use a different fabric and a modified technique although we may omit the fabric altogether ....

Its great being able to share creative ideas with the person who has asked for the item.

 Some of the materials in use are:
 New Zealand Corriedale in Fuchsia
Shetland hand dyed top in Sea Green and hand painted River
all from Sara's Texture Crafts

the colours are beautiful..I just love the Fuchsia and the ever changing tones in the bluey green!

Hopefully if the measurements are ok I'll try and mount it on the piece of Scottish driftwood.


I have had a full trial run and I've wetfelted the final piece, needlefelting next...taking photos as I go so that the people who receive it will know its story!

When it is finished I'll tell you its tale too!

Appreciating Design!

One of my favourite occupations is to admire creativity - whether it be in the form of words (written or spoken), pictures (2 and 3D), sounds, textures, aromas or tastes!
I love catching up with blogs, facebook statuses, on-line crafty shops, and being antisocial with a good book!  I am intrigued by knitting and crochet patterns, inspired by tutorials, calmed by photos, delighted by illustrations, and prompted to think by musings...
I know how much time, dedication and thought is put into designing each and every  post, project pattern, perambulation, piece and product..

I have mentioned before that I have a scientific background, 

however, I might not have said out loud that my early attempts at  creativity were frustrated by the finished article not bearing a suitable resemblance to the fabulous image in my head! 

I know I have confessed to wanting to run before I can walk... 

and have been thinking about all of this a lot recently... in particular the fact that in the past I seem to skip the experimental or design part of a project entirely, in a sprint to finish, and consequently land at a less than satisfying final product.

I was enabled to appreciate design earlier in the year when I made a birthday cake - easy peasy..round cake, white icing and a green X  - sorted! 

It wasn't until I looked closely at the iconic logo that it is so much more than a green X on white! (Maybe I was subconsciously avoiding the white box that generates so many emotions and gobbles so much time!) 

I'm sure the multi-talented design team that produced the logo would have been disappointed in my dismissive initial impression, but I hope to rectify that by saying how much more I appreciate their work now that I have studied it carefully!

The silvery wool top was great to needlefelt with  - I'm not sure what it was as it came in a bag of mixed fibres from Sara's Texture Crafts....

It was a well received birthday card!

On another designer subject...the process of wet felting is liberating and I have been really pleased with all of my pieces so far, especially as there is still an element of surprise in the finished product.  Some fibres disappear when wet and slowly reveal themselves as they dry, some move or wriggle or wiggle and others change shape as they are felted. Colours blend and different tones appear depending on neighbouring hues.
I have been having fun designing and experimenting; choosing colours, techniques and textures for a project a friend has requested..this week she's hopefully going to see some of the ideas I have so far..and maybe I'll have the confidence to reveal them here too! I am hoping that the element of surprise will be reduced slightly in the finished piece..as I have another one of those fabulous pictures in my head....

In a bid to encourage my stages of  design-ability  (and to aid my sieve like memory) I do now have a bulging sketch book full of scribbles, hastily jotted notes of quantities, colours, things to improve and what worked well, and lists of what went where so the same item is not given to the same person twice!

Speaking of designers...Jenny over at love and peas* designs the most amazing mixed media and fabric creations...she is currently running a giveaway for a custom made embroidery...if you hurry you might catch it!

I'm off to appreciate some more designs...thawing footprints in the snow and snowpeople!
and later this week I'm going to (get) Lost in Lace at BMAG....

Preparations...

As the season to be jolly fast approaches I have been beavering away making exciting festive felt - hence the silent nights on the blog front! 

There are lots of things still to be finished and as many of my makes are presents I can only reveal small snippets!

The eagle eyed will be able to spot the very useful rainbow pins from Becky's givewaway.
(I have also been putting the rainbow embroidery cotton to very good use, although not for stitching!)

 Can you guess what these shetland merino mixed spheres will transform into?

I love the thickness of these wet felted sheets, which were designed to be double sided

. 

It took me a while to build up the courage to slice them but what an unexpected treat when I did! 

I'd like to say it was part of the design to have a striped side.....but it was just a happy accident which I will be repeating!!

You may just be able to spot the angelina fibres in the top ones and the sari silk in the ones below.

There has been lots of experimenting with how to hang some of my felt pictures, this is the newest idea...glad its on the back as my sewing isn't as neat as I'd like it to be!

Over the last few weeks I have had great pleasure and fun making and wrapping items for my swap partner Jay as part of the snail mail holiday swap.

My parcel is ready for the post....

I'm also really excited to say that when all the festive creativity is over I will have something to start the crafty New Year...a commission!! I'll be sharing lots of ideas with you about this piece as I know it will involve some new skills that I am keen to try!

In the meantime - Happy Advent to you all hope you enjoy the preparations for Christmas! x

Backs to front!

I've been experimenting this week with lots of ideas for presents, Christmas and birthdays..

I have invested in a bamboo mat, used some 'tutu' net...and re-read some helpful tutorials.

I have also tried to find the optimum winter photo taking position, especially as we have had a few dull grey days.

So.... I have been able to create some more regular shaped 'backs'

  instead of this....

I have learned how to make this..

can't show you the front yet...its a secret..but you might be able to spot a hint of  pink?!

I do have to say though that I like both types of back, the first being a bit more organic..at least I can choose the effect I would like now!

I have made some flat pieces for decorations - these will be double sided so you can see the fronts

and the backs...

I just have to learn to let go now and cut into them!!

Daisy Chains

My daisy loving friend had a birthday at the beginning of  August, last week I finally gave her the completed present I had been making!

I had the final image in my head, but it took a while, using lots of techniques I have used before and a couple of new ones!

Firstly I made lots of small white blooms on my flower loom,  and needle felted their middles.

Then I wet felted a green background with shetland, some of the green merino from Becky's giveaway, and some sari silk fibres.

It took some thought about how to attach the daisies (minimal sewing) and the hanging device (thanks to my husband for the brainwave that required no sewing!)

...all finished off with a piece of green thread, again from Becky's parcel.

Before the construction.

No sewing pole inserts!

Sari silk shimmering in the sun!

I loved putting everything together, especially needlefelting the middles in the warm sunny garden.
Happy daisies, Happy Birthday! x

Being Creative - Summer

I think this post should have the subtitle of: Learning to leisurely stroll before you can run!

The thoughts, as usual, for this months Being Creative topic have been whirring away at speed for more than a month... I think the process of this creation is just as important as the final result..so please bear with me!!

Following a comment I made on someone's lovely ocean creation last month I began thinking about the composition of most of my projects... I like to make things colourful, bright, cheerful and warm....things that I suppose other people would like to look at...the fish I make are orange, the sea, blue....and I do know from holiday photos on people's blogs it can be beautifully blue...but its not always!

So I decided I should be a bit more realistic in my choice of subject matter for summer.....

I still thought of flowers...poppies.... but where they grow....on waste ground or by the roadside....

after a motorway journey last week observing the roadside flora (and what an amazing array there is..such a positive and pretty colour pallette bordering the ribbon of tarmac)..I picked Rosebay Willowherb...(for the picture -  in my head - not on the hard shoulder)

In the true spirit of Being Creative I decided to try something new and out of my comfort zone...

I enthusiastically ripped the plastic off a new set of watercolour pencils and opened the watercolour sketchbook with trepidation! (Yes, it was a mixture of emotions!!)

I began with a few sketch ideas to get a feel of the media, and the dived in headfirst!!

That's the point where I especially should have strolled....

As a first attempt I'm quite pleased..it certainly ticks the 'I've tried something different' box

and it has reminded me of some other factors:  I like to race with the wind in my hair before I have even taken a few wobbly steps; I'd love the finished article on paper  to look identical to the beautiful image in my head; I am so enthusiastic to keep the momentum going I power onto the next stage before the last one dries; I am aware of the benefits of relaxation and going with the flow; I am still trying to disguise all my 'could try harder's into positives!

It looks a bit more peaceful country garden than gritty roadside ...but again...thats what makes me appreciate even more the talents of people who can make a picture look like how they had imagined it to be, or what the viewer would like to see!

I have enjoyed this whole process once again, Thank you to Julia for the inspirational topics and to all the wonderful comments  that flutter across the ether and land here. Its so great to be able to share everyone's creations.

I will leave you with one of my rough sketches which, because I was still fairly relaxed, turned out more like what I had in my head than the real thing!

Hardware vs software

We've had a few gremlins in our computer and most of my time over the last week has been devoted to hardware rather than the softer-ware of feltiness! 

So -in true Blue Peter style  - here's one I prepared earlier!!

The background is chocolate shetland, layered with Falling leaves Merino and silk blend from Wheeldale Woolcrafts. The detail on the top includes some very soft streaks of  alpaca amongst other fibres.

As the background is so busy the alpaca has got a bit lost visually although you can feel it and see it up close....so I intend to make another piece to show it off more ....and then both will be given to the friend who gave me the alpaca for her to weave her sewing magic and transform it into something else!!

I originally intended to create tree bark...and it reminds my friend of a stream (there's quite a bit of green in there - in real life)..isn't it great how we all see things differently?!!

Eggclectic mixture!

Its been a busy week trying to get some projects completed before the Easter holidays start....

These eggs look a bit large....perhaps they belong to a  chocolate cuckoo!

 

I have finally had a chance to try some medium sized wet felted balls! Having been shown how to do it a few months ago I've been itching to have a go....its my  very first go at any wet felting... and I am pleased with my quirky results:

I know what I'll be doing with them...and the bumps, cracks and wibbly bits will hopefully add to their character....

Hope the sunnny weather continues ....happy weekend folks!