So, what have you been doing lately?

[pamd]

I was thinking that I haven't seen a lot of projects lately, but if you are like me, I have nothing completed to share. That, however, doesn't mean I have been idle.

I am currently working on a clutch bag, felted in red with black and white stripes across in a section, a large spiral, some squares, circles and paisley shapes felted in, colors of pink, blue and green. Right now I am embroidering it and then I have to line it, adding a zippered compartment.

I also have another felted piece with leaves in blues and greens that I love. I have machine stitched around some of the leaves, but stopped that one to work on the red piece.

In the meantime, I ordered Kath Danswan's book on Beautiful Bowls, some silk caps. I received the book and the caps on Saturday and promptly dyed one cap (actually two layered together). I didn't like the colors so much, so I re-dyed it this morning. I love the fact that she gives so much detail in her book about how to make these beautiful bowls. I'm sure mine will be much less beautiful, but I will learn something for sure.

I spent almost all day Saturday looking at a website www.alabamachanin.com/studio-store/fabrics. It is just amazing that this woman designs such beautiful coutour clothes and yet has books published that give patterns for not only the clothes, but the embroidery. I'm seriously thinking of ordering the newest book just to see what it is she does and how she does it - can't afford the clothes. She also has diy kits she sells for you to make your own clothes. Just amazing.

So, that is what I have been up to, what about you?

[zed]

I've mostly been doing a lot of sampling and making small example pieces using lots of 'other' fibres, that's been off and on for at least the past year. This past week, I was sampling silk and doing nuno pieces. I wish I had more silk, different types, I like the way they're so different. I might have to splash out a bit.

[pamd]

Oooooh, nuno! I just watched a youtube video on nuno felting that was a bit different. She made a hat - I think. Here is a link. I think there are six videos. Wish I could understand what she is saying!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgUDi9ajRro&feature=relmfu

I hope that gets you to one of them.

[karen]

Well i've actually done some felting lol i'm making a bag using alpaca, merino, silks and nylon, its drying right now so i'll be putting it all together later this afternoon, i still cant quite get the sizing right but at least this one i might actually be able to use haha

[pamd]

Can't wait to see it, Karen!

[MTRuth]

I dyed thread all day today. My friend gave me 60 skeins of 5 perle cotton. Photos soon.

[karen]

Oh nice one Ruth

[pamd]

Wow, Ruth, that is fabulous! I saw something somewhere this weekend showing dying thread. Can't recall where now. Can't wait to see pics.

[zed]

I tried to edit my previous post to add a photo, but there doesn't seem to be a way, I hadn't shrunk pics last night.

I was just thinking about you dyeing threads Ruth, and wondered if it'd be possible (worth your time and effort for what you could charge) to do custom orders?

Thanks for the video Pam, I don't know Russian, but know a bit of Croatian/Serbian and thought it says something about a beret technique at the top, I put it in Google translate, and weirdly it does say that, but in Russian says 'Take in the art of the silk Susalny'

Here's one of the nuno pieces I made

[lyn]

What have I been doing?
Well, we're in the middle of the Easter school holidays so I've been enjoying my grand-daughter's company!

I honestly thought that by the time I got to this age (59 this summer, groan) that I would be a 'lady of leisure'.
What went wrong?
The demands on my time have never decreased, just changed, and I now find I have less energy so everything takes a little longer and I tire earlier in the evening.

I now appreciate the wisdom of the saying 'Youth is wasted on the young'.

I'm going to have a go at the challenge - hope to start in the next few days - but my mind is muddled about what to do. I keep getting ideas then discarding them.

[karen]

That looks very nice Zed

[Shepherdess]

I seem to be very busy but not sure how much I am accomplishing. I have made some birdhouses and a couple of nuno. I made lamb pie and lamb dog and cat treats. It was the Farmers Market Easter sale this last Saturday. It was a good day. I have plans but so far that is all they are.

[pamd]

Wow, Zed, that is beautiful! I love it. And thank you for the translation. I was watching the 24 min. one first, which is what I saw posted on facebook, and it was so interesting that I watched more. I haven't seen anyone work quite that way before.

Lyn, youth is definitely wasted on the young. Hope things calm down for you.

Ann, you have to tell me how you make your lamb dog treats - not that my fat dog needs any more treats, but I would like to make them myself. Do you have a low fat treat for dogs, perchance? lol

[MTRuth]

Beautiful piece Zed.

I was on my Kindle before and can't type well. I've been really busy making felt hats, making class samples, finishing my stitch homework, dyeing... I'll put some photos up soon, I promise.

[Shepherdess]

I use what I trim of the cooked roasts when I cut them up for lamb pie. I chop it fine in the food prosesser. Heres the link to the recipe. I find it takes more water than they say. I cut them small for cat treats and bigger for dog treats. doggydessertchef.com/2011/02/14/lamb-for-my-honey/