Sunday Morning ~ Memorial Day Weekend

Well, by the looks of my poll, lilacs are in the lead! My tree is just about in full bloom now and the entire yard smells of lilacs. I keep a big vase full of them in the house, so it smells just as good inside as out.

This week I am working on several different projects and I have some ready to add to my shops, so be on the look out for some great new things - including Lion Baby Booties, a new set of Felted Nesting Bowls, another square bowl (too cool) and a new knit purse.

Here is my newest that is already available for sale and was inspired by the lovely lilacs!

Hoping that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Visit me on etsy or artfire

What's New

Yesterday I participated in an Artisian Showcase that was sponsored by my employer and it turned out very nice! I found out that we have a very talented work force and it was a wonderful opportunity to talk to people on a more personal level. It was set up like a gallery and refreshements were served ~ Lemonade, Iced Tea, Brownies and Strawberries with chocolate sauce... Mmmmmm. I was able to hand out alot of business cards and talk about my passion. I think it could have been my best day at work yet after 20 years there! I only wish I had remembered to bring my camera.

I've only added a couple new items this week as I was preparing for the showcase and mowing the lawn in between rain drops.

But here is what's new in my shops:

I love the color combination in this bowl titled Sunny Days. It just reminds me of summer:



And the colors in this bowl are so vivid!



To see more felted bowls please stop by my etsy shop and my artfire studio.

Sunday Morning

Good Morning ~

This past week flew by. I've been making several wool bowls that are on the drying rack as I write, so there will be a great variety of new items in my shop within the next few days. Meanwhile, I was able to list these two brand new bowls that even surprized me how well they turned out!

Wool Nesting Bowls ~ Americana
This set is made with shades of red, white and blue that give them an antique look.















Wool Bowl ~ Field of Violets
My entire front yard blooms with violets each spring, but they only last a few days. That inspired me to make this bowl of violets so they can last all year long!



Don't forget to visit my etsy shop and look for several items that are on Spring Clearance for super savings!

Valeriesgallery on etsy
Valeriesgallery on artfire

Welcome Spring!!

Today is the first day of Spring and it has been a very long winter!! I can't wait for my tulips, daffidols, lilacs and lilies to start blooming. I've already bought vegetable seeds and hope to have a great garden this summer.

In celebration, I am running a sale in my etsy shop now through Sunday night to welcome spring. Take 20% off every item and FREE US shipping. I will send your refund back to you through PayPal after your purchase. Just mention "Welcome Spring" in note to seller.

Also ~ Check out my Clearance Corner for huge marked down prices!

Meanwhile, enjoy these flowers until the real ones bloom ~~










Come on in ... Valerie's Gallery

Sunday Morning

Spring IS coming! We are starting to get to the 40 degree range here and the sun is shinning today. After a long winter, it is so nice to see and feel the sun!

I have quite a few new goodies for you this week including some brand new designs and items. Feel free to leave feedback comments on what you think of them!

I am having a ball making these felted coffee cup cozies. My newest is in a beautiful lavender:


I added a new pair of children's felted slippers in a sweet pink for your little princess:

This cable knit can be used as a choker or headband. I think it is really sweet, but would love to hear what you think:


Two new wine bottle cozies are added to the shop - one in classic cables and one in a rib pattern



And this felted bowl is sure to be my personal favorite. It really makes me think of summer time!


Please visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire!

New This Week ~~

Well, I am a day late on my New This Week posting. This past week has been extemely busy with Mom having her cataract surgery. She's doing great and can't wait for the second eye to get done!

Here is what I was able to list this week in my shops ~~ I hope you like them!

More coffee cozies!!


This sweet book cover is perfect for a raining day pick me up.. snuggle with a cup of java and and a good book.. What can be more soothing?


This Creme de Mint felted bowl is perfect for all your little whatnots..


And how about these sweet toddler slippers? Your little guy will be jumping around just like a grasshopper with these!


Have a great Monday, and don't forget to visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire!

Felted Wool Bowl ~ Tiger Lilies

Amid all this snow I have been dreaming of summer. I have a very large patch of deep orange Tiger Lilies that come up every year and I can't wait to see them this summer.

Here is my felted version of a patch of multicolored tiger lilies.




Don't forget to visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire.

Good Morning

This morning photo taken from my porch reminds me to appreciate the beauty of the world.

Amid all of this snow and ice, I can't seem to get my summer garden out of my mind. I have been planning what veggies and flowers I will plant this spring for 3 days! Maybe I am just getting tired of the cold and dreaming of summer.

My newest lavender felted bowl reminds me of summer too!



Don't forget to visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire.

Experimentation

On of my 09 resolutions was to experiment with the goal of improving the end product. So I have been trying alot of different things and my most recent discovery has proved a success!

One of my goals is to make felted (fulled) bowls sturdier. I learned that by adding a strand of fingering weight yarn to worsted weight that it really added some beef to the bowl (see previous post). But then I thought.. what if I double the double? So I set forth by making two bowls, one slightly smaller than the other, attaching them together and putting them through the felting process.

The result ~ A REALLY thick felted bowl in contrasting colors...
This one is done in greens and has a very striking result


This took about two weeks to dry completely after several cycles of processing. I have some great ideas for color combinations but would love to hear from you with what colors you would love to see. Please leave a comment with color choices and be on the look out in my shops for some more.

Don't forget to visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire!

Before and After ~ Felting a Wool Bowl

Today I wanted to show everyone the before and after of the felting (fulling) process. I find it amazing what happens and thought I would share with you.

Here is a photo of the crocheted bowl before the felting process. At this stage it measures 8 inches wide:


And here is the after, measuring 6 inches:



Amazing how the colors meld and the bowl takes shape! Another wonder of wool ♥

Don't forget to visit me on etsy, shophandmade and artfire!

Daisy's Week in Review

Well, it has been a busy, busy week!

Daisy finally was named and her work assignment has been established. She is one busy sheep now!

New items in my shop include:

Knit Scarf - Classic Ribbed - Mother Earth $40


Knit Scarf - Classic Cable - Montana $40


Knit Scarflette - Classic Cable - Blue Swirl $25


Knit Cowl - Blueberry Cream - $25


Knit Cowl - Pumpkin Spice - $25


Felted Bowl - Blue Snow - $17



Felted Bowl - Basketweave - $17


Felted Bowl - Daisy $36


Felted Coin Purse - Purple Passion - $20


Knit Quick GetAway Key Fob Wallet - $12.50



I am running a sale through Sunday Evening in my Artfire Studio - 20% off and FREE Shipping to my very first customer! Just mention 'Artfire Rocks' in note to seller and I will refund 20% through paypal.

Next week be on the lookout for another scarflette, two great bowls and a beautiful knit purse!

Etsy
Artfire
Shophandmade

It Pays to Experiment~~

Presenting my newest bowl titled "Poppies". It is made with a new found technique that gives stability and thickness.

For quite awhile I have been trying different ways to make my felted bowls stonger, thicker and overall sturdier. And I think I just found the easiest way. So easy, in fact, that I am hand slapping my forhead as if I should have had a V8. And there is an added bonus of terrific color enhancements with this method as well.

Normally I would use one strand of worsted weight wool yarn and work my magic. This does produce a great felted fiber in the end, but for vessels and bowls, I would prefer a thicker stronger fiber. I've made a few bowls in which I would crochet double length, fold them over and sew them together to form double thickness as in this bowl:


This method takes alot of calculating as one side needs to be a bit smaller than the other, but does have a great result.

I have also tried crocheting two strands of worsted weight together which works ok... but doesn't felt with that finished look that I like so much.

My amazingly simple discovery is that by crocheting one strand of worsted weight along with a strand of fingering weight will give that little bit extra to the product that gives the bowl added stability and helps keep their shape. The bonus is that I now feel like a painter mixing my paints because combining different color shades gives the bowl it's own unique colors!

I start with two strands of wool ~ one worsted weight and one fingering weight


I changed my hook from H to J


And then I go to town:


The colors will blend during the felting process so the individual stitches and colors will not be visable when completed. I used two different yellows in Poppies, and as you can see, the shades blend to form one color with a bit of heathered look.

So, now I have met one of my 2009 resolutions (finding ways to improve my products) and it is only January 3rd! Can you see my smile? I have a beautiful green one drying now that will be posted later this week.

Hoping you will come visit me on etsy, artfire and shophandmade to view my new work during 2009

New This Week ~~

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, you know what a busy time of year this can be. This past week I have finished my holiday shopping, wrapped all the gifts, cleaned the house in preparation for overnight visitors and finished up some projects at my day job.

In addition to that, I have been working getting organized for 2009 with brand new banners, labels and inventory. I am so excited to have matching sew-in labels to my new banner and avatar. Look for a contest coming up in January to name my cute little sheep. I think we will have fun with that one! My new banner and avatar was made by hbcorner:


Here are my sew-in labels made by greenbeansnstrings:





I have spent 3 weeks getting my new Artfire studio organized and I am just loving it over there. I still love my etsy shop and will have some great surprises for everyone in 2009 both at ArtFire and etsy!

I was still able to add new items to my shop this past week. Including:

This gorgeous felted bowl ~ Scalloped Blue Bell $25



This lovely knit necklace ~ Lovely Lavender $8


This sweet crocheted pin ~ Winter White with Vintage Button $5



And this chunky, very, very red knit scarfette with wood buttons $25



I will be closing my shop early Monday morning and have a reopening on Saturday December 27 so I can enjoy time with my family.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and more importantly, enjoys their friends and families during this coming week! Merry Christmas everyone ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫