As always, when I get home from retreats I have the best of intentions to 1. finish up all my projects and 2. blog about them. Unfortunately, what I end up doing is sometimes neither of the above. To avoid the above no.2 at least, I'm going to do a quick post now. The house above was made in my dear friend Charlotte's felt cottage class. Charlotte is one of a kind; funny, smart, clever and endlessly creative, especially when it comes to reusing and making do with supplies saved. I love her little cottages and am hoping that she'll do a small collection for her etsy shop. They earned ohhhs and ahhhs when seen in person. Here are some more shots of my project:
I do love the mushroom made using vintage sequins, nothing like age on vintage sequins and beads!
Thanks for the great class Charlotte and thank you to Cindy, (YoYo Girl) for letting me be her "princess" for the day. It was a hoot!
Here's a little gift for my dorm mate Charlotte...I'm sure I'll get it in the mail to you one of these days. Uh huh... it will sit on the dining room table with all the other "to be mailed" boxes. Why do I dread that task so much?
Here's something I forgot to show you from Mary's class: she taught me how to crochet, so I made a little necklace. I love it and even bought a crochet hook to make more.
And for my final Fiberfest project, I took the incomparable Tracie Lampie's Plastic Fabric class. Tracie has a book coming out soon on the technique and I can't wait to get it. Start saving your plastic bags now people! I have to say, Tracie wins the award for best recycler ever. She had us in stitches telling us stories of how she digs in the trash after her kids and her worries about what treasures might be thrown away while she's away. You should have see the cute rain hat she had, and stuffed animals, and on and on. You can see some on her etsy site. I choose to make a beach bag. Charlotte shared a Gap bag with me so I had the PG, and I thought a This Little Piggy bag was a perfect addition. :) Of course, you can recognize Target bags, right?
Thanks to Tracie, I'll never look at plastic bags the same way again. Great, just what I needed; more craft materials to gather! I can hear my family groaning already...
I'm so sorry I had to miss AFF this year. I have a little $ left over on an amazon gift certificate from last Christmas and I plan to gleefully order Tracie's book with it. Do they still have "Piggly Wiggly" stores in the south? I never lived in a city that had them, but wouldn't those bags make a great tote?
More than ever I love using funky, salvaged fodder for art projects.
Posted by: Cindy Pestka | July 10, 2009 at 02:42 PM
I don't understand how this works, but your bag is adorable. Very, very cute.
Posted by: Karen B | July 10, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Your artistic eye and style is just so cute! I love what you did at Art Fiber Fest..the classes you took and your demo...would have loved to see your doll if you took my class...
I just finished the dress I made in Ruth Rae's class..it is on my blog. It is such a fairy dress.
I took some nice photo's of you at the demo. I need to email them to you. Off on vacation Sunday so after I get back I will.
Posted by: Deirdra Doan | July 10, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Love, love, love your houses, both the larger one at top, but also the tiny one on the doorknob! So wish I could go to out-of-town retreats more easily, but I guess I'll have to wait a few more years until the kiddies are older. Always love to see when you've posted, Pam! xoxo
Posted by: corey moortgat | July 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I love the cottage home you made in Charlotte's class - it's sooooo precious! I love every little sweet and pretty detail.
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | July 13, 2009 at 04:14 AM
As expected, I completely love the finished house, Pam! the velvet acorns are so gorgeous (did you learn how to make those in Mary's class?) -brilliant work, my dear.
I'm thinking of teaching the cottage class again over here in NY so you'll have to come play then too....seriously... and yes, please get to the PO asap! ;)
xoxo
Posted by: charlotte | July 13, 2009 at 10:10 AM
The crochet necklace is so chic. I just returned from Paris and all the ladies are wearing long necklaces with huge bobbles. Your crochet necklace fits the new style!
Is there any chance, you have directions, hook size and what fiber you used?
Bainbridge Island
Posted by: Laura | July 17, 2009 at 08:55 PM
i love the design of your plastic bag!! xo
Posted by: katie runnels | July 18, 2009 at 08:10 AM