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.

 

The Other Half Of The Egg..

Hello  my dear friends,

after making my 'Easter Bloom' creation I was left with the 'other half' of the egg and not knowing what to do with it ~ that was until yesterday morning. I was busy gluing more of the larger egg halves onto metal stemware when it came to my mind what I was going to do with one of the smaller halves of the eggs.

I gave the egg half the same crackle finish as my first just a little softer. I wanted a different color and I also found a neat 'egg painting stand' in  the shape of a old candle holder and instead of buying a new color of paint, I mixed my own and I love the shade I am up with. It is meant be a shade of duck egg blue.

Since Spring is finally rolling in and with Easter in the back of my mind again this is what I came up with for the other half of the egg  ...

...my 'Vintage Other Half'' Nest.

 

 

 

 

  

   

Again I feel this egg has a little Victorian feel to it which I love so much.

I am already thinking of an idea for another egg creation and can't wait to start working on it.
It really seems since the sun is shining more often and the sky is more blue than gray these days my creative streak is slowly returning which makes me so happy.

Wishing you that your days are filled with blue skies and sunshine.

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind my dear friends.

Have a peaceful and creative day.
Yours,


Karen B.
 

A Lady In Waiting ..

Hello my dear friends,

 I am a lady in waiting for the arrival of two beautiful creations from my dear sweet friend Vicki.

Not only am I going to be the very happy owner of one of her beautiful 'Vintage Spring' nests ...
 

... but also the happy owner of her newest nest, the stunning 'Woodland Bling' nest which I was able to place my name on. I am sure it was meant to be because there were only 6 made and by chance just as Vicki shared them on her blog, I was reading every one's lovely blog postings and found out about her nest and now one is mine and I am H A P P Y! (she sings).

Now all I have to do is wait und the mailman or in my case the mailwoman to knock at my door!
Did I tell you that I am excited?!

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day.
 

At Last ~ Spring Is Here ..

Hello my dear friends,

at last Old Man Winter was leaving and making way for Spring.

 

 

Slowly but surely the snow and ice had stared to melt ...

... the frosty mornings became less ...

 

 

... icy puddles unfroze.

 

Some critters returned and some had never left ...

 

 (This little squirrel was ready to come into the kitchen window) 

 

 

... of the furry kind ...

 

 

 

... and of the feathered kind, 

... some I had never seen here before.

 

This beautiful little guy took rest in our blue spruce to soak up the sunshine one day and ...

 

 

... this large guy, which turned out to be a wild turkey, took rest 60 feet up in our willow tree a few mornings ago! 

Plants are starting to grow and ...

... Nature is awakening and starting to bloom, announcing to every one that Spring was here was again! ... But then again you never know, after all I do live in Canada.

I wrote this post yesterday ...

... and this it looked like outside this morning when I woke up ... I did say you never know!
 

 

I wish you all a Happy Spring when ever that might happen!

 

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind.

 

Have a peaceful and creative day.