patsylabrador Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Yes, basically you have carded wool which you roll into a rough shape and then poke it over and over with barbed needles and it binds the fibres together. It's like sculpting and best of all, no sewing required whatsoever. Lol 😂 I didn't even notice that twig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 49 minutes ago, soapdragon said: CT, was the tree from a pattern or did you just wing it ? Haha no winging it this time! Made it from a perfectly free pattern! Although I did change the decorations a bit. https://furlscrochet.com/blogs/amigurumi-crochet-tutorials/free-christmas-tree-ami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Nothing as pretty as everyone else. Ground stakes for our new chicken enclosure made from 50cm lengths of 14mm diameter 'rebar' (concrete reinforcing bar), bent, cut and welded. These will be driven into the ground and tensioned with wire to the corner posts. Between the posts is the high tensile top wire which carries the chicken mesh; held in place with rings which creates a very wobbly structure which nothing (so far) can climb. Outside that will be high voltage wires so nothing can get close enough to jump over. or dig under the skirt. There will be a covered run and coop inside it together with sun shade structures. Our egg layers will be living inside this and we won't be climbing up the hill to open and close the pop-hole unless the weather is very bad, just one visit a day for feed, water and collect eggs. It gets very windy up there, so the structure must be very strong and very secure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Wow we'll need pics of your fortress 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Based on the rate of progress so far it will be another year until it is completed Plum. We've built two of this type previously, both were much larger, meant to be temporary (lasted 4 years) and took about two months each, but this one is in a difficult position and will be built to last much longer. In the meantime I've been making candles using wax left over from bought candles with bad wicks/ shapes that burned halfway and went out. Again not pretty but they do work using coloured glass tumblers (free at the supermarket) and brown string (from the greenhouse). The wax is melted in bean tins in a saucepan of hot water, the wicks held down in the tumblers with washers and tensioned from a decorating table frame. The hot water is heated in the garage using our old petrol camping stove; all very Heath Robinson. Surprising how many old candles we had collected; sufficient to make 12 new ones that burn for 10 hours each outside, so the wicks are quite big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 Love candlelight and having them out this time of year. Must be nice to know you've made your own. I've probably seen your other runs if you've posted on Omlet 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Oh the sumo man! Ouch that twig!!! Hope he has extra padding down under there! Brilliant! The tree is very cute too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 A friend gave me a needle felting book for Christmas . It's getting addictive anyone else had a go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Beautiful. I’d like to but I feel like you need some artistic talent and I have NONE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 You don't have to do animals - you can make rainbow mug rugs! Or just play with one colour. I love the bun and the robin turned out a treat, Plum. Yes, I play - it's fun while the light in the evening is bad - as long as you don't get your fingers in the way of a stab! My old needles went rusty when we moved house - 2 weeks in storage, but it wasn't wet because it was hot, so maybe sweated in the containers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 1 hour ago, mullethunter said: Beautiful. I’d like to but I feel like you need some artistic talent and I have NONE The book I have which is needle felted workshops by Jenny Barnett gives step by step really clear instructions and pictures to follow so you can just do it or go on and add your own interpretation as well. So get a book and have a go. Like Valkyrie says lots of topics. How about a mushroom? 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Those are lovely , I have become very addicted to this. I was going to knit Postman Pat and Jess the cat for my grandson but I've decided to needle felt them instead. It's going OK, I'll post a picture when they're finished, they look like they should I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Cats are so hard so do show me yours. It could just be me but my son was so rude about mine I gave it to him for Christmas 😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) My cat is a cartoon one so I think easier than a real one to create. I took a picture off of Google and copied it. Still got loads to do. They're both a bit skinny for starters and has no eyes and I haven't done his hands yet. I'm not going to attempt glasses. I wanted to make them as solid as possible so made a sort of bone structure first. The thing I especially like is that they are made completely from wool. No buttons, wire or anything else at all. is about 18" tall and Jess is about 9" tall. Edited January 15, 2020 by patsylabrador 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Wow they're amazing, just right. What a lovely gift. I love that you got a good shape without armature. I might have a go at making a minion for my grandson, couldn't go wrong there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Made a double recipe of Castile soap this morning (just olive oil, lye and lavender oil). Why, oh why, does my nose always itch madly the very second that I add the sodium hydroxide to the oil and start to mix...... it 'nose' I can't scratch 🙄! All safely tucked up under towels and blankets in the bedroom now until unmoulding on Saturday! I am so tempted by all the lovely needle felting projects....I've even got a couple of books on watch on E Bay as I have quite a bit of wool already in store from when I planned to do 'ordinary' felting with the boys some time ago and I think it would be suitable! Maybe when my hip is done............................................... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 (edited) Are you unmoulded after all your alchemy bet it smells lovely. Well I had some fun with a minion 😂 back to beasties for me Edited January 18, 2020 by Plum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 They are all great and I love the Minion as well as the cat, hare and Robin, very very talented all of you on here. Postman pat and his cat are wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Fab minion! Yes, soap unmoulded tho a little swirly on top as I didn't get the greaseproof paper on quickly enough! Smells nice so just have to wait 6 weeks until it's cured! Once my hip is done and I am fully recovered I am going to get a basic needlefelting book as the projects posted are really inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing, peeps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 (edited) On 1/13/2020 at 10:06 PM, Plum said: The book I have which is needle felted workshops by Jenny Barnett gives step by step really clear instructions and pictures to follow so you can just do it or go on and add your own interpretation as well. That looks like a good book. I might need to get one I have the needle stabber tool but I only tried one thing to make. It turned out rubbish and I stabbed myself a few times. I have a little felted mouse angel, sent to me from a previous Christmas swap, that she and your pictures have inspired me to have another go 😊 Edited January 18, 2020 by Luvachicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 (edited) Fab Minion and I just love the Postman Pat and Jess. Oh dear Soapy - Murphy's Law (plus another which would likely be censored! LOL) that you need to scratch. It's like being in an audience when it's quiet - and you have a sneeze or a cough that needs to burst forth! Then when you do cough, then the little ripple of coughing goes round the rest of the audience as if they were waiting for the first one to start. Edited January 25, 2020 by Valkyrie I'm an eejit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Eejit why? Mad lady yes 😁 Another distraction that I've had to scratch, making teeny tiny houses from fabric and stitch since I saw them in quilting arts magazine. What next a barn, garage or perhaps a hen house 😎 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) Actually I'm really pleased with the latest batch of soap...it's unmoulded really well (by which I mean neatly, without bits falling off or corners getting squished!) and so looks like 'real' soap 😎. So far it remains white; previous batches with different essential oils in have discoloured as they have dried/cured which doesn't affect the efficacy but looks like knackered shortbread! I've worked out that each bar costs darn near 50p so pleased with that in comparison to buying 'handmade' soaps from craft fairs etc. 100% olive oil is a little more difficult to work with - takes longer to 'trace' when mixing and longer to set, but is much nicer to use, lathers well and is lovely and non drying on the skin which is useful when hands are constantly being washed! If we manage a meet up I'll bring some. It's not difficult to do and really rewarding so, if anyone fancies giving it a go, I'd be really happy to pass on the recipe, equipment needed etc! Will def try needlefelting when I'm over the hip thing! So impressed with the photos on the Forum! Added: Those houses just popped up whilst I was typing - amazing! Such patience and skill ☺️ Edited January 26, 2020 by soapdragon being slow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Your soap sounds lush I'm glad it came out well. Olive oil soap is nice and good for cramp. How's the hip going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) I love anything handmade but draw the line at soap, sorry Soapdragon. It's not just handmade soap bars but any soap bar as I have a huge phobia of it. Edited January 26, 2020 by Ursula123 Spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
