More Hats

The Frog or Lizard as my children call it. Made from Icelandic wool bats and silk hankies. Love this one the most, I think.















Simple shape of cream merino and black and gray silk hankies.














The Pom was inspired by friend Sheila's lovely flowers. It's a long wide strip. Folded in half and clipped. Role and stitch. Very effective embellishment for a simple understated shape.

Nordic Blue

Thought I'd try a different shaped hat pattern for a change. Daughter, loves the hats with the braids, so we did something a little different. I used an Icelandic fleece for the first layer. Short soft fibre. 2nd layer is turquoise silk pongee fabric which I dyed at the Feltmakers Ireland dyeing day a couple weeks ago. Next was the fairly monochromatic layering of colours - grading plain turquoise, turquoise/silk blend, rust, lavender and then repeat until you run out of room. Last, cover the entire hat with a pale aqua silk fibre to cut down the colour contrast.























Curly Q top and sides took the longest to dry, but are really cute. Last, stitch on the butterfly antenna's as equally as possible. The next one will be orange for the little lady of the house.

Makin' Bacon

Well, this has nothing to do with pork or meat products. In making hats for the workshop last weekend, I needed something for a band. Using the colours of the hat, it occurred to me, that it looked remarkably like bacon. All be it, very lean bacon. No fatty additives.















Here it is cut and filled with a salmon (to strong) and apricot (to weak) to produce a combo that Goldilocks would be proud of. Very close to the silk velvet ribbon that's felted into the main body. It's just right.















Looking forward to wearing it when I get or make a coat or wrap to compliment it.

Before and After

Here is an amazing pack of stuff I got from Her Majesty Margo, plus some brown wool and silk roving that I dyed at one of the Dyeing Day's at the studio. Oh, what will it be???


























Ta Da!!!! The amazing ruffled hat and flower combo. Trying to make use of the last bits of the garden before it's all brown. Not the grass! But the plants.

Blue Face Leicester makes hairy felt. SO, if you want really smooth felt, don't use is. It takes more muscle as well, but is really beautiful in it's natural colours and over dyes gorgeous.

I bought a polystyrene hat block from a company in Germany. It was several inches bigger than my head. Makes for droopy hats. I borrowed this beautiful on from the lovely Sheila. Now I have to get one. It's amazing and adjustable. Made by one of the members husbands, in Feltmakers. Gorgeous and functional.

Happy, Happy, Happy. Now I just need to find the coats in the attic!!

Rainbows

On Wednesday this week we had these. After a beautiful summer, this was the first real, day after day rain we'd had. Autumn officially begins in September, but August can feel like it's begun. Having said that... Avery, had found a Noro hat I made 2 years ago. She loves the hat. It's a bit saggy and falls to one side. I'm thinking Rhasta is in her future. She thinks dreads are amazing and now that she knows someone who has them and is her race and hair type, there's no stopping her. I have to reassure her that until she finishes High School, they're not allowed.

















So being inspired by rainbows and all things bright, she selected the Noro Taiyo yarn. Cotton, silk, wool and nylon. Should wash well too.
















Mine is on the left. A bit more subdued and hers is the other.






















This is the way is perches on her head. Night and day. She does take it off for classes, but then it goes back on right away.

Seeing Red

Having not done much felt making while I was gone, this is the first piece I'm made since the return. Red hat, blue hat.... Dr. Seuss? Maybe? Anyway, a lovely woman came to the Studio on Sunday for the Heritage Yurt day and fell in love with Sheila's red hat. Please, please, please??? No, I really love my hat... Please, please, please??? Holly? Would you like to make a hat for this nice lady? Sure I will, so here it is. Ruffles, although not to ruffly. Silk handkerchiefs, not the nose blowing kind, but the super thin, lovely type that makes any piece of felt extra special. Dyed a small bundle with 3 red colours. Couldn't decide, but really like the multi colour effect. Might make a green one for myself.















I find reds and oranges difficult to photograph. After changing rooms 3 times and trying ever setting I could, the bottom one is closest in colour. 3 colours of wool plus the borders and the silk. It's very pretty and very close to Sheila's original creation.

Hiatis Over - Part 2

2010 started off fast. Lots of sledding with enough snow to keep us happy.

















Birthday party for the 12 year old. Bowling with 10 boys is loud!!


















6th Grade Graduation. We're very proud. Roy was already back in Ireland finding us a new house to move into. Time was tight between School release, our flight back and getting into a house over a Bank Holiday weekend.


















Evidence of the new house and the old tenants. Stuff, not bodies. Years of over growth, dirty carpets and unsalvageable furniture. Skip number 2 is coming on Friday. For the remaining overgrowth from the garden.

















Our new family member Suki. Dwarf, lop eared bunny. He couldn't be cuter, as long as he doesn't eat my plants.
















Extension on the hutch will fit her just right and the rabbit.

















Avery went to Art camp this summer and then taught ALL of us to make beaded bugs. Note the concentration!



































Dyeing Day with the Feltmakers at the Studio in Phoenix Park.

















Assembling the Mongolian Yurt this past weekend at the Studio. It was part of Irish Heritage Week. We did demos, story telling and put up the Yurt and Squirt (mini yurt). It was a beautiful day after the morning rain ended. It was very well attended and hopefully educational.















Liz Brown, one of our members lives in Scotland. She and her partner, built the frame and invited all the Feltmaking Guilds and groups across the British Isles to do a panel for the Yurt. It was then combined and has been at over 300 events to promote craft and the Mongolian artistry of Feltmaking. It is incredible beautiful, inside and out.
Ok. We're caught up for now and I'll try to keep a better reign on time. Ha!

Hiatis Over

Boy does the time fly. After planning on spending 6 months in the US, starting in July 09, we ended up staying for another 5 months. Kole finished primary school in one school and one country. It was a good year for both the kids.
Although the crafting front was minimal (for me), I did manage to do things that I normally wouldn't or couldn't. Here's a little review of some things I was doing.



















Canning was a jolt from my past. Although I completely enjoyed it at this time in my life. Prompted by dear friend Calla, who would drop by large bags of extra food from her garden, I was lured into making pickles and applesauce. Yum! Easy enough to do since supplies are in every store. Since returning to Ireland, I have found it impossible to find canning jars. Biggish ones, not preserve jars. Did find 2 on EBay for 6 euro. No thanks.















Resign rings for all the girls in the family for Christmas. Started that early enough to send a few to Ireland as well. Ample supply of supplies at every craft store. So I stocked up.



















September birthday for Daughter. Ten is big and so was the Cupcake Cake. Easily feeds 10.















Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, IN. My favorite festival of all. Piles of vendors, food, period costumes and beautiful stuff to buy. I found my all time favorite slippers there again.




















Off to Chicago in October for a long weekend. Went to the Legoland Discovery Center. Miniature city scape of Chicago waterfront. Very small, but worth the $6.00 for the commemorative stamped Lego.















First snow of the year. Very exciting. I love snow.




















Small apartments call for small trees. Our lovely neighbors loaned us theirs. Our first fake tree! I don't really like them, although it doesn't shed.















Snowman casualty. Yikes!
















Family Christmas with EVERYONE this year. Really Amazing!! 20+

Happy Christmas

Wishing you a Happy Christmas where ever you may be.

Doud's Orchard

The Roann Covered bridge. It was a bit shaky. The field trip, not the bridge. Kole came home from school on Tuesday with a 102 degree temp. We were planning on traveling to Chicago the next morning for Fall break. Nope! Poor guy, but within 24 hours, the fever was gone an the son was ravenous. Ok, we'll go on a short trip to the orchard and pick pumpkins too.



















I'd been to Doud's orchard the previous week with my friend Calla. She's an amazing cook and is very self sustaining when it comes to seasonal food, so we bought apples. I bought 1 small bag of beautiful Honey Crisp apples. They're similar to the Asian Pears. Juicy, crisp, sweet and a little grainy like pears are. Yum! Calla bought bags for sauce, pies, deserts and all sorts of things. I had the bug.















Just because it's so beautiful. Here is one of the trees across the lane from our apartment.















This is our haul. U-Pick pumpkins were 3 for $10. Good deal, plus I had to have my white pumpkin. They're like aliens, very cool and the insides are pale green. With every $12 you spend you get 1/2 a Peck of apples free. Ok, I can't pass up free food and still having most of the delicious apples at home from 4 days ago, I think I may be crazy.















This is inside. They have dozens of varieties that they grow and sort on the premises. Plus little knives around that you can taste the apples before buying. I also bought beautiful apple blossom honey that is produced there as well.















Here are some of the aliens. I bought the one in the center. It's very pretty. I wonder how it will taste when I roast it tomorrow?? We did end up going to Chicago later that day.

Halloween

Happy Halloween















We all had a great time, although we weren't in Ireland this year. We usually congregate at the Barry's for an evening of fabulous food, rummaging through their neighborhood for candy and very excited children. We missed them, but had a great time with the Goldsmith's.


2 Gangsters, 1 Grim Reaper, 1 lady bug, 1 kangaroo, 1 gypsy, 1 mad scientist and me as Raggedy Anne. I didn't have the equipment or time to make my own costume, so I went to my mom's and borrowed hers. Stripy socks, bloomer and the whole deal. I love to dress up and the kids love when I make their costumes, so I did theirs.

We had great weather. A little cold, but it is October! Trick or Treat time is from 5:30-7:30. The police and Fire Dept were out with treats and patrolling the streets. I think there is plenty of candy to be had in 2 hours and you don't get kids at the door late into the night.

I did find it interesting that the police dept was couxing children over to their cars with bags of candy. So what was all the about "Not Talking to Strangers??" I love a small town!

Autumn

It my favorite time of year. The air is cool and the leave are turning. The smell of burning leaves and Halloween is in the air. The first autumn Craft show is starting this weekend.



















Some friends from church have an annual hayride. We were invited this year since we're in town. Roy was out of town, so the kids and I took the occasion to go and hang out in the country.



















Mostly because I wasn't sure where I was going, we arrived early. Yes, I did know there would be skeet shooting, no, I wasn't planning on participating. But.... When in Rome.... Let the boy try. His father would be proud. Neil was a very good teacher with the older boys. Koleman loved it and decided that hunting was in his future. After asking him what he was planning on doing with the kill, he gave me a blank look. I guess he didn't realize that there might be actual killing involved in hunting. Maybe the shooting range is more to his liking.
















I also had a go after several declines. I have nothing against guns in the proper environment, but have never actually held or shot one. 2 shots were enough for me. LOUD!!! Even with the head phones on. Enough!!