Hello from snowy Buffalo, New York!

[Mary McAndrew]

Hello everyone, I’m so glad to be here amongst all you creative people! I’ve been a painter/drawer all my life but always felt comfortable with 3D work. I love to sew and design things and have always absolutely loved wool. A million years ago I bought a book on felt making and never got to try it. Well I took a class locally on felting soap six months ago…let the floodgates open!! I am now trying out all kinds of felting, take to it naturally and just love it! I’m passionate about it when I talk to people and would love to teach classes someday. I love the color, texture, smell. I love that it starts as one form and ends as another…I love that you can sculpt it into something funny and cute or into a fine art piece. I love that I can play with the fashion aspect and make scarves, bags, pins, hats…well eventually!

More about me…I live outside Buffalo NY and have a farm. I used to have all kinds of critters, including Cashmere goats! (Wish I was into fiber back then, they were just pets) I’m in the middle of applying for a Fiance Visa and hope to be moving to the UK (Northumberland) to be with my sweetheart finally. I’ve sold a lot of my fabric stash but NOT my new wool! I’m also a writer, working on children’s stories and poems and am working towards illustrating my books. I’m playing with some characters now using my little needle felted critters. C’mon, admit it, you play with your little critters too don’t you?
Looking forward to being here, though I may only check in sporadically.

ps. my website has my fine art on it, I'm going to start mixing in the fiber art as I go...and especially when I open my etsy shop.
www.marymcandrew.com

[Pandagirl]

Welcome Mary! You've come to the right place to learn, share and get a lot of inspiration for new projects. Your work is beautiful, I look forward to seeing your felt work. The greatest thing is that no matter where you are in the world we will be here for you. Good luck with your move!

Please check back often and post some of your work and ideas.

[Shepherdess]

Welcome to the group. Felt is such a versatile medium that you should never be board with it.
We have several members in the UK and you will be close to World of Wool so you will have a great source of fiber. You will also have access to many breeds of sheep we don't have here in North America.
Jump in with your pictures and questions, we love both.

[Mary McAndrew]

Thanks Marilyn and Ann for the welcome! Yes it'll be great to get to know folks here then when I move I'll feel right at home. I wanted to say that I enjoy getting the blog posts from this site too! I'll try to add photos later...is there a place especially to put photos?


 I hope I inserted the photos correctly...

[lyn]

Hello Mary and welcome to the forum. Thanks to the internet it doesn't matter where you live!

[MTRuth]

Welcome Mary - just put your photos in the post like you did. You can start new threads in any category and add photos. We also have a Flickr group you can join if you want to add more photos.

Love your sketching work - especially liked the "bananas gone bad" on your blog. I hope you get your visa so you can move to the UK. That sounds exciting. Have fun with felting and I look forward to seeing more of your work. We love photos

[Mary McAndrew]

Thanks Ruth and Lyn, I've enjoyed your website/blog Lyn! and your posts Ruth! It'll be great to get to know people here. I can't wait to move and will keep you all posted as I go along. And I'm glad you liked the bananas...it makes me laugh, I like writing silly poems for kids and just started to sketch the odd cartoons that come into my head.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Glad you have joined us! As you can see, this is a very friendly and encouraging forum. I have learned so much from generous members! Welcome, Mary .

[Pandagirl]

Thanks for posting the pictures Mary. The animals are so lifelike. Are the flowers silk hankies or are they needle or wet felted. Very delicate looking.

[Mary McAndrew]

Hi Merilyn, the flowers are made from white wool roving, laid really thin then wet felted. I added a small bit of grey to the center and then wet felted a ball for the center and stitched it on after.

[Pandagirl]

They are beautiful. I really couldn't tell, they look as delicate as a silk hankie. Thanks for getting back to me.

[halay]

Hello, Mary and welcome. Admiration for your work - you are so versatile. I hope you find this place as informative and supportive as I did.

[carole aka craftywoman]

Hi Mary, I love your work, both your painting and felt work, and I also love your quirky sense of humour, I've recently become active on this group and it's a pure joy, so much help, advice and support, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work and getting inspiration :-)

[zed]

Welcome to the forum, Mary, I hope you enjoy it here