Felted bag

I have just finished my first attempt at a felted bag and am quite pleased!

I had previously made the flower so as the colours were the same I decided to use this rather than make another.

The strap actually took ages to make with continual rolling and wetting. 

There are no seams in the bag, it is all made in one piece with a template in the middle then layers of wool around the template.  The only sewing was to attach the loop and felt button.

Nuno Felting

This is my first attempt at nuno felting (a technique which bonds loose fibre, usually wool, into a sheer fabric such as silk gauze).  Having seen lots of beautiful scarves on Pinterest and google images I decided to make myself a scarf.  I watched several videos on youtube and decided this lady's were the easiest to follow.  The most suitable fabric I could find was some black silk chiffon so then it was a question of deciding which colours of wool to use.  As most of my clothes seem to be grey or black I decided to keep to these colours.  This is the finished result. 

I was really pleased with my effort but the first friend I showed it to remarked that it was drab and stiff!  Undeterred I did wear it and had lots of favourable comments.  It is stiffer than I had wanted but now I have discovered that the company from which I buy my wool tops also sells silk gauze (unfortunately only in white but I can dye it).

Because I did not have a piece of silk long enough then I had to join two pieces in the middle.  This is quite easy as the felted wool joins them.  I also had to put wool all around the edges as they were raw edges.

I am really keen to make some more scarves and am even wondering about selling them.  What do you think?

I have started going to my ceramics class again though I am not very good at it.  Here are some hearts  I have made

                                     

and some crackle glazed Christmas bells, stars and holly.

I have also made several ceramic buttons and I am wondering if these would also sell as I can do them in any colour people would want.  They could be used on cushion covers as well as knitwear.

Vintage Market

Yesterday my daughter and I visited Boscombe Vintage Market near where she lives.  We'd never been before and were pleasantly surprised at the lovely things for sale. 

I only bought one thing (and for myself, not re-sale).  I love these mosaic ear clips which I shall wear as dress clips on a dress or jumper. 

We then went into Christchurch

for some lunch (her treat) and a bit of shopping at Kiki's boutique.  It's a lovely shop and I usually find something to buy there.

Dilemma

I love painted furniture if it is done well but sometimes when I walk around some antique centres it seems that anything and every piece of wood has been painted and I don't think this is always right.  I also like wood particularly oak and mahogany to be left looking like wood!

I recently bought these two pieces - a sewing box/stand which I have decided should be left as it is but I am unsure about this screen.  There are two panels of embroidery but would it look better given the Farrow & Ball treatment and with this lovely Kate Forman fabric.  What do you think?

I also bought these two silver brooches which would be lovely to give for a Valentine's present.  Both have horseshoes and ivy on them.  Ivy leaves were used on jewellery as a symbol of fidelity and, of course, horseshoes bring good luck so these may have been given to a bride on her wedding day.

Vintage Clothes

I have been doing quite a lot of buying for the website recently.  I had a visit to Ardingly and bought twelve of these lovely French dessert glasses - no wonder the French ladies are so slim looking at the size of these if this is all the dessert they eat!

I love these two mosaic brooches I bought.

At the weekend I went to an auction and bought lots of linen so this week it's been like a Chinese laundry in my home.  I like to wash and starch everything before it goes on the website.  Luckily I don't mind ironing!

I also bought a box of vintage clothes which I don't usually sell but these took my fancy.  This is a Victorian dress which is too small to fit on any of my mannequins unfortunately so difficult to display.

 There was also a wedding dress and veil.  Someone has cut off the bottom of the dress and it needs some tlc on the lace.

This Chinese coat is reversible and beautifully made.

I will post some photos of the linens when I can see over the mountain of ironing!

Morning Walk

Well after an awful 2011, 2012 has not started well.  Two days ago my father in law was out walking with my mother in law and suddenly collapsed with a heart attack and died.  It has been such a shock to us all.

I went for a lovely walk along the beach this morning; it doesn't even feel like winter the past few days and there were so many people out enjoying this mild weather.  Nearly everyone seemed to have a dog and this one was certainly enjoying his morning dip.

Fishermen were out

and gliders

Then it was home to scrambled eggs on toast.

This week I have been trying to get to grips with my new camera and all the effects it can do.

and more felting this weekend but I'll post photos of this another time.

Belated Happy New Year

A belated Happy New Year to you all.  I have been very remiss in my postings and comments of late and I must try harder in 2012!

I wish you all a very happy and peaceful 2012.

This was the first Christmas since my Mum died.  One of the best Christmas presents I ever received was this antique Maltese scarf she gave me about 30 years ago.  I used to, and still do, wear it a lot.  The amethyst 'necklace' is the last present she gave me.