Bella, Wet Felting Beyond the Basics

BELLA is first crocheted from a wonderful quality wool yarn. Then wet felted, fulled and sculpted all by hand, no machine involved. There are many techniques and opinions on how to create hand-made felt, and I feel that all methods have value and are worth exploring. With Bella I started to experiment with the amazing sculptural flexibility of wool and crochet and went beyond the basics of wet felting. I gave BELLA bent legs and wrinkles in her tummy.To be able to do this you need to understand the process of wet-felting and sculpting.  I took classes from famous and experienced Felt-Artist.  The pro of felting by hand is that I can stop the felting process were ever I like. I am in control. It took a lot of time to create BELLA, but it was soo worth it. I hope you love BELLA as much as I loved bringing her to life.

Spring Bunny

Why I called these Spring Bunnies... ?  I could have called them Jumping Bunnies (because that's what they do) but I liked the combination Spring Bunnies better.... Spring..because bunnies are part of  the Spring season..Easter.. but also..the translation for Spring in "Dutch" is "Jump". For that this is a:

 SPRING BUNNY 

A little over 4 inches tall, made from a wonderful thin chenille yarn.  I experimented  with sculpting his muzzle, which turned out very cute. The eyes are embroidered, I gave him a sleepy look as he is just awaking for Spring to come. 

More Spring Bunnies will jump from my hook soon. 

Another thread bear ready to leave...

SPIKEY is all ready to leave. With his warm woolen hat and matching scarf he is prepared for the cold.

In case he does not need the hat were he goes, he looks good without too.....

SPIKEY is going on eBay tonight..seller ID; threadteds 

Fabrics with flaws

Hand dyeing fabrics not always goes as I hope for..  sometimes the fabric it self has flaws, sometimes the dyeing process does leave stains, or does not dye even on all spots.
I save these up and add those in small lots in my webshop for half price.  These are 3 of the 8 Lots available right now. It`s a Bargain..Lots of useful Fabric. With some fantasy you can even make that stain/flaw part of your design.

First Show of 2015 and Addy Quick Pro !!

The first show; the Doll and Teddy Bear Show in Maastricht MECC, in 2015 is already over. It was a good one!!  Several little bears and animals found a new home.

I also brought lots of hand dyed mini-fabric to choose from  I am sure these will turn out in lovely bears/animals!!

 

During the Show I had the opportunity to demonstrate the brand new Addy-Quick Pro !!  Myself I am very exited about this tool. I have worked several years now with the  Addy Quick (Hobby) and it always served my needs. But..using this new machine now.. wow!! 

The Addi-Pro is meant for Professional needle felters. You can work longer after each other, the machine is stronger and you are able to control speed. 

Visitors were exited to try the new Machine. The price for the Addy-Pro is €298,50. I think this is not for everyone affordable, so it is good to know the Addy-Hobby with the price off  €95,- is still available. The shop  MoederAarde is shipping world wide.  Info and order  by email .

        

Happy Happy 2015 !!

May it be a good  and creative one for everyone!! 

Marie the Christmas Tree in above picture, was made by me and finished before Christmas. She was again a test for LittleOwlsHut.com 

Besides Marie I tested and finished a few other creations in the past months and will add these soon to the LittleOwlsHut Section in this Blog. You might want to buy one of the pieces I have made, or make your own with the patterns from LittleOwlsHut.  

I hope to test more in the future, but also have to start preparing for the next Teddy Bear shows to come. First Show already the end of this month..eeeek..better start working. 

Also like to share the Article in the latest Teddy Bears and Friends magazine. Enjoy reading! 

The Article ends with the information that we will visit USA in June 2015 to attend the Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland in Clarion.  We looked so forward to it, but unfortunately the Reunion is canceled. 

George finished and another test

After finishing George (More pictures and link to the pattern HERE)  I started another pattern-test for Little Owls Hut, and continue enjoy doing these tests.

Pattern-test was for the above 3 Friends (Bear, Panda and Rabbit) and will be available in a few weeks.

Mouse "Sofia"

This is Mouse "Sofia", made with another pattern from Little Owls Hut.  I used thinner yarn and hook as the pattern is calling for, and instead of 20 cm/8 inches my version of Sofia is only 10 cm/4 inches tall. I made some changes to the dress to make it fit for this smaller version of Sofia.
More picture of Sofia on the above link; Little Owls Hut Designs.

Which way to go ..

Another half year has gone.. so much happening..so little time to update my Blog.

I am thinking a lot lately which way to go in my work-hobby-Art. Special this question keeps me busy;
Do I want to continue designing and write patterns for thread bears??
I still don`t know the answer, my hands have to keep busy though.
Then I discovered the patterns from Little Owls Hut, they looked very interesting and complicated, and I loved the look, different from anything else seen lately. I bought a few patterns and  enjoyed very much making up a few creatures. Please look at the link above Little Owls Hut Designs, to see what I made so far.

I also signed up as tester for the Crazy Cat  (Pattern will be available soon for you to make too) and loved doing it.
So for now I use my time to work with patterns from Little Owls Hut and keep my hands busy until I know which way to go ................... Bye the way.. I have permission to sell the finished pieces so maybe will bring some to Hugglets in September.

Teddies World Wide Christmas Show 2013

Now you you can see the preview from the wonderful bears which will be offered during the Teddies World Wide On-line show November 15-17 2013 !!

I am happy to join the show in the miniature category. I have worked hard and proud of the pieces I am going to offer, a few need a last hand..

I also will offer a few pieces under $75.00 US.  Make a Note in your Agenda  15-17 November!! 

My preview piece is finished..  . and now it is time to VOTE!!

This little bear, together with several others, also will be available during the show, selling starts at November 15 and ends November 17, a real heirloom piece for years to enjoy. He is only 3,5 inches tall and 5 way jointed, made from micro fiber, standing on a big thread peppermint candy and holding a big thread candy cane (both crocheted).  The theme of this show is "Holiday Treats".  As this is "The Season to Share"  this little guy is happy to share his treats with you.

To cast your vote, please go to Teddies World Wide website. Please read on the site how to cast your votes. 

Thank you so much!! 

ThReAdTeDs® pattern in latest TB & Friends magazine!

For all crochet lovers: four different thread bears to crochet using one pattern!! The pattern for Nick & Friends is published in the latest Teddy Bear & Friends magazine (December 2013) ! Plenty of time to make at least one before Christmas!! Happy Crocheting! 

Bright Star Promotion On-line show !!

Sewing, , felting, crocheting..knitting...  busy busy..but ready with the special pieces I made for the first  Bright Star Promotion On-line show !! I am proud to take part !!
The Show is open from 6-9 September.

Click on the banner on the right to see the preview piece from each Artist participating. This is my preview piece ROZI which will be for sale during the show.

ROZI

To see what else I have made for the show, I invite you to visit the show on September 6-9. 

Don't miss out!

Opt-in the mailing list and receive a
September Online Show reminder. 

The winner is...

Candance !!

The workshop were I learned those felt techniques was teached by Lisa Klakulak Strongfelt.com!!

Please sent me your shipping address private to threadteds@xs4all.nl and I sent the kit to you.

Thanks so much to everyone who played!!

Holidays.. finally !! and first Blog give away...

Finally holidays are here..and the sun!!  We had to wait long for better weather, but now summer has arrived in the Netherlands too !!

We have not planned any trips, instead off we need to work in our garage, to create for me a little space for wet felting.  Most of you know, in between working on bears, I love to felt as a change..  As the items I felt get more complicated, it also needs more time before I can complete a project. Those unfinished items waiting to be finished do not leave a free table in our house ...

The smaller felting projects don`t give problems..though, I only need a little space for those.
I experiment a little with the techniques I learned in the 3 day class off ..????..  Here some pictures:

Bears in a firm shape with dimension added. I am going to ad more accents with embroidery..

The right paw pad is felted from merino wool only, the left pawpad I added a little nuno felting.    

It is so much fun to play with those new learned techniques ... working out an idea for my next project already.. 

To celebrate the Holidays I have the first free give away for my Blog Readers. 

It is a pattern/kit to crochet a BEAD and PIN!! 

I designed this pattern/kit for a workshop in USA 2010. The pattern also teaches how to crochet the ears as you make the head rather than crocheting them separately and applying them later. 

The instructions in this pattern describe the crochet portion of the project, as well the assembly, with 48 step by step color pictures, so even as a beginner you will have fun making this project. 

The first person, who can tell me the name of the artist/teacher in which work shop I learned the above felting technique will receive the kit FREE. Please post your answer to this topic. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Vote now in Round 1 of URSA 2013 !!

You can vote from July 8 to July 31st period. One vote in each category.

Voting in Round 1 determines the top winners in each category. You don`t have to vote all at one time. The computer will keep track of which categories you voted previously. 

To make it easy, cast your vote AND then NOT close the voting page window as it takes you back to the beginning, but instead use the tab open-links or arrows-back to the category page. Use the "Next Category" arrow at the bottom of each page to advance.

This year I entered with KNIT-TED in Category 3: Medium Bare Bear or Bud - 6" to 11" - Undressed. Any Materials.

He is 20 cm tall

Wearing a Bobbin Lace Collar

I entered  TEDDY in Category 1: Wee Little Bare Bear or Bud - 5" and under - Undressed. Any Materials.

 Teddy is also knitted, only 7 cm tall

sitting on a custom made music box

holding his very own cup.

Both, TEDDY and KNIT-TED  for sure will have a hard time competing with all the wonderful entries.

Please check them out and vote for one favorite in each of the 17 Categories. 

Start HERE or use the link on the right. 

Thank you so much!!

Today is the day...........

 ... all Teddy Bears come together for Teddy`s Bear picnic..

Today is the day that you can see the preview from the wonderful bears which will be offered during the Teddies world wide On-line show June 28-30 2013 !!

I am happy to join the show in the miniature category. I have worked hard and proud of the pieces I am going to offer..a few need a last hand... 

My preview piece is finished.. it is little Teddy (above picture). not sewn, not crocheted, but knitted !!

Teddy is a real heirloom piece for years to enjoy. He is only 7 cm tall and 5 way jointed. Teddy is sitting on a grass circle, holding his cup, as the picnic soon begins. And who would think that you can turn the circle (to wind up the music box which I embedded in the linen. custom printed and sewn, block) and the famous song of Teddy`s Bear Picnic will play, while Teddy is turning and dreaming away, and later bring back memories of his most beautiful Teddy`s Bear Picnic day..

If you like Teddy, please cast your vote at http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/ Please read on the site how to cast your votes.

Voting categories for this show:
MINIATURE - Best Bear, Best Animal
FULL-SIZE - Best Bear, Best Animal
BEST IN SHOW

Thank you so much!!

Is it only me ...???

who has a work space like this??

I just don`t understand how I get a mess like this quickly, yesterday everything was were it belonged..a free working space. This morning I started finishing bears and in no time (it is 4 hours later)  it looks like this ...

and not even one bear complete finished !! I would be interested to hear if it is only me....?
Back to work... and clean up the mess...again..lol

Knit-TED knitted

The rainbow dyeing workshop  I did s few weeks ago inspired me to dye white cotton thread in a Taupe color. The perfect color to knit the little Bunny. Knitting is not new for me, years and years ago I had a knitting home-Business and also knitted on request  for a local yarn shop. It was mostly wearable items for adults and children I knitted at that time. As I quit the knitting job, I soon started making teddy bears. I missed to knit so I regular knit custom made wearable's  for my  bears. 

I enjoyed very much to design and knit the Bunny. After the Bunny was done, I knew I needed to design and knit a bear-friend for Bunny.  It took a while to get the right bear shape with increasing, decreasing, short rows and so on but.. here he is..

KNIT-TED!!

The first ThReAdTeDs® knitted Collectibles I am totally pleased with and offer for sale soon. First they will travel to me to my next shows; Ladbergen and Stratford upon Avon!! 

Knit-TED comes with his own Toy/Display Block.  The Bunny is not included but will be sold separate. For him I also plan to make his own ThReAdTeDs® Collectibles Toy/Display Block. 

I make these Blocks myself. Each side of the Block shows another Picture.  

As I am back into knitting right now, more knit-TEDS and knit-FRIENDS will follow..the next one already is on my needles..

The Crochet pattern for Eli is now available from my website in 3 languages: English, Dutch and German. 

Rainbow Dyeing

Last week I did a workshop Rainbow dyeing. I am familair with dyeing in a pot the mini fabrics,  and also regular dye my own threads/wool for making my thread bears, but this way of Dyeing; Rinbow Dyeing opens a lot off possebilities to archive shades of colors to use in one project...

We could bring fabric or cotton yarn. I chose for the yarn. I dyed a hank unbleached 100% cotton (left in picture), and a hank mixed cotton/acryl. Also some DMC perle cotton (front in picture). The 100 % cotton absorbed the dye very well, with as result a bright colored yarn.  Also the DMC perle cotton dyed really well. The mixed cotton/acryl resulted in a really nice soft colored yarn. I love it. It was like magic to see all those wonderful colors appear, with the use of only 3 dye colors, Red, Yellow and Blue

I think the DMC thread I am going to use for a miniature knitting project. The other yarn I will look at, and enjoy the colors for now, until I know what to make with it.

Teddy Bear Welt 2013 Wiesbaden

Last weekend you could find us at the biggest Teddy Bear Show in Wiesbaden. This show always is great, though this year we had a bad experiment. Being very busy the first day, late in the afternoon, our purse was stolen.. quiet a shock!!   Almost all earnings off the first day gone !! And nothing we can do..  
The thief(s) confused us with tricks and managed to steal the purse behind our table...  later we figured out they were with a group of 4 and must have been professionals.

This put quiet a dark cloud on what should have been a great weekend.

In the evening the Ted World Wide Awards were announced, winning in my category cheered me up a little.

Above Pincushion "I`v got the whole world in my hands" won in the Subject Bear category in the Master Classes. 

If you are doing shows, watch your purse !!