howdy from Pembrokeshire, South Wales UK

[tournelignum]

Hi all! 
My names Nikki and I actually registered here in April last year and have followed the blog for quite a while, so thought I'd better say hi at last! 
I'm a self taught felter, mostly thanks to Rosiepink and their amazing tutorials and the blog here. I started needle felting in 2013 and wet felting soon after and have been in business selling my felt and fabric items since 28th October 2013. 
I don't have a real style yet, I've found it really hard to define what I do as I've tended to work in a very cartoon-y style (I've found this with all techniques of art I've tried, i just seem to be destined for bright bold cartoon shaped things!) and i suppose i fight that a little and want to be more refined as that's what my customers have wanted, but this year I'm just going to let my inner happy flag fly, the battle of trying to be more refined has led to much more worrying and far less making than I'm happy with in the past.
so this year i hope to be making some really fun and funky clothing, more wall hangings (making use of the first quarter resist challenge hopefully) and more of my needle felted dragons that i started with and really love making. 
you can see my work on on Instagram www.instagram.com/tournelignum/ and on Fb www.facebook.com/CreatedByNikki and older work is on flickr www.flickr.com/photos/createdbynikki/
really excited by this years quarterly challenge, and really excited to be here too! wishing you all a happy and fluff filled new year! Nikki xoxoxox

[zed]

Hi Nikki,

welcome to the forum, glad you finally introduced yourself

I know exactly where you're coming from with more worrying, less happy trying to do what others want, or might want, it's so much more fulfilling and pleasurable doing what you like yourself

[lyn]

Hello Nikki - good to see you on here!

Richard Branson is famous for saying that you have to do what you love to be successful so follow your heart.

[elizabeth]

So why does the Brit say "howdy" and the Yank say "Hello"? :-)
Welcome, Nikki. Have fun. I love all the color in your works!

[MTRuth]

Welcome Nikki! Glad you joined us and I hope you'll continue to show us your work and join in the conversations. And yes, follow your heart. That work seems to sell the best anyways for me.

[tournelignum]

Hi Ladies! thanks, lovely welcome
Thanks Zed, it was after seeing your post on fb i felt i really should come introduce myself <3
my teacher in business studies n school used a lot of Richard Branson ideas and phrases Lyn, and i remember writing that one down in my text book now you say that, it made me feel i didnt have to conform to be happy. how could i have forgotten!
Elizabeth i really don't know why but i use a lot of American and Aussie terms, it may have been from growing up close to a large naval base as a kid, my accent is pretty mixed up too!
thank you Ruth, fingers crossed and thank you!

[Shepherdess]

Welcome I am glad you decided to join in. You have to do what you like and makes you feel good and the customers will come. Maybe not the same ones but that ok.

[Pandagirl]

Welcome Nikki! Colorful is good. Doing your own thing is better. :-). I'm glad you've joined us.

[penguin]

Hi Nikki, I have fond memories of Pembrokeshire as I did some work for my degree there many years ago and also 'youth hostled' around the coast. ? I don't sell but it seems to make sense to create what you want and find the right customer base for it, rather than fight it and end up not enjoying the creative process.

[penguin]

P.s. Love your lion!

[tournelignum]

Hi everyone! your all so kind and welcoming <3
I've made some epic failures trying to attempt the first quarter challenge and not felt able to post them, and am now having to take a work/creativity break due to ill health, but hoping to make a blog post on my own site when im better of my attempts so far.
fluffy hugs all round xoxox

[lyn]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

You're not alone in the 'epic failure club' - we're all there. Our successes rise from the ashes of our failures.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Welcome to the forum, Nikki! Look forward to seeing more of your work.

[Shepherdess]

Epic failure, as Lyn said that's what we all do. See how I got that covered in the second quarter challenge. don't be afraid to post failures. we can make suggestions of how to fix it or help you figure out what went wrong.
I hope your are feeling better soon.

[Pandagirl]

Feel better soon Nikki.