Wednesday, July 6, 2011

2 Month Catch Up. Crafting Photos.

Gosh, 2 months and I haven't done a blog post. What a failure. The trouble is that it's light until about 10.30pm so I'm often in the garden until then which doesn't leave much time for much else.

Crafts

I have also started attending various workshops in Tuamgraney. We met for a few weeks each Thursday to do knitting. I learnt how to cable and made a 'Dressage Vest', which I am very pleased with I must say. Here is a photo of me knitting it:

And wearing it:



Then at the same place I did a 'nuno felting' course. Nuno felting is felting wool onto another material. It was great fun and my final project was supposed to be a wall hanging but it hasn't made it to the wall yet!


This is the wall hanging before I had worked on it and shrunk the wool a lot. It then pulls in and the material goes crinkly! Here we all are at the end of the course with our efforts:


It's a wonderful atmosphere at the workshops and I'd recommend them to anyone in the vicinity. Next we are doing a few weeks of crochet. This will be a great adventure for me as I've never done any. I can't wait. Here is a link to their blog: There are a few more photos of the nuno felting on there. I have since made a blue wall hanging and various other pieces for fun.

I have made a wall hanging out of my stash of material which is for the sun room:


I also made a felt scarf but it's too itchy so it's become a wall hanging in the bathroom!


I quite like it in there! It has some sequins and stars sewn on here and there.

A felt experiment with a chiffon scarf:


Finally, a small mat made from wool and felted, then I backed it with chiffon and net and added buttons too.


My step Granddaughter Liane had her baby Coco on June 9th and she asked for a 'Jessica' doll from me, which I duly made, this time with dark hair:


Here is Coco with Jessica:


They were about the same size and as you can see, Coco has almost as much dark hair as Jessica! She's growing fast, as they do of course.

I have also been making beads and a pair of curtains for the patio doors in the sun room. Phew, no wonder I haven't had much blogging time and I still haven't got onto the garden work we've done. I think that'll have to wait for another day - or week - or month!

16 comments:

Heather said...

No wonder you haven't had time to blog Gina! The knitted vest is very elegant and I love your wall hangings. Coco is smaller than her doll and so sweet. She'll love her when she's older.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It is good to know that you were busy having fun Gina. Love the new felting and you look glamorous with the vest on. The doll you made looks good beside the doll you made it for. SWEET. Enjoy these long days while you can.

Rachel Green said...

Busy woman!

DK said...

what a wonderful post! You look fabulous in your knitted vest, really glamorous :-)

Smashing to see your felting efforts too, very clever!

BT said...

Thanks Heather. I have been rather busy haven't I? Hope all's well with you too.

Hi Lisa. Like your 'two dolls' comment!! I love the long days but soon they'll be short again!

I am indeed Rachel!

Hi K, thank you. It'll be better in the Winter, wearing the vest I mean. It's rather hot! Glad you like my felting bits and bobs.

Heather said...

It's me again Gina. Thanks for your comment on my blog. You ask what the embellisher is - it is a machine which looks very like a sewing machine but no thread is involved. It has a cluster of barbed needles which punch their way through layered fabrics and meshes them together. You can perform this action manually with a single barbed needle or a gadget which has several, and this is known as dry felting. Hope that all makes sense!

Pamela said...

Awesome vest! And the felting is amazing. I've tried the whole knitting thing but it's hard after crocheting. I think it's the two needles. My stitches don't stay even.

Adorable baby.

BT said...

Hello Pamela. I'm glad you like my vest and felting. I have always been a knitter and have never tried crochet. I am doing a course in November though so I'll see how I get on!

aimee said...

well no wonder you haven't posted! you've been super crafty and i bet you've been in the garden too. oh, look, i just noticed that heather just said nearly the same thing. :D

Kelli said...

Sounds like you've been very busy. I like your felting work. The blue scarf as a wall hanging works well. Kelli

The Weaver of Grass said...

I'll say this for you Gina, you have definitely not been idle! Nice to have you back though.

BT said...

Why I garden? Cos I love it!! Thank you for your comment Kelli and I'm glad you like the blue felting. Thanks for visiting.

You're right there Pat. Thanks for visiting. Gardening post coming soon.

Mia Foley said...

Great to see all you've been up to here Gina. I love the photo of you knitting. I'm totally stuck on my knitting project and really miss our gatherings! Lookin forward to crocheting with you. Congratulations on the lovely new baby and your handmade doll is a treasure. All your nuno felting is a pleasure to see. I really appreciate your regular visits and lovely comments online. Best wishes, Mia. P.S. Great to know that you have willow in your beautiful garden!

marianne said...

The vest is awesome!!! I want one as well seems like something I could maybe do too.
And the felted objects are beautiful!
Coco is so cute:)

Enjoy your summer dear♥

BT said...

Lovely to hear from you Marianne. I hope you're not working too hard throughout the Summer. It's been a bit of a rotten one weather wise but it's sunny today!

Anonymous said...

Hi Gina, Baby Coco is the cutest little baby! How sweet that she has one of your lovely dolls. It sounds like great fun to get together with the ladies to make crafts. My grandma crocheted, but I never could master it!!! Sending love to you across the miles. <Mildred