Out of this world!

Fantastic! 

I have finished not one of the granny square projects I showed a sneak peek of here....but two!

The second has been given as a present and the first is waiting to be hung when we find a space here!

I have learned a lot during the making of these....

not all of my grannies are the same size - (especially from the first,  made with superwash merino -  the second with acrylic was a bit more uniform!)....

a Tardis has 8 blocks not 6....

the first Tardis is much bigger on the outside

tapestry wool can be substituted when the original ball runs out (see previous two points) 

 blocking can really straighten wiggly lines..

.. its great to formulate the pattern as you go along....

there probably won't be two the same (see previous point)

I looooove the flow of making granny squares!

One of the first projects I wished to make was from this pattern...for a while the magic circle eluded me so I put it on hold....until this week when these four cheeky monsters fell to earth from my hook!

I needlefelted their features (designed by RWJnr)....

the success of the needlefelting surprised me as a lot of the fibres are not natural - but they all stuck fast so I'll certainly do that again!

 I've already had a request for some more...so expect some future monsterous activity!

Linda has introduced her readers to The Totally Useless Stitch Along ...the original link is here.....I think its a great idea and have started a pot of yarn ends....

I usually keep my high wool content ends to felt with so I might have a two pronged approach to this.

I'm waiting for someone at home to ask what the pot is doing here...wonder how long it will be...perhaps they realise its just another of my strange collections!

Looking forward to some more joint collaborations with RWJnr over the summer!

Eggstra helpings!

We've been enjoying a hectic Easter holiday...thought I'd add some more eggs to the mixture!

A while ago I looked for a flat egg pattern on Ravelry..as I was new to crochet it had to be simple (and as I haven't mastered the magic ring it had to be flat!)...I tried one...but mine didn't turn out anything like it...even having translated it into UK stitches. So I pottered around with a few stitches and came up with a pattern I was happy with! 

I made different sizes!

They were strung sideways....

...and long ways but didn't take a picture!

They appeared in nests:

....mostly needle felted

..one crocheted!

...a tray full of the colours of spring!

One afternoon RW Jnr and I wet felted these eggs -

We vaguely followed this tutorial using plastic eggs as innards. One has a pink and yellow striped middle and the other has green with a colourful strip of offcut yarn from the loomed flowers.

The intention was to make some more - and some fluffy chicks...but time ran away with us!

Whist on the eggy subject we had a lovely fluffy needlefelted surprise in the post from Tracey:

Hope you have an eggstraspecial weekend!

Under felt!

Last years chick...based on a very early RW Jnr design

The last few weeks have been busy, 

school holidays, birthdays, bank holidays, RW Jnr poorly days, Easter.....

 .... so we have been completely out of our routine...which has been great...lie ins, family days out, in, watching dvds, reading, gardening....

The flowers everywhere are in amazing bloom - there seems to be so much  more colour, volume and green growth this year...its fantastic! 

I have missed my wonderful and completely necessary relaxing coffee breaks with my friend, 

and there's been something else missing.......                                  

                         ....the time, space and energy to make things! 

I was going to say create...but my mind has been whizzing with ideas some of which have made it onto paper in my sketchbook, so I have been creative and have completed a couple of projects that I am really pleased with.

I have been able to browse and comment on lots of lovely fellow bloggers posts...but have not made much to put on my own. 

I would like to show you something though....

This is fantastic stuff! 

Jamie Lewis stuffs his amazing animals with some of his felt waste but mentioned that off cuts from wool mattresses could be used to stuff my felted balls. I spent a while searching the net and eventually came across this......

I have cut it and used it to stuff my chicks......

....and it is amazing to felt onto, both the cupcake and nordic knitwear design had this as a base. 

I flatten the fluff a little with my clover felting tool then put a thin base colour on top and needle felt away with my single needles. It offers  much less resistance than  'felt squares'  and until I produce my own wet felted sheets or pre-felt its great to use.

So thats what's going on underneath my needle felt....

and whats going on underneath my creative streak? Well, what I have learned over the last few weeks is that I really have missed my making time, I have had a period of under felt production...which I am hoping will be short lived, and normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Watch this space!

3D or not 3D...that is the question!!

Thanks to a brilliant tutorial from That Fuzzy Feeling I have had great fun making my own felt bowls.....
I began whilst waiting for some new wool so used a few different colours for each one..and as I'm not good at following instructions to the letter I used the tutorial as a sarting point..and felt my way round!!

Each one is completely different in form, shape and density!,I expect as I am still learning and experimenting. The brown and orange one is quite firm whereas the orange brown and yellow one is much more flexible.

I like aspects of them all so I'll keep on creating....

Having been a flat needle felter for a while ....I can cheerfully say yes to 3d too!!.....................................Bottoms up!! >>