Easter Softies

Strangely Felt

I've been needle felting for a while now. My most recent project was a purple octopus for my twin brother. Octopus are so hot right now. They're the darling of the indie craft scene. I even found him a pair of octopus boxers GAP to send along. But I've been an octopus fan since I took an Invertebrate Zoology class in college and saw this video:



They are masters of camouflage- chameleons eat your hearts out! Really, I could spend hours on YouTube looking up octopus videos!


After the octopus, I decided it was time to set aside the needles and finally try wet felting loose wool. The project: a short scarf or neck warmer. The end result was satisfactory, but the process was a bit hairy (pun intended). On the suggestion of the yarn store lady, I used a jellyroll pan (cookie sheet with an edge) to try and contain the soapy water during the felting stage. However, I did not have a big enough space even to contain my little scarf. Imagine lots of water on the floor and the front of my pants. And I couldn't create an even thickness. Once the wool was felted to a certain point, I couldn't work more wool into the thin spots... Any suggestions? I think there was too much water. I did have great success using a sushi mat for the fulling process and it was easier when I could move the project into the sink (less water on my crotch).

In the end, I did use the needles to do a bit of troubleshooting. Perhaps it's a bit more difficult than the knit-and-felt, but think the color and texture possibilities are far more interesting with wet felting.

Christmas Felting

This was the season of felting for me. For the Lier sibling gift exchanged, I made my brother a killer pair of knit-n-felt slippers. The pattern came from a great book called Knit One, Felt Too. Clever title, good projects. Like the bad blogger that I am, I forgot to take a picture of the final product. But you can see below what they looked like pre-felting.



My twin was very incredulous about the size of these puppies, but after three runs through the washing machine, they fit like a glove... or a really good pair of slippers.

I also got back into the needle felting groove. I think it is the perfect travel project. And they let me take the sharp needles on the plane! My two projects: a blue llama and an orange octopus. This time I took some before and after shots.

The Joys of Unemployment

I am recently unemployed. The past week I have been trying to enjoy my little bout of freedom while responsibly (read "obsessively") searching the want ads for the next big thing. It's not been easy, but I found some fun ways to spend my time.



1.) Needle Felting: my sister taught me this little craft before we left for my brother's wedding, and it is only a short time before tiny animals take over my bedroom. Fox is my second creation and is now my personal mascot.


2.) Canning: the first thing I did when I returned to Seattle was visit the Ballard Farmer's Market. This weekly ritual always makes me feel a little more human in this big city and there's tons of beautiful, local produce. And who could say no to a whole flat of ripe raspberries! They simply begged to be turned into jam. So I embarked on my first canning experience and threw in some tomato sauce at the end.


And of course, 3.) Blogging: I finally found the time and motivation to start this thing rolling. I have also spent an ungodly amount of time drooling over other people's cute blogs. I mostly blame my sister and sister-in-law for this newfound addiction. Hours of my life slip away checking out crafty things here and delicious recipes there. You can find some very useful tutorials on said blogs, if you just keep your wits about you. I've posted some of my favorite links so you too can be sucked into the vortex that is craftster blogs.