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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 7, 2014 11:31:44 GMT
Inspiration needed, I want to make something for John's 60th, he plays guitar and he is an author - I was thinking of a felted piece for his new man den, that reflects him - I've been searching the web but I can't find anything that inspires - if you see anything or have ideas let me know.
I've thought wall hanging, he loves abstract and graphic art and the piece by Stewart Stephenson resonated too the figurative piece, I've thought a felted guitar, I've thought getting his first two published audio books mounted. Oh my poor head is struggling.
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Post by felicity on Apr 7, 2014 12:31:50 GMT
I join the club! My husband is 60 quite soon so I would appreciate ideas too! I was thinking about a case for his new laptop (he is more on the practical side!)...
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 7, 2014 13:21:20 GMT
A laptop case is a great idea, and it can decorated to suit his personality. A friend has given me wonderful inspiration, she showed me a picture, so I'm working blue on white, and I'm going to have guitars and small blue pod?notes hanging for plectrums etc, and may even have a go at adding a guitar, I'm feeling all inspired now :-)  |
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 7, 2014 13:53:38 GMT
this would be a very cool laptop cover to a guitar player. for that precise a design I would be needle felting prefelt, roving and yarn at the end and then do a light wet felting to really set the design.
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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 7, 2014 15:17:14 GMT
I'm glad you found some inspiration. I thought both your ideas Carole were good. Musical notes as wall hangings would work as well for the den.
Felicity, you will have all kinds of new surface techniques to use for that laptop case after Fiona's class.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 7, 2014 16:09:06 GMT
Great idea Ann but alas I don't have pre felt and have no way of getting it, so I will probably do a version of this I think I will felt a tree design as I'm wet felting, see how that turns out, then I add stitch for detail and needle felting, I was thinking of making musical note pods and hang them from the lower edge. Or did you mean pre felt the background then add the tree - I'm a bit slow sometimes!!1 :-)
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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 7, 2014 16:30:30 GMT
Carole, you can make your own prefelt. I just made a bunch. It's great for making small details you can't get with a tuft of roving. You can make as much or as little as you want there isn't too much shrinkage. It depends on the type if roving you're using. Just lay out one layer of roving in whisps in one direction -- up and down, fill in any gaps, then put another layer in the other direction -- left to right on top of that. You can make a third layer if it looks too thin or you want a heavier prefelt. Make sure gaps are covered, then wet with soapy water and felt changing directions like you'd felt anything else, but don't full. You want the fibers open enough to felt to the other wool. It doesn't take long you just want it to hold together. Rinse and lay flat to dry. You can cut it wet or dry. I hope that helps.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 7, 2014 17:30:59 GMT
Carole, Did your friend draw the picture you show? It's quite wonderful I think and provides just the inspiration you were looking for. You make it your own my using fiber art.
Felicity, I have made a couple of flat wool felt (commercially made) laptop cases for family members and used rawhide for the closure to make it look more "manly" or rustic. Just an idea.
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Post by halay on Apr 7, 2014 17:57:26 GMT
Laptop case is a wonderful idea, very practical too and men will appreciate it! I would start with silk or some other fabric so you don't need any lining and fabric will hold the shape of the case. Don't forget to post a photo of your felted gifts.
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Post by MTRuth on Apr 7, 2014 18:30:11 GMT
My husband loves his new felted slippers.
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Post by felicity on Apr 7, 2014 20:13:24 GMT
Thank you for all ideas and advices ladies! We will see what comes out of it...
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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 7, 2014 21:05:56 GMT
Be sure to post pictures!
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Post by lyn on Apr 7, 2014 22:35:01 GMT
Does your husband have a colourful over-the-shoulder strap for his guitar? If so, does he need a new one? A firmly felted one?
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 8, 2014 6:31:10 GMT
Do you know Lyn this passed through my mind yesterday, but I haven't a clue how to make a long strong shoulder strap - he would just love that.
Thank you Marilyn for the pre felt ideas ahhhh, the penny is dropping I suppose I could use the prefelt as a semi formed fabric to make the guitar strap, just cut it and refelt it together.
His birthday weekend has a Turkish vibe, a night with the Anatolian Fire Dancers, over night spa hotel, then home for a surprise party with a Turkish theme, then off to Istanbul in July.
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Post by lyn on Apr 8, 2014 8:31:44 GMT
Carole - I wanted to make a very strong felt bag so I bought a 100% woven wool scarf from a charity shop (it was fairly thin but because of the weave it didn't stretch noticeably) and I used it to make a 'laminated' bag that was incredibly strong.
I laid down two good layers of wool either side of a resist, then I placed the scarf (cut to shape) from the top of the resist, down and under the bottom and up the other side (like a U shape).
Then I laid two more layers of wool plus decoration.
Strongest piece of felt I've ever made. I had the bag for several years then when I tired of it I was curious about the lamination so I chopped it through. It was solid.
Just wondering if a suitable size strip of woollen scarf could be used as the core of the strap? Wool placed either side?
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