Sue's Treasure Brooch

My friend, Sue Bunch, and I were scheduled to take a class called "Treasure Brooch" in Flagstaff but at the last minute I got called that there was a death in the family and I had to go to Utah. Look at what I missed. This is Sue's Treasure Brooch. Isn't it lovely? The technique exposes a treasured piece of art.

The Power Felter Has Arrived!

Utah Sunset

Here is a photo of one beautiful sunset. Look at the colors! This shot was one of several photos taken during a car trip from Phoenix to Salt Lake City. Looks like the beginning of a perfect needle felting project. With the right tools and appropriate fibers, this could be a beautiful finished project. Watch this site for more on this series of photographs.

Stencils

Stencils can be used as idea starters for beginner felters. Here are some tips for beginners.

• Tap your needle through your base and into your foam lightly.
• Next tape your stencil to your base using blue painter’s tape.
• Poke your fibers straight up and down being careful not to pierce the plastic of the stencil, which would bend or break your needle.

Cookie Cutters as Designs

Cookie cutter can be used as designs. Cookie cutters are readily available, and come in many sizes, shapes and themes. The more basic and open the cutter, the easier is it for the beginner to “fill” the shape with fiber.

Wilton puts out a set of fondant cut-outs that we highly recommend as the cutters are smaller and often nested, so that there are several sizes of the same shape. They are currently selling for under $3 per set at local craft stores. There is a

larger package that makes the letters of the alphabet for you if you don't wish to freestyle your work.

Blue Challenge Piece

I submitted this purse to the January Challenge on Felting Forum. The challenge called for something to be made in blue. This blue and white envelope clutch seemed perfect for it. The clutch is made on a blue prefelt with white and shades of blue alpaca fibers smooshed around on it before the wet felting began. I added some beads and bling to pull it all together, sewed in a very cool lining and voile!

Check out the forum at www.feltingforum.com.

Singer Featherweight Conversion Kit

These photos show the Singer Featherweight Conversion Kit, which allows the machine to felt as well as sew. This machine, because of the miracle of its engineering, is the only machine we have found that can sew as well as felt. The old saying, "Good things come in small packages" must have been made for this machine.

I've collected and sold Featherweights for years because of their fine reputation for excellence in engineering and reliability. This new kit sells for $85 and is available through our website at www.shop.ritablocksom.com.

Once Upon A Blank Canvas

Today, I'm preparing for tomorrow's class at Amado Territories, south of Tucson, AZ. I'm teaching for the Southwest Fiber Arts Guild, of which I am a member. We will be working on needle felted landscapes and this is the class sample. The pieces will be finished to 8"x10" and suitable for framing.

High Castle and Cotswolds

We visited High Castle Farm in Wilhoit, AZ, to buy cotswold fibers for our felting project. Diane Braun owns the farm and was the perfect hostess.

www.HighCastleCrafts.com

Megafelter

Here is one wicked felting tool. It contains 56 felting needles (size 38 triangle) and features a nylon strap that can be custom-fitted to any size hand. If you need to felt faster, this is the tool for you. We will be selling extra replacement needles as well. Check out www.shop.ritablocksom.com to order yours today.