Needle Felted Pumpkins and Acorns

I had my friends Kelly and Jennifer over the other night to do some needle felting.
If you'd like to try your hand at this fun craft, head on over to my friend Pat's website (designed by yours truly) and buy yourself a little starter kit! DecadentFibers.com

I made all of these little pumpkins/gourds and acorns. Aren't they cute?!

Now I just need a cute wooden bowl or something to display them in, instead of grouping them all on the piano.

The color is much more true on the picture above, than it is below.
I just love my little acorns, though!

If you want to see more fun fall craft projects from bloggers all over the net, head on over to Rhoda's at Southern Hospitality and join the party!

The kids didn't have school on Monday, so my sister asked me if I could watch Madeline for the day. Of course I said yes! We went to the apple farm, waited 45 minutes in line for some YUMMY cider donuts, and then drove up the mountain to Thacher Park, which is always a great place for a photo op. I think we were there barely 5 minutes before it started raining and we had to make our great escape.

I got some great pics before we left though! (You can click to enlarge.)

They look like sisters, don't they? :)

I'd like to go back in a couple of weeks when all those leaves are orange and gold, and get another shot just like this one.

Happy Fall!

Heart Felt Bouquet

Remember me talking about my friend Pat, and her gorgeous hand dyed wool? Well, she and her partner Christine have come out with a great needle felting kit for Valentine's Day, and I just had to share it here. If you click on the photo, it will take you to Decadent Fibers, which is the website where you can buy the kit. Be sure to surf around while you're there. If you are a crafter, this will be a great new craft for you to try! And even if you are NOT a crafter, needle felting can be a really fun place to start expressing your creative side, while making great gifts for your friends! I mean really, could that bouquet be any cuter? You should see the penguins, and snowmen, and pumpkins, and...well...you're just going to have to go to the website and check it out.

This Heart Felt Bouquet was featured in February's "Create and Decorate" magazine, too, so they're famous as well! :) If you live anywhere in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, and you're into wool and knitting or crocheting, look for Pat and Christine at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival February 9th and 10th, at the Crowne Plaza, Pittsburgh South. You won't be able to miss them...their yarns will be the most gorgeous! :)

Decadent Fibers

My friend Pat sells wool. She sells some of the most gorgeous wool I have seen. She and her friend Chris started their business a number of years ago, and they attend all of the big craft and wool festivals and fairs around the Northeast to sell their wares. They also have a lovely website (I say that because I designed it for them...heh), where they sell yarn, knitting kits, needle felting kits, and wool roving for felting.

They custom hand dye all of their yarns, and have exclusive yarns and knitting patterns, that rival the best out there. They've been featured in many knitting magazines, and even Country Living magazine, for their felted pumpkins.

Pat's daughter is my very good friend Jennifer. Jennifer and her sister used to raise prize-winning sheep when we were kids. I remember going over to their house with the crisp of winter in the air, and the new lambs would be huddled in the barn with their mothers. I even watched one being born once, which was an incredible experience. I tell you this, because they used to sell the prize-winning fleece for others to use. This eventually morphed into Pat not raising the sheep any more (after her daughters were out of the house), but buying the fleece from other prize-winners, and creating her roving and yarns from that. Her eye for color combinations is incredible. Her yarns look good enough to eat, and feel divine in your hands.

Ok, enough gushing. Check out her website at http://www.decadentfibers.com/ . If you're a knitter, I don't think you'll be able to help yourself. If you've ever thought about starting a new craft, needle felting might be for you! If you look back at my first post (from March, I think?), you'll see a couple of things I felted. It's fun!