Fabulous Finn and C1

 Pam MacGregor introduced me to Finn Wool this past  year. I can say without much difficulty that I was resistant to trying it, because I love to make wearables, especially hats and nuno. But once I relented and tried it, I was hooked on the stuff..

When I am making the bird pods I want them to be very sturdy, almost pottery-like in their firmness. Finn does that beautifully.

A friend gave me some C1 to try, as it is her favorite. I did one pod in C1 and had very nice results. However, the hairiness of the Finn better as it grabs surface design elements a bit better, for my purposes.

 I am on my way to making about 40 of these, and it will probably be more, because I just love the simplicity of the shape, the usefulness of the pods, and I am looking forward to SPRING. The hats remind me of winter, while these remind me more and more of the coming spring and the return of our wonderful songbirds.

This white pod probably will not go outdoors. I really just made it for our home.

Felt Happy!

Shalom,

Suzanne

Fancy Finn Wool

 About 8 years ago I started using tulle in some of my work, the first a vest that I'd sandwiched with very light layers of merino wool. It sold immediately and the sparkles were softly visible, it was done on the silver dotted tulle shown in the picture below. I kind of cast it aside for a bit, but in September, I pulled it back out and started using it in my hats, bags, vessels and now in these bird pods

Here is a picture of some of the tulle that I've used. Most of it I've picked up at fabric shops, some at re-sale shops. Some are just lightly decorated, some are bridal tulle with beads, sequins, glass beads, pearl beading, lovely threads











Finally a pic of one of my favorite bird pods. It was just simple fun to watch it all come together.  I do love the white one and the "fancy" of it, and the idea of it being a wedding pod. I guess i like them both for very different reason.
Felt Happy!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Pods with a Purpose and ANNOUNCEMENT!

Since I've started working with the Finn Wool, I've found that I can hardly stop making these crazy little Bird Pods..."pods with a purpose".  I have an art show coming up this Spring ( If that ever arrives) and am focusing on making these " small houses". I made my first pod for birds about 8-9 years ago. It is still used each year by tiny wrens...hence the opening looks so small. If it is much larger, other birds will come in and kill the wrens babies or destroy the wren eggs. There is no need to clean the wren houses. Spiders will move in after the wrens leave and lay their eggs. When the wrens return, they will bring mites with them. The spiders will eat the mites and the babies will be bite free. How cool is that!  I am not saying that Finn is the only wool that can be used, but is holds up well, lends itself to be sculpted in some fashion. It keeps its shape beautifully. This is a combination of Finn Wool, C1 and merino and silk. I am selling Finn on my Etsy site for 40.00/#
I have more Bird Pods of FaceBook under Hooked On Felt if you'd like to see more. I do shrink these a bit over 100%.
Last year I was invited to teach in Pueblo West, CO and spent 3 wonderful days meeting some lovely women. This year I have been invited back to Colorado in June to teach at Estes Park Sheep and Wool Festival. I will be teaching hats and these lovely pods. I think sign up starts in March. I am thrilled to be going back to that lovely state.
Shalom,
Suzanne 

Some of the fruits of their labors

I had a perfectly wonderful time while in Wisconsin...perfectly wonderful freezing time in WI!  It was sooooo cold.  One day we had wind chills at -45 degrees....the day I got stuck in the snow and my eyeballs nearly froze. The weather was bitter, but the women who attended the class were warm and curious and fun..The three day workshop covered Dyeing Silk and Nuno Felting , Felt Hat  and Felt Bag making. There are some really nice examples of what was achieved...all of them first timers
I especially want to point out that on a few posts back, I had found some tulle with synthetic velvet flowers on it. The results of that fabric are on the first hat shown. I think it looks like the roses are floating.

That's all for now!
Shalom..