Learning to do Needle Felting

Felting, simply put, is a process that joins wool fibers together and makes them feel like felt. If you knit an object from wool yarn and then wash and dry that item, it shrinks and the fibers felt so that the knited piece can then be cut with a scissors. After felting, the knitted piece will not unravel when cut and handled. The small purses that I made earlier in this blog were constructed from felted wool that I had obtained thru washing 100% wool sweaters. These two sweaters have been washed also and they are about 1/3 the size that they originally were.Their stitches are so tight,they are almost impossible to distinguish and the feel of the sweater is that of very thick felt. I can now cut them apart and use them to construct somthing different.
This piece of wool, however, did not felt when washed and dried. I am not sure why this is, but it does not have the same thick texture and will be hard to use for a purse. The stitches remain visible, so I fear that cutting it apart would lead to unravelling.

I am also trying the technique of needle felting for embellishing my bags. With needle felting, you use a special barbed needle to repeatedly stab unspun wool into a piece of felt on which you wish to create a picture or shape. You can see on this piece of white felt I am creating a flower out of wool. I had hoped to use this flower on a purse made from the above wool, but now I don't think that that piece of wool is thick enough to hold a shape. Perhaps I will try washing it yet another time.

This piece is from a chartreuse cardigan that I felted and then needle felted two oak leaves for embellishment.

Hostess Apron

Last week, while investigating a local antique market, I came upon a pair of never-used Battenburg Lace curtains. Today I took one of the curtains, turned it on the bias and used one bottom corner for the hem of this hostess apron. The top of the apron I trimmed with the lace from the opposite corner. The neck straps were tie-backs and the pocket is trimmed with more of the lace from the hem. I still have enough fabric left from the curtain to make another half apron. AND....I have one more curtain left untouched. I love this apron...it is so feminine and perfect for entertaining.....possibly for Christmas dinner. The color is not the most practical for working in the kitchen....but great to use after the cooking is done.

The Start of a Quilt

Yoyos......fun little pinwheels of color and texture that help to use up even the tiniest of fabric scraps. Hours of handstitching later and you have an heirloom quilt for pennies. I started these yoyo's this past summer and showed them to my Mom (who immediately wrestled me for the yoyo maker) and she asked to finish using up my fabric scraps for me. I must add that she works at lightening speed! So, with most of the yoyo's finished, I have begun the task of quilt construction. This is the beginning of what will eventually be a gift for one of the kids.



Yesterday's rust cardigan became today's felted bag! It is lined, has a snap closure and a felted wool flower to embellish. Too Cute!!

If It's Wool, It's Felted!!!

If it is 100% wool, most likely it is scratchy....and in that case it is going to be re-purposed! I am all for recycling and wool recycling is my project for the winter. A wonderful batch of Pendleton plaid in rusts and browns will become fall leaves and pumpkins. A chartreuse cardigan was reborn this afternoon as a purse...

And so the sleeves became a pair of matching mittens...

I am contemplating a warm pair of mittens from a lovely lambswool pullover (it started out a Misses medium and would now fit only a 2 year old....the result of hot water and hot dryer).

Great Dane Apron

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me if I could make an apron for a Great Dane lover. After an indepth internet search, I came upon a website that offered fabric for any dog breed. So, I ordered this fabric and found a companion print and constructed this reversible apron for her. So....here it is Deb, I hope you like it!!

The Last Bee Project for the Season

Well, after heating and filtering all of the beeswax collected from our hives this summer, the end result was 4 candles....and that was all of the wax from 7 hives...and two honey harvests. I can only imagine how many hives we would need to go into the beeswax candle business. Here are 3 of the 4 candles that I poured from our wax. We will burn them very sparingly and appreciate the warm glow that each gives off....and be ever grateful to our wonderful honeybees!

Chapter Apron

I have had this fabric staring at me for weeks now. Today I finally decided to make my Farmgirl Chapter Apron. I am part of a Farmgirl Chapter thru MaryJane's Farm called "Bees Without Borders". We are a group of women, most of whom love to sew, from all over the country who have united to form a cyber chapter of "farmgirls". We are in the process of organizing our group at the present moment with such activities as journaling, blogging and creating a chapter apron (from matching fabric) in the works. Here is my apron. When I wear this apron I will be reminded of all my "Bee Sisters" from all over the country.

Finished Wool Purse

Here is the finished product.....


I just listed this for sale on my Etsy at www.honeybeez.etsy.com. The most time-consuming part of this purse was the hand appliqued leaves and embroidery. I always take my handwork to the farm to finish....so this was the project of this weekend.

A New Old Washing Machine

Check out this amazing find. On Saturday, while strolling through an antique market, I came upon this wonderful antique washing machine. It is in perfect condition and still works like a charm. The tub is filled with hot water by bucket, soap added and the washing is done by pumping the handle. The handle powers a gear that turns another gear that causes the agitator to raise and lower. The handle has two potential positions, so that the elbow grease can be applied either standing or sitting. Of all my antiques, this just may be my favorite (with the exception of my old treadle sewing machine!)


I did not get any sewing done this weekend, but concentrated instead on handwork....finishing the stitching on a wool tote project...

Fabulous Wool!!!

I have fallen in love with felted wool projects like wool totes, pillows and penny rugs. My recent trips to the local fabric outlet have yielded lots of yummy wool to use for these fun appliqued projects. This purse is for sale in my Online store and I am currently working on one just like it with Autumn leaves.


Here are my first attempts. I think I will turn these into throw pillows...

Facelift for the Sewing Room

I decided yesterday to re-organize the sewing room and give it a facelift. I gathered my collection of sewing related antiques and began the task of redecorating. Come take a look......

The treadle machine in this picture is a Singer Sphynx model. It still works and is in beautiful condition. The ladder behind the treadle is an old barn ladder. It is quite handy for displaying quilts and other linens.

The garland of mini aprons draped across the ladder is from my friends at MaryJane's Farm. We usually have at least one swap happening at any given time.....this month it was Halloween Mini Aprons. They are so adorable and brighten up my sewing room as well as my mood! I love my girls!!!!

Step back In Time.....

Because of unforseen circumstances, my trip to the Ohio Renaissance Faire was cancelled and my weekend was a typical farm weekend. For my friends whose company I missed....I am posting this picture for you!


It was a good weekend, though. I picked apples and baked apple pies, harvested brussels sprouts, processed our beeswax, played with the goats and walked the dogs....as well as cleaned pastures and worked around the farmhouse. Amazingly warm, beautiful Autumn weather made the weekend a wonderful gift!

After the Honey Harvest.....

Mike harvested another 70 lbs of honey last week. It has been a great summer for honey production and we should get one last harvest next month. Some of the partially cleaned honey combs were left outside as a sweet treat for the bees to enjoy. These sticky trays attracted bees, wasps, hornets and yellowjackets of all varieties.



Once spun from the honeycomb, the honey is filtered to remove insect and wax particles. The wax can be processed or refined to make solid cakes of beeswax. Having never done this before, I consulted the internet and found several great resources with instructions for rendering the wax. I got out my pots and pans and started the process. A few hours later.....this is the end result. Now to find some candle molds and pour some natural beeswax candles.....