WOYWW - It's raining felt...hallelujah!

Hello there, dear reader!

Welcome to my regular ramble about the life of a textile artist. Here's a snap of my workdesk to mark 'What's on your Workdesk Wednesday' (WOYWW) a weekly global gathering of fab craftsfolk.

Here's my workdesk today...

I'm mounting and finishing some pieces of embroidery which I initially envisaged as bookmarks but having finished them I've decided they're destined for more than being tucked between the pages of a book.

I've had a busy and productive week of needle felting to replenish my stocks at the three outlets selling my work in Shropshire. I started the week with a load of part-finished work and (thanks to lots of help from mum) finished the week with 35 framed pieces of work.

Yesterday I drove round the county dropping work off so now I'm starting from scratch again!

My little sheepy collages are proving popular so I made sure I made several of those.

I made a few tiny sheep landscapes too, then found some great little frames in Ikea which fit them perfectly.

When I dropped off my work yesterday I was told a touching story which I'd love to share with you.

Two of my needle-felted poppy pictures sold at The Bog Visitors Centre, Stiperstones, last week. The lady who sold them was also there yesterday when I dropped of new stock and she told me this...

A lady and her husband came into the Visitors Centre a few weeks ago and she really loved the needle-felted poppies. This weekend her husband returned to the Visitors Centre. Sadly, the lady had passed away. As she'd loved the picture so much, he bought it to remind him of her love of poppies. Later, her daughter had visited the centre to buy a different needle-felted poppy picture I had there.

It's always great to here that people appreciate my work, but touching stories like this mean the world to me! I really hope those two pictures bring comfort at a time of sadness.

On a cheerful note, it hasn't just been 'all work no play' this week. We've had lovely sunny weather in Shrewsbury so Ben and I got out and about in the local park. Every parent worries about shading their little ones from the sun so it was with great relief I discovered Ben wanted to be a 'cool dude' in both sunglasses and hat!

Here's to many more sunny days!

That's all folks, thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting,

Max x

WOYWW

Hello all and welcome to my regular 'What's on your Workdesk Wednesday' blog post.

The desk is a little sparse today - I'm having one of those finishing off days where I try to finish some of the work I've been sidelining for other things.

I've got some more little dumflings to mount onto cards and a pansy picture to frame.

At the back of the desk you might be able to see Ben's first attempt with gel crayons. These are a much easier crayon for little fingers to draw with but unfortunately it has the consistency of lipstick so he's only allowed them when he's sat at the desk (I fear for my magnolia walls). I think his first attempt looks a little like a flower, but maybe that's just the artist in me hoping I've passed on some arty genes!

Anyway, last week I promised I'd share with you some photos from Saturday's workshop.

I had a fab time helping eight lovely ladies to create their own pieces of needle-felted and hand-embroidered work. They all said they enjoyed themselves and, even with the same basic materials, all created entirely different pieces of work. 

Then, of course, it was Mothers Day on Sunday. Here's the card I rustled up for mum (Twiglet) from my lovely bag of fabric and lace scraps. The colours coordinate well with the flowers I gave her to say thanks for being such a fab mum.

And I wasn't disappointed this Mothers Day either. I had chocs and bubbly, a lovely walk in the Quarry (Shrewsbury's town park) and a delicious tapas lunch at Casa Naranjo.

I think the waitresses were in shock as Ben worked his way through olives, garlic prawns, meatballs, croquettas, chicken skewers, patatas bravas and pork tenderloin.

There's not much my boy doesn't eat and he always makes me proud in restaurants - though I need to have a word with him about the number of kisses he was blowing at the waitresses!!

That's all for today - rather a long post with all the events of the past week! Thanks for stopping by. If this is your first visit to me, hop on over to Julia's Stamping Ground where you'll find loads of other artists and crafters sharing their workdesk activities.

See you again soon!

Happy crafting,
Max x

WOYWW - dumfling breeding programme

Afternoon all! I've no workdesk photo this week as we're round at Twiglet's house so I can use the space in her sewing room for mounting all my needle-felted dumflings. Here's a shot of her ironing board this morning instead... I'm sure these dumflings have started breeding!

This week I've been working on another customer order for a little girl's first birthday. Like my post last week, I can't share the full finished piece but here's a quick peek...

Finally I've got to share some pictures of my toddler - or should I say climber...

We've had a couple of bright days this week so we've enjoyed playing on the big kids' play equipment in a quiet play area while the big boys and girls are all at school. The rope netting bit was definitely his favourite bit!

On the windier days we've donned our fab new bobble hat made by Bobble & Squeak. Cute, warm and snuggly.  It certainly does the job!

 

That's all for today, these dozens of dumflings won't mount themselves! Thanks for stopping by for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday :-)

Happy crafting x 

WOYWW - new home celebrations

Hello all, welcome to my 'What's on your workdesk Wednesday' post. Bit late in the day as I've been for a long overdue hair cut!

I've had a busy week with several different textile projects on the go.

I've produced more needle-felted pictures (dumflings) as I have the exciting prospect of supplying a few shops in the coming months! These are all ready to bead and mount...

I've also taken time to dabble with some new ideas this week. A number of my friends have moved house recently, or are due to soon, so I have made a few embroidered 'new home' cards. These have been both free-machine embroidered and hand embroidered.

Finally, I've enjoyed watching my little man find his feed as he gets ever closer to walking by himself...

(Note: the vase is on the table, not balanced on Ben's head!)

Hope you've all had a good week too. I'll hopefully catch up on your news when I swing by a few desks after the little man has gone to bed.

Happy crafting x

WOYWW - Needle-felting fun and a peacock

Morning all! With the bank holiday I feel like I've lost a day and WOYWW has come round mighty quick this week.

I'm delighted to say I've been able to make time this week for a little light dumfing (a.k.a needle-felting). With all the busy book and sensory toy making it's been a few months since my last felting session. I guess it's like riding a bike...you never forget, but I have to say I felt a bit rusty as I prodded away with my dumfing tool.

So here's my workdesk. . .

I've managed to do a bit of everything but not managed to finish anything!

There are some hand-felted mini gardens which I got as far as hand embroidering and beading....

I'll be running workshops on these later this year and early next year so I'm keen to make a range of different flowers to demonstrate.

There's a selection of wet felted background pieces which I have worked on with the dumfing machine (the most satisfying crafting activity I know) ready to add foreground flowers. I've used three different colours to try and steer myself away from just doing poppies, which I love.

Finally there is a long strip of poppies which I have free machine embroidered but not yet beaded. The poppy picture in the foreground is a felters's answer to a crib sheet - one I made earlier!

My last little show and tell is not my work at all but a snap shot of Benjamin's work desk following a little (mess-free) painting activity we did this week.

He seemed somewhat puzzled as to why I was encouraging him to squelch and prod a plastic pouch selotaped to the floor but he stuck with it. Here's his finished piece. Though the poster paint has cracked on the canvas, I think you will all agree it is clearly a peacock in motion!!

Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to visiting a few workdesks today via Julia's Stamping Ground

Happy crafting x

Tiny needle-felted collage cards

I have decided to put my tiny "dumfling" cards - (needle-felted collages) into my Tilly Tea Dance Etsy shop.

I only have a few left, so pop over and browse, if you think you would like one.

They are mounted on cream or white 5" square cards and have an envelope - packaged in a cellophane bag.
They make lovely cards for any occasion but could also be framed and therefore would make a really inexpensive gift.

They are all original - no two the same!





This is a close up of the little dumfling. It is a tiny landscape with flowers and foliage which have been embellished with hand embroidery and beads.

If you just want to find out more from me then email me or Twiglet.
twiglet517@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for looking
Max.