Love Gnomes

Love Gnomes!

Valentine Gnomes... needle felted with love....

I needle felted these sweet little "Love Gnomes" last week!

Inspired by a tutorial on The Magic Onions website, 

I pulled out shades of pink,

 red, fushia, magenta, and purple wool 

and had a delightful time creating these darling gnomes.

Here's the link to the tutorial if you want to try some on your own. 

http://www.themagiconions.com/2014/01/needle-felting-tutorial-valentines-day-gnome-diy.html

Let me know how yours turn out!

~Magic Wool Fairies~

Blue Princess Fairy

The Blue fairy~ kinda like the one in Pinocchio.

Woodland Fairy

I've been making these needle felted fairies. The one on the left is my Woodland Fairy. It's a little tricky to see in the photos but she has green & brown feathers for wings. I should have taken a shot from the back so you can see her pretty hair! Coopworth curly locks from my friend Hope over in West Va. She hand dyes her wool... it is fabulous stuff for felting~ especially for fairy hair!

You can see her feather "wings' a bit better here

peach Blossom Fairy

 and my peach Blossom Fairy.

I'd been experimenting with making fairies off and on over the past year or so.

 For Christmas, my dear husband got me the book Magic Wool Fairies by Christine Schafer. 

It was wonderfully helpful with detailed instructions.

 I have been making these for the past couple of weeks and having such a delightful time... it feels as if I am bringing them to life. each one seems so individual and has a distinct personality!

Red Haired Angel

Thanksgiving Angels~ Needle Felted with LOVE!



Thanksgiving was a little unusual this year. My husband had to work. My oldest daughter's hubby was out of town & she had to work. So we had our Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday...  cooked a picture perfect turkey- golden brown with all the trimmings and usual "sides." Eliza and I got up early and baked two pies with crusts made from scratch. Pumpkin & Pecan... both yummy.

On "real" Thanksgiving, Eliza went to work with Gabe and I was home alone. I spent the morning curled up on the couch with kitty at my feet and the dog curled up on the rug. I discovered Rebeca of Sunnybrook Farm with Shirley Temple on TV and was happily felting away creating these angels.

Sometimes when i end up making multiples of things at one time I get a bit more creative ( usually because I don't like doing the same thing over & over). I found some yellowish doll hair yarn and tried out a new  hair "do".... one things led to another and the red haired angel was born!

It's a bit hard to tell the actual color in this photo but it's close!

Let me know what you think!

Fall Fiber Festival

Little girl with flower headband

This weekend was the Fall Fiber Festival in Montpelier Station, Virginia. 

My friend Allegra always has a booth there and I was able to help her a bit and also take a few things of my own to sell. The little girl in the picture above was a bit reluctant to have her picture taken and, somewhat reluctantly, allowed me to photograph her. 

Thank goodness for my new smart phone!

 I LOVE how it looks on her!

Needle felted Santa's waiting to go to the  Montpelier Fall Fiber Festival

It's that time of year!!! Getting ready for Christmas and making Santas... there is a Mrs Claus in this photos... can you find her?

Needle Felted Acorns

I have been collecting acorns for awhile intending to needle felt some & put the "tops" back on. Motivated be the fall and my husbands willingness to use his Dremel tool to drill tiny holes in the tops for the ribbon to go through, I have finally made some.Here are some I have made as Christmas ornament's. I also made some as necklaces &  some just to use as decoration.

Kokeshi ladies go to new homes!

Japanese Kokeshi dolls needle felting
Group photo!

This weekend the 4H Summer Inbound Exchange program came to a close. Forty Japanese teenagers had spent a month in Virginia staying with host families from all parts of the state. This is an amazing program that matches host families and Japanese youth for a one month "homestay". It is an incredible opportunity to create lifelong friendships and build cultural understanding.

My sweet little needle felted dolls were given as a Thank- you gift to the families that hosted the students and chaperones.

the pink sisters!

close up of hair & flowers

 I had a lot of fun making all of them and it was a bit sad to see the go, but I know they will be happy with their new families. And. hopefully, be a nice reminder of their Japanese son or daughter.

Needle felted Japanese Dolls on Holiday!

Needle-felted kokeshi dolls

After selecting their parasols, the ladies head to the Aquarium for a visit

there is much to talk about.

 Look at the lovely flowers that adorn their hair!

they pose for a photo!

I am so excited!!  

I have a "order" for forty of my darling needle felted Japanese Kokeshi dolls! 

They will be given as gifts to the host families this summer that are hosting the LABO delegates that will arrive in Virginia for a one-month homestay in July.

I have been busily poking wool and creating these dolls. It is funny how they seem to come to life as I work with them, how they seem t have a personality of their own. I love that they will be gifts and that after the Japanese kids return home these will stay as reminders their hosting experience.