Felt Flower Begins

I weighed the fiber for each petal and cut a mat board stencil for the shape. I layered the wool inside the petal cutout and lightly tacked it with a felting needle to hold the shape. This large pile of wool was moved to bubble wrap, covered with a net curtain and wetted out with warm soapy water. I should have known better, well I DID know better but chose to be foolishly optomistic. The wool that I dyed lovely shades of pink and the natural white are two very diferent types of wool. I did manage to get them both to felt, however they really didn't felt to each other all that well. The colour migrated quite a bit...I have quite a bit of finishing work to do...my own fault. Will I learn????

Colourful Wool Batts

In spite of the cooooold basement, I finally got to dye some more of the wool I'd cleaned . The yellow is a mix of dried marigolds and some goldenrod that I canned so it didn't smell bad this time. The indigo vat is acting funny, I think it is too cold. Today I chose to work up near the stove for a while. I started another large felt flower in pinks and white. Unfortunately the white fiber has an awful lot of hay and stuff in it even after washing. I hope I'm not making a mistake by using it.

Lakefront Property

It rained on Sunday, at night even harder and then kept pouring Monday morning. By 10:00 am this is what my back "yard" looked like. The creek, that is not normally visible, could not handle the runoff from the hill in front of the house. Once again the driveway got washed out, water in the basement and septic system flooded (not funtioning still)... Today is sunny and beautiful and I have to find a septic repair dude. More $$ that I don't have out the window for shit, literally.

Felted Lily Runner

This project used up the last of the wool felting fiber I had dyed. I washed and dried two fleeces during the past week. I carded the first one and cooked it in alum/tartar so I could start dyeing today. I used an old (fermented) jug of goldenrod dye and the funky smell stunk up the entire house even though I dye in the basement! bleh. I have some nice candles taking care of the problem now.

Water Lily Table Runner

I just put the finishing touches on this hand made natural dyed wool felt table runner. The base is a combination of indigo, logwood and millet. The colours cried out for water lilies which I had never done before. I added a few beads to give a little sparkle in the center. I am happy with the way it turned out. In fact I am happy just to be working in the studio two days in a row! I have been working too many in the flower shop. The pay is low, but now... my shows don't start up until next month. I do need time to get inventory ready though.

Picasso

I've decided to name the cria" Picasso". Still no birthing activity from Catawissa. Today is the set up for the craft show and it is pouring. It has been that way an awful lot this year, but now it is cold too! And my sister Juliet and I are camping. Back to packing.

New Cria!

After acting odd for the previous week, Friday morning Oct 2nd Chickapee (black, sitting) gave birth to a beautiful little male! He is brown with black points, scampering around...adorable. Catawissa was also due on the fifth of Oct but so far nothing has happened. I have a show this weekend and wanted her little one born before I left. Still a little time. Any suggestions for names?