Felt Your Own Pumpkin for Halloween!

Hi Everyone!

You know years ago I started out my felting career with needle felting.  Specifically I made a pumpkin for Halloween.  Then I bought more supplies and took them with me on a 'girls retreat' in Oregon.  Both my sisters and my mom learned how to felt pumpkins on that trip.  It was a super time for renewing bonds, sharing childhood memories and creating something beautiful and useful!  We didn't make a video all those years ago, but I found a very delightful woman on YouTube who did.  Click the link below and follow along.  I bet you can get one of these done for yourself before Halloween on Monday!  And you can keep using it right on through Thanksgiving.

Now days knitting shops as well as Jo Ann's and Michael's are carrying the wool needed for this quick fun project.  Have fun everyone!

Janet

To Weave a Spider's Web

Hi There!

Well if you remember I was telling you about walking my dog and seeing all the lawns covered in glistening, gossamer spider threads...SO ...I have figured out a couple scarf designs that represent that shinny thread-like look.

and

Spider's Web Wrap in Progress

And now since the bewitching hour has come I am off to bed so tomorrow I can start felting these beauties!

Janet

Pillow Fight Anyone?

Tonight I have a finished pillow front that I felted over the past couple days.  I was using some transparent strips of nylon that I found at a local fabric shop, plus some prefelt that I have been working with, merino and merino/silk blend...it took a bit of elbow grease to get through all the layers I had made in some places, but it finally worked!  I have two now. I can't wait to stitch them to their back covers and stuff them!  They will be part of Sapphire's inventory and are destined for Blue Flag Hand Weaving Studio in Sandpoint.  http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

Transparent Nylon Strips

More Prefelt

Finished Pillow Front 1

Now... I want to tell you about something really wonderful.  I was walking my dog the other day - It was a clear crisp morning following some very heavy overnight rains.  All the sudden, I noticed sparkles out of the corner of my eye.  Upon closer examination, I saw that every lawn in the neighborhood was covered in tiny gossamer threads!  Was this the work of fairies or elves?  I think not...but it was all very enchanting.  As I continued along the threads kept twinkling at me.  I am sure it was the work of spiders...yet it t'was so beautiful that I decided then and there to design a scarf or something representing that effect...but that will have to wait until another day...check back...

Our website is making progress...not quite ready...but check back there as well as it shouldn't be too much longer.

http://www.sapphire-art.com/

Janet

Beautiful Glass Artwork

From my old stomping grounds...well almost.  I was born in Bozeman, Montana and I met a woman from Laurel the other day.  I am sure I must have been there as a child, but I don't remember it.  Still that takes nothing away from my enjoyment of the wonderful pieces of glass artwork being created by Elaine LaFlex-Green.  406-855-5086

 I chose this particular piece of hers because Sapphire Brand's logo (part of Kings Treasure Chest, Inc. our company) is a mermaid holding a Sapphire.  While my new glass piece isn't holding a sapphire, she is in the correct colors and I love her!  I plan to make the bead into a pin to wear to shows.

New Handbag - Just Felted!

Hi Everyone!

At long last, I have finished felting my handbag!  I started this with the piece I hope to make into a coat, but then set it aside.  The motif on this is made of circles from the prefelt of greens and browns I made last week.  I also added some circles of dupioni silk in bright orange.  Again I used brown batt that I have had on hand for awhile.  It seems to have been thick enough in most places.  However, I added some merino where I could feel that it was thin.  Then that led to adding more merino to blend colors better...and one thing always leads to many others ( :) and so as I said it seems like "at long last" I have finished this!




New Handbag Using Prefelts



Circles Well Felted onto Flap Front



Sparkle 'fiber' that I bought from Kristie at Blue Flag Hand Weaving Studio

 Night All!  Tomorrow I'm off to show-and-tell with my two latest creations.

Janet

A Time to Play

Well it's Sunday...a day of rest and play.  And I did play today.  First I spent some time puttering in the garden harvesting herbs and late blooming flowers.  Then I came indoors and made a yummy pie to take and share at dinner with friends.  But all this was the play of an adult and I want to walk you back in time to when you were about eight years old...full of imagination and wonder at all the wonders of the world...remember?

To that end I want to tell you about another cute shop in Sandpoint, Idaho called A Child's Dream Come True  http://www.achildsdream.com/ .  It is located at 214 Cedar Street, right next to Blue Flag Hand Weaving Studio.  http://www.blueflagweaving.com/

I bet the owner of this store had a wonderful childhood like mine!  This delightful little shop is stuffed to the ceiling with things to create with.  When I was growing up my mother was always working on one project or another and my sisters and I loved watching and getting involved once we were old enough.  Still I don't think my Mom ever had access to some of the wonderful items that are carried in A Child's Dream.  Stepping into this shop made me wish that I could click my heels together and go back though, just so I could play again using Pocket Gnomes,  a Game of Ogres and Elves, Plant Dyed Play Silks, Rainbow Angels Kit, and a Choroi Pentatonic Flute.  Alas it is not to be for me...but maybe someone you know?







Pocket Knomes (They're felted!)



Instead, I will be playing with my felt again starting tomorrow. I have four felting projects laid out: two purses and two pillows.  I can't wait to get started!  But for tonight I am going to let my mind wander back some more to those days of discovery and play...while I knit.

Janet