Knitting Project Updates

I had listed this purse earlier on Etsy, but removed it because I wanted to add more flowers. I have worked on it all day today and just listed it again on Etsy. I also have a Common Yellowthroat Warbler on a green purse. Then one of a bird (not quite a Chickadee in my opinion) and some flowers on a turquoise purse.

You can click on the Etsy site to the left to view all my Etsy listings.

I am off to babysit with Mason and Audrey, because it is John's 10th high school reunion tonight. I am then going to spend the night with my husband, he has been working all day today. Just glad we will get to see each other this weekend. Hope everybody is getting to spend time with their loved ones.....know Dorothy is glad to have Joe home.

Latest needle felted purse, finished and listed

This is the purse I showed in progress
(a few post down the page if you want to see it while I was working on it).
The first picture is what I call the back of the purse,
because the flap closure is on the other side.

Once it was completed I had a hard time making up my mind if it was going on Etsy, or my shoulder. Etsy finally won out, and the listing is here.

I know the butterfly isn't really a Swallowtail (at least not one that I have ever photographed). Have you ever tried to needle felt a Swallowtail? It ain't easy! LOL! So this is what I decided on after looking at my own bought clothing that had butterflies. None of those butterflies look like the real thing either. Notice the tiny little bead for his eye. I was afraid to use the size I have been using for the birds, thought it would be too big. Can barely see this one in person.

The last picture is the front of the purse. Notice the green at the bottom on the front and the back. It is needle felted across the bottom and goes up just enough on each side for the flower stems to start in the grass.

When I make these and list them on Etsy my thought is if they don't sell the nieces will get purses for Christmas this year. This past year they all received scarfs, (never listed on Etsy). The purses would be a step up, don't you think? So far, they are selling, some faster than others. The last one I sold was shipped to Alaska, as far as I know, not to somebody that follows my blog.

It has turned cool here, and I refuse to turn the heat back on (so far). We had a little rain yesterday. I don't think Nashville got much, they aren't over the flood yet, so they can't handle much. My paying job is related to circuit troubles for AT&T, in 6 states. So I have had to work extra due to the flooding in Tennessee. The stories I am hearing out of Nashville are bad. The people in Nashville need continued prayer at this time.

Also remember Dorothy's Joe and Darla's Dad.

Knitting Project Update

The collage has several small purses I have made, the coral colored ones are the only ones I still have. The entrelac purple and green ones (little squares) were ordered by one person for his daughters. He also purchased one of these in 2 colors of blue, and the purple peace sign one.

In Atlanta I took 2 classes taught by Gwen Bortiner on entrelac. The first class was design and I didn't even get to pick up my knitting needles. The 2nd class with Gwen was Mix and Match in Entrelac. We knit this cap while in class. For those of you that don't know anything about entrelac, it usually does not have design and different colors in each square. I really enjoyed this class and teacher. She has a new entrelac book coming out August-September 2010, Entree to Entrelac. I do plan on purchasing it.

This purse was not going to be needle felted to begin with, but after I knit and felted it something about it was crying out for some blue butterflies. I couldn't resist.

This one is listed on Etsy here.
Now to what I am currently working on. Almost every purse I knit to felt is a new pattern, I keep changing my designs. And with felting you can't be sure how it is going to turn out when it is felted. The one below turned out to my favor, but I had planned on needle felting a Northern Cardinal. Something was telling me to change my mind again and I have now started needle felting Black Eyed Susans, on the front.
And on the back. This is just the beginning stage.
I will show you again when I list it on Etsy.
I have now started another purse with 'basically' the same design as the one above. I have not even thought about what I am going to needle felt on it. Seems like I change my mind by the time it comes out of the machine from the felting process, so why think about it right now?

Two new needle felted purses

I have been working on these 2 purses since I posted the Chickadee purse. Lots of interest in my needle felted purses, so thought I would post these here too. The styles of these two purses are totally different from each other.

The Etsy link for this first purse is here.

The Etsy link for the 2nd purse is here.

Now to go work on a custom order for a dark purple drawstring pouch with a needle felted lightening flash. Have the pouch knitted and felted, now to work on the needle felting.

And by the way, the Knoxville Dogwood Festival has started, but the dogwoods have not made an appearance yet. Need to get out and visit some of the many dogwood trails in the Knoxville neighborhoods.

My needle felting purse

The company I purchase my needle felting supplies from sends out a newsletter every week. This week my needle felted purse is featured on it, with a link to their blog. On the blog they have the same 4 photos I have below. I can't figure out how to get the newsletter linked here, but you can click here for the link to their blog to see my purse on their blog.

I 'had' to add a bead for the eye. We need that shine in the eye when we photograph them, so I wanted it in my needle felting.

I put a pocket on the back of the purse (thanks, Wendy of It's Just Me for the idea) and added sead beads in the center of the dogwood blooms.
The purse is listed on Etsy, to see my Etsy listing click here. From there you can go to 'shop' on the right side and see all my needle felted purses that I have currently for sale. I have sold 3 locally.

In the needle felting world the thing to try is 3D. So after needle felting a few of my felted purses I decided it was time to try my hand at the 3D of needle felting. My first (and only, so far) is pictured above. This is a very time consuming art form. Not sure how many of these I will do, but it does have my interest right now. This little bear has moving parts. His head, arms and legs move. Notice the eyes are also beads.

The link to Living Felt for needle felting supplies is http://www.livingfelt.com/ they are great. Real fast shipping. and they accept Paypal.

By the way....here in East Tennessee we were teased by spring last week. Although I was way too sick to get out in the pretty weather. Now I am feeling much better and it is gloomy and cold again. Hopefully before too long Granny Sorrells' daffodils will be blooming and they will drag me away from knitting and needle felting to photograph them.

This weekend is a fiber festival in Townsend, Tennessee. The quiet side of the Smokies. I hope to go and photograph the sheep, some as they are sheared. I am also going to Stitches South in Atlanta late April to learn more about knitting and needle felting. If any of you that knit are going to Atlanta please let me know, maybe we can meet up there.

My knitting projects update

Well, it is VERY COLD here for the Tennessee Valley. It has not reached 32 in the last 8 days, and no chance of it in the next week. Thinking we are going to break the record of 12 days. The edges of the lakes are frozen, and all the ponds are frozen. I am not out taking photographs of the snow we received yesterday because I HATE the cold! So I continue to knit, and thought I would show you some of what I have been knitting.

The first photo is Mason showing off his cap.

These two are Noah showing off his cap. The male adults think the caps are cute on backwards. Me? I like it on the correct way. And Mason in his newest cap. This one has the earflaps and ties. It was hard to keep him still to take any photos. It has been cold and he was so excited about being outside.

So here is the cap laying on the sofa.
After I made my first pair of fingerless gloves (for Lindsey) I decided for myself they need to be a little larger. I designed this pattern myself. I am currently knitting my 6th pair of fingerless gloves.
The first sweater I sold on my Etsy site.

The 2nd sweater I sold on my Etsy site (to the same customer).

I have labels I ordered from another Etsy person. I also have labels that say "designed and hand knit by" for the items that I design. Although I don't put any labels in the gloves, don't figure they will be very comfortable in there.
My "Big Orange" purse. I designed this one, and have enjoyed it more than I thought I would, because I don't normally wear alot of UT orange clothing. I have been stopped in the stores when I am out and about with it. What an opportunity to give out business cards. One lady wanted to know if I would be willing to make her a Kentucky one. She got a business card, but I have not heard from her yet.

Still tweaking the design and will be making more in other colors.

Been doing alot of other knitting too, it is TOO COLD here to be outside with a camera, even for snow photos.

Hope everybody is staying warm, no matter where you are. Miss everybody, but life is still busy, and yes, alot of the busy is knitting.