Flashbacks...

I don't have time to be crafting every night - I need to have my entire evening free if I want to sit down and really concentrate on something. So although I may get an hour here and there of relaxation, this really isn't time enough for me to start up a new piece of work.

It is, however, time enough to write a blog post. And I have lots and lots of previous items that I want to share here, so I will dot these about amongst my 'real time' projects. Tonight, I am leaving the house in approximately 10 minutes for a 'games night' at a neighbours. Therefore, I give you my felt pony! I used to craft with felt when I was much, much younger (another story, another blog post, another day) but this was how I restarted my love affair with felt, and was essentially my first attempt at a truly 3D piece, around a year and a half ago now.

I had a terribly hard time getting the mane and tail in! How I actually did do it isn't a secret I am ready to reveal - as although my methods are much improved since this first attempt, it is still pretty crude and I need to perfect it before I can make a tutorial on this little beauty.

I wish I had more of this felt. It is laced with blue and purple ribbon and is gorgeous. I have had it for more years than I can remember and therefore have no idea where it might have originally come from.

Don't ask how...

...We got onto the subject of 'egg cosies'.

But boy am I glad we did. I was visiting a friend yesterday when this weird conversation came about (although by her standards it is actually by no means weird). My disbelief at the existence of salt and pepper pot cosies and egg cosies quickly led her to show me a Google image search teeming with such items. Amongst these we immediately spotted one in the shape of an owl - our attention being drawn to this because at the moment my friend's obsession is with anything at all in the shape of an owl or with an owl pattern on. And apparently she isn't alone, as the shops are full of such things right now!

I have long been thinking about making her some felt wonder in the shape of an owl, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The lovely pattern and tutorial by LucyKate, available here really appealed to me. I often make my own patterns, but lets face it - it is so much easier to use one that somebody else has already gone to the trouble of making! I love free patterns and I hope to offer some of my own soon, when I have the time to make tutorials to go with them.

I always sew in the evening and can never wait until light to take photos, I am too eager to share things! So the picture doesn't really do the beautiful blue and purple colours justice.

My large needle also suffered in the production process...I was experimenting with what turned out to be a thread far too thick for use through multiple layers of felt! So I had to settle for normal cotton, just doubled.

Welcome to the world of blogging...

My growing photo album, 'My Creations', on Facebook has inspired me to enter the world of blogging, and in particular the world of craft blogs. I am amazed by the range of craft blogs already out there and in fact I take inspiration from such places on a regular basis; and where these inspirations materialise in this blog, I will of course link to the pages from which they came.

To start - something a little different from my usual - as it involved the use of a sewing machine! I soon remembered why I shy away from this mechanical wonder, as it struggled immediately when confronted with several layers of fabric. Still, I feel that use of a good sewing machine would open up a world of crafting opportunities for me! So I am hoping that, with a birthday in the near future, I will soon be the proud owner of a much more capable machine.

This beautiful material was given to my mum by a friend, and it was hand printed in Africa. I originally wanted orange trim, but an unsuccessful trip to the shops resulted in purple, which was my second choice! I used an existing apron to cut a pattern out of newspaper, and purple bias binding around the edges. As I am used to working with felt, I find it difficult cutting woven material along the grain, but I hope this will come more easily with practice.

Note to self: need to improve photography skills if I want my blog to look fabulous!!