My Mermaid From Judy Johnson's "Lovely Sea Maiden" Class At Artful Gathering

I have to tell you that I've been in blissful heaven for the last three days. If you're wondering why it's because I've been needle felting a mermaid for Judy Johnson's "Lovely Sea Maiden" class at Artful Gathering that I'm taking.

I'm completely in awe of the ability to mold and sculpt the fiber to get it to be exactly what you want.

It's simply amazing and, once again, I've fallen in love with a new crafting medium.

Before taking Judy's class I never would have dreamed of all the ways you can felt and handle the roving.

Judy is a fabulous teacher and she shows you exactly what she wants you to do step by step.

I have to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this class and now my head is spinning as to the possibilities. There are so many ideas running through my head right now I cannot keep them straight.

This is dangerous territory for me. There are so many things I want to try and, once again, not enough hours in the day. I need to prioritize - but, right now that is almost impossible.

This is the 3rd class I've taken at Artful Gathering and every one of them has been fantastic.  I took Pat Winter's Crazy Quilting 101 class last year, Colleen Moody's "Briley The Birdie" paper clay class in the first session this year and Judy Johnson's "Lovely Sea Maiden" in the 2nd session.   If you've never taken an online class I highly recommend any of the Artful Gathering classes.  They're fantastic.

Next year I'm definitely going to be taking more.  I wonder what will strike my fancy next year?

The "Dollies" Have Decided To Nickname Him Thor

His name is Berberis, but the "dollies" have decided to call their new alpaca cousin "Thor."

Why?

Well, they just love him and think he's going to be a lightning bolt of energy.  So, they've nicknamed him "Thor."

Berberis was born July 11, 2013 at 2:45 at  Rock Garden Alpacas. His Mom is Sunflower  and it looks like he'll be light fawn in color.

How adorable is he sitting with his Mom in the picture above......

My 3rd Class At Artful Gathering Starts Soon

I just loved the Artful Gathering e-class that I took last June and my recent Artful Gathering class "Briley The Birdie" with Colleen Moody.  The class was fabulous, the instructor was fabulous, and all the students were fabulous.  I had a wonderful time.

So, of course, I'm looking forward to my next class which is Judy Johnson's "Lovely Sea Maiden."

Lovely Sea Maiden

A Needle Felting Adventure by Judy Johnson

I've got my needle felting kit already.  Just waiting for the class to start.  I can hardly wait.......

The "Dollies" Have A New Alpaca Cousin Named Iris

The "dollies" are just tickled pink.

Why?

Because they have a new alpaca cousin named Iris and she is just adorable.  She was born Monday, July 8th at noon at Rock Garden Alpacas.

Iris and her Mom, Ivy.

Iris relaxing in the field.

Just look at her beautiful posture.

Once again, the "dollies" are clamoring to visit their new cousins and, once again, I'm trying to ignore them.  It's getting harder and harder to do.

My Doggie Penny Rug For "Bud"

I know I've told you many times that I LOVE creating with wool felt. Whether it's an ornament, a pillow, a wall-hanging, or a penny rug - I just LOVE it.

Several years ago I was introduced to penny rugs during a shopping trip with my Mother in Sturbridge. One of the shops we liked to visit carried penny rug patterns. As I was looking through the patterns one of the shop owners told me she'd be happy to put a few kits together for me. She suggested we go to lunch at a restaurant down they street that she liked and come back after lunch to pick up our purchase.

So, I picked out three that I liked, went to lunch with my Mom, and returned after lunch to pick up my kits. Thinking about that now I have to say that was one "savvy" shop owner. What a great way to get not only a pattern sale, but sales of wool fabric and embroidery floss.

Unfortunately, that store is no longer in Sturbridge so I've been forced to shop online for penny rug patterns and kits.   Oh, what a hardship! LOL Having to shop online for patterns and kits! LOL

Last year I decided to buy a penny rug kit from one of the online stores that I like. The pattern I bought was #195 Puppy Love (shown in the picture below) by Barrie Sue Gaudet of Bareroots.com. It's a pattern to create a small 8" round candle mat. The kit contained the wool felt and embroidery floss needed to complete the candle mat.

I decided not to use this as a candle mat, but as a picture mat. I wanted a mat to put underneath one of he pictures I have of my beloved fur baby "Bud" and the candle mat was not large enough. I needed to enlarge the design to create a 12" round picture mat which meant adding more dog appliques. I didn't have enough wool fabric from the kit for the backgrounds of the enlarged mat so I had to add some wool fabric from my stash.

The pattern contained one double sided page which contained a layout of the design, general directions for working with wool felt and applique pieces, and directions to complete the candle mat. It also contained 4 illustrations for  a whip stitch, back stitch, lazy daisy stitch and french knot. A necessities list was included on the pattern back cover.

The pattern was very easy to follow, but I have a few suggestions that would be helpful to anyone completing this project.

I have to admit I have a few pet peeves when it comes to pattern design. I don't like patterns that contain double sided pattern layout sheets and that don't contain individual pattern pieces as it requires too many photocopies by the user to get the separate pattern pieces needed to complete the project. This is compounded when the pattern layout contains several layers and tiny little applique sections as was the case with this pattern.

White DMC embroidery floss is needed to stitch the two white dogs, the white bones, and white spot on one of the dogs. This was not listed on the necessities list on the pattern back cover. So, be sure to include white DMC if you're going to complete this project.

I noticed after I had cut out my dogs that I had actually mixed up two of the dogs colors when cutting the dogs out. The Dachshund was supposed to be dark brown not yellow and the Pomeranian was supposed to be yellow not dark brown. Oh well. Mistakes happen. My Dachshund and Pomeranian are the wrong colors.

I was pleased with the way my picture mat came out despite my mistake with the two colors. I think it looks great with "Buds" picture.

My Puppy Love Penny Rug Pattern By Barrie Sue Gaudet Of Bareroots.com

I know I've told you many times that I LOVE creating with wool felt. Whether it's an ornament, a pillow, a wall-hanging, or a penny rug - I just LOVE it.

Several years ago I was introduced to penny rugs during a shopping trip with my Mother in Sturbridge. One of the shops we liked to visit carried penny rug patterns. As I was looking through the patterns one of the shop owners told me she'd be happy to put a few kits together for me. She suggested we go to lunch at a restaurant down they street that she liked and come back after lunch to pick up our purchase.

So, I picked out three that I liked, went to lunch with my Mom, and returned after lunch to pick up my kits. Thinking about that now I have to say that was one "savvy" shop owner. What a great way to get not only a pattern sale, but sales of wool fabric and embroidery floss.

Unfortunately, that store is no longer in Sturbridge so I've been forced to shop online for penny rug patterns and kits.   Oh, what a hardship! LOL Having to shop online for patterns and kits! LOL

Last year I decided to buy a penny rug kit from one of the online stores that I like. The pattern I bought was #195 Puppy Love (shown in the picture below) by Barrie Sue Gaudet of Bareroots.com. It's a pattern to create a small 8" round candle mat. The kit contained the wool felt and embroidery floss needed to complete the candle mat.

I decided not to use this as a candle mat, but as a picture mat. I wanted a mat to put underneath one of he pictures I have of my beloved fur baby "Bud" and the candle mat was not large enough. I needed to enlarge the design to create a 12" round picture mat which meant adding more dog appliques. I didn't have enough wool fabric from the kit for the backgrounds of the enlarged mat so I had to add some wool fabric from my stash.

The pattern contained one double sided page which contained a layout of the design, general directions for working with wool felt and applique pieces, and directions to complete the candle mat. It also contained 4 illustrations for  a whip stitch, back stitch, lazy daisy stitch and french knot. A necessities list was included on the pattern back cover.

The pattern was very easy to follow, but I have a few suggestions that would be helpful to anyone completing this project.

I have to admit I have a few pet peeves when it comes to pattern design. I don't like patterns that contain double sided pattern layout sheets and that don't contain individual pattern pieces as it requires too many photocopies by the user to get the separate pattern pieces needed to complete the project. This is compounded when the pattern layout contains several layers and tiny little applique sections as was the case with this pattern.

White DMC embroidery floss is needed to stitch the two white dogs, the white bones, and white spot on one of the dogs. This was not listed on the necessities list on the pattern back cover. So, be sure to include white DMC if you're going to complete this project.

I noticed after I had cut out my dogs that I had actually mixed up two of the dogs colors when cutting the dogs out. The Dachshund was supposed to be dark brown not yellow and the Pomeranian was supposed to be yellow not dark brown. Oh well. Mistakes happen. My Dachshund and Pomeranian are the wrong colors.

I was pleased with the way my picture mat came out despite my mistake with the two colors. I think it looks great with "Buds" picture.