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Friday, April 18, 2014

Learning Something New ..

Hello my dear friends,

I love to try out and learn new things and this time it was needle felting that I turned my attention too.
 
I had wanted to make another egg creation and I wanted to use pussy willow branches in it after being inspired by our trees that are growing in our garden. They are about 35 years old and don't grow too many branches filled with these soft little fuzzy things anymore but the one's that do grow are so lovely. Just before it snowed the last time, I headed out and cut some branches for inside the house. I knew I couldn't use dried pussy willows in my creation because once older, they just drop off the branches which would spoil it ... so that's where the needle felting came into the picture.

My neighbour Lise, who does needle felting, was such a sweetheart and let me borrow her tools and use a little bit of her wool roving supplies to see if I would take a liking to it or not.
 
 
I arranged the branches into my stoneware milk and cream jugs which once used to belong to the UK army and I was fortunate to be able to keep them after we left.


I placed the jugs on top of the mantel where they only stayed for a short time.
 I then had to move them due to one of our cats taking a little too much interest to the fuzzy little things.
 
 
 
This is what I wanted to attempt to recreate.
 
 
Boy ... needle felting is a little dangerous I found out and 'felt' it too. Thankfully only once the needle went past the roving and into one of my fingers (ouch). It wasn't too bad, the needle didn't go in too far and I am a hand quilter since many years and so my fingertips are somewhat used to being pricked.
 
I must say that I am happy with what I made but then it was a very basic shape I needed to felt ... but I was happy and it looked right to me and that is what counts ~ right?!     

 
And this is my first ever needle felted tryout ...

 
... my little fuzzy pussy willow branch.
 
 I have to make another one or two more and then I can finally start my next creation I am wanting to use these for. I just hope it will look the way I would like it too when it is done.
 
So .. if you have a few spare moments, why not stop by some time again and visit me here at Todolwen ~ it is always so nice when you do.
 
I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.
 
Have a peaceful and creative day.
 

10 comments:

  1. Wow-- you did a wonderful job with your felting-- they look so real!! Now you can have them all spring-- so lovely!
    Vicki

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  2. Love your creation. I love pussywillows and I do needlefelting but hadn't tried them.. Thanks for the inspiration. Can't wait to see your new creation. Did you know you can water root cut branches and have some new pussywillow bushes.
    Have a creative day! Pam

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  3. Oh ...wie wunderschoen!
    Karen, Du bist ein Genie!
    Gibt es etwas, das Du nicht kannst?????
    Liebe Gruesse aus Koeln
    ute

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  4. Your 'pussy willow' branch is very beautiful Karen!
    I'm inspired - I can't wait to see what comes next!
    Easter Blessings to you and your family.
    love
    Shane

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  5. Well for a first timer, your pussy willow branches look very real. Can't wait to see what you're going to create with them.

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  6. very, very lovely. Is there anything that you can't do? Pussy-willows are my favourite spring must-have.

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  7. so creative! I have a pussy willow also. If you cut them early enough the buds will stay on. Also have you tried cutting yours back, drastically, that should force new growth next year. Do it when it is done flowering. I love to needle felt. Something easy and less dangerous- take a cookie cutter, place it on foam stick roving in and felt, keep doing that until you have a nice shape. Take the cookie cutter off, touch up if necessary. Then carefully remove from the foam.

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  8. sorry error- place it on a foam base then stick roving in and felt

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  9. How nice it turned out!
    So, so lovely!

    Hugs Ines♥

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  10. Wow, Karen! You did great! I love pussywillows too.
    Hugs! Sonya

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