IFA Region 5 Meeting

Late last year I joined the International Feltmakers Association (IFA).  Each region in the UK runs workshops, either formal where there is a tutor or informal where the members get together to share ideas.  I went to my first ever meeting earlier this month.  It was an informal workshop to make things for the Living Crafts show at Hatfield House in May.  The theme was Spring - Bursting with colour.   Region 5 Coordinators Hilary and Julie welcomed me and explained the set up.  It was really great to meet the other members and watch them create some amazing pieces.  I can't wait to see the finished results.  Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and happy to help the novice! (Like having lots of tutors!)  I've been putting a lot of the tips into practice since, hopefully you will start to see the difference!


Here are some of the things I have been making, most are works in progress....

Snowdrop picture, cut pre-felt pieces wet felted into the blue base.  I still need to add some green detail to the flowers and bud.

Hilary showed us how to make flowers on a silk square base (my first experience of nuno felt!)  I think I may add some beads in the centre....

I think one of the suggestions was to pin these around the stand at Living Crafts

Laying out the bluebell picture before wetting down.  I mixed the wool colours using carders I got for Christmas, thank you to Hilary for showing me how to actually use them!

The finished picture (bit of a wonky shape but I'm pleased with the colours)

Big poppy, drying over a bowl to keep the domed shape.  This is the inside.

The outside of the poppy.  I have now stitched a red wool covered wire around the edge and I'm trying to decide what stiffener to try on the middle.  I think the plan is to hang them.  To see what it should look like see Carol Huber Cypher's book 'How we felt'.  This colour combo is taken straight out of there.  I'm really pleased with the result though so I'm going to have a go at some different colours next.

More Christmas makes!

I know it's nearly the end of January, but before it ends I have some more pictures to post of things I made for Christmas.....

These are the next stage of the robins I started a while ago.  I think they need legs before they are finished, either that or they will become Christmas tree decorations... watch this space...

Needle felted butterfly, I do like it but I think it's a bit 'chunky' to be an actual butterfly.  I think it may end up being mounted on a wire so it can be planted next to some flowers....

Happy New Year!

I know it's a bit late in the day for Happy New Year, but I have been having problems loading photos onto my blog and I just wanted to post some pictures of things I had made over Christmas....

Grey and black merino wool rose, with tussah silk and angelina fibre detailing

2 layer merino wool flower corsage with glass seed beads

Santa sacks

Santa sacks

Sunflower lifecycle series (wet and needle felting)

BeeBeeCrafts at Caramel Square!

I now have a (small, but soon to be bigger!) range of items on display in a local cafe.  It's very exciting!  At the moment it is some greetings cards, rose brooches, keyrings and a couple of pictures.  The cafe is called Caramel Square and is in Holmer Green.  It really does live up to its name as it has delicious caramel squares, although my favourite are the chocolate brownies (impossibly large and wonderful).  I'm not sure having to go to add more stock on a regular basis is going to do much for new year good intentions!  Oh well, we all have to make sacrifices!
I have just finished doing a picture for Caramel Square:-

I framed it and it's now hanging on the wall.  Lovely!  

If you're in the area please pop in and have a look.