When bad things happen to good people

I have a wonderful new friend, Susan. She owns Martha's Vineyard fiber farm. If you haven't experienced her fiber yet, check out her Etsy shop here. You can even purchase a share in her fiber!

However, that isn't the purpose of this post. I visited her blog this morning, and read a devasting story about her aunt and uncle; people that have given their all, to help people. Her uncle has had a catastrophic injury, and she is holding a raffle. I ask you, please visit HERE to read her story and consider helping a little bit, yourself.

I thank you for taking the time.

The Art of Needle Felting

I have such admiration for the artists that utilize the technique of needle felting! It is MUCH harder than it looks - I've taken two classes. In the first class, we needle felted a teddy bear. Such a dismal failure, that I didn't even care that our kitten got a hold of the teddy and shredded it.

My second class was much better, I did a bunny that is for sale in my etsy shop.

HOWEVER, check out Cozy Cottage Creations! Now, here is somebody who has truly perfected the fine art of needle felting. Her work is fabulous! The details are astounding. somebody already bit into that apple!

I'm going to go have strawberries for breakfast!!

Henry

I finished Henry today. I fell in love with him...he's knit from my friend Kathy's handspun kid mohair. There is nothing like it on the face of the earth. I'm not kidding! It is beyond soft.

Then I stuffed him with clean, carded wool. I dressed him in overalls. I embroidered his face - no plastic safety eyes, and I love how they came out! When I first started making animals, all I wanted was safety eyes. Been using them for over a year now. But....I really like how the embroidered eyes came out!

OK, I'll stop singing my praises now...and it's not really like I'm touting my own abilities, cause as I'm making these little animals, they take on a life of their own. They speak to me.

Yes I know I'm crazy.

:0)

He's listed here. Just in case he speaks to you too.

Beatrice

Ya know, I have this thing for handspun yarns. Mohair (from angora goats - see baby pictures in previous posts), llama, alpaca, all kinds of wool. There is something about the textures, the smell, the feel. Sometimes my hands get softer when working with handspuns, because of the natural lanolin that is in it. Once, I needed black mohair for a project, and went to a commercial yarn shop. The mohair was horrible - it FELT chemically treated - which I am sure it was. yuck.
So I have found quite a few shops on Etsy that spin their own, from their own animals. It is the best. Maple Smith, from northstaralpacas, has some of the best yarn I've ever
encountered. I found some that I think she sent to me,
as a thank you, with an order.
This yarn is a blend of alpaca and wool. It is heathered -
she must have plied a bit of purple, and a touch of blue, in there.
I had 94 yards of it, exactly enough to make Beatrice. I
f you could only feel her!!!!! Thank you Maple!!!