New Handmade Felted Bead Necklaces

I've been busy making a batch of felt bead necklaces. I'm hoping to take them with me to Germany where I hope sell them at one of the craft markets in Berlin. I'm really happy with these necklaces mainly because I feel I've done the best I could with the materials I've used and I believe they are of great quality, no corners cut. Thick tiger wire, metal beads and clasps, fittings and chain, none of that cheaper plastic stuff that looks like metal, and of course tightly felted beads made carefully by hand and quality wooden beads.

Some of the necklaces are adjustable and finished off with a wooden bead.

These beads are actually made with wool that I've washed, carded and dyed by my very own hands. Wool supplied from my uncle's farm in Toolernvale, Victoria.

I thought these hot pink beads deserved to be glammed up with some gorgeous silver metal beads.

Hopefully I will be able to establish an Etsy shop as well but I have a few things to work out before I do that, like how extra income (if things go well) will affect my taxes etc. and if I need to register it all as a business with business name and ABN number. Anyhow it's been a dream of mine to sell stuff at a craft market so I hope I can live out that dream. Also how cool would it be to live that out in Berlin?!

Wish me luck!

New Felted Bracelet

I've been making a range of felt bead necklaces lately with the hope of opening an Etsy store. Yesterday I tried making a bracelet in the same fashion. I think the colour combination works but I might turn this one into a necklace and make the felt beads smaller for the bracelet. It was a little difficult to wear. What do you guys think?

A Crafter's Suitcase

Just thought I'd show you all how a crafter like myself packs for a 6 months overseas trip... Do I hear you ask 'where are the clothes?' I promise you there are SOME under there, under the watercolors, paintbrushes, jewelery making bits and pieces and wool tops. I don't know how much this suit case weighs at the moment but I don't think it's looking good for under 20 kg.

Doing it Old School, First Step: Wash Fleece

My house mate and I are back at it, that is making felt from ABSOLUTE scratch! and all by hand. I got some more fleece from my uncle's farm, this time the fleece is from a ram, which my uncle says is better quality. One thing it is is cleaner than the last stuff we got which I can now see was like D grade. We haven't done much else other than wash some of it, we have to get the carder back from the Steiner school and rent a whole heap of DVD's to watch while we spend hours carding the fleece.

Drying in the sun. Oh how Australian!

I haven't actually made anything for myself as yet but this time round I would really like to dry felt some little mice like I saw on another blog. Please forgive me I have forgotten which blog the image came from but I acknowledge that these mice are someone else's idea that I would like to copy for myself and not commercial reasons.

Are they not the cutest things you'd ever seen?! I want to put little glasses on mine and make three like the three blind mice.

Summer Update

Hi everyone sorry for being quiet for the past 3 weeks but with Christmas and new years madness there has been little spare time for craft projects. I do have some things I want to share with you all and the first of those are photos of the Christmas Traditions swap package. Unfortunately my family and I got to the scrumptious ginger bread men and pecan balls before I thought of taking photos of the package so these photos only feature the non edible parts of the package. Thank you Tammy for such a wonderful Christmas surprise and all your efforts that went into the package!

I recently visited my uncle's farm and brought back another large sack of beautiful raw fleece which is of finer quality than that I used last time. I am confident that it will be easier to clean and work with and hopefully the felt made from it will be smoother and softer.

Lastly I'd like to share with you my favourite thrift store find this summer. I love this chair! It's perfect for sitting in and knitting or crocheting and at 10$ it was a steal! If only I had room for the other one that was also on sale. Also if you notice that is one of my granny square projects draped over it, all finished and on display!

A Very Late Birthday Present

I have finally finished making two felted cushion covers for a friend's birthday that was in August. I had one already made ages ago but really wanted to make a pair for the present. I am quite pleased with the way I sewed the cushions together, I've never sewn anything other than stuff for my patchwork so I wasn't sure how to do it. There is a lot of overlapping material so I haven't even had to add Velcro or press studs. Well I am giving the presents to my friend tomorrow so I hope she likes them. I guess now they are partly Christmas presents too!

Here is the very simple gift wrapping of the cushion covers.

I thought I'd add a picture of a doll my neighbour had made for her little girl's Christmas present. I think it's absolutely gorgeous and it even looks like the little girl who is getting it. How much better is this than some Barbie doll?!

Anyhow I hope everyone is having a great week leading up to Christmas. Tomorrow is the last day for work this year then it's 5 weeks off for summer holidays, yippee! I'm sure I'll spend it being busy with craft projects. If I don't post again before Christmas I wish you all a wonderful and safe Christmas and a happy new year.

The Brooch Experiment: part 1

I absolutely love interesting and original handmade brooches! I've noticed a few great examples on Etsy- Buy handmade and thus was inspired to have a go at designing and making some of my own. I've started playing around with some felt and the good ol' blanket stitch. At the moment I feel the brooch I've made is too big and maybe could be reduced to just one layer. Not really sure. Anyhow here is a picture of my first handmade brooch. Was thinking of putting just a button in the middle but I think the beads make it just a little bit more special.




Please excuse the poor lighting/photography but this is what it looks like pinned to a cardigan.

I've been thinking of using cute quilting fabrics because of the range of desings and maybe keeping the middle part of this brooch desing and putting some ruffled lace around the back. Will continue to experiment that is for sure so stay tunned!

I just Felt like Felting

About three months ago I was lucky to be given a whole sheep's worth of raw wool from my uncle's farm. I'd never done anything with raw wool, didn't know how to clean it or dye it etc. but I soon decided that I was going to make it my business to learn how to treat, dye and felt the stuff. I've been lucky enough to have two other fabulous ladies that I work with join me on this learning experience. The best part was that everyone brought some tid-bit of knowledge and experience to the project which truly made it a group effort and experience. We all agree that the most rewarding part of the experience has been looking back on dirty raw wool we started with and how it has transformed, due to our efforts, into beautiful, colorful designer like household artifacts. (bashing and throwing the felt around in order to full it was also a highlight!)

Here are some photos from our first felting project.





This photo shows our first of two cushion covers we made which have been sewn up and shipped to Ireland as a wedding present.

Once one our fleecesome threesome comes home from her holiday in Western Australia we will be getting back to the felting board, dying more brown wool in order to make another set of cushion covers for a co-worker's 40Th birthday and house warming. But I'll post picture of that project once we get started!