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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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...