Giving up apologising . . .

. . . for not putting any new posts up for ages.  I just don't want to spend as much time at the computer these days, and something has to go.  But maybe I just need some new ideas for the blog, a different approach.  Well, not today anyway, but I'll think about it.

The latest craze is making these felt brooches.  Very simple, just felt, some buttonhole stitch and beads, and a bit of organza and / or net, and a safety pin stitched on behind.  I've been doing some with the grandchildren and at the birthday party of one of them (11 year olds), where they all made one, and some even two, with hair grips instead of safety pins.

Enough of the flowers . . .

. . . let's have some stitching. The next two 12" x12" journal quilts.
My work done at Lyn Prosser's workshop day with West Country Embroiderers . . .wet felting
and 'faux felting' , which is not felting at all really.
... and some stuff done with my embellisher/needlefelting machine. This one is done with wool tops, slivers of fabric and bits of knitting yarn.
This and the next pic are all one piece. I'm planning to make a bookcover out of it, with . . .

. . . a pocket on the back. The pocket was made just with wool tops and was punched into place. I've more stuff to put round it, then I shall stitch some felt pieces to the ends inside to make sleeves into whch the cover of a note/sketchbook can be inserted.Let's finish off with a needlefelted postcard.(You see, I don't spend all my time swanning round gardens.)

WCE felt and faux felt

July meeting, we made felt with Lyn Prosser, a local Dorset textile artist. We did wet felt using the normal method with hot water, olive soap and lots of rubbing and rolling with the help of a rolling pin and bubblewrap. Faux felt is interesting, as no wetting and actual felting is involved. You build up layers of wool tops etc just as you would for wet felting, but on a piece of firm fabric. You can add bits of fabric on top, like sheers, offcuts, ribbons, yarns. Then you lay a piece of that water-soluble stuff you embroider on and wash away - can't think of the name- pin it, tack it. (See pic left centre) Then stitch all over it. Then wash it off under the tap. And, see pic left bottom, you have an interesting, quite solid, piece which can be further stitched into, beads etc added. People used some really nice colour combinations and bits, with good results, yes?