How I Felt

Before you run, screaming from your computer screen, this is not a post about my over-sensitized emotions. It is simply about FELT, my new obsession! I've already latched on to a fabulous on-line source for wool-felt. Not 100% wool, but the much more affordable and equally lovely blended stuff. I placed an order at 10am Thursday at Woolfelt Central and it arrived in the mail TODAY!! OK, new favorite on-line shop. They sell by the rectangle (9 x 12 and 13 x 18) and the incredibly reasonable by-the-yard price of $8-$9 (depending on fiber content). You can order as little as 1/4 yard. So that is exactly what I did. From top to bottom:Tahitian Sunset, Pink Grapefruit, Buttercup, Camel, Mellow Yellow and Buttercream. I am thinking some Lemon donuts need to be made of these. Though I do have access to a pretty good selection of felt rectangles at the local craft shops, Woolfelt Central has those lovely muted tones perfect for the Prim projects I have in mind.
As for projects; here are some completed items. I seem to be on some sort of "bird kick" lately. Maybe it's due to the tons of colorful birds that visit my feeders each day. I have to refill on a daily basis to keep up with them. The felt birds are from the Need'l Love "Threads" series of craft books. I have taken the basic bird pattern (this Red-wing Blackbird) and have also designed my own version of a Blue jay, to be stitched up this week. The dove is actually made of some tea-stained velvet with felt wings. He is supposed to hold a bit of greenery or a tiny glass ornament in his beak. Both birds are mounted on little wooden candle holders. The patriotic heart is also velvet with felt lettering. The little snowmen are money/giftcard holders (front pocket) from a pattern my mother sent to me.





Now I must pet the computer and reward it for being so kind to me for an entire week. Allowing me to chat on Facebook, answer my e-mail and even update my blog (with photos!) Dear, sweet computer.................

I can hardly believe it's been nearly a month since I last posted. I have been lurking around Blogland, reading and occasionally commenting. Not that my interest has gone, simply that my Internet connection and computer have both been very temperamental. All sorts of weird pop-ups, redirects, un-wanted website suggestions and switches, sudden disconnections and total blue screens! All the usual signs of an all-out spyware invasion. I think I have the problem solved, or a least brought down to a manageable level where I can get more then five minutes at a stretch on-line. The lack of Internet has been both frustrating and liberating. Since most of my readers are crafters of some sort, you know what I mean. I love my new-found blog and e-mail buddies. I love exchanging ideas and viewing photos. But suddenly hours have gone by, spent sitting in front of the computer screen. Of course a ragingly slow dial-up connection has a lot to do with this. I would love to update everyday....share photos, stories, thoughts and ideas. I have found with this "down-time" that I am actually implementing these thoughts and ideas rather then just writing about them.

My latest venture is into the world of FELT. I have always admired all the sweet little felted creatures I see on-line and in books. I haven't ventured quite that far yet. My felt world is of the more traditional variety, as in felt of the fabric kind. Again, my grand ideas of working with all those gorgeous over-dyed wool felts out there has been brought back to the more financially realistic realm of 9 x 12 squares from Hobby Lobby, Michaels and JoAnns. Not many photos yet of the new creations. Most are still in the "almost finished" stage. The donuts were an absolute first choice on my list of projects with felt.

I have finished two more pairs of socks and have nearly completed pair #32. These first two were completed during my blizzard-extended Christmas trip to my parent's home in New Jersey. The, in itself, is an interesting tale, best left for another time. Nothing too earth shattering, just my usual angst- and anxiety-ridden holiday fair. Oh but I do love Mommy and Daddy so much!! Anyway, on to the socks. First, Mary Maxim brand Soft Stripes Bamboo in "Lagoon". The second pair is knitted from the wildly expensive yarn I bought at September's Midwest Wool Festival. Fiber Optic Yarns by Kimber Baldwin Designs Footnotes "Bengal Batik". The third pair is nearly done. On-line Supersocke Holiday Color #1004. I wish they would give these colors a real name. Something this bright and wild needs a name!

On the more stitchy front. Not much cross-stitch at all, but I did manage to make one dolly a new Christmas dress, circa 1895.

It seems like it's been snowing nearly everyday! Not that I'm complaining. Now safely "removed" from the arduous drive to the new gymnastics club, I welcome any type of weather. Today is a down-right rain storm, but I see a little ! on my local weather website warning me of an approaching Winter storm. After the 29.5 inches of snow in NJ the day after Christmas, nothing surprises me. Yes, those are my rather chubby legs inside my parents garage, with the snow piled up nearly to the bottom of my coat.

Bring on the snow!