Fun with My First Felt Hat

Me in my Funky Felted Hat

Just about the only good thing about this frigidly cold winter has been that I get to wear the very warm and very funky hat that I made for myself last fall.  I had been wanting to wet felt a hat for myself for a long time, but I wasn't sure how to go about it.  After reading a couple of books, lots of blogs and watching several online tutorials, I came up with a way that worked for me.  To make a long story short, I needle felted on a rudimentary homemade foam hat form, then wet felted on a ball.  Then, I did my Zazzy Peacock thing and needle-felted a fun piece to decorate my new hat -- including a peacock motif, swirls, leopard print, and all the colors in my winter wardrobe.  I love it!

My homemade foam hat form

Here's how it happened:  First I tried to go straight to wet felting on a ball, but that didn't exactly work out.  Using that method, you're supposed to lay the wool roving out on a ball and then somehow magically stretch pantyhose over all that loose wool without messing it up.  Then, voila, you wet felt on the ball.  But as you've probably surmised by now, I completely messed up the wool trying to get the pantyhose on.  Granted, the tutorials warn that it's a two person job and to go very slowly.  I was just one impatient person, and it was a no-go for me.

Layers of wool laid vertically on foam hat form

Then I read about needle-felting on a hat form.  I knew I wanted to wet felt the hat, but since  I prefer needle-felting, I thought I could at least do the pre-felting with a needle and then wet felt once the wool was holding together.  

You can buy hat forms, but that gets very expensive.  Most suggestions for making your own foam hat form involved using spray insulation foam, which is economical, but it sounded complicated and messy.  So I decided to try to carve a form from a block of foam.  For me, this was an inexpensive option because I happened to have two 16" foam blocks from two cube seats that my kids had outgrown.  I used my electric carving knife (yes, the one we use to carve the turkey) to do the job.  The form is rudimentary, and there were little bits of foam just about everywhere, but it worked!  (If you're making your own, remember to size up to allow for lots of shrinkage during the wet felting process.)

Horizontal layer of wool fibers

I laid out the first layer of wool vertically, then horizontally, then vertically, etc., lightly needle-felting the wool in place between each layer.  Most tutorials recommend three layers, but I somehow ended up doing four or five, which is why my hat is extra thick and warm and cozy.  To create the rolled edge, I created a rope of wool (using needle and wet felting); then after laying down the last vertical layer of wool, I turned the hat inside out, and folded the loose ends of wool over the rope along the bottom edge of the hat; then I needle felted it all together.

Ball secured to canister with duct tape

Once I was confident that the wool was holding together and that the layers were even throughout, I transferred the pre-felted hat to a ball for wet felting.  With the ball secured to a canister, I rubbed the wool with hot soapy (using olive oil soap) water for a while.  When it seemed strong enough, I took the hat off the ball and threw it on my counters for a while.  Wow, that really got it firmly felted and fast! I then did some final shaping directly on my head.  

When it was dry, I shaved it very carefully with an electric razor to achieve a smoother finish.  Then it was time to create my personal fascinator.  I needle-felted it separately rather than directly on to the hat.  This gave it a more sculptural quality with more dimension.  Also, I initially thought I would just pin in on so that I could swap it out  at some point, but I loved it so much that I just needle-felted on to the hat. 



By the way, my rolled edge didn't exactly come out even, and I made it worse by trying to create a scalloped edge.  What was I thinking?  At some point, I'll fix that -- the beauty of needle-felting is that you can always continue to add wool -- for more detail or to correct imperfections.  In the meantime, I have been getting lots of use out of this hat during what has been the coldest winter I can ever remember.  It is warm and fuzzy and very me, and I love it.  I think there is more hat-making in my future!

My unique Zazzy Peacock felted wool hat with its colorful peacock heart, swirls, and animal print

My First Big Non-Fiber Craft Show -- Sugarloaf Craft Festival, Here I Come!

Zazzy Peacock "Feather" necklace, one of a new series
in which I'm felting several felted components together
to form larger sculptural pieces.  

After going to Sugarloaf Craft Festivals for over fifteen years, I am getting ready to do my very first one as a vendor.  It is literally a dream come true.  Even before I poked my first felting needle, I used to go to these shows and think -- I wish I could have a booth here someday.  Well, that day is only about a week away now!

From Friday, October 17 through Sunday October 19, Zazzy Peacock Studios will be at the Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Gaithersburg, MD.  The show is held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  My indoor booth will be #79 in Building 6B (on the lower level).    (I am also doing two more Sugarloaf shows this fall -- November 21-23 in Gaithersburg and December 12-14 in Chantilly, Virginia.)

Zazzy Peacock Geometric Statement Necklace

Not only is this my first Sugarloaf show, but this is really my first big "general" craft show -- with one small exception, every show I've done so far has been a fiber or wool show.   There's a big difference.  For one thing, I'm expecting a whole lot more competition.  These Sugarloaf shows have lots of jewelry vendors, whereas fiber shows have very few.    On the other hand, I'm hoping more customers are there actually shopping for jewelry, whereas I'm used to customers looking for yarn -- or wool or supplies --who are often surprised to find themselves buying jewelry in my booth.  I guess, we'll see how it goes.

I'm also expecting that most people will have no idea what needle felting is.  At the fiber festivals, most customers have an appreciation for how time-consuming and detailed my work is.  In fact, the most rewarding sales I've made at the Sheep & Wool Festival are to the customers who are experienced needle-felters.  The fact that they appreciate my work enough to pay for it is especially encouraging.  For this upcoming show, I have a feeling that I'll be doing a lot of explaining about my needle felting and wet felting process. (Have I mentioned that I needle felt everything about one millimeter at a time, then I wet felt it, then I needle felt it again?)  I usually have a little felting demonstration going, but that will be more important than ever next weekend. And I'm hoping the intricacy of my designs and my unique color palettes will speak for themselves. In any case, I'm excited to see how my Zazzy Peacock felted jewelry is received by the craft-fair-going crowd.  

Zazzy Peacock felted Cascade Petal Necklace with matching earrings

I should be crazy busy getting ready, but by some miracle, I am feeling quite prepared.  I've got plenty of inventory, most of which is well-organized and ready to display.  And my booth design worked really well as the Sheep & Wool Festival, so I'm sticking with that.   I am way overdue to post about the evolution of my booth and what I've learned (a lot!) since my first show back in May 2013.  That's next on my to-do list...

In the meantime, you can check out more of my work on my website.  Or better yet, come visit me next weekend in Gaithersburg at my very first Sugarloaf Craft Festival.  Hopefully, it will be the first of many!

Fall, Here I Come -- to Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago!

I am taking Zazzy Peacock Studios on the road this fall... to Vogue Knitting Live! in Chicago!  The show is November 1-3 at the Palmer House in downtown Chicago.  This is a very exciting (and admittedly, overwhelming) opportunity for me.  When I did the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival in May, a few customers told me about Vogue Knitting Live! (note that the exclamation point is part of the name)  and basically insisted that I look into it.  Well, I did!  And although my initial goal was to do the January VKL! show in New York, somehow I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone all the way to Chicago.  

I'm not a knitter, but I come from a family of knitters.  When my boys were babies, they had more adorable hand-knit sweaters than they could possibly wear before they outgrew them.  :-)  I crocheted quite a bit in college, but I could never quite get the knack for knitting.  At the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, I admired many hand knit sweaters worn by my customers.  I can't wait to see the knitwear at VKL!  

One of my concerns in going to the Maryland show was that the talented wool-savvy crowd would admire my work but try to make it themselves rather than buy.  The opposite was true:  So many customers told me they tried needle-felting and that they knew how difficult and time-consuming it was to do what I do.  Actually, many asked me how I am able to get my felt so tight and smooth.  I was more than happy to share my techniques and tips.  (So fun!)   I'm hoping that the sophisticated knitting crowd at Vogue Knitting Live! will also have some familiarity with needle-felting.  Most people still say, "What's that?"  when I say that I needle felt.  

Needless to say, in preparation for this big show, I've been felting a lot.  I mean, A LOT.  And I've built up quite an inventory of one-of-a-kind needle-felted jewelry.  I've had a great time creating new designs and color schemes.  At first, it was hard to focus on fall and winter colors in the middle of summer, but it has me more ready than ever to welcome cooler days and the warm colors of the changing foliage this autumn.  

So, here's a sneak peak at my latest felted jewelry and accessories in rich, vibrant color schemes for fall and winter:

Even from one color scheme, the possibilities for one-of-a-kind needle-felted jewelry designs are endless. This is one of my favorite color schemes -  great for fall, but also year-round.  My latest designs include Art Deco-inspired geometric and shell motifs.

This autumn color combination includes shades of gold, orange and brown, with a deep, rich raspberry pink. (Ugh, the raspberry color is not showing well!  See, this is why I do better at live shows!)  

My "shell" motif in various color schemes for fall and winter.   While I call this my "shell" design, I've had customers tell me it reminds them of flower petals, feathers, and even a hot air balloon.  That all sounds good to me!  What do you see?

This Art Deco geometric design with the bold two-part felted pendant is probably my personal favorite. 

Thanks for looking!  

All Zazzy Peacock Studios designs and images are © Jill Newman 2013. All rights are reserved.

Sneak Peek at My Booth!

Well, the 2013 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is only a few days away!  I have a little more packing to do, and I'm making a last-minute necklace and earring set for myself to wear to the show.  I keep  telling myself to stop felting, but I don't seem to listen.  Over the weekend, I made several more new items.  Anyway, here's a sneak peek at my booth for my first big craft show.  

If you're in the area, the Sheep & Wool Festival is free and filled with fun stuff to do -- like sheep dog trials, yarn spinning and fiber arts demonstrations, a fine art competition, live music, and of course, great shopping for wool and unique hand-crafted items.  This festival is huge and attracts people from all over the country and the world.  

The Festival is Saturday, May 4 (9am - 6pm) and Sunday, May 5 (9am - 5 pm) at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland.  Visit the website for directions and more information:  http://www.sheepandwool.org.  I will be in the Farm and Garden Building in booth #4.    If you come, please find me there!

Be Your Own Personal Color Forecaster

Every time I see one of these Pantone Fashion Color Report "forecasts" come out, I feel a tirade coming on.  For me, color is so personal, that I can't help but think -- who are these people dictating color for the rest of us?  I know they supposedly look at current trends and public moods to somehow predict what colors will be the next big thing -- but who are they kidding?  Aren't they just telling manufacturers what colors to mass-produce and simultaneously telling consumers they have to buy them?  Isn't this a ploy to get us to go shopping and spend money on things we don't really need -- and that we only want because they tell us we should?

I frankly don't even understand how colors can come in and out of fashion.  I think colors are very personal.  Not everyone looks good in the same colors, and not everyone feels good around the same colors.  And when you find the colors that make you look and feel your best, why change them unless you want to?  For me, the only reason to look at the color "forecast" is to see whether it will be fun to go shopping that season.  If I see one of "my" colors on there, great.  If not, thankfully, the fashion industry is not a slave to the predictions, and I can usually find something I like anyway.  I certainly do not go out and buy something in the color of the season just to be trendy.  

Our beautiful golden tabby Siberian cat, Mishka,
looks great on a purple chair with an orange wall 

And the idea that someone would actually redecorate a room based on these forecasted trends gives me hives.  Yes, if you happen to truly love a color on the Pantone "Fashion" palette, and you've been wanting to redecorate your bedroom, then this may be the perfect time to go for it.  But the colors we live with in our homes are too important to be based on current trends.  The colors we use to decorate our living spaces should really speak to us and make us happy for a long time.

I am extremely particular about colors.  When we remodeled our house, I went through an elaborate process* to pick just the right colors -- even mixing a few custom colors myself.   The result is that even six years later, I still LOVE the colors in my house.  My walls are rich with bold colors, including a warm purple in the living room, a  terra cotta orange in the dining room, and a bright celadon green (very close to the latest Pantone yellow-green) in my family room and kitchen.  These colors make me feel good, and they're not a flash in the pan.   So far, I have not gotten tired of them.  I think it's because they are "my" colors.  (See my Zazzy Peacock logo and banner above to get an idea of my favorite colors.)

Our silver torby kitten, Kalista, lounging on a living room chair
upholstered in luxurious fabrics in taupe, purple and oranges

I realize that one of the advantages of decorating with one of the forecasted colors is that it is easier to find matching fabrics and accessories.  But matching is over-rated!  I used my non-trendy colors and had no issues accessorizing my house by using various shades of the main colors and by pulling colors from adjacent rooms.  For example, my dining room has orange walls and deep purple chair upholstery.  The adjacent living room has purple walls, a pale orange ceiling and taupe fabric with various shades (not matching) of purple, rust and orange.  It all works -- I swear.  Sometimes necessity really is the mother of invention.  When it's not easy to just "match," I think you come up with more creative and dynamic design solutions.

Colorful Zazzy Peacock needle felted ring and bracelet 

Another positive thing about the color forecasting is that hopefully it encourages people to embrace bold color.  More color is always better!  As you can see from my art and felting, I love to play with unique combinations of colors.  With paint, there is truly no limit.  And I've acquired so many colors of wool at this point that I enjoy tremendous freedom to use color creatively in my felted jewelry and accessories.  I will not be going out of my way to get more wool in the so-called "hot" new colors, but I'm pretty sure I already use some of them anyway.

So emerald green is apparently the color of the year for 2013.  I'm thinking this has more to do with the fact that this upcoming Oz movie is set in the Emerald City, than any actual trend or the public mood.  I can't even imagine using that color in my home, but I'm thinking I have plenty of that color in my garden already.  So at least my yard is trendy!  Oh yeah, and it just so happens that my non-conformist teenage son's latest hair color was an emerald green.  Ironically, I'm pretty sure when he hears that's the hot color of the year, he won't want that green hair anymore.  Well, now that's a plus. ;-)

 *  My crazy paint color selection process: I painted samples on heavy pieces of leftover sheetrock, and lugged them around from room to room to see them in just the right light.  (It also works to paint big sample swatches right on the wall.)  And I didn't stick with the seemingly unlimited palette offered by the paint manufacturers.  The truth is color is truly infinite, and I wanted just the right shades -- so I mixed some of my own custom colors.  Yes, I would actually take the little can of sample paint and mix in some of my artist acrylic paints to achieve the perfect hue.  Then I would let in dry on a paint stick and take it in to the paint store to be matched.  Did you know they can match anything?  You can bring in a swatch of fabric, a pillow, etc.  

Holiday Sale on Unique Felted Zazzy Peacock Gifts!

Happy Thanksgiving!  To celebrate the start of the holiday season, I am having a holiday sale in my Zazzy Peacock shop.  Now through Cyber Monday, use coupon code TDAY10 to get a 10% discount.  I think my one-of-a-kind needle felted creations will make very special holiday gifts for your loved ones.  Thanks for looking!

Zazzy Peacock Abstract Teal Felted and Beaded Jewelry

Zazzy Peacock Felted Wool Coasters with Swirls

Zazzy Peacock Leopard Print Swirl Jewelry and Accessories

Zazzy Peacock Orange Art Deco Felted and Beaded Jewelry

Zazzy Peacock Color Block Bangle Bracelets

Peacock Motif Accessories from Zazzy Peacock Studios

Breaking into the Retail Market: Putting My Felted Goodies into the Customers' Hands

I've been so busy felting and juggling all the other aspects of my life that I've been neglecting my blog.  And, as usual, I have a backlog of felted goodies that I have yet to list in my Etsy shop.  The truth is I've been a bit disillusioned with Etsy.  I think people need to see and touch my felted wares in person.  Ideally, I'd like to do craft shows, but the lead times are long.  I have an application in to do the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this May, but I'm getting antsy to get "out there" now.

Zazzy Peacock needle felted cell phone and camera cases soon to be available at Leila Jewels in Potomac.  These are a unique one-piece seamless construction with a magnetic snap, created through an elaborate process of needle felting and wet felting the wool fibers until they are very strong and durable.  And each one is truly one-of-a-kind. 

Zazzy Peacock Abstract Felted Rings

So, I've decided to explore retail options.  I'm excited to say that I just left 25 items at a beautiful local shop that really shares my modern sense of color and design.  They sell gorgeous jewelry and gift items!  Seriously.  The store is Leila Jewels in the Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac, Maryland.  They will be selling several of my one-of-a-kind felted gadget cozies, some colorful rings, a few intricately felted and beaded bracelets, and some of my fun purse hooks.  

It feels really good to open new doors and explore new opportunities.  I appreciate Deb Shalom of Leila Jewels giving me this chance.  Wish me luck!  If you're local, please stop by and check it out. 

Time for me to start cooking now. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Zazzy Peacock felted purse hooks with my signature animal print swirls

An example of my intricately felted and beaded bracelets with matching rings.
The sparkle of the crystals balances the earthiness of the felted wool.
The silver-plated lace edge settings add a vintage touch to the modern designs.

  

Fun Felted Color Block Jewelry for Summer

Needle felted color bangle bracelet and rings

So, I’m happy to report that somehow just admitting I was stuck got me unstuck.  Within a day or two after my last post, I had completed twenty new felted jewelry items for my Etsy shop.  By Friday, I had managed to list seven of them.  I know that doesn’t sound like much, but man, it’s a lot of work to create a listing on Etsy!

I focused on my latest designs – my own take on color blocks.  I'm really not one to follow trends just because they're "in."  But I just love it when a design that is very much my style is actually “in style.”  Lately, I’ve been enjoying all the animal prints, peacock feather motifs, and now – color blocks. 

I’ve been painting color blocks and geometric designs for years.  So I thought, how fun would it be to felt color blocks?  With needle felting, I can create such versatile pieces in just an incredible array of rich, vibrant colors.  And when something like animal prints or color blocks are “in style,” it’s fun to add a splash of high fashion with colorful jewelry -- without committing to a whole new wardrobe.  Am I right?

So here are some of my new felted color block rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces – perfect accessories for this summer season.  Hopefully, I’ll get some more listed this week.  Thanks for looking!

Zazzy Peacock color block jewelry set -- necklace, post earrings and rectangular ring

Another colorful geometric bangle bracelet and needle felted rings

Related posts:  Needle Felting:  Love at First Poke

                       A New Hook for My Colorful Animal Print Swirls

All Zazzy Peacock Studios designs and images shown are © Jill Newman 2012.  All rights are reserved.

Felting in an Early Spring: Ladybugs and Dragonflies and Butterflies, Oh My!

After the incredibly mild winter we’ve had this year, I was not surprised to see that Jimmy the Groundhog was right about an early spring.  Not only did my crocuses bloom this week, but my garden is awash in beautiful little periwinkle flowers.  Some of our daffodils have even blossomed.  All of these signs of spring sent me into a flower-felting frenzy.  And that led to a critter-crafting craze.  All of which apparently led to a lot of alliteration.

I was a little mad at myself last week for not posting on my blog, but I just couldn’t get myself away from all the little daisies and bugs.  Anyway, here are some of my latest needle-felted creations:  ladybugs, dragonflies, butterflies and bumblebees – each one with a coordinating daisy.  I know I need to branch out into other types of flowers, but the daisies are just so cute, especially with the polka dots, and they’ve always been my favorites. 

Zazzy Peacock Studios ladybugs and matching daisies

Another long-time favorite of mine is the ladybug.  It’s perhaps the only actual bug I’m happy to see in my house.  I’m more than willing to believe they are a sign of good luck.  When I was a little girl, my mother knitted me a ladybug vest with a matching purse. Oh, how I loved those things, especially since she made them herself.  I think part of what I enjoy about making these cute girly things is imagining some little girl feeling that way about what I’ve made.

Also, in a house full of boys (even the cat is a boy), I guess I need a creative outlet for my  girly side.  I’m still trying to figure out what I could felt for boys.  When I ask my kids, they just roll their eyes at me.  I’m open to suggestions.  :-) 

Zazzy Peacock Studios needle-felted flower and bug hair clips are available in my etsy shop

Zazzy Peacock Studios designs and images are © Jill Newman 2012.  All rights are reserved.

Needle Felting: Love at First Poke

Wool roving, foam and felting needles 

I’ve experimented with many materials and forms of art and crafts over the years.  I’ve dabbled in ceramics, polymer clay, crochet, beading, tie-dye, and quilting, among other things.  I’ve painted everything from canvas and paper, to wood, walls, furniture, denim and even leather shoes and handbags.  But I’d never taken to anything so quickly or so passionately as I did to needle felting.  In her fabulously fun and instructive book, I Felt Awesome, Moxie warned me that needle felting was addictive, but it was already too late for me.  Oh man, it was literally love at first poke, and I’ve been felting almost every day since. 

Given that most people I know look at me like I have three heads when I mention “needle felting,” a brief explanation seems in order.  Needle felting is the process of taking loose wool fibers, usually roving or batting (basically cleaned unspun wool hairs, either combed or uncombed), which have been dyed in a wonderful array of brilliant, rich colors, and poking them repeatedly (we’re talking a lot of poking) with special barbed needles until the fibers become enmeshed and matted together into one seamless non-woven fabric.   I then create designs by adding little wisps of different colored fibers, almost like I’m painting with wool.  Only it’s even better, because the result is something soft, fuzzy, and functional. I absolutely love it!

My new sleeve

I myself only discovered needle felting thanks to Martha Stewart.  I happened to spot a blurb in Living magazine about how to needle felt cute little patches over holes in wool sweaters.  Well, this caught my attention because I’d been hanging on to a cashmere sweater with a couple of holes.  So I innocently ordered a pack of wool roving and a felting needle over the internet.  Two days later, I needle felted a simple design over the holes in my sweater, and -- boom -- I was hooked!  Over the next two weeks, I read a slew of books on felting and magically acquired several different kinds of needles and nearly fifty different colors of wool.  It was like I was possessed! 

           

Zazzy Peacock iphone and camera cases

Those first two weeks, I broke two needles and went through at least one band-aid a day.  I’m happy to say I haven’t broken a needle since, and I hardly ever break the skin anymore.  I can still be heard yelping, “Ow!” on a fairly regular basis, however.  (Did I mention that these needles are really, really sharp and barbed?)

Anyway, I’ve spent many, many happy hours since then honing my felting skills and refining my process.   Now I needle felt my pieces – poking them countless times with various needles, do some wet felting  (which –over-simplication alert – involves rubbing and/or rolling the felt in hot soapy water) to further tighten the fibers, and then needle felt some more – until I’m satisfied that the piece is firm and well-felted.

And you can only imagine how many colors of wool I have to work with now!  The best part is that I keep coming up with ideas for different things I can make, and new designs and color combinations to try.  The possibilities seem endless, and I’m so excited to see my artistic visions come to their fuzzy felted fruition.  Well, back to felting!

Have you tried any new crafts lately?  Are you tempted to try needle felting?


All Zazzy Peacock Studios designs and images shown are  © Jill Newman 2012.  All rights are reserved.