Felt On The Fly

It's a Big Felt Universe Out There!

2011-12-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Tis true! It *is* a big felt universe! Everywhere you look these days there is felt. And of course, we all know that there are lots of different types of felt. And I'll bet you've heard of and/or worked with several types, but did you know that not all felts are created equal? I've said those words a bazillion times and the truth of that statement hit home for me once again today, but in a slightly different way.

Let's talk about wool felt (ha! no surprise that I'd want to talk about wool felt, is it?!). I just added a brand new listing in my shop for a big fluffy pile of felty wool felt ***and*** Jeanette Lim's book "Big Little Felt Universe".

After browsing through the book, ooh'ing and ahh'ing over the adorable projects (at least 70 of them - all in one book!!), I decided to take a gander at the fine print. The author states 'Not all felt is created equally.' Sweet! I thought I'd found someone of like mind. However, sadly enough, the author goes on to express her opinion that 100% wool felt is 'too thick' for the projects featured in her book. WHAT??? Clearly, dear author, you have not tried my luscious pure wool felt. That comment truly does make me sad as I can completely assure you, dear readers, that my felt is the *perfect* felt for the cute projects featured in this book : )

My point is that not even 100% wool felts are created equal. "SERIOUSLY?" you may ask... Yes, seriously. How could that be? Wool is wool, right? Well, it's actually kind of simple. There are hundreds of different breeds of sheep. Each one producing a wool fiber. But different sheep produce fiber specific to that sheep. Sure, it's still all 100% wool, since, after all, that's what a sheep's fiber is.... but some fiber can be thick, or thin, or long, or short, or thick, or stiff, or curly or straight. And then you have to factor in exactly how that fiber is processed into felt. And of course there's the dyes that color the fiber that are to be considered. It all makes a huge difference in the end product.

Perhaps the author of Big Little Felt Universe used a 100% wool felt from Nepal. Holy smokes, now there's some thick, stiff felt! Totally not the best choice for the projects in the book. Or maybe she used a 100% wool felt that was hand-felted. Most likely, that would be too thick because as wonderful as us humans are, we generally can't process fiber to the extent that a machine can. Perhaps she used a 100% wool felt that was something other than merino and initially created and processed for an application other than crafting. And in that instance, the felt may have been processed harshly and dyed with environmentally un-friendly dyes. That type of wool felt wouldn't be the best choice for her projects either.

It just makes me a little sad when I read something that's just tossed out to the masses as if it were fact - something that is a misinformed generalization. Yes, it's true. All felts are not created equal. Even when they are 100% wool. Because there are several other important aspects to consider, as mentioned above.

If you're looking for a pure wool felt for hand stitching, you won't find anything better than my pure merino wool felt. This felt was specifically created for handcrafts exactly like those pictured in the book. It's created from one of the finest wool fibers available. Because it's completely natural wool, the fibers felt together with very little energy (and that's environmentally friendly!). This felt is fine, strong, color-saturated, color-fast, fade-resistant and toxin-free. Not only is my felt the perfect thickness for hand or machine stitching, it cuts like a knife thru warm buttah, holds stitches beautifully, and can be hand-washed and air-dried.

So there ya have it. Felty sets the record straight : ) I feel so much better now.

Givin' It Away....over at TheLongThread

2011-12-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

Ellen Luckett Baker of TheLongThread posted a give-away today - it's my merino wool felt 'Apple' color story. And you don't even have to do anything fancy to win! Just post on Ellen's blog, TheLongThread, by midnight on Saturday (December 10).

In case you're not familiar with TheLongThread, it's a pretty fantastic blog. Full of great ideas, sources and crafty fabulousness. Ellen is one busy lady who is accomplished in so many things it makes my head spin! One of the things I admire most about her is this statement in her profile: "I have increasingly begun to appreciate the value of handmade items in our mass-produced world." Uh huh. I totally get that : )

So... if you'd like to experience some truly exquisite, pure merino wool felt, visit TheLongThread and leave a comment for a chance to win this lovely five sheet set. Or, come visit FeltOnTheFly and check out all of my Color Stories.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE.... to get a wool felt kit for Christmas. Whether you'd like to stitch something up to give as a gift, or if you'd like to give the gift of a kit, there's still time!

You know the saying about giving a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime? Well, that sentiment holds true as well for crafting. Here's Felty's take on it:

"Give someone a handmade item and you've given them a lovely gift. Teach someone to stitch or craft and you feed their creative soul for a lifetime".

Felty Bookmark Kit

Eight die-cut bookmarks, hole reinforcements, coordinating buttons in various sizes/shapes, buckles and extra felt! A wonderful gift for someone who likes to craft, or someone learning to stitch.

'Tis the Season... Wherever You Go

2011-11-28T07:31:00.000-08:00

"Wherever you go, whenever you can....Leave a gift."

I came across that sweet little sentiment a long time ago and I've never forgotten it. Days get busy and I don't always find the time to be extra thoughtful, but considering the season, it's only natural to be in gift-giving mode. Here in Michigan, winter is now here. We've already had snow flurries and the air is clear and chilly; the night sky filled with stars...

Stars have been a special symbol for me since my son was born (nearly eighteen years ago!!) and in the spirit of giving, I'm offering a set of five die cut wool felt stars with every order in my Etsy shop. Just mention 'Felty Twinkles' in 'Notes to Seller' upon check-out and a little gift of stars will be yours.

The stars measure 1 3/4" from tip to tip. I know you'll think of a bazillion ways to use them...scatter them on your table, attach to ribbon for a garland, adorn a tree, use as a little gift tag, stitch onto a project...stitch two together and lightly stuff...tuck one in a loved one's pocket for luck....and of course, you could always use them to wish upon...

Wool Felt Peter Pan Collar Tutorial

2011-10-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well, hello you dusty little blog, you! *swipes at cobwebs*

And so we meet again...at long last. It's not that I don't think of you. In fact, truth be told, you haunt me. What? So why don't I post more often you ask? Well, there are a hundred perfectly good reasons.

K. Now that we've got that all settled....

Hey! This was soooo cool! Thanks to Etsy's new little Shop Stats toy, I noticed recently that I had lots of views on a particular listing in my shop. So I scrolled around in the Stats and noticed in Top Traffic Sources a blog I'd never seen before: "Honestly....WTF". Really. I didn't make that up. Here's their link: http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-peter-pan-collar/

Upon further investigation I discovered the ladies at Honestly...WTF put together a tutorial to make a cute Peter Pan collar and linked to my shop for felt supplies. Who knew that a Peter Pan Collar could be so cute the second time around?? Well, when a fashion powerhouse like Louis Vuitton decides that, yes indeedy, Peter Pan Collars are most definitely fashion-forward, trendy and worthy of runway status, you can bet your bellbottomed bippy that those collars are indeed the latest 'must have' accessory.

The tutorial was put together for an article for Lucky Magazine. Man oh man, these chicks are *connected* and I'm so happy they linked to my humble little shop....

So scoot on over to Honestly...WTF, (http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-peter-pan-collar/) download the template and get started on your super-simple-Louis-Vuitton-Wanna-Be-Wool-Felt-Peter-Pan-Collar. Hey....now that I'm thinkin about it, why the heck didn't Louis come to me for felt??? Hmmmm??? Louis? Are you listening? My felt is the feltiest wool felt, truly environmentally friendly, soft to the touch, gloriously gorgeous and a joy to behold. I realize you made yours out of who-knows-what, but next time Louis, how about thinkin outside the boring old linen or cotton box and come try FeltOnTheFly 100% pure merino wool felt. Just sayin'.

And for the rest of you, imagine this sweet collar made in any of the 96 colors in my shop. Personally, I'm thinkin' Camel... Maybe this would be the perfect gift for the girlfriend who has everything.... your grandma.... or, why not, even for a pampered pooch. And for sure, anyone who carries a Louis Vuitton bag.... or reads Lucky Magazine...

; )

Wool Felt...Really!?

2011-03-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Wool felt...is that what you're looking for? Make sure that wool felt is what you're getting!

When I read a label, for example, on the front of a juice bottle and that label proclaims 'JUICE!', I expect...well, juice! Fruit juice! All juice. And nuttin' but juice! But is it ever really just juice? Closer inspection of the label on the back of the bottle will tell the sad tale...the contents are often a lot more than just juice. In fact, the amount of actual JUICE is minimal.

The same thing is true for WOOL FELT. That's a term that's tossed about willy-nilly and it drives me a bit bonkers. It happens far too often that a felt product is labeled WOOL FELT when, actually, it contains only a small amount of wool. Now I ask you...if the amount of fiber in a felt product is primarily something other than wool, does that felt product deserve to be called 'wool felt'? I think not...

The term 'wool felt' seems to me like it should be reserved for a product that is MOSTLY wool. As opposed to being mostly something else other than wool. I'm OK with the term 'wool blend'. At least you would know right up front that it's not pure wool felt.

So when shopping for wool felt, watch the fine print. Make sure you're getting pure, 100% wool felt and not a blend containing very little actual wool fiber. Or, better yet, just come visit Felt On The Fly at Etsy and know that you are at the premier source of pure, 100% wool felt - and nuttin but!

Oh, and did I mention the abundance of 96 gorgeous colors of wool felt (yeah, the really awesome 100% kind) available in my shop?!?!?

Vintage Treasure!

2011-03-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, how sweet is this! What a great find. A vintage Vogart embroidery kit including two cotton hand towels with a stamped flower ballerina image on each, embroidery floss and instructions - all in an un-opened package!

This kit is from the 50's, and obviously from that 49 cent price tag, you know it's got to be old! Even though the set had never been opened, that didn't stop me. I can't wait to start stitching this sweet design! And while it might be a shame to not use the floss that came with the kit, I think I'll be dipping into my own stash for some better color choices. I've got quite a collection of vintage floss, so it's all good : )

I went a little crazy over on Ebay and found even more fabulous vintage stamped linens for embroidery. Can't wait for Laura, my awesome mail lady, to bring my treasures to me!!

Felt On The Fly and PaperTrey Ink Match Up!

2011-01-21T06:02:00.000-08:00

I've updated my list of PaperTrey Ink paper colors and my matching/coordinating wool felt colors. Yay!

This list includes the new 'Blueberry Sky' which perfectly matches my Wedgwood Blue felt. Another new PaperTrey Ink color is 'Fine Linen'. That's a tricky one! I don't have a match for it, but depending on how you're using it, there are lots of possible contrasting colors you could add. Need some help? Let me know!

I don't like to match up my felt with the paper colors until I get an actual paper swatch in my hot little hands. I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing 'Pine Feather' in person, although I suspect I have the perfect match. Be the first to contact me to make arrangements to send me a 4" square of Pine Feather, and I'll send you - at no charge whatsoever - a 6" x 8" sheet of my matching wool felt. What a deal!

Here's the list arranged in alphabetical order according to PaperTrey Ink's color names:

PaperTrey Ink Colors - Felt On The Fly Colors:

Aqua Mist - Bermuda Blue

Berry Sorbet - Coral Pink

Blueberry Sky - Wedgwood Blue

Dark Chocolate - Dark Brown

Enchanted Evening - Blue

Harvest Gold - Butter Yellow

Hawaiian Shores - Bermuda Blue

Hibiscus Burst - Hot Pink

Lavender Moon - Soft Plum

Lemon Tart - Light Yellow

Melon Berry - Coral

New Leaf - Fern Green

Ocean Tides - Green Patina

Orange Zest - Melon

Plum Pudding - Lilac

Pure Poppy - Red

Raspberry Fizz - Lavender Pink

Ripe Avocado - Avocado

Scarlet Jewel - Merlot

Simply Chartreuse - Spring Green

Smokey Shadow - Slate Grey

Spring Rain - Light Blue

Spring Moss - Yellow-Green

Stamper's Select White - White

Summer Sunrise - Marigold

Sweet Blush - Light Pink

Terracotta Tile - Orange-Red

True Black - Black

Vintage Cream - Ecru

Please note: My wool felt color, Bermuda Blue, appears twice on the list above. It looks beautiful with both Aqua Mist and Hawiian Shores papers.

Coming soon to my Etsy shop - A listing of all the above colors in 6" x 8" sheets. That's right! One big beautiful bundle which, by the way, is the *perfect* size for die-cutting machines!

With the above list, you can also choose your favorite felt colors and purchase just the ones you want. Please contact me through e-mail (feltonthefly@comcast.net) or through Etsy and let me know what you need! Easy peasy.

A Felt and Paper Affair! FeltOnTheFly Pairs Up With Stampin Up!

2010-09-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Attention Paper Crafters! If you like the Stampin Up! paper palette...and if you like using wool felt embellishments on your paper crafting projects...then I think you're going to be very happy.

Below you'll find all 44 current Stampin Up! paper colors (in alphabetical order) paired with my pure wool felt colors. It's a match made in heaven for sure. Choose your favorites, or go wild and grab one of each. These colors are available in my Etsy shop.

An Abundance of Glorious Wool Felt Colors!

2010-08-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Breathe, little blog, breathe! Come back to life! After a long, long rest, the little blog awakens to a glorious display of abundant color. Yes, it's true. Here are the 90 colors of 100% merino wool felt available in my Etsy shop.

A Treasury for Slavko

2009-07-31T21:19:00.001-07:00

Treasury, Spirit of Tiny Tim Boot
Originally uploaded by Felt on the Fly

Earlier this summer, a very special Etsy seller died. His name was Slavko, and, until he died and I saw post after post after post about him in the Etsy forums, I had never even heard of the man. Turns out, he was the kind of man I wish I had had the honor of knowing.

Many people posted comments and stories about Slavko. They talked about what a wonderful family man he was. They talked about how friendly and helpful he was. He was certainly talented, I could see that from his work. And he took the time to reach out to people - to connect with them, to help them, to offer advice.

Reading all of the posts about Slavko brought me to tears. Because of wonderful things that were said about him. Because of all the thoughtful things he did. And because I missed out on knowing a really incredible man.

Just days after his death, I was lucky enough to have an item from my shop, FeltOnTheFly, featured in a treasury that was created in honor of Slavko. I was really moved, because I had felt such strong emotions upon learning about the man. And today, imagine my surprise when I was notified that another item from my shop was featured in a treasury - and it was another treasury dedicated to Slavko. I mean, what are the chances, right?

If you believe as I do, that certain things happen for a reason, then you will understand when I say that this experience has given me cause to reflect on the meaning of this "coincidence". Again, I am moved, and I am inspired to reach out to others in the manner that I imagine Slavko did. Not that I am anywhere near as special as he was, but I can reach out in my own way, and can make a conscious effort to do so. Every kind thing that we can do for someone else makes the whole world a better place.

I may not have had the pleasure of knowing Slavko, but I will certainly have the pleasure of becoming a better person thanks to the example he set.

This treasury, by the way, was created by a lady who is a buyer on Etsy. Thank you Cyn.

My Art Fair Treasures

2009-07-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today I needed an art fair fix. Didn't have to be a big fancy drive-far-away, get-there-early-stay-all-day event, just a casual stroll in a lovely park was what I was craving. And I found just the perfect thing. Just a little arts and crafts fair in a lovely neighborhood type park, on a perfect day: 70's, breezy, mostly sunny...ahhhhh, perfect. Just enough artists to keep it interesting, and the smell of kettle corn in the air.

Here are the lovely treasures that called out to me and insisted on following me home:

Hand painted vintage picnic tins. The lady who painted these told me that she wasn't sure about the orange, but she thought the colors looked "happy". I agree! I'll probably use these to hold sewing works-in-progress.

A fairy door made from clay. I talked to the man who made these doors and he explained the process. Unfortunately, I can't remember the details right now! Hey, it was a few hours ago, ya know...

And my love affair with Abraham Lincoln continues. In the form of a glass tile necklace.

I simply cannot pass up a hand-crochet dish cloth. What is it about these? I absolutely love them. From cotton yarn, in pretty colors, these are always my favorite. My kitchen drawer is stuffed with cotton crochet dish cloths, and yet, I always buy more whenever I see them. And the best part is talking to the lady who created them. They always understand. Yup. Women who appreciate a hand crochet dish cloth are kindred spirits, for sure.

And look at this a*d*o*r*a*b*l*e note card. I mean, who could pass up a sweet little hand made card with an unbelievably cute, teeny tiny, little PINK classic car on it???? I think I'll have to find a reason to thank myself for something, because I just don't know if I can bear to mail that card away!

Uh huh. Another fairy door. But, hey, it's a totally different style! That's my excuse, and yes, I'm sticking to it.

*sigh* I feel so much better now that I got my little art fair fix!

Dottie Bag, Bridesmaid Gift

2009-07-22T09:29:00.001-07:00

Dottie Bag, Bridesmaid Gift
Originally uploaded by Felt on the Fly

One of my favorite things to make are my Dottie Bags. I created this one recently to go along with a Proposal Pouch I made for a bride getting married in August. Her color scheme is "Pistachio Green". I thought it was so pretty combined with pink.

In Europe, a Dorothy Bag is a small drawstring bag that's used like an evening bag. My little pouch is a bit smaller, so I call it a Dottie Bag. (Made sense to me at the time.) This little pouch is large enough for small jewelry box, for wrapped candies, tea bags, a gift card...you get the picture! What a sweet way to "wrap" a little gift. It's also the perfect thing to hold jewelry while traveling.

To see more Dottie Bags, take a look at my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feltonthefly/

Not Everyone Has a Mantle!

2009-07-16T16:56:00.001-07:00

Christmas Boots 001
Originally uploaded by Felt on the Fly

It's true. Not everyone has a fireplace and a mantle from which to hang traditional Christmas Stockings. If you need an alternative to tradition, perhaps this Christmas Boot would do. Because of it's size and shape, it holds as much, if not more, than a normal stocking. Sits on a table, the foot of a bed, the corner of the couch...you know, on any flat surface. This Boot was so much fun to design and I keep coming up with new ways to embellish them!

Yes, I know - it's ONLY July. But with all this Etsy talk of "Christmas in July" I just thought I'd show you these now. If you'd like to see more variations on this little theme, please take a look at my Etsy shop. More designs coming soon! Hmmmm, I'm thinking pirates...and feathers...and mermaids...and stars...and lace...

Treasury West, "Mine", by iluvlucy8

2009-07-15T21:37:00.001-07:00

Treasury West, "Mine", by iluvlucy8
Originally uploaded by Felt on the Fly

Now that I have the actual picture of "Mine" (iluvlucy8), you won't have to go searching for it!

I (have to) believe in learning as I go - if I waited to figure out everything first, I wouldn't be blogging for a few more years! So thanks for putting up with my pathetic blogging attempts. It might not be pretty, but at least I'm trying! Yup, my pride went out the window a looooooong time ago...

Treasury West, "Pink", by FashionTouch

2009-07-15T21:31:00.001-07:00

Treasury West, "Pink", by FashionTouch
Originally uploaded by Felt on the Fly

Well, it was a big enough surprise to find out today that "Plaidius - A Cashmere Mouse" was featured in the Treasury West "Mine", by iluvlucy8, so imagine how I felt when Lori from DirtRoadSouth pointed out that my Pink Dottie Bag was featured in the Treasury West "Pink" by FashionTouch!

I could get used to this kind of attention in a hurry! Thank you again, iluvlucy8, and thank you FashionTouch.

And it sure was a lot of fun to actually be in the same treasury with DirtRoadSouth! Lori is the Queen of Treasuries with all of her whimsical jewelry, her wonderful book thongs and her beautiful mosaic work. To see Lori's shop, go to http://www.dirtroadsouth.etsy.com.

Also, please visit: http://www.iluvlucy.etsy.com
and: http://www.fashiontouch.etsy.com

Etsy :: Treasury West List

2009-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Etsy :: Treasury West List

Every time I'm featured in a Treasury, I'm totally amazed (not that it happens all that often, but hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while). Out of all the items on Etsy, somebody found one of mine, and somehow, it fit into their plan. Gotta love it, ya know?

And this little guy, Plaidius - A Cashmere Mouse, is one of my favorites. I hope he finds a good home pretty soon!

Thank you iluvlucy8 for creating this very pretty RED Treasury, and for including something from Felt On The Fly!

http://www.iluvlucy8.etsy.com

What a Sweet Surprise!

2009-07-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Wow. A present! It was a surprise. Completely unexpected. Right out of the blue. Never saw it coming. A sweet surprise. You know, the kind that makes you stop, momentarily confused, and say, "wait a minute, is there a mistake? Is this really for me? It's not my birthday." Followed immediately by an almost child-like feeling of delight when you realize, oh my gosh, how cool is that, yes, it IS really for me! It's a rare few moments, for sure. And just as delicious is the next rush of thoughts, "How did you know I'd love this so much?" "You are so very kind!" "How generous and thoughtful!" And the surprise you have received multiplies in it's value because of the simple act of a giving spirit.

I received a surprise package in the mail yesterday from Rafael. His Etsy shop is called My Tiny Studio. He sent me this adorable Star. It is made from fabric, stitched, stuffed, painted, sanded and painted some more - all by Rafael himself. The detail is incredible, and the little nose has got to be one of my favorite parts, along with those pretty blue eyes.

Rafael and I had talked about his Stars before, but I don't think that I mentioned to him why stars are so meaningful to me. When my son was small, he attended a Waldorf School. In the Children's Center (sort of like kindergarten), before the children are taught to read, each child is given a symbol. The symbol is used to mark their cubby, it's embroidered on their napkin, it's used in place of writing their name. My son's symbol was a star. And suddenly, that simple image appeared everywhere,in school and well beyond, including some amazing places. That star symbol, at certain moments, guided us in directions we might not have gone otherwise. That symbol took on a significance that even now, is pure magic.

I have been an admirer of Rafael's for a while now. He is imaginative, creative, talented and unique. Since I love whimsical things that appeal to my imagination, it's no surprise that his work really appeals to me. His kind, thoughtful and generous nature is, to me, inspiring. I think I will follow his lead and some day soon, suprise someone with the unexpected gift of glee.

Here's a few more pictures of the Star, along with one of Rafael's Fairy Dolls. I just love all the details, and the layers of paint, and the care that he puts into his work. Don't you? Take a look at MyTinyStudio at Etsy and see more of his talent there. (My apologies, I don't know how to put a direct link in here!)

My (ahem)Studio

2009-05-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite rooms in my house is a room upstairs, at the end of the hallway. The farthest room from everywhere else in the house. It has a walk in closet, a built-in bookshelf and a large window overlooking my favorite "outdoor" room (which I like to call my courtyard) as well as a beautiful view. And right now, it looks like a craft bomb exploded in this room. Imagine a huge craft pinata broken open by a giant, it's contents splattered everywhere, in heaps and piles and dribbles.

This is the place where I love to escape. The men-folk of the household hesitate to set foot in this room. It's clearly my space to create, design, stitch, play...and there's only one chair, which cuts down on visitors for sure. And since I believe that "collecting" is an important part of any craft, I have collected to the point where it's become difficult to "contain". So, my (ahem)studio is undergoing a make-over.

I spent some time lately thinking about what was working in the room, and what was not (besides me!). What wasn't working was a huge outdated TV and matching huge outdated entertainment center. Those unsightly things are gone, and in their place now is a really cute re-purposed/re-painted hutch. Since you and I probably have a few things in common, I'll assume you can imagine how much fun I've been having lining up my numerous jars and baskets of buttons, ribbons and embellishments on the shelves of the hutch.

And in addition to the hutch, I've added a very cool shelf. It's vintage, it's heavy, and I sure hope it never falls off the wall! It came from one of my favorite local places to shop, Chic Antiques in downtown Lake Orion. But don't feel left out, Lori has an Etsy shop too: www.chicantiques.etsy.com. Filled with spools of ribbon now, I just love looking at this shelf!

It's only fair to give credit where credit is due, and this is the part where I have to thank my husband (commonly referred to in my internet writings as 'dcw') for painting the hutch and shelf. Especially since he HATES painting stuff. And especially since I gave him yet another project to paint - an old dresser that's been in the basement for ages. I've found a purpose for that in the (ahem)studio as well...

I'm off to a good start. Can't wait til it's all finished!

Pickles and Larry. Two friends. Their Adventures.

2009-05-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

Pickles.

Larry.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. This is the life..." thought Larry.

Spring in Michigan.

I Got a Tree in the Mail!

2009-05-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a house with a big back yard. Right smack dab in the middle of that yard is a great big willow tree. That tree is the focal point of the yard, and the source of many fond memories of playing there with my three big brothers. We climbed the tree often, and for many years a tire swing hung from one of the branches. The willow withstood many storms, and survived losing branches both large and small. My oldest brother was married near that tree. And it became a "rite of passage" for our children to climb that tree. And climb, they did - in fact, sometimes, despite them all being teenagers and beyond now - they still do!

My parents still live in that house. But someday I know they will move. And what will I miss the most about the home where I grew up? The place I know as "home"? Yes, you guessed it, that wonderful old willow tree. So how could I resist when I came across this willow tree from Intres on Etsy?

Made from felt, all the way from Spain - just a tangible little reminder of one of my favorite things. It came wrapped so sweetly, with a hand-stitched and stuffed little green felt heart.

And look! Three cute teeny tiny little birds to nestle in the branches.

Now how adorable is that. Thanks, Intres!

A Look Back...

2009-03-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't made the time to blog in a while, for several reasons. One of which is that I am certainly NOT a techno-gizzard by any stretch of the imagination and I find that doing just about anything on the 'puter often becomes a great source of frustration. I've got lots of ideas, and lots of things I want to do here in 'puter-land, but the skills are coming sloooooooowly and paaaaaaaaainfully. But I'm willing to take another stab at this bloggy thing.

I was just taking a look at Melissa's blog, pugnotes.blogspot.com (I'll bet there's a way to add a link to her blog - but for now you'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way). She lives in Colorado with some pretty cute little puggy type dogs and they've gotten lots of snow dumped on them recently. Her pictures are beautiful, and that reminded me of some pics I took back in February on a little ski vacation. So even though it's technically spring, it doesn't look like it in Colorado and we've seen no evidence of anything green yet here in Michigan - so I say it's not too late to post my own snowy pictures!

Michigan is an incredibly beautiful state and I really love having four very distinctive seasons. I took these pictures in the Habor Springs area, right along the shores of Lake Michigan. In the summer, this is a fabulous resort area where large yachts and sailboats come and people have amazing "summer homes". But in the winter, the sailboats are hoisted up for storage and the summer homes are closed for the season. It looks like some fabulous frozen-in-time abandoned town where all that's left are the woods and the wildlife. And of course, snow, frozen water, wind, and at night, the most beautiful star-filled sky...

The Adventures of Pickles and Larry

2009-03-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

Two friends. Their adventures.

A story told in just a few words.

Pickles and Larry.

Plotting.

"C'mon, Larry, you can do it!"

Pickles had the bright idea of grabbing Larry's tail to help himself get up the stairs a little easier.

----------------------The End --------------------------------

Larry.
The serious one.
Pickles. Looks innocent.

The Gift of Opening Doors

2009-02-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

I recently had a birthday. So I thought I'd give myself a gift. What did I want? Well, to tell you the truth, I don't really need clothes, or jewelry, or shoes, boots or purses. My husband said "absolutely no" to a puppy. So I thought, at this stage of my life, what would be symbolic and meaningful? A thought popped into my head. The kind of thought that I've learned to sit up and take notice of when they occur. And the thought was, "open doors".

AHA! That's it! The gift of opening doors! New doors, doors I've never thought of before. Doors I've never noticed before. Or doors that I've thought of, but was too afraid to open! Ooooooo, now this is something I can work with. I will give myself the gift of opening doors boldly and bravely.
For this year of my life, I will focus on doors.

Where to begin? That's easy. Right here in cyber-space. The vast unknown territory of computer-land. Since obtaining a website, and starting a shop on etsy, I've been opening new doors. Every door I've opened so far has led to new possibilities. How exciting! It's not such a big scary place afterall. I've already met some really wonderful people. Learned lots of new things that have led me to awesome places and even more wonderful people, which all encourages me to keep going, keep opening doors.

But, I must admit, not every door opens easily. Some, I can't find the keys to. Or the lock is jammed. Or I open the door, and it's very dark, or uninviting or a language is spoken which I don't understand. Or I don't know the password or the secret knock. That's ok, because I've learned that I can try a back door, a trap door or a fairy door. It's like one great big adventure, and I'm excited to see how many doors I'll open this year and what else I'll find.

The gift of opening doors. Probably the best gift I've ever given myself.

Thinking about Valentine's Day

2009-01-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about Valentine's Day, and I wanted to create something really special, something really sweet, something that could be used and enjoyed over and over again. So, I did a little red Dottie Bag.

I'm so addicted to making these, I just can't stop! This one is for sale at my etsy shop, just in case you're interested!

http://www.feltonthefly.etsy.com

2009-01-15T09:00:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! I am brand spankin' new to this blog thing, so bear with me while I figure it out! And while I'm doing that, you just might want to hop on over to my etsy shop where you'll get an idea of what I'm all about.

www.feltonthefly.etsy.com

See you soon!