The Weekend is Still Young Love, Max and Lulu

My First Felting Kit

My very first felting kit came in the mail today!  I ordered it from Sara’s Texture Crafts, the same place that got me started on my mad felt ball obsession.  Sara didn’t let me down, the kit is great, though I realize now I could have just started with the needles.  Regardless, I’m happy to have the book and extra wool.  So thanks Sara!  And here is my first little dude.  I think he’s an alien baby.

A Felted Hamsa

I’ve found so many felting activities online over the past few weeks.  And with the recent success of my felt balls, I was inspired to give a new felting project a try.  I wasn’t exactly sure of what I was making.  I figured I’d see what happens and how easy it would be to do with my kindergartners, which is pretty much a constant motivator.  Anyway, I saw this post on Moment to Moment, which looked totally inspiring, so I tried a mini version.

First I layed down some wool on bubble wrap

Then I wet the felt with hot water and soap.  I actually started off with a squirt bottle and then just drizzled it on with my hand until the felt was pretty saturated.

I folded over the bubble wrap and rubbed, pounded and banged, which Ev wasn’t too into because he was trying to nap.

Then I rolled the felt up and moved it up and down the table making a pretty big mess.  Ev wasn’t so into that part either.

I rinsed the felt under hot water and then cold-to shock the fibers.  It wasn’t felting just yet, so I repeated the whole process about 3 times.

Then, as instructed, I put a few tennis balls and my new felt in the dryer for about 15 minutes.  Then I let the felt dry out in the sun for a few.  To be honest, it looked super cool, but I kind of was like, ok, now what?  Then I noticed a shape making itself known in the felt.  Is that?  No?  It can’t be.  Yes!  It’s a hamsa.  It was totally there, practically lined out for me ain the fibers.  So I got out my scissor and an old frame waiting for use, and voila!  A felted hamsa.

It’s pretty darn pretty too.  I can’t wait to make these for holiday gifts.  I am planning to make Jewish Stars and Christmas trees and maybe a bird or too for a special friend of mine.

ps This process is totally suitable for kindergartners.  They’ll love it!

Kids Can Make Felt Balls Too

I decided to give the kids a whirl with the felt balls yesterday and I’m so glad I did.  I wasn’t sure how they’d respond to the warm water and the steady rolling and gently molding and all that.  Turns out, they were pretty much pros after the first roll.  Plus, they loved it and were introduced to a totally new medium.  Proud art teacher moment.

The wool is from Sarastexturecrafts, who wrote a nice little shout out to me the other day.  Thanks Sara!

Non-Stop Felt Ball Obsession

Once I started with the felt balls, I pretty much couldn’t stop, with the exception of Elvis style eating binges, which I finally got under control yesterday.  Thank goodness.  Weight Watcher meeting coming soon.  Anyway, at first I was doing the felt balls in the kitchen sink, but this weekend Ev and I visited my Aunt (AK) in the desert and I would miss everything if I just stayed in the kitchen all day.  So, AK suggested I fill some pots with hot and cold water and plant myself down in front of the tv for our United States of Tara marathon.  Perfecto!  It was great.  The water doesn’t even have to be that hot for the felt balls to work.  Ev even joined me again and rolled out a few.  We officially have 48.  My goal is 50 so feelin good.  These balls have created great family bonding.  I love them.  Plus, there are endless possibilities for my kindergartners, including sorting activities, marble madness fun, estimating and scavenger hunts.  Can’t wait to show the kids!

I’m not trying to be mysterious by not putting my face.  Ev took the photos and he wasn’t into taking direction.  Hence, headless felting shots.   Gotta love him.

Ev Made Felt Balls with Me!

See, this is why my husband rules.  He just gets right in there with me.  I’ve been wanting to make felt balls for months.  I had seen a few posts about it here and here and wanted to try it myself.  I had ordered some roving on SarasTextureCrafts and it’s been sitting in my studio for weeks waiting for me.  I used to be really hard on myself if I didn’t do an art project right away.  Artist’s Way has taught me to trust in the timing of things and to be more patient, which totally worked in my favor this time.  Sure enough, felting day came.  I decided to bust out the roving yesterday and went wild.  These balls are SO EASY!  I watched this youtube vid and voila! Felt balls.  Next I am going to try a bird shape.  Well, once I have at least 50 balls.  I’m obsessed with having a whole basket filled for my kindergartners to sort and play with come the fall.

I took some photos of the steps.  I highly recommend Sara’s vid above.  It’s really clear.  I used Merino wool for these balls.

And then, to my joy and astonishment, Ev busted out today with “I want to make one.”  He had a whole vision in mind and jumped right in.  It was the same thing when we made our wedding birds.  Ev never ceases to amaze me.  He says there is an artist in him waiting to come out.  I believe it.  I love that guy.