The New Year

Happiest of New Years! The holiday season went by so quickly. Can it be that I was too busy to blog? Yes, although I was not too busy to felt. Made some felted scarves using a new technique, new materials and new ideas. Boy! It did consume time! If it were not for my girls, I would not have even put up a tree! That is a horrid idea, and I am glad they put it up on the 23 of December, but by that time, all my energy had gone. We had a lovely holiday, complete with a harp concert, traveling to see my sister and her family and Christmas Eve Mass with my dear old mother. Now, the girls are back in their worlds of Manhattan and Syracuse, and I am once again enjoying the winter solitude. There are plans in the works for yellow. Hope all this finds you well and enjoying your world.

Hallowe'en! One of my favorite times of year. I love the colors, the early darkness, spook-a-lanterns and ghosties.I can remember going house to house for treats, and having to stop at home to drop off my pillowcase to get another one, as the first was too heavy! My dad always made popcorn, (this was pre-micro days..1960) and the kids wold always want to hit Luttrell's early, as to not miss that treat. The rectory would always give out chocolate, and one old couple Mr. and Mrs. Hess would always give out an apple and two spiced wafers. No need to check for razors or pins in those sub-urb Philadelphia days.... we knew everyone in that big Catholic parish!

Peace Felt

my finished basket....Can't wait til next year! But until then, Christmas is coming and I have a few projects that need to be done! There is always something brewing when you are a felter!

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!"