Felting Fun!

And recycling all at the same time! I went to my local Goodwill and absconded with some lovely wool sweaters and rushed home to shrink them! I then cut them up, sewed them back together and embellished them to make these delightful little pouches. I was a bit obsessed for a few days...many of you know about my obsessions...they are VERY intense and VERY short-lived! Here it is December and I'm movin' on to my next obsession...

oh, I haven't discovered it yet! Just give me a minute...

And shall we discuss the fact that it's December? So much for my regular posts...oh well!

Today's 10 things I don't do all of the time...but did today:
10. Let Meka stay home from school even though she wasn't too sick
9. Gave a craft project to Meka that I had visions for...and did NOT intervene and make it what I wanted it to be!
8. Took care of my leftover turkey before it went rotten in the fridge
7. Gave Meka LOTS of chores once Jolee came home and, in turn, my life was relatively quiet before dinner. Miracle. Meka prepared the apples for applesauce, helped prepare dinner, washed the dishes and then processed the applesauce once it was cooked. Jolee spent the entire time "painting"...wooden stars and herself!
6. Put Elvia's hair into cute-as-a-button pigtails and DID NOT get upset when she took them out.
5. Backed out of a church committment so that I could do some self-care this weekend
4. Advocated for myself to go away for the weekend with my dear friend, Denise
3. Convinced myself that I deserve to go away and that my family will survive...probably even thrive...without me!
2. Cleaned my art space and enjoyed the cleanliness!
probably the best one...
1. with the help of Hannah, realized that my sister's birthday is coming up and I need to stick to my "non-materialism" all around...not just when it's convenient. I was going to send her a card with $10...big whoop...but instead decided to make her the cookies that her mother used to make each year at Christmas. Much more thoughtful then $10 and much better all around.

and with that, I am going to bed to read one of my new books that I got at the library!

Yipee!!

Must make crafts...work, work, work...

This is my mantra these days...as you can see, my workshop is getting filled up!earring cards filling up

my messy production area

I've managed to crank out 50 pairs of earrings and the "legs" to my felted angels. I also threw in some fun collage on a mirror...we'll see how that goes over at the craft shows!

Oh, did I mention I've agreed to do two this fall? Crazy woman. That's me!

Let's see...today...I survived today. I suddenly realized that I'm very glad I'm not a single parent. I do think that I would send my kids to public school or live MUCH closer to Merriconeag...driving to Freeport twice a day is NOT my idea of a good use of time!

Okay, I'm going to try to simplify my postings. Lists.
Ready?
10 Things I did today (out of the ordinary realm of my life...see, it's tricky!)...my therapist would have a field day with this one! I can hear her now, "Leslie, you are always wanting to accomplish things. You feel the need to produce all of the time." I know, I know...

1. Visited with a friend in Yarmouth
2. Spent some time looking for fun children's books at the library
3. Took a nap with Elvia (she usually sleeps in her crib)
4. Took care of banking crap immediately rather than waiting a month like I usually do
5. Made some yummy chicken soup and BISCUITS for dinner! They actually ROSE!!! No hockey pucks tonight!!!
6. Managed to keep the woodstove going all day despite me not putting wood on before I left at 8am this morning!
7. Had "family reading time" on the couch (instead of bedtime reading in bed)
8. Let Jolee and Meka sleep in my bed
9. Oh! I almost forgot! I "organized" my freezer! I know, scintillating, isn't it??? I had all of this blackberry puree in ice cube trays that needed to be put in baggies and stuff that was frozen and needed to be sealed. Phew! A big job done!
10. Relaxed on the couch and read my newest library book, I Was a Great Mother Before I Had Kids (it's close...not sure of the exact title)

and number 10 is "pending" so I have to end this and get on it!

Felted Soaps

What in the world would you do with a felted soap, right? I can hear it now! The premise behind the felted soap is that you use it as you would an exfoliant bar. The wool acts as a natural exfoliant and the soap, well, it does what soap is supposed to do!

This soap, however, is handmade from a friend of mine, Julie Henze. She has a business called Soap Springs Eternal. Look for her at craft fairs and small shops throughout Maine. Her product is amazing!

The technique for felting soap is rather therapeutic! You simply wrap wool roving around a bar of soap, add a few drops of dish liquid and then pass it back and forth between your hands, adding warm/hot water as you go along, thereby shrinking the wool around the soap. As you use the soap, the wool will continue to shrink around the soap, leaving you with a lovely little ball of wool when the soap is gone.

A Felting Frenzy!

Here is a sampling of the felted bowls that I made and sold at an art fair this past December. It was the first time I have ever put my wares out for sale and I was quite nervous. I had a lot of fun making them.

The square "bowls" were knitted, machine felted and then the embellishments were needle felted on. The round bowls were crocheted and then, again, the embellishments were needle felted on. The small purple bowl was done while extremely frustrated one night...completely needle felted!

These little trees are actually ornaments. I needle felted the trees and then needle felted the "ornaments" onto the trees. Silly but so cute and so much fun!!!

I've been busy!

I know, haven't had a post in a LONG time! Well, I've been busy making and selling my wares. I finally decided to participate in a craft fair/art sale at the beginning of the month and went a little crazy trying to get ready for it.

This is a basket filled with felted soaps that I peddled at the show. I purchased the handmade soap from Julie Henze, a friend from Meka's school. I had a blast making it. Meka actually made some bars as well...shhh! grandmothers are getting some for Christmas!

I'll be posting some of my other art soon...between diaper changes and naps...yes, MY naps!

And no blog update would be complete these days without a goofy photo of my daughter, Jolee. She is a NUT! And the main reason that I do not update my blog very often! She's lucky she's cute, that's all I can say!

Till next time!