Combat Pay

Hrumppp,

Some days I can't believe I make it though unscathed!  Tonight I was trying to sew a simple little border onto some fingerless gloves and pow! The needle snaps into numerous pieces and goes flying...toward my head (eyes! here).  I didn't think to take a photo of the mess...to rattled.  Woke the dog...

Now granted I was sewing free-motion embroidery on the machine and the area was part of a tube...i.e. it cannot be laid out all flat and nice like most sewing...and I have only sewn like this a few times...but still...Ugh!  I really need to get this project done.









I have wool laid out all over my tables and I need to get it felted so I can move on; a new client is expecting me to arrive at her home tomorrow with swatches and wool samples to decide on things for some custom pillows; and the project I was finishing tonight was a CHRISTMAS gift!



Really combat pay is not too much to ask some days!

I leave you tonight with this winter wonderland photo which makes staying indoors and working all the better - most days.
Janet

Back in the Zone!

Good Evening!

More Snow!  We got several more inches overnight.  I am so happy!  This is what I have been missing.  It is just soooo pristine and beautiful.  I took my little dog out for a walk around noon.  He had to rabbit hop since they had not yet plowed and the snow was pretty deep...and his legs are pretty short.  'Tis always fun to watch him doing this.  Anyway we got all bundled up (it was about 22 F degrees out) and once we stepped out the door I could hear it...that wonderful hushed sound that snow puts on everything.  That combined with the large, fluffy flakes falling and I was in heaven...well...sort of...

It put me in a very festive mood so upon returning I was ready to get to work on my newest piece.  I told you I had made a new sheet of bubble wrap last night.  Today I laid out some prefelts I found stashed in a corner that I had forgotten about...and then I started laying my first layers of loose wool.  I am using merino and merino/silk blends.  Then I found some funky yellow and hot pink silk hankies that I bought in Oregon several years ago...before I knew what to do with them...but I loved them and had to have them.  Today they found the perfect place amongst the prefelts and wool.  The layers I am putting down now should form the interior part of my jacket.

I shot a couple photos along the way...to show my progress.  What I noticed most when I looked at them though was the look of my felting space...YIKES!!!  Well I guess you can tell I use the space...  So more to come on this project as I go along...hope everyone is having a great week like I am!  It feels so good to be back working on my felting!!!

Janet

Ahhhhh.....the silence of...

Hello,

We awoke this morning to a couple of inches of SNOW!  Finally!  I am so happy to see it again.  We haven't had any of significance since around Thanksgiving.  I could tell it snowed because everything was so quiet...you cannot hear the cars and trucks going by...can't even hear people outside shoveling very easily.  Snow just brings everything to a soft, peaceful pace... ahhhhh...

On other topics, I haven't been doing well on my goal to felt something every day!  It has been 12 days since I last got my hands wet...It feels like going to confession to say that...(grins).  However, tonight I have taped and taped until I have a 12 foot by 5 foot section of new bubble wrap to use.  I have also planned out a new project and cut the fabric I need.  Tomorrow I begin laying out the wool and fabric...hopefully I will even get a chance to get things wet...though we have a potluck dinner to attend so that may be a bit iffy.  All and all though I am really enjoying all the quiet peace the snow has brought me.  We are due to get another 3 to 7 inches tomorrow and another couple tomorrow night...soooooo...I should be able to get some work done.  No running hither and yon....just staying home to work with my beloved felt.  No appointments until Friday!

Take care all,
Janet

Evening All,

Whew!  I now have my first official class (as a paid instructor) behind me.  I had a small group of 3, which was just fine as it gave me plenty of time to cover some background on felting and still give everyone time to felt.  One lady had a special hat  - a purple fedora with yellow dots - and a special event to use her felted corsage with...The group she belongs to is going to have a best hat competition at a local restaurant called the Fedora and whoever wins gets their lunch free.  I think her hat is adorable on her and hope she wins!

We finally have snow! Yippee!!! I keep threatening to lock myself in the house and turn off the phone so I can felt for several days straight and make some headway on the designs floating inside my head.  If this storm does as promised I won't need to as no one will be going anywhere for a few days.

Night,
Janet

Stage Fright!

Hello!

Remember your first day of school?  Or better yet, the first time you were required to stand up in front of the class and make a presentation?  I don't know about you, but I do. I loved school, yet this terrified me.  I was a huge wall flower and the idea of speaking in front of the class practically paralyzed me.  Things like ballet and tap dance classes where we all performed on stage certainly helped me with this issue, but I have never really truly been comfortable in front of a group.  Where is this going you ask?

Well having recovered from our road trip to Seattle, I decide it was time to work on my lesson plans.  Yep!  I have been hired to teach at an active living retirement establishment. My first 'gig' as a fiber artist!  So despite the fact that I have over 20 years teaching experience...well...I sort of have the jitters!  I haven't taught many adults...and here I find myself in front of a group of strangers again...and not just any strangers...my mother lives there and these are her neighbors.  Yikes...nothing like making me flash back to being that kid again up in front of the class...hoping I do everything right...hoping my folks will be proud.

I did get my plans outlined yesterday though and today I began to fill them out with the information I want to share tomorrow.  I sincerely hope we find time enough to go through all of that and to complete our project...a needle felted corsage.  I did a little bit of a test run two weeks ago when I took my supplies and walked my friends through the process.  It seemed okay, but I have tweaked my plans quite a bit since then...so here's hoping.

I also spent some time on my lace project.  I tried the Addi lace needles I bought on Thursday in Issaquah, but they just don't seen to have pointy enough tips on them.  I dug through my supply at home and found some Lana Grossa needles - also made in Germany - and tried them.  They worked beautifully!  However, the ones I have are size 2 and I need size 4.  Ugh!  So I checked all over the Internet.  Apparently the company is having problems getting the needles to the stores...some have discontinued carrying them...I couldn't find a single one anywhere!  So now what?  Suggestions? 

Janet