Custom Needle Felted Dodo

This pretty little Needle Felted Dodo is a custom order for a lady on Etsy whose hubby is bonkers about Dodo's!

I started with a rough sketch of what I imagined a dodo would look like. I focused on the large butt, small wings, short legs and humongous beak! This photo mosaic shows the process from start to finish, including a sneaky peek at the sketch, the initial core of fiberfill and building up the layers:

As part of this custom order, I made a smaller dodo which is intended to be used as a keychain. However, when I made it in similar colours to the 'mummy' bird, it didn't look right. So I decided to make him looking like a baby birdie:


And finally, the two of them together. Awww...


Honestly I could have spent hours and hours posing the two of them and taken 100's of photos. There's a few more pics on my Flickr if you want to check them out.

If you like needle felted sculptures, then check out more works on Flickr under the following tags: NFEST (Etsy Needle Felters Street Team), FFFriends (Felting Forum Friends).

Thanks for looking. x Bernie x

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Needle Felted Skulls

Over the past few months I've continued to sculpt various pieces with needle felting. I really like this medium and it's possible to achieve great results and effects without much mess (unless you consider being knee deep in wool a mess)...

Here are a few basic skull beads that I made a while back. They were needled quite firmly to the point that they feel like high density polystyrene. They weigh practically nothing and are great fun to embellish with embroidery if you fancy a 'dia de los muertos' look.

I'm still waiting on the perfect project to add these to and an excuse to make even more. But for now, enjoy this sneaky peek at my geekery!

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Three Scarves Fulled & the Six Foot Tall Lightbox

I love these two pictures. They were both taken in our porch which we hardly ever use (apart from storing junk in!).


The light in there is perfect, kind of like a 6 foot tall lightbox! Amazing... where oh where have I been to miss this one!

Just listed the wrap at the front and the scarf at the back in my Etsy shop. The middle one will be listed later on this week.

I'm just finishing off some felted pouches for Nintendo DS lite games, cameras etc.. and will hopefully be able to add them tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for your feedback on the felted scarf. It's really appreciated!

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My Etsy Shop: update - Needle Felted Goodies!

I'm listing these two little critters this evening in my Etsy shop.

The purple bugeyed bird is a petite 2" small. Needle felted in lovely merino wool, the colour is more of a mauve than the bluey purple pictured.


If you're feeling a little grumpy or know somebody who does, how about a teeny Grinch to bring a tiny grin to their chops! At only 2.5" small, this little Grinch is not going to spoil your Christmas spirit!

UPDATE: Mr Grinch has gone bye-byes!

Both of these are sold as seen. I can add either a brooch pin, keychain or hanging thread. I think the Grinch would make a fun addition to your Christmas tree or even to the car rear view mirror!!!

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Feltedhandbag Workshop - patterns via PDF on ebay.co.uk

This might be new news. Heck it may even be old news. But it is definitely good news. The Feltedhandbag workshop are now selling their amazing felted bag patterns via PDF on Ebay.co.uk. YAY!

Yes I know they've been selling their patterns for some time now (see their blog), but there's something psychological about being able to buy these patterns via your local hangout - in my case Ebay! Every transaction on Ebay is another boost for my profile afterall!

The patterns cost $8 each which is less than £4 sterling at the moment. A bargain!

For those of you not familiar with their work, the Felted Handbag Workshop have brought us some wonderful bags over the past few years, some of which are available for free on blogland, such as:

Little Slip of a Thing which was published in Knitty's Fall '06 issue, The Balloon Bag (an excellent starter pattern) and also the Little Coco Bag, all of which I've made or attempted during my knit-to-felt craze last year.

My favourites at the moment are the Felted Entrelac bag and the Felted Modular Triangles bag. Guess that's something else I can add to my Thingmas wishlist. :) :) :)

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Felting: Swirl Beads

I made these swirly felted beads following a tutorial posted on the Felting Forum. I have also seen them made into 'sushi' beads somewhere over on Craftster. I think they'll be perfect for bracelets or accessories.

Katie had a play with them, and made this pretty picture - I'm going to call it "Sun shine and a tree".

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Swaps: Needle roll for Yarn UPDATE

Drafted 12th June, edited 11th July (I know, i'm a lazy blogger).

A few months ago I made a needle roll for my ISE pal which I then promptly swapped for some delicious wool (naughty naughty me)! Well, I had to get creative - I was desperate to do some felting and the lack of scrummy wool in my stash was all too apparent .

Anyway, the absence of cash, and as my ongoing discreet yet gentle nudges in a certain blogger's direction remained unanswered, (arleta), led me to raise the cheeky question I posted one day asking if anybody was interested in swapping my needle roll for some wool. Several of you kindly swapped with me and I thought that was the end of it.

However, since then, a few more blogging crafters have contacted me asking to do a swap of wool for a Needle Roll. Several weeks later, I have just finished my 4th needle roll and my third sock bag/tote. Doesn't sound like much but this is in addition to all the other crafting stuff that I do every day, not to mention the exchanges, swaps, life..... Never before has the name 'Craftybernie' been more appropriate!

So, in relation to the 3rd needle roll, I'm glad to say that the lovely Penny kindly sent me some Arucania Alpaca (which felts like a dream - we're talking seconds here). Sadly I didn't get a photo of the finished needle roll as the camera batteries died. However I can tell you that it turned out to be a rather large needle roll - accommodating everything from DPNs and circs to the rather long 35cm needles. It's definitley a functional storage item rather than a portable one. I am very grateful to Penny for the lovely wool and hope the needle roll has helped to organise her extensive needle stash.

I guess money isn't the only currency in the world!!! Too bad Mr CB doesn't feel the same way.

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Felted Soap

Back to the reason why I bought that wool roving a few weeks back. Felted Soap. What and why felted soap? Well, felted soap is like soap that is wrapped up in it's own little sponge or cloth. The soap lasts longer and when it does eventually get used up, you'll be left with a cute dainty little felted pouch which you could then recycle into something creative (or fill it with catnip and give it to the puss!)

BTW, check out Arleta's blog. She makes Soap Socks which are like little wooly sacks with soap in them. They are sent out unfelted and as you wash wash wash, the wool eventually shrinks around the soap. Fun!

We used Merino Wool rovings but I guess any felting wool will work. Also, save the nicest colours for the top layer - I wouldn't mind getting a bag of undyed unspun wool or roving to use as the base layers and then put the nice colours on top.

You can make it as decorative or plain as you fancy. Little Miss CB has said that she can't wait to wash her hands with this soap as it looks 'dead cool'. Even if it's just for the kids, it's worth a try. It's relatively inexpensive, and a nice clean activity. We felted a bar in the bath last night and Little Miss CB got clean in the process!!! Lol.

I believe, but haven't tried it yet, that you could add some grains (or whatever) etc.. if you fancy an exfoliating scrub.

There's a few different ways to do it but I read that it is recommended you use round or oval soap when starting as the corners on square or rectangle bars tend to poke through the felt. We bought a big multi pack of 'Simple Soap' from the supermarket and cut one bar in half, rounding off the edges and corners with a sharp knife.

Next we covered the bar with a length of wool roving, wrapping it around the bar in one direction (left to right) and then the opposite way (top to bottom). However many layers you use, make sure the fibres overlap.

Holding the wool wrapped soap in your hand, use your other hand to scoop up some warm-to-hot water and gently dribble it over the soap.**

Then drizzle on some dish soap and rub the soap in your hands; round and round and round and round and round......

** You can also make up a soapy water solution with warm water in the basin and have another basin or pot standing by with cold water in it. Today's effort was made using some shavings of olive soap soaked in hot water til it dissolved. But I guess you can use soap flakes???

Keep an eye on the soap edges and make sure you have covered them well at the start. Once the wool gets wet and sticks to itself it's impossible to cover the gap by 'pulling' the wool over it. You'll simply have to add more wool to the bar to cover any gaps.

Now you can be a bit rougher with the soap and roll or roatate it in your hands making sure you rub the entire surface.

Alternatively, you can rub your bar against a piece of bubblewrap to speed up the felting process. (no fancy equipment in our house!)

From time to time, squeeze the bar to remove any excess water and check how the wool is looking.

If the wool feels like a tight fit around the soap and isn't baggy, rinse gently in warm water and then dunk it into cold water to shock the fibres further. You can then just pat it dry with a towel or some kitchen paper and leave to dry on a cooling rack.

When the bar is dry you can needle felt a design onto it. I needle felted some wool scraps around the roving and wet felted them slightly. Although you've got to wait until the bar of soap is dry before needle felting or your needles will break!!! You've been warned!!!

PS, once again, apologies for the awful piccies. Web cam in operation, normal digital camera with The Man in Spain!

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Needle Felting (not another craft Bernie?)

Yes, Needle Felting. Yes, another craft. Or at least, more of a dabble really. Do you find that crafts overlap in more ways than one? I would never have considered this 12 months ago but it has got to be the most fun and relaxing craft that I have done to date (well, apart from knitting of course) ---:). Plus it is very affordable to do (the two needles, handle and foam pad set me back less than a fiver including postage!).

I mean, what else are you supposed to do with your leftover wool roving, the best part of which you shared with your lovely little daughter, except to perhaps Needle Felt. Actually, Spinning would probably be my first choice but A) I don't have a spindle, and B) if I did i wouldn't know what to do with it.

I digress. Back to the needle felting. I'm working on something super top secret and hush hush at the moment and....... Oh, speaking of which, do you ever find that when you read this on a crafter's blog it usually means they have a book in the pipeline or they are going to be published with a popular e-zine? Yes? No? Well, that's not the case here (had you going there for a minute though didn't I). Stick with me and check out these piccies of my first real needle felting project.

This is the result of a morning and afternoon spent playing with the left overs from yesterday's felting fun. I've also incorporated other fibres with the wool roving and my yarn scraps bag came in very handy for this when I needed just a bit of 'green' or a little bit of 'pink', a smidgen of blue, etc.. (You get the idea).

I can't say much more about this project except it was fun and it really is part of a gift for someone special. Yet another swap pal I hear you say? Well, actually, yes but I've gone of on a slight tangeant with this project and have tackled it in a rather unorthodox way but all will be revealed in a couple of weeks.

BTW, did you know that felting needles have these little 'barbs' on the shaft? No? Neither did I until I ordered a couple on the internet the other day. And all I could think was what the hell am I doing with these lethal weapons. Obviously it's not as intimidating as the instructions but it does pack a prick or two when you accidentally but rather enthusiastically poke yourself in the finger once or thrice!

PS poor quality images due to webcam as digital camera is with him-from-indoors in Spain this week. Harumph! :(

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Wet Felting with Merino Wool Rovings

We've had a fun and interesting couple of hours today. We experimented with Wet Felting.

Initially it was just me and Little Miss CB. She needed a little encouragement as to her, crafting is the devil's work.

Anyway, once she got her hands on the wool she began to enjoy herself, and successfully made two pieces of felt. The top one is the first effort and I think she did a really great job.

We were then joined by one of her friends who wanted a go and they both made a stripey piece each. I gave them each a plastic tray so they could take their felt to the sink easily enough and still work at the table. But by the time time she began to felt the 2nd piece of wool, she really had had enough and started to show off. Regardless of her behaviour though, the girls had fun and were very pleased with the outcome.

Now it's a question of making a small little something with their piece of fabric - maybe a little coin purse or a pencil case or a bookmark perhaps!!??!! That's something for another day.

Anywho, time to put me feet up for a bit. I think I'll just have a valium sandwich to help me settle down though! :) Lol.

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Stitch Marker & Yarn Swap - (2)

My pal in the Stitch Marker & Yarn Swap, which was arranged by Debb, was Judy of JAG bag fame!!!

Her package finally arrived across the pond in record 'slow' time. I was beginning to panic as I've sent many packages across to America in recent months and they've barely taken a week. This one took over two!!!

Well, now that everything has arrived safely, I can reveal what I made and sent to Judy:

Clockwise from the top: Fridge Magnet, Eskimo Wool (Garnstudio), Felted Mini Sock, Handmade Stitch Markers, Pouch for Bits'n'bobs, Highlighter pens, and a Scented Sachet.

The blue stitch markers have these little crochet covered beads that I made using embroidery thread/floss, a very small metal crochet hook and some plastic beads from Little Miss CB's stash!

The mini sock was made using odd bits of wool and the pattern from the mini sock blocker kit that I received from my ISE4 pal.

The pouch was made using blue fabric from stash and lined with a ladies hanky - I knew those hankies that I won at the xmas school fair would come in handy one day. And that's why crafters never throw away anything!!!

It's time to breathe a sigh of relief, for now, and start worrying after the package for my ISE4 pal which is still on it's way across the ocean. :)

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Woolly Stash Enhancement: (just a lickle one, honest!)

I'm flashing my stash as I get ready for a period of serious felting!

I've been on the hunt for wool this past few weeks and have finally managed to replenish my stock. Look at this pretty little haul that I scored off e-bay:

Can you guess what the grey wool is? Of course you can. It's written in HUGE letters on the front. It's Lopi wool, something I've been dying to try for the longest time. That should make a nice felted bag or two.

Next I managed to score some Twilleys Freedom Spirit for a 1/3 of the price which I am very happy about, naturally! I hear this felts up well, too well in fact, so I'll have to watch what I use this for.

And finally, in the bottom of the picture is two packets of merino wool roving in a red/honey mix and a blue/grey mix. This is intended to be used for some easy felting projects with Little Miss CB & her friends (like beads and whatnot) but also to make some felted soaps.

That's it for now. I'm not buying any more wool until I catch up on my FO's and WIPs.

I'll report back at the end of the week on our felting progress, if we haven't killed eachother by then. One more week of TT and they're back at school. Yay!

Oh, and ps: I forgot to mention the two lovely skeins of Cascade 220 which Kathryn sent me in exchange for the red/green needle roll. Thank you Kathryn!

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