The rains have come through, and it looks as though a dramatically hysterical actress has cycloned her way through the countryside, leaving in her wake all the debris of a rant! Leaves ripped from their perch lie as discarded hankies. Flower beds are flattened in the areas where she stomped her feet. Twigs and small branches are strewn all over as she threw things in her tantrum. She is both, Beauty and the Beast!

black ball

after the ball is wrapped with the wool roving, it all gets covered by this netting. It was a bit of a pain to put on, but after everything got placed and adjusted, the actual felting process began. Using soap and boiling hot water, you gently spritz the ball and begin. You rub and roll the ball against a ribbed surface. I use a woven bamboo mat. This step takes quite a lot of arm work and back muscle!

finally! after 20 years....

Well, finally after 20 years, i have found a use for the basket ball! It has been in my basement and the rubber is all dried out. It was just one of those things the girls got as a gift from someone who had no clue that they were SO not into sports. Kirsten did ballet and later XC, Gitta did cheer leading and bellydancing. Anyway, today it has fulfilled its destiny!

It is the bases for my peace felt project... Brenda! STOP HERE! unless you want to watch the step by step process!


Anyway, the first act involves layering the thin tufts of roving all over the sphere. It was a bit slippery until the first layer was down... then you apply subsequent layers in the opposite directions until you reach your desired thickness.

I begin..the idea and gathering in of supplies

well, I have my design for my peace felt partner. Now, I begin to get the ingredients assembled to see what is going to work and what is not making the grade! Then, once all things are assembled the fun begins.....









Here are a few pictures of Gitta's painting.... She must have been thinking of "The Tailor of Gloucester!"

Peace Felt Partner

We received our Peace Felt partners. I have Brenda from Florida. I do not think I know of a more busy woman! She is educating her children, does tons of hand work and is very involved in many things.....She has a very sunny personality... maybe that is why she and her husband left Maine and now live in the Sunshine State! AND!! she loves Edward Gorey... how wicked cool is that!

Now my mind is spinning about her project.....I love to explore new ways of working with wool and learning another technique..... I am very excited about the project.... Little mistletoe will have to wait, but it is 75% finished....so it will be easy to return to....

Mistletoe

I am working on my mistle toe felting project. I chose mistletoe not for it's "Christmas" feel, but rather giving a nod to it's historical past for being a plant of blessings.

The druids held it in reverence, feeling it brought peace and protection on the house and healing. The Norse tales are more dire.

I opt for the druid concept! In the end this will be a natural table runner with pearls, wet felted cream strips and white felted fabric. It is about three feet by 1 1/2 feet. I am not sure what I shall back it with or how to finish the ends.....

You'll be the second to know ... I'll be the first!