Felting Fun (or not?)

This post has been waiting for a photo of the finished projects but because this hasn't happened I thought I would share the photos now.  In the school holidays my crafty friend Lea-Anne and her delightful daughter came over for a day felting.  I recently made a felted bag at Spinners and Weavers and foolishly thought it would be a great project to keep three children entertained over the holidays LOL.

Let me first state categorically that I am NOT a felter.  I still see it as a bit of a waste of good spinning fleece (yes, I know this is upsetting to all good felters and I apologise if this offends)  Despite this, I seem to feel compelled to indulge in little felty experiences from time to time (there is even a 100% lambswool striped jumper waiting for the next felty experience LOL)  The day started out okay given that our plans to felt outside were changed when the workmen turned up to put up our new pergola.  Undeterred we set up a trestle and prepared to get wet and felty.  The kids enjoyed the initial process but found the actually felting a bit too time consuming.  The fleece Lea-Anne had brought with refused to felt and kept springing back up!  Eventually we ended up with three more-or-less felted bags that just require a bit of work on handles and embellishments.  Highlights of the day were definitely Lea-Anne's wonderful parmesan meatballs (we would love the recipe - maybe she will even let us blog it?!) and the impromptu concert that the kids put on afterwards (complete with costumes and original songs with repetitive lyrics)

I think this could definitely become a school holiday tradition (minus the felting!)  Maybe next time we will just stick to spinning!  Anyway, at least the company was good.  I feel really blessed to have crafty friends like Nic and Leanne and Karen and my Apple Piecers friends to share crafty adventures with!

Hoping to get back into blogging more regularly - it just feels like the work/life balance has been a bit out of whack here lately! 

Keep smiling,

Nell

New Bibs

In the muse of Amanda Blake Soule or Alicia Paulson the kids and I did a spot of creating for Maddie in the second week of the holidays.  What do you think of her new bibs?

I had forgotten just how gross bibs get when munchkins eat solids (and my girl has some less than desirable table manners LOL)  I just used the applique stitch on my sewing machine (not even any vliesofix) and so far they have been washed about a half dozen times and are holding up well.  The bibs were a bargain pack from Spotlight.  The pens are Crayola Fabric Markers and ours are going strong after several large projects (gotta love Crayola!)

I'm thinking we might even have to do one of these to put in with the new nephew's welcome present and maybe one for my next-year-to-be niece or nephew?

There is something very gratifying about working with your children on a project (especially when they can then give it to someone else)

I'm in a creating kind of mood this morning so I am off to make a few softies for Mirabel (details at http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/ ) and make a start on some things for the wee one's birthday - yes, I know....one at the end of next month....how did that happen?!