Barby Anderson's Newest baby Bunnies, Mouse and Hamsters!!!

Just had to share these adoreable Needle Felted babies by Barby with you. Barby's creations never fail to amaze me. Their cuteness factor alone, just steals my heart. Enjoy!

Baby Bunnies!

Sleepy Baby Mouse all dressed up!

Baby Hamsters!

You can see all these and more in Barby's ebay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Quilt-Patterns-and-Wool-Designs

Please let Barby know you found her thru Needle Felting Fans Blog! Thank-you! :-)

Artist's Interviews!

Great News!

I've just added 2 Artist's Interviews to my website on the 'Showcase' page. Amy Rawson and Lita Ashley were kind enough to allow me to interview them. Please check it out! Terrific information for needle felters is offered in both interviews. You don't want to miss it!!! Here is the link to the 'Showcase' page.

http://www.needlefeltingfans.com/showcase.htm

Then just click on their names to view their interviews and photos.

Here is a sneak peak at some of their artwork, with much more to see on their showcase pages along with the wonderful info shared by both of them.

Amy's Art:

Lita's Art:

Many Thanks to Amy Rawson and Lita Ashley!!!

My First Scarf!

Hello Friends,

I participated in a monthly felting challenge at The Felting Forum and also took a Seaweed Scarf class there with Carlen Lesley. So I wanted to share my results. This is my scarf made in Carlen's class, which I submitted to the challenge.

I didn't have anyone here at the time to take my picture with my scarf, so Mr Mummy, from our Halloween decor, modeled it for me. Not so sure he really liked it though!!! Ha! Ha!

Please disregard the date stamped on the pics. I don't know how to change or remove the date stamp.

I would highly recommend you check out The Felting Forum. They have wonderful online classes, whereby very talented artists, teach and share their knowledge and techniques with their students. Barby is also an instructor there. It's a wonderful place to learn all kinds of felting!!!

Till next time,

Happy Felting!!!

Needle Felting 101 on YouTube

Hello Friends,
I found this Grrreat video tutorial on needle felting on YouTube!!!
This is offered by Ricë Freeman-Zachery. She has her own blog which you can find right here!



I hope you enjoy it!!!
Happy Felting!

FREE Needle Felted Eyeballs Tutorial

Hi Needle Felters!

Got another FREE felting tutorial for ya. This one is from Regina Rioux Gonzalez of http://www.monstercrochet.com/ . I must give my friend Linda Walsh of The Best Free Craft Articles Blog credit for this one. I first saw it on her wonderful blog and got hers and Regina's permission to share it with all of you on my blog. You can visit Linda's blog here: http://freecraftarticles.blogspot.com/ . Her blog is just Super!!!

This FREE tutorial is called: Needle Felting LadyLinoleum Style. You can find the complete instructions with pictures on her blog here: http://tinyurl.com/24so9g

I think wool is such a fabby medium to work with. So much diversity can be obtained with wool as our art medium. So many Wonderful items can be created with it.

Regina starts with a small puff of wool:

And ends up with these cool monster eyes!!!

You can visit Regina's website here: http://www.monstercrochet.com/ and her Blog here: http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com/

Let Regina know how much you liked her tutorial and that you found her thru Needle Felting Fans Blog!!!

Have Fun needle felting! :-)

Needle Felted Hats!

Hello Friends,

I found these Gorgeous needle felted Hats at: http://www.highlandfelting.com/hats.htm

Pat also has needle felting hat kits:

I Love this!

You can purchase the kits thru her website: http://www.highlandfelting.com/index.htm

or thru her ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Patz-Felting-and-Fibre-Supplies

I just had to purchase one. The kits come with everything we need to make a hat to include the needles, wool, instructions, and a hat form. Pat said the hat form can be re-used to make 10-12 hats before needing to replace it. I ordered mine with the denim wool and ordered red wool from her to make a red one too. I decided I wanted to be part of the 'Red Hat' society. :-) I am so excited!! I love trying new patterns and techniques and this will be so cool because I will be able to wear my artwork!!!

Pat is in Australia, but shipping was very reasonable and she was very fast to respond to all my emails and questions. I really enjoyed my shopping experience with her and look forward to making my very first needle felted hat!!!

Thank-you Pat for all your help. :-)

If you visit her website or ebay store, please let Pat know that you found her thru Needle Felting Fans Blog and that Linda sent you. :-)

Needle Felting Tips from Barby

I asked Barby Anderson (Needle Felting Artist) to share some tips with us newbies and here is what she shared:

Greetings from Barby!

Needle felting is a fun and marvelous art with little expense and few tools. The needles are only a couple of dollars and even the finest wool rarely goes over $3.00 an ounce. I started needle felting in 2006 and continue poking at luscious wool and fiber in my studio most days of the week as a full time job. Ahhh... to do what one loves is a magical thing!

The needle one uses for needle felting is a personal choice. I only use one needle in all of my work, a #38 star felting needle. You may use other sizes of needles too, however I find I love my #38 star best and it creates a nice fine end result to my creations. Felting needles are "barbed" and this is what felts the wool into a form or shape. A "star" needle has extra barbs on the needle, hence a faster method to needle. I prefer using this kind of needle on all of my work. This is not to say that you should not try different needles, you may like using a variety. I have used all sizes and types and always return to my trusty #38 star needle. Place your wool on a three inch foam pad for needling. This will also protect yout table surface.

I use "Harrisville" Wool for the core of my pieces and a fine wool blend overlay for the outer layer on my work. Needle felting is really quite easy. You just need a good needle, good compacting wool and if you are looking for soft elegance to your piece you would use a nice fine wool and fiber blend for an outer overlay such as angora and wool.

Deep needling develops a shape or form and is used in the beginning of your work or when attaching another felted piece to your shape or form. Shallow "bouncy" needling is wonderful for defining your piece, giving it the crisp edges and definition.

"Raw" wool may be used for the hair on a doll, such as curly locks. Wool and fiber batts may be used also. A "batt" can be made from just about any wool and many times has a fine fiber blended with the wool through a "drum carder." I have never used a carder and buy the wool batts prepared.

There are many types of wool one can use and they all bring different end results depending on the usage. Course wool is not my favorite to use for a doll face, however wonderful for the hair on a doll. I feel the most important thing for needle felting is your choice of core wool, the beginning of your piece. If the core wool can not be defined well and does not hold a good structure the whole piece will not take on the edges or shape you desire.

"Corriedale" wool is soft, long and "stringy" and makes fabulous hair on a doll or nice long lines for eyeliner on dolls, however I would have a hard time using "Corriedale" for core wool. Fine fibers like angora and wool blends create a soft "halo" and outer layer over my core piece. "Merino" wool is lush, soft and may also be used as a fine outer layer on your wool core.

A wonderful tip I figured out the HARD way is to curl your fingers inward like a chef cutting an onion while needling a small shape. Also in the beginning there is no need to needle quickly as that is how people poke themselves. Never watch TV while needling!

One of the MOST important messages I would like to share is that everyone should enjoy creating and "my way" is not the "only" way. Some people prefer their pieces soft and with a little "squish" to them and others prefer a "brick" consistency. I do a little of both in my work. I like softness and yet like the piece to hold together well. If I needle too much my piece takes on a "hardness" that I do not like as well, however you may love that look and after all it is YOUR creation. There is not a right way or a wrong way, just experiment and find what you like best. You are the artist and should have the creative license to do what you like!

I love to encourage people to try this amazing art as it is a divine experience touching the wool and fiber.It is my hope that this information may assist many "newbie" needle felters and I will enjoy seeing your wonderful creations in 2008.

Happy needle felting!
Barby Anderson


Grrrrreat Tips Barby!!! Thank-you so much!
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will answer best I can and if I don't know the answer I will ask Barby. :-)

If you would like to see pictures of the Rose that I made using Barby's kit, check out my post under Labels on the right sidebar 'My Rose 12/27/2007'.

Fun Yahoo Group for Needle Felters

Hello Needle Felters!

Well it is officially 2008 now. It will probably take me till February to remember this when I write my checks out. I'm a bit slow in this area. ;-)

Well to start the New Year off right, I recommend you hop on over and check out the Fun at Needle Felting Fun Yahoo Group : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Needle_Felting_Fun/

They have a Grrreat group of people over there. Lots of newbies as well as experienced needle felters. So it's a great place to learn, share ideas, ask questions, post your photos, etc.

This group is owned and managed by Michelle Medeiros, a wonderful lady that is also a fabulous needle felting artist. I will be showcasing her soon, on my website and will have photos of some of her many creations for you to feast your eyes on. Trust me...they are too Fab!!! Be watching for that.

In the meantime, Kiss a Piggy, Eat your Greens, Kiss a Frog (Hope it turns into a Prince), Throw salt over your shoulder, Knock on wood, Eat Black eyed Peas, whatever it is you do to increase your Good Fortune in the New Year. Or just do like I do: say my prayers and give thanks for all God's Blessings in my life. :-)

Till next time,

My Rose

Hello Needle Felters,

Well Christmas is behind us for another year. My family had a Wonderful Christmas. Hoping all of you did too.

Wanted to share pictures of a needle felted Rose that I made using Barby Anderson's pattern.

Let me know what you think of it. I am a newby at this but hope to improve with practise.