Needle felted Santa ornament

Doll club today - yipee! And this years Christmas present is a brown bag santa under 6".  I love to needlefelt, largely because it is fast.  I'd read somewhere to use a styrofoam ball as a base and I tried that this time.  I was not pleased with using it for the head as I found it hard to get a really smooth look to the head AND it dulled my felting needle!  Last time I try that one! I'm off now to bake brownies for the meeting.

Doll update

Between all the necessary projects, I've gotten a bit done on the doll begun in Ankie's class last month.  With all the beads, crystals and the crown, I've taken to calling him Prince Valiant.  Just a bit more work on the carriage and he'll be done.  I've got a special spot in the front hall niche picked out for his final home!

Its a Secret... but just a peek...

Love knots- felted merino wookl and lace with beaded embellishments

I've been crazy busy, but most of what I've been doing I can't show off just yet!  One of my projects has been to particpate in an ATC swap.

Night Garden 1-  wool and fabric applique on commercial felt background

 I love making these little works of art, in part because it lets me make use of practice and test pieces such as trying out an idea on the embellisher or testing colors for applique.  As the swap pieces are going to be submitted to "Cloth, Paper, Scissors," for publication, they can't be posted.  But here are a couple that won't be submitted, cuz you know I can't keep a secret!

ANKIE DAANEN!

Yowzers!  Two fabulous doll classes in less than a month! 

I’m on starstruck overload after spending two glorious days in New York with another of my heroes, Ankie Daanen.

 The workshop was sponsored by Gwen Jackson and we stayed at her home, which made getting to work on time really easy!

Here is Pat Adamczyk, my roomie.

 And here is my creation as it stands right now. Obviously, I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m very proud of this one. After years of saying “I just can’t sculpt in clay,” well, I guess I can after all! One of the secrets here is watercolor paints and I went out first thing this morning to buy my own set (I've got nearly as much studio space dedicated to paints and clays as I do fabric!)  I’ll be sure to post the completed doll, hopefully in just a few days.

Here’s a few more pics of our class: