Slumpity Slump... And some old felted birds

Both my blog and Facebook page have been sorely neglected this summer... I feel kinda bad, but then again, not tooooo bad. There are just too many things going on. I've been in the slump of all slumps and I feel like I've been making nothing! Feels like a big hole in my life! I think after the fail IVF cycle, I've been a little depressed and have been spending a LOT of time out in the chicken run, fawning over my feathery friends. They cheer me up, even if they're stinky.

Anyway, we're trying again... and I've been feeling pretty horribly sick from medications... so again, barely any making stuff. But I realized that I have a couple of unshared projects from months ago, so I could do a post with pictures at least! Even if they're not new projects. 

 I made these needle felted birdies for Leslie's Happy Heart in that same swap where I sent the kitties banner. So that will give you an idea as to how old this project is :)

They're hanging ornaments with real feathers and no feet. Some day I'll make 20 of them at once and hang them all over my kitchen or something.

Anyway, send prayers and happy thoughts my way if you feel so inclined... and creative vibes! Love you guys. Until next post...

Pompom Easter Bunny: A review of "Adventures in Pompom Land"

Okay guys, I'm kind of excited about this bunny I just made :) Haha, it's really nothing great, but it's so soft and cute... And I think I've finally found something to do with my ridiculous stash of yarn, since I rarely ever want to take the time (or sit still long enough!) to knit or crochet. When I learned to knit and crochet, it seemed like yarn came from EVERYWHERE. So-and-so's grandma is getting rid of yarn, so-and-so found a huge yarn stash at a yard sale for so cheap... And I ended up with puh-lenty of yarn :) And it's just been sitting there. Anyhoo, Sterling Publishing sent me this book:

 "Adventures in Pompom Land" by Myko Diann Bocek. So freaking cute. Seriously. There are so many cute animals, a fox, a hedgehog, squirrel, birdies, a lamb! a kitty!etc. It was hard to pick a project, but I decided to make the bunny because Easter is soon, and I'd like to make some more decorations.

 The only time I attempted a handmade pompom was when I saw a tutorial on how to make one on a fork. It was cool, but not very puffy...kind of sparse. This book shows you how to make BIG OLE fluffy, dense pompoms that you can then shape with scissors to create wee puffy creatures. I didn't need to buy any new tools, so that was wonderful. A big trick is using A LOT of yarn :) Which is why I am so stoked about the stash-busting possibilities of this craft. This bunny is about 5'' tall and used up about 1/2 skein of sport-weight acrylic yarn.

 The techniques involve a little bit of needle felting for features like legs and tails, which wouldn't be super-efficient to make out of pompoms. And there is gluing, thank goodness. I'm all for shortcuts, and any glue is hidden in the finished product among all the fluff.

Now, when I initially flipped through the book and began to read some of the instructions, I got a little confused, but once you jump into the project, you can totally tell what they're talking about. There are pictures, and they help...but truly, I didn't get some of the ideas until I had the pompom in my hands.

All in all, I actually think I'm going to use this book to bust the heck out of my yarn stash and make things of yarn that are actually super cute. Things that I wouldn't be embarrassed gifting to somebody (unlike some of the knit monstrosities I've created in the past! Sometimes yarn can be so hideous when you do all the wrong things to it.)

Bottom line on Adventures in Pompom Land: I like it, I'm gonna get some use out of it, and BOOM, a new fluffy skill! I recommend.

Felted Feathery Bird Trio

I told you they were coming... More felted birds!!! I made this set for my tiny Filipino mom who absolutely spoiled me with all sorts of huge colorful earrings and goodies this Christmas. They're ornaments, but I took photos before I added the string loops for hanging. 

I cut the wings out of ready-made sheets of wool felt, so that saved me a lot of time felting wings from scratch. The felt sheets stick to the wool body really well with the felting needle :) 

This one was my favorite

This yellow one was Bobby's favorite because of all the crazy colors.

Speaking of crazy colors, I spent pretty much ALL day yesterday bleaching some peek-a-boo tips onto my very dark bleach-resistant hair because I've been wanting to put some purple in my hair for a long time... I had been debating it because maybe I'm too old for that, but I think it would suit me.Well, the bleaching took FOREVER! Then I finally dyed the bleached ends blue fading to purple and the color is so dark you can hardly see the difference. Maybe it was a waste of time... But maybe it'll fade to something a little more noticeable. If it does, I'll post a picture or something.

Anyhoo, I hope everyone is having a magnificent week so far! Happy Wednesday!

Needle Felted King Bird... it's New Year's Eve!

Good evening, friends! I realized that I failed to do a Christmas post to wish you all the happiest of days, so I'll say now: I hope you all had a really wonderful Christmas and were able to do things you enjoy with people you love. I had a really good Christmas here in Alabama with Bobby and we treated ourselves to lots of candy and supplies and tools and of course, relaxation :)  

This is my second needle felted bird post in a row, and it won't be the last! I made a few batches of birdies for Christmas and thank you gifts. This one is special because he has a little crown on. I made him for my crafty buddy Audrey. 

Check out that colorful spotted tail :) My brother and his wife must be psychic, because they sent me another couple of packs of dyed/plain guinea fowl feathers for Christmas. I have been using them like crazy.

 Did you know it's way easier to needle felt a big beak than a little one? True story, unless there is some awesome tiny-beak method that I have yet to figure out.

 *Yawnnn* I don't think I'll make it to midnight...

Needle Felted Bird of Paradise with looong tail

 I looked out the window, and what did I see? This crazy bird hopping 'round my apricot tree! Well, it wasn't an apricot tree, and the bird wasn't hopping around, but that would have been fun. I made this little needle felted bird of paradise for myself on Sunday because I needed to make something for me to keep :) It's a gorgeous morning today in Alabama, so I decided to go outside and take some pics of my new birdy.

 Photogenic little chap, isn't he? 

He'll soon be roosting on my totally ornament-encrusted tree. I'll have to find a good spot for him.

The long pretty tail feathers are from an emu. I've been hiding them away for a long time (picked them up at the critter zoo a while back), and finally found them when I did a little organizing. It sure feels good to finally use some random supply you've been hoarding forever, doesn't it? 

At any rate, I am so excited for Christmas! And maybe Christmas orders will slow down a little and I'll have some time to go play Santa and deliver gifts and treats to my friends in town :)

Needle Felted Penguin in a Sweater

 My goodness gracious. I have been SO busy, and I get to count this blog post right here as a break, then I'm back to work. I am sharing this wee needle felted penguin wearing a colorful winter sweater.

 I was in another Craftster Swap (I'm swearing off of these for a few months, I need a break) and one of my partner's holiday themes was "Penguins in Colorful Clothing." If you know me, you can guess why I'd want to pick THAT theme. So for one of the items (more penguin items to come soon), I needle felted this penguin using beautiful wool sent to me by the lovely Belladune of SpinHeartSpin.

 His little jacket-vest is cut from a felted sweater I picked up at a thrift store fill-a-bag sale. I love those.

 And the clothing...is...optional... Tee hee. This is what penguin looks like au natural, sweater removed.

Meep meep meep (this is the sound that I imagine penguins make). He says "Merry Christmas."

Also, before I wrap up this blog post, I want to give a HUGE
THANK YOU
and several digital imaginary hugs to everyone who has taken time to leave me a kind comment or word of love or encouragement. It seems like tons of very happy or very sad or very busy things have come at me all at once lately, and I've been hanging on for dear life, getting by day by day. I haven't found the time to comment back to each of you, but please know that I have much much much love and appreciation for you guys.

Needle Felted Purple Toucan

 When Bobby left for work today, I told myself that I was not going to do anything today, since I was feeling awful blegh. So after reading some sci-fi and lounging in bed for a while, my mind started turning because it was a mess downstairs and I hadn't cleaned up from lunch yet...So I got up and tidied up downstairs and did the dishes. Then I realized that I needed to go to the post office... To get it out of the way, I just went. Then I got there and I had left my wallet at home and had to go back and get it. LAME.

So finally, when I got home, I told myself I'm REALLY not going to do anything else today, not even crafts. That didn't last long. I made a toucan.

 This is my second needle felting project, and I'm really enjoying this new craft! I credit Felt Me Up Designs for the wee toucan that I bought, and all the inspirational felty goodness. 

 Here's the back, I used two tones of purple wool, even though real tocos don't have wing spots. Wait, real tocos aren't purple either. I guess I'm okay, then.

This is a happy looking bird! I'll admit, he made me feel a little better. I'm wanting to find a little glass cabinet to house my growing number of little toucan thingies. I'll have to remember that come Christmas time.

(Phew! Toucan is tired of taking pictures!)

Felted Sun Conure

 After finding Feltmeup Designs and treating myself to this sweet little felt Toucan, I was inspired to give 3D needle felting another go. My first attempt, I quit after making a blob. Silly me, I thought I could just figure it out, but this time around, I watched some vids on YouTube and actually made a REAL attempt. I'm pleased as punch! I made this teeny tiny replica of my sun conure, Peanut. 

 I didn't realize how SMALL of a piece of felt the fibers would become once it gets going with the felting. You start out with this big fluffy puff, then get a firmly packed little shape. Thus, the size of my little bird. It only turned out about 1.5 inches tall. 

 I cheated a little on the wings and used a little bit of yellow felt. I had stabbed myself quite a few times working with the tiny bits of wool, and I was getting a little tired.

 I think he has a kind of smug look to him, just like the real Peanut Button. Not bad for my first needle felted creature.

 Bahaha! When I showed it to Peanut, she was so scared. "What.... is....THAT?!"

 Testing...

It's no use, Peanut is endlessly suspicious of this little feltie doppelganger. 

I hope everyone is having a splendid week!