Resolutions

The end of 2010. I've been thinking about what resolutions I'd like to make. In the past my resolutions started out with a burst of enthusiasm, but were quickly forgotten. So quickly in fact, I don't remember them. This year, I'm determined to stick to something. I'm keeping it simple so I can get it done.

In 2011, I will:

blog more
stick to a bear making schedule
knit better
needle felt more
take time to doodle

There are many more things I'd like promise to commit to (how about cooking better and cleaning my house), but I'm keeping it simple and getting it done.

Happy New Year!

Little hats, scarves and accessories

I've had so much fun making accessories for the bears this month.
Ideas for tiny hats and matching scarves fill my head. What can I make next, a vest, coat or blanket. Now I know some of you may be thinking, bears have fur, they don't need little hats. Well, this is true, but making these little accessories gives me a reason to play with my yarn, search for fun do dads and let's face it, they are just so darn cute I can't resist.

Vera Bradley

I started out saying, "I'll never buy one of those." Wrong. I'm hooked. It started when I saw a half price sign over the Vera Bradley display at one of my favorite gift shops. I bought my first little tote and fell in love. Those cute little yellow birds and pretty flowers had me. My knitting fit perfectly, the straps didn't fall off my shoulder and every pocket seemed to be in the perfect place. Not long after that first tote, another cute one popped up in another sale bin, and then another. Next thing I knew...I was looking at those bags on the regular priced shelves. After purchasing a weekender for the rare weekends when I need a bag, I told myself I didn't need anymore and would keep away from all Vera displays for awhile.

Guess what, I needed one. The minute I opened that fun Ipad on Christmas morning, I knew it would need to be protected. No other case or cover would do. I had to have a Vera Bradley. The day after Christmas, I grabbed a hat, brushed my teeth, found my gift card and headed to Hallmark. Almost forgot my coffee, but let's not get crazy. Two minutes to eight and women filled the tiny vestibule waiting for the doors to open. Poor Hallmark employees I thought. I barely glanced at the discounted wrapping paper, cards and ornaments. If you knew me at all you'd know this was a little out of the ordinary. Only two covers left, one would surely come home with me. Decision time, the bright happy shades of pink or the softer black and green. I would have been happy with either, but the black and green stayed in my hand as I headed over to the ornaments.

Needle Felting

Have you noticed more needle felting or is it just me. Maybe my rapidly growing addiction to wool and soft hand spun fibers has heightened my wool, felting senses. Tiny acorns, silly critters, detailed slippers, hats and miniature pedigree dogs flash across my Etsy pages. My head is swimming with ideas. Lucky for me, needle felting more in 2011 is on my resolution list.


Earlier this year, my friend and I opened, "The Wool Purl" on Etsy. A few of our creations found homes and made us smile, but we just weren't able to find all the time and inspiration we needed to accomplish everything we had hoped we would. My new calenders are filled with blank pages and fresh ideas, so I'm pulling out my felting needles (looking for thimbles) and getting started next week.


Want to find out more about needle felting?

search needle felting on You Tube

Wikipedia definition: Needle felting is a popular fibre arts craft conducted without the use of water. Special barbed felting needles that are used in industrial felting machines are used by the artist as a sculpting tool. Using a single needle or a small group of needles (2-5) in a hand-held tool, these needles are used to sculpt the wool fibre. The barbs catch the scales on the fibre and push them through the layers of wool, tangling them and binding them together, much like the wet felting process. Fine details can be achieved using this technique, and it is popular for 2D and 3D felted work.

Needle Felting 101 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkdGCiu7Tzk


Warning: Felting needles are sharp.