Christmas cards at the ready.

My apologies to all my blogger friends for not looking and commenting on your blogs these past few weeks. There has been a huge family crisis and I just couldn't get my head around anything. Hopefully the crisi will ease slightly next weekend and I will be going away to sell at my bi-monthly antique fairs. For details of the fairs see my
Rag Rescue blog

What has helped me release some of the tension in myself has been my felting. I decided to make my Christmas cards this year and above are some photographs of just a couple of them. I also made some patchwork ones and embroidered those.
It si the first time that I've made my own cards so I hope the family and friends will enjoy them.

Peace reigns in the house this weekend as my husband and I are on our own so I'm going to spend some time surfing through all your blogs.

Something for myself for a change.

Now that my new website
RAG RESCUE
is now on line, I decided to have a little light relief and make something for myself for a change. I've used a lovely Victorian black silk scarf and wet felted it leaving little circles of silk free of wool which of course puffed up during the fulling process.
It is lovely and warm and keeps out the draughts from these autumnal coastal winds.

RAG RESCUE TEXTILE SHOP

I haven't had time to do a lot of felting recently, I've been so busy sorting out fabrics and embellishments for 'Rag Rescue' my new website which comes on line in the middle of October. I've just bagged 100+ scrap bags and 200+ embellishments to take to the International Fairs at Swinderby and Newark at the beginning of October and also the Ashley Hall Fashion and Textile fair at Lincoln University on the 13th October.

I am hoping to do my bit for the environment by recycling old textiles, trims, and haberdashery. There will not only be large pieces of fabric but colour coordinated scrap bags useful for crazy quilting, card making etc. Also I'll sell a huge number of vintage beaded, embroidered, lace and ribbon work pieces for embellishing your art work. These items will be ideal for use on the embellisher machine and a variety of felting and fibre art techniques.

If you need any further information on either the fairs or the new website, then just leave me a comment.

Turquoise felted embroidered beads.

Turquoise felted embroidered beads.
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

Just thought I'd show these today as I had some time on my hands whilst with my mother.
I must say that the felted balls were made by me and the rest of the work, the embroidery, beading and stringing was completed by my daughter.
These were made to go with an outfit my daughter was wearing for her sister - in - laws wedding.

I must say that I found making beads rather tedious especially when they were one colour but I think you will agree that the results are striking.

Lilac floral felted Art Card - Ready for framing.

Lilac floral felted Art Card - Ready for framing.
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

Yet another Art card. This time it was commissioned for a special birthday. The request was for a larger card than I normally make and although I found this a little more difficult I was pleased with the result. I've used the wools I bought at the woolfest.









For those of you who haven't come across my art cards before, I would just like to explain.


These cards are made entirely from handmade felt apart from the thin central card for a message to be written on. Afterwards this card can be removed easily and after a light press the work of art can be framed.

Finally -completed necklace

Finally -completed necklace
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

I finally finished this knitted and felted necklace using late 19th Century Venetian beads at the ends of the woollen strings.. They give the weight it needed at the end. I am exhibiting at the Swinderby and Newark Antique fairs at the weekend si look forward to wearing this necklace. If you see me wearing it, come and say hello.

My first felted necklace- under construction no.1

My first felted necklace- under construction no.1
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

I have Knitted this from leftovers of wool. I decided to embellish it with Victorian silk embroidery with the addition of beads and flowers which I needle felted from Merino wool. Just a few more to make and it will be complete. Keep a look out for the finished product.

Stormy sea bowl 1.

Stormy sea bowl 1.
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

I made this bowl over a balloon. I was expecting all of the wool to fall off but as you can see it didn't. this is my first attempt at a vessel so I am really pleased with it.

More images from the Woolfest

This felt work was done by members of the Yorkshire Internation Felters Association.
Unfortunately the pictures don't show the whole beauty.

Woolfest 2007

My daughter and I set out for the hour and a half trip up the motorway to the Woolfest yesterday. The rain was lashing down but we were determined to have a wonderful day together. We had no idea what the show at Cockermouth would be like but it had been advertised as the largest in the country so we felt pretty sure that our journey would be worth it.



The rain had stopped for a minutes on our arrival and we were so very surprised at the amount of cars there. We were sent to park high up overlooking the venue.
After managing to walk down the slippery wet steps, we entered the animal sheds where the fest was taking place. It was the second day so we had missed some of the entertainment like the hog roast and sheep sheering but there were over a hundred stalls to look at.


There was that wonderful aroma of sheep and damp fleece, as we headed through the crowds for the cafe and a quick sit down and drink. We were so eager to look at the goods that I left half of my coffee and headed for the stalls. It wasn't long before our heads were spinning with the vibrant colours, the beautiful items of clothing and the wool. I've never seen so much wool, different colours tones and textures, bag fulls, sack fulls. To just look and feel was pure ecstasy. I came away loaded with a variety for wool for my felting and my daughter was equally loaded with with superb hand dyed and painted knitting wool.

I was so busy looking at the stalls, that I didn't take as many pictures as I had wished, but I managed a few. Just look at these sheep, they are so cute.

More on the Woolfest tomorrow.

Felt and vintage silk purse

Felt and vintage silk purse - back
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

What started off as an experiment has now been turned into a purse. I've used vintage pure silk scarves and white merino wool. After laying the cut-outs of silk onto a double layer of wool, the felting process began. I soon realised which silks felted quickly.
I had already used a fine net tulle which had beads stitched on and so after the purse was completed, I added more antique beads.
A large antique press stud has been used for closure.

Design faults:-
1. The purse needs to be double, rather like a rectangular tube which is then folded over so that the change doesn't fall out.
2. For quicker felting, the silk needs to be breathable and one should be able to see through it.

Underwater wall hanging.

Underwater wall hanging.
Originally uploaded by Feltissimo

The weather forecast for Morecambe was bad this week so I decided to do some felting. As it happened the skies remained blue for most of the week but I did manage to complete two projects. This is the first, a lovely wall hanging for my grandaughter Molly's bedroom. I have used merino and wensleydale wool tops with silk carrier rods and neeps and an addition of Victorian glass beads and rods in blue and white for the danglers. For the first time I used some embroidery on my felt work, something which I think I will do more of.

If you click on the picture it will take you to my Flickr page where you will be able to see a close-up of this work.

Therapy on the cards

No. 1
Pleasant turmoil

In a few weeks time this last six months of tearing the house down and building it up again, will seem like a dream. The builders couldn't believe how calm we have been throughout it all.
That's what they think!

No. 2 Emergence.

Emerging from the abyss.

A light at the end of the tunnel.

Happiness reigns.

Peace and quiet-----

Until tomorrow .....when the family arrive with all of their worldly goods
hmmm!

I keep telling Ludo, (the dog) enjoy today and tonight because the chaos starts again tomorrow, just in a different way. Daughter, husband and 17 month old Molly staying for a little while or possibly even longer. Still at least we are off to Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire for a week of fairs next week Escape.... I'm only joking as I'm really looking forward to the next couple of years, we will all just need a little time to adjust I suppose.
All tips gratefully received.

Cards for sale at my Feltissimo shop £5.00 each.

Light relief

All I seem to have been doing for the past two weeks or more is painting, so yesterday I had a day just for me. We had a wedding invitation from our neighbours. Unfortunately we can't go to the wedding. It is next weekend and Steve will be away moving Jay, Ryan, Molly and all their worldly goods from Rugby to our house in Morecambe. I don't actually know them very well as a few weeks after we moved into our house he sold his private ambulance station and bought a dwelling in the States. He kept a flat next door but returns only occasionally. However I thought it was really sweet of them to invite us to the reception so I thought I would make them a piece of felt art to remember their big day.
Yesterday I was trawling google images to hopefully find inspiration when I came across a Russian artist named Maria Skrebtsova. As Steve's family are Russian I delved deeper and found the most amazing paintings which have influenced me in the two piece of felt work you see here.
Above you can see the flat felt I created, I just loved the movement Maria created in her paintings and I tried to copy this movement in the felt.

I have needle felted the two hearts and their initials and then framed it. I removed the glass from the 1940's frame and padded the felt behind making it curve out giving a 3D effect.
Fingers crossed that they will like it.

.
I have also had to make a thank you card for a dear old lady who was so good to me when I lived in Rugby. She was the friend of my mother in law and we discovered that she has liver cancer so they both moved into a nursing home just before my mother in law left Rugby. Out of the blue a few days ago I received a lovely card from her and inside was a really unusual packet of ancient sewing needles. The front is like an old envelope and is addressed to the shop from which it was on sale at least 100 years ago. She knew that not only do I sell haberdashery but that I also collect it myself. What a kind thought.

I couldn't resist making this thank you card for her. It another piece of felt inspired by Maria Skrebtsova. I know that she will treasure it and probably show it to all of her friends in the nursing home.

















Well I'd better get back to the painting, just once around the skirting boards, window and door frame and hooray that's me finished. All ready for the family to move in.

2nd attempt at needle felting

FELTISS PA
Well I finally got Pa completed. To say that I have taught myself this technique, I'm quite pleased with the results. At least I can sit and watch the telly in the evenings and create something at the same time.
One thing I must say is that I don't find it as stress releasing as wet felting, where I can really loose myself and float away sometimes. I do hope in the next few days to create some more wet felting as I really need to de-stressed at the moment. 10 more days until the family arrive. Will I ever get everything done?

1st attempt at needle felting.

FELTISS MO
I've been baby minding for the past couple of days and thought that in those rare spare moments I would try my hand at needle felting. So here is my first attempt.
Welcome to the
Feltiss Family. I'm now working on Feltiss Pa so will show him to you when I get chance. I must admit I'm quite suprised with what I achieved, so will continue snatching the odd moments and who knows what I will be able to do.

Mollys first attempt at wet felting.

My granddaughter Molly is staying with me at the moment and although she is only 16 months old, she made this wonderful piece of wet felting. I gave her the pink pre-felt and she chose the other colours. She giggled all the way through the process thoroughly enjoying the whole experience and infact screamed when we stopped and was taken out of her high chair. My daughter is going to frame it and it will take pride of place in her new bedroom which we have just decorated together.

I hope to be listing a little more frequently now as we have decorated 4 bedrooms and have only one to go. I don't want to see another paint brush for a long time, well not until we start on the lounge.

My new vintage fabric shop and blog.

As I know that many of you who read my blogs and Flickr are ardent crafters, quilters and artisans, I thought you might be interested in my new venture.
See the first album for the start of my listings and there are many many more to come.

http://ragrescue.co.uk

Getting ready for the family invasion.

I find fungi fascinating and I couldn't resist trying to make one in felt. This was a while back and I still haven't done anything with it. Perhaps a picture?

I thought I'd keep with the felting theme as I long to get back to my creative felting but as you will see below, things are rather hectic at the moment. I have just over one week to go before all of the decorating upstairs has to be complete. Just the skirting boards to paint today and then hubby will paint the floors at the weekend. Next week will see the big removal ( and I mean BIG) of all of our stock and office upstairs into the two rooms. This will leave the two rooms downstairs empty for my daughter Jay, hubby Ryan and my beautiful 1 yr old grand-daughter Molly to move into next month. Artist's University courses are so expensive these days so they need to pay off their student loans to get on the housing ladder, hence mum to the rescue.

At the moment I'm trying to juggle the business and decorating and don't have much time for anything else. I've put my name down to exhibit at a new textile and fashion fair in Lincoln University on Saturday 26th May and am so busy sorting two boxes of 1920's costume I bought on Wednesday. There is a superb black and white shawl with a pattern of velvet roses and long tassels. In a way I hope it doesn't sell as I would love to felt the centre which has a few pinprick holes in it. Perhaps this will put the dealers off it ---fingers crossed.

Ashley Hall Vintage Textiles & Fashion Fair

Playing with shadows.

I thought I'd better keep in touch even though I'm really busy getting ready for the International Antique Fairs.
Life is rather hectic at the moment and I
don't have time for felting which is really
sad because I know I should make time for myself. Perhaps tomorrow!


These little balls are my spares, you know the leftovers from ongoing projects. When I have enough I will probably make them into a necklace.


When I was taking the photos today I noticed the wonderful shadows that were being formed, so I played around with them.

I think the shadows look like little hairy monsters.
What do you think?

No excuse

Now I have no excuse to say that I've lost my keys. That's one less thing to worry about. It is amazing how many things have gone missing in our house since the start of the restoration last October. We are in a big mess again as we've been having the kitchen floor tiled. I must say though, the new tiles make a good background for photography.

I've spent the morning felting, it calms me down. I'm making a new bag using the technique of adding antique lace so it's new ground again, a huge learning curve, but that's what I like.


I made the felt rather thicker than I normally do when adding lace so it was much harder to get the fibres to come through. However the texture is reasonable
as it was a pretty lace you can still see most of the pattern. I shall use this for the fold over of the bag so I have now got to work out how to attach it to the main body. Another challenge, I think I'll sleep on it.