Fred & Ginger, plus little Flurry

I just finished Fred & ginger just in time to ring in the new year. Their auction will start tomorrow night at 6:45 PM PST.  Little Flurry's auction will start the same time.  He's kind of an orphan. While I was shopping at a local thrift store, I found this little guy all cut out and ready to be sewn.  He seemed to cry out to be finished.  So here he is. He's made from very fine rayon purchased from Edinburgh. I'm not sure whose design he is.  But he's such a cute little guy. I hope he finds a home where he will be cherished.  I have two other unfinished bears from the same person. One is a powder blue rayon and the other is brown upholstery mohair material. 

Teaching and Tutorials

From time to time I receive inquiries about whether I teach, have a book or offer tutorials. I am quite flattered by the requests. But I'm really not the best at explaining things. Also, it would be a shame see a bunch of students out there learning all of my bad habits. There are a number of great felting books and teachers out there that can explain things much better than I can.  However, here are few things that I feel could help a would be felter on their way.

1.  Never give up. No matter how ugly you think it is keep poking.
2. You'll get poked a lot in the beginning. But it gets better, I swear.
3. Study the subject you  want to felt with fresh eyes. Don't just assume you know what a certain subject looks like. Look at it as if it were the first time you've seen it.
4. The library is your best friend. Next best is google. I do tons of research.
5. Find a good wool supplier and stick with them. I use weirdollsandcrafts.com for my core wool, needles and foam. Clover makes a great number of handy tools, too. I love my pink multi needle tool.
6. Don't be afraid to experiment.
7. Stay true to your vision. Although, there maybe others that inspire you, you have a unique voice to share with the world.

Here a few books and teachers that I think can teach much better than I could:

• I Felt Awesome by Moxie
• Animal Felt by Birgitte Krag Hansen
• Barby Andreson's Glory Studio tutorials 
• Kay Petal's Felt Alive tutorials
• Stephanie Metz classes offered in California
• Felting Forum

Good luck & happy felting!

Giorgio & his Circus Peanut

I just finished little Giorgio tonight.  Although his circus peanut maybe as hard as the real thing, it was sculpted from polymer clay. Giorgio stands just 3 1/2 inches tall.  Giorgio's eBay auction starts tommorrow night on eBay at 6:45 PM PST.  I haven't  decided  about the duration. I'm thinking it may be either a 5day or 3 day auction. Thanks for looking :0) 

Celeste, an Angelic Mouse

I just finished little Celeste, this morning and her eBay auction will start Sunday night at 6:45 PM PST.

Inga & her Leafy Toboggan

I just finished little Inga and her toboggan this morning and will have her listed on eBay this evening.  Her little leaf toboggan was sculpted out of polymer clay with a white wool and glitter flocking.  It really ended up looking just like frost. I hope you like her.

Snowflake

Snowflake's eBay auction starts Tuesday night @ 6:45 pm PST.

Kris Mouse

I just finished this little mousie and his auction starts tonight on eBay at 6:45 PM.

Santa & Dasher

I just finished these two for a commission last night.  I hope you like them. For those of you in the US have a happy Thanksgiving.

Baby Bullet Ready for Christmas

So sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I've been waiting for my wool order and working on a few commissions. So I finally have one ready for eBay. I made him after Mr. Bullet when he was a pup. It seems that I start out with the idea of making an adult bully and I always find myself making a puppy. Baby Bullet's auction starts tonight at 6:45pm PDT.

Sugar and Cocoa

Viola, Forest's wife

I just finished Viola this morning. It seemed to me that Forest needed a wife. Plus I got to practice trying to hide the seams on the body. So far the best option is clothes (lol). But I'll keep working on it before I start putting skin to the angel.  Before she had clothes, my son was a little freaked out with the creepy naked old lady laying on the kitchen table.  

Viola's eBay auction starts tonight at 6:45 PM PDT. 

Forest, Percy & Acorn

I thought I'd experiment a bit before I started fleshing out the angel more.  So I decided to try it out on a smaller guy.  I made this little gnome by first needle felting him, then shading him and finally giving him a nylon skin. I made him a couple of pals, a life-size house sparrow named Percy and Life-size little mouse named Acorn.  Forest, Percy and Acorn will be auctioned individually on eBay tomorrow evening.  If you wish to purchase all three, I will deduct $30.00 from the final purchase price.  Please wait for the invoice before paying. 

Jose & his Sugar Skull

I just finished little Jose & his sugar skull last night.  I hope you like them.  Their eBay auction starts tonight with 20% being donated to Bat Conservation International.