Category Archives: crafting

lamby – what happens when you get bored and have access to steel wool

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Meet Lamby. 
The grey sheep of the family.
This is what happens when I’m bored and have access to some wire, steel wool, couple of beads and a rudimentary wire working tool.

Lamby was made using some medium thickness wire to create a frame and legs (and a stubby tail). I then moulded the steel wool around the frame to create the shape. Steel wool works almost like felt – you can mould and shape it and join it relatively easily… but it leaves nasty tiny wire fibres everywhere.
I used bits of very fine wire to wire in Lamby’s eyes and nose and then I finished him off by giving him some extra curls of fine wire in silver and purple highlights. Lamby is nothing if not trendy.
The curly wire bits were threaded through Lamby’s body and act as added strength and support.
No gain without pain though – I stuck a fine bit of wire through my thumb which swelled up and ached for two days. No permanent damage!
I’m pretty pleased with Lamby, even if I do say so myself.
z

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DIY Show Off

felted poodle hair necklace

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Remember the Poodle National I went to at Easter and the dogs I groomed there?
Well, as I scissored I collected the hair and, instead of putting it in the bin, I felted it!
Did you know that poodle hair felts? Well, it does. I know someone who weaves it as well.
Anyway, I’ve never tried this before but a couple of years ago I did a workshop on wet felting and I love felt ball jewelery, so the decision to try it was easy.
The dogs I groomed at the show were all different colours: a black girl called Tango, a blue girl called Jackie, a blue boy called Tyson, a silver girl called Britany and a white girl called Zena. The necklace has a felt ball or two from each poodle I groomed.
Luckily I’d made plenty of felt balls so I was able to make a necklace just like this for Iris. Hers doesn’t include a black felt ball since the black poodle belonged to someone else.
I think this is the best way to honour and remember a poodle. I wish I’d made felt balls from Pagan, Scooter and Billybear’s coats. I will from Montana and Romeo now that I’ve done this, that way I will always keep something of them with me.
z

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Beyond The Picket Fence  

Homespun Happenings

the shabby market

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The Shabby Market has come and gone. Some of my things came and went with it, others went away forever to new homes.
I’m actually really happy with how I went with my first market stall ever. But I learned a few things along the way too.
For one thing, I suck at setting up a stall. Sure, my stuff is all so different it makes it hard to set things up with any kind of uniformity. On the other hand, I simply suck at putting things together in a way that makes sense and displays things to their best advantage in 1.5hrs.
Another thing I learned was that the layout of the stall I chose was probably not the best. I had to set it out in a manner which allowed people access to the window where I had the suncatchers and windchimes hung. Next time I’ll make a ‘tree’ of some sort to hang them off. As it was, people had to enter and walk around my U shaped stall to see everything and when I wanted to wrap something I had to kneel on the floor struggling with paper and rummaing under tables for sticky tape and string.
Not a pretty sight.
Next time I’m going to do it differently.
I’ll be more organised. I’ll start labelling, pricing and packing the week before the market.
I’ll set up a table to wrap on and a chair to sit on that’s not in the way.
Next time I’ll find a way to display things in a way that people can see them better.
Still, all in all, I did pretty well and sold lots. Even traded a couple of things with other stall holders!
The market was a success. Lots of people came despite the fact that it was an unusually hot day for Hobart and was so windy most of the outdoor stalls had to pack up early. 
It was the first Shabby Market as well, so not its not yet well known, still we had quite a few people go through. 
The hall looked fabulous with the stalls and the banner made especially and the way it was laid out. It was a great day and I loved meeting some of the ladies I’d only ever seen on Facebook.
I’ll definitely be doing this again.
But next time I’ll be more organised.
z