Big Belly Blue Bird

This little bird has filled her belly and is ready to rest on a hall table with a few flowers in a vase atop it.  I used a felted sweater (OK, I laugh out loud here because another wool sweater in the wash... oops...)  Then I feel bad though for wasting a sweater?!  Well, it's not wasted, but - to avoid wasting any of it anyway, I'll use as much of it as I can and then showcase the extra birds online - I guess on ebay or etsy.  I LOL again because I do not usually 'sell' online; however, I do showcase on those sites ;)...  I'd love to use ebay for the missionfish.com connection, which easily allows for donating a % to a cause...

This bird is basically a big canvas waiting to be embroidered and decorated...

Natural Wool Single Egg Holder Tutorial

Tutorial on creating a Wool Display Single Egg Holder.

This tutorial is a really great craft tip because the end result can be used for so many things - egg holder, little display, napkin holders...

My favorite it to use the eggs as table settings/placements... you can write each guest's name right on the egg... It really seems more of a craft tip than tutorial to me, because it is really so easy and fun!  Enjoy!

Materials Needed:
cotton thread, 5 one-inch wool circles,
embroidery or sewing needle (large eye needles are great)
a pair of scissors

Step 1:
Thread the needle with 3 feet of thread (or an arm length). Use one single piece of thread doubled - tied at the end (it looks like you have two strands of thread).
Poke the needle through the side, going through the diameter of the circle. Leave at least 5 inches of thread out of this first circle (you will be using this again in the final step).
The wool is thick enough to hide the thread as you go throughout the diameter, so be mindful that you are pulling the thread through the wool to hide the thread within the wool. Thread through all five circles.


Step 2:

When you've threaded through the diameter of all five wool circles. It will look like a garland. Bring the last sewn circle to the first sewn circle, and tie a knot.

Step 3:

Re-thread through each diameter back to the beginning. And then Snip the end closely to the wool to hide and fringe.
(Remember, you've already tied a knot, so your work will not unravel).



Step 4:

Thread the loose thread from the first circle though the diameter of each circle to hide that extra bit of thread. (see below picture)

Step 5:
Squeeze each wool circle in half to help mold the wool giving the egg a little more support.




Now you are finished with your little single egg holder!!! For Jumbo eggs, use 6 one-inch circles ~ and have fun! Your circles can be embellished before or after you've completed this, using beads, embroidery thread... limitless possibilities...

http://www.PaperPennyRug.com
Tutorial by L. Mitchell, 2009 all rights reserved
Have fun making these!!!

I bought the wool circles for this project from a wonderful etsy seller ragamuffin2006.etsy.com
& they were nicely packaged with a little extra surprise too!  I love the butter yellow color!

Fingerless Gloves Craft Tip

Made from an upcycled sweater, these fingerless gloves are almost finished! I can left them black, but I am going to decorate these with wool circles. so far this sweater has provided me with wrist cuffs and now these! Oh and the main sweater now has short sleeves, and which was once a woman's medium, fits a 4 year old! How cute?!

First you'll begin with your wool sweater - wash it, dry it, basically shrink it (felt it).Next grab your sharpest scissors for a nice clean cut.

This is what you'll have to cut.  

Then  cut a circle in the side about one inch down - this is for your thumb.

Now these are ready to decorate. I am going to add wool circles, like the ones I added to the felted sweater and to my wrist cuffs. So you can leave them as is, or add to them! I'll post the finished product later!

Yay for Craftstylish dot com

I posted this how-to make upcycled wrist warmers on craftstylish.com. I love that website because you can post your own creations, give tips (if you desire), basically promote your crafts/art and have fun interacting with other crafters... It is really good advertising for your crafts too! I say "yay" to craftstylish for their welcoming website and friendly craftmosphere.

Here is a great tip for making wrist cuffs or wrist warmers:
Intentionally or accidently wash a beautiful merino wool sweater (or other wool) and dry it in your dryer, then use your nicely shrunk (felted) sweater to repurpose. Use the sleeves by cutting them to your desired length, then decorate, embroider, add circles, and you have cool cuffs! Wow - so fun and easy too!!!!!!

Wool on glass & linen

I am sharing a project that I am working on which includes wool, glass and linen.
Here are some samples. I love the ease of the threads through the wool and linen. This piece was backed with cotton batting, which isn't as easy to thread, but just as enjoyable and natural to feel.

Wool Pennies

I just can't wait to start my next project (most likely a simultaneous project) using these wool pennies (circles) - I bought these from a great etsy seller ragamuffin2006.etsy.com