Un Petit Chat Qui Joue avec un Boule Rouge

     

There he is, what fun learning how to wrestle these little things out of the raw wool. Just think of what might be possible when I've been at it for MORE than three months!!! I will likely tweak him a little, as I would like to develop a greater facility for adding tiny details. In total he is only about 5' long fro the tip of his nose to the end of his heel. I really like him.

      When I get my dander up I'd like to see him with eyes, whiskers, a nose and those poofy little cheeks cats have. A more familiar developed hand will make little miracles in time. I can't wait to perfect this awesome sculptural technique. 

      I really would love to see someone out there get involved in my creative process and help me give them names. I do want to thank the most enthusiastic  participant with a choice of one of the bunch when I finish creating from A to Z. So far, tho many have viewed, nobody has mustered up the gumption to send me a comment and christen a critter...

But I have Infinite patience...and I'm having fun while I wait...

Well, I COULD Give a Cat's Ass...( the rat will have to wait )

       
       I am so struggling with this endeavor. It was another day with the mama.  Afterwards, with only three hours before sleep overtook me meant that yesterday's challenge item was only half there. Yesterday's will be today's and  to be realistic, though the ideal was one piece a day, it may be wiser to know there will be exceptions. Forgive me, keep watching. I will reach my goals and have so much fun showing you the results! 




      
      I will post this fella,..finished, TONIGHT. He is tiny, so far maybe 3" tall at his kitty type hip...we'll see how much he grows as I finish him.

Feeling Sheepish

           So today's contribution was a sheep...easy because I was at the Crafter's room today and had the busiest day ever. I put a dent in Mr Dragon/Dino today
and photographed him and Owl and She Sheep against a white background. I'm trying to shoot them in uniform lighting and a plain back drop for future use in a book for Sadie,..my sweeeeetest granddaughter.


Upon returning home, I proceeded to download my pictures and I have Mr. Dragon/Dino and Owl but lo and behold, no sheep. There were three black pictures but no sheep. Either the gremlins are at work or technologically I'm a wiener and a spaz. 

      The worst and also the best of it is She Sheep sold to one of a group of ladies, who in their exuberance purchased six of my items. Great sales day but I will have to begin anew to replace her in the list.

      It was a little brown one, kind of like this one I made in January for my Dad's birthday. I think it was my seventh sheep, but eight will be in order. Wish me a little focus, It seems to be that I'm being tested,..but I'll keep poking away,.(..pun  intended. )                  
   

Draggin' my Heels Already...

     

      How quickly they fall these pompous souls who make impetuous promises. After issuing a challenge to myself to produce a daily project, it feels as though I'm cheating myself already.

   






      
      Though this fellow will be "D for Dragon. I must confess That I started him before today. To my credit I did spend a few hours on him this evening but a particularly grueling day with my dear Mom kept me away from my work basket til after 5. He especially needs a name so please do drop a suggestion.

     
     
      One of my friends suggested that the resultant photos will make wonderful illustrations for a children's book. With a lovely granddaughter as a willing test audience I agreed heartily.


     


      He will need finished hands, wings and eyes before I can start challenge item number three. Dragon's rainbow colors may evoke my pride friends to offer a name,.. you know who you are so get your thinking caps on!

I can't wait to finish this piece and begin the next and the next and the next till all twenty-six are here for all to see. I hope some of the kind souls who take time to follow me will name these felted friends. It's a chance to win one of your very own, if I may dare to presume that would be desirable. Looking forward to hearing from some of you soon.

"All Things Bright and Fuzziful?" - the 26 Day Alphabetical Challenge!

      Inspiration, incentive, commitment and productivity. Illusive wisps of thought these fine words. I am too easily distracted these days by the demands of an aging Mama. I am her ears and her memory. If I am not with her, I am on-call 24/7. I feel sometimes that "my day" will never come. But I will persevere and set an ultimatum. I will dare myself, demand of myself, to  complete one project a day. I made this little fella this afternoon so... Day 1. Check!

A teeny Owly friend approx 4" tall.

      The critter criteria to be met is that I strive to find some fuzzy-wuzzy wonder for each letter of the Alphabet. I haven't settled on what may represent each living thing from A to Z, ( though visions of quetzal birds and zebras may have been dancing in my head. )

An Owly butt..

     I won't commit to do them in order, I know that when I start to research subjects that some will jump out and beg me to be made. ( ..and it would seem I've already set the tone my barreling way through to "O" for Owl.. ) but One-a-Day, just like my vitamins!  I will post  pictures of each daily as well because I'd like some audience participation!

      If a challenge gets me working then maybe a challenge will encourage each of you to stay tuned. As an incentive to keep following my progress and to cheer me on if I dare to slow the pace I was hoping to offer a prize to those who might take time to help me name my little beasties!  

Amazing little fellow by Sara Jo Renzulli.

      My inspiration for this exciting idea comes via another needle felter, Sara Jo Renzulli,  whose work makes me long to strive for more! If you promise not to leave me I will note her blog for you. Its one I will be following and I do encourage you to have a gander. Her work is matchless, meticulous and utterly beautiful. Please do log on to see her work at heartfeltfun.blogspot.ca  You'll fall in love with every piece.

       I would soon like to spend a bit of time designing a studio logo and include, in the future, my contact info and a name tag of sorts for these fun fellows as they come into being. Please spur me on by taking time to bestow a moniker on my wooly friends I will promise one of the twenty-six to the person whose suggestions are the most favored. If it happens that your suggestions christen the most pieces I will offer you your choice at the end of the challenge and mail him to you to enjoy. Please take part and post your suggestions below. I will be checking in and posting daily so stay tuned and enjoy!

Funny Bunny, Chilly Willy and the Sunflower

Spring is just around the bend! I promise!

      Hasn't it been a long cold old winter? Chasing away the "February Blahs" has been a struggle. Even though I don't get down like some folks do during the dark long nights and gray weather that has been ever present this season, I have certainly battled doldrums. It seems to be that I've been in SLO-MO forever, bogged down in a rut of inactivity, lacking any real productivity for logger than my conscience allows me to be comfortable. So its time for a spring tonic and revving up for the new season ahead.

   
     Thoughts turn to renewal..a new season, new flower gardens, new seed catalogues, and mounds of new soil and transplants. With Isaac's lilies and the rest of the veggie and perennial beds calling me to tend to post winter TLC,  its about to get busy.

      Add to that the annual spring cleaning and the studio will be gathering dust unless I settle myself in for a disciplined game plan to promise time for all the wonderful things I love to do.
      Maybe that's what April Showers are for. They're and excuse to stay inside and accomplish the indoor things and not be riddled with guilt as you would be when the back forty and the sunshine are pulling you outdoors. For now, a "Heartfelt" sunflower to make peace as we wait for the warm promise of spring.

A chicken and an owl walk into a bar..

     Whooo gives a hoot,..right?

  I'm just at a loss for time and sense right now. I got so ahead of myself that I took four new pieces to our crafter's co-op this week and forgot to photograph them.!   Along with a new white sheep I had felted a sweet teddy bear, a penguin and a new owl ( because I love that first little fella so much I can't part with him. ) I will remember to photograph them at a later date to share with you.
   
       The two that remain are here for you to see. What a riot this chicken is!  When I turned up for my volunteer shift at the co-op I pulled the new inventory out to show it to my wonderful companions at the site. As they peered into the bottom of my work basket there remained just these two big orange feet. Lisa, the owner called it and ordered up a chicken by days end. What fun and a fluke that he just serendipitously developed in such a way that he can sit or stand.

       The other exciting thing is that during another enjoyable gathering of family an friends, I received commissions for more needle felted woolly critters, another pony and a llama. The llama spurred my imagination and I had to have a Google and checkout the general physiology.

       I've tried really hard to needle extensively to firm up the pieces. It's  all well and good to be sort of handy at new things and I get so excited just diving in that I forget to connect to the "right" way to do things. When I had the opportunity to see needle felting at Argyle Fine Art,  it was a real awakening to handle the pieces and see how rock hard they were. I poked and shaped and prodded furiously at this fella for seven hours until this fellow materialized. He is still not even close to as solid as the gallery pieces! Apparently, I have a long way to go and much, much more tp learn.

       Well, this was just to be a short note to share a few new pictures. I will try to teach myself the "right" way to do things. I was scolded last week for under pricing my work,  but until my critters are buff and bouldery instead of soft and cuddly I will wonder how permanent their shapes will be. When  I feel like I've really got it right I'll  be brave and blog a how-to. Til next time...Happy Days!