Sunday, October 26, 2008

Fun with Flowers

Knitting is something I incorporate into my very way of life. It is a hobby, an expression of my personal dressing style, a solace in sad times, a source of pleasure in happy times, and at all times a creative outlet. Some knitters expand their hobby by learning to spin yarn and others foray into other ways that fiber can be used for creative expression and one such subgroup are the fiber artists who wet felt.




I'm wearing a wet felted cherry blossom flower that I bought from a fiber artist in Norway who sells her handmade creations on Etsy as Felt by Ingermaaiker. I bought one of her flowers to see what wet felted is all about and whether it would interest me to learn how to do it. It really is a beautiful artistic piece - my only concern is that it might be difficult to achieve this level of proficiency. She is really very talented and her flowers are beautiful.



I'm finding it fun playing with the various ways that this flower can be used as an accessory. I like it best attached to a purse or in my hair but found it really added to an outfit when I wore it on my slacks.


If you have interest in learning more about wet felting, the books that looked the best to me were Complete Feltmaking and Uniquely Felt.

Although neither of these books had instructions on how to make flowers, they seemed like the best resources for someone new to wet felting.

Edit Update: The artist has notified me that she has a tutorial on making this flower which can be found here.

While I may dabble a little in this aspect of fiber folly, knitting is still my primary love and, speaking of knitting, have you seen the new Kim Hargreaves collection, Amber. I'm seriously hoping one of these kits end up under my Christmas Tree! Renee of Renee Knits Too! alerted me to this new collection and my Ravelry group "Kim Hargreaves" is now abuzz with the news as this looks like one of her better collections.

I also want to slip in a quick picture of Jillian of Snitty and me earlier today having brunch at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. Jillian is the first knit blogger that I've met in person and I'm particularly fond of her as she has not only taught me a lot about blogging but was also my first regular reader when I started blogging. She is just a delight as well as an amazing knitter and I had a wonderful time meeting her in person.


Finally, we have our pumpkin! Steve chose a good one, don't you think?

I hope you all have a wonderful week. We have company arriving on Monday from Seattle, Washington so should have a fun and busy week down in San Clemente.

19 comments:

sweetp said...

That is really pretty! It looks very intricate (and difficult). I have had one fun foray into wet felting - making a little felted ball with my 2yo. Your flower looks great on your bag

t does wool said...

the flower looks adorabe on your slacks,Claudia!And that new Kim Hargreaves book...now,you are going to make me be bad (chuckle,chuckle)..looks like you and Jillian had some fun!Enjoy company...

jillian said...

Wow - yes that flower is intricate. I would also leave it to the pros :) It looks beautiful both on your slacks and on your purse. Perhaps in a chignon?

I had a blast today too - wonderful company, yummy food, and incredible atmosphere. Can't be beat! Looking forward to the "eastside" meet up. Good luck with the company preparations!

Tracy said...

Hi, Claudia! LOVE that flower!! And thanks for all the great links. I've dabbled a bit with wet felting and it is such fun, you never quite know what the end result will be so it's an exciting craft. Such fun you got to met a fellow blogger and knitter. I had the great opportunity to met two blogging friends this past summer--what joy! Steve's got the most perfect pumpkin there. Oh speaking of Halloween fun, sorry to say there's no more cookies to decorate at our place--our nieces & nephew wiped us out--LOL! ;o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Renee said...

The flower is lovely, it looks great on your pants and might be nice at the knot on a scarf.
It's wonderful to meet and make so many new friends in blog land. I pert near fell off my chair whooping and gushing at my teenaged kids to come see your blog this morning. Very flattered to see you linking me!!!
Hugs, Renee

SissySees said...

Love the flower. Strangely, needle and/or wet felting don't interest me as a hobby, but I do admire the creations of others.

Pretty pumpkin too!

Bridget said...

I really like the flower! I don't know that I have the patience for that though ...

The picture of you and Jillian is a great one - you both look so genuinely happy.

And I do like the pumpkin, but I'd be a little bit careful around that friend of Steve's in the picture if I were you ... :-)

Hilary said...

That flower is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the tip -- I'm going to go check out her Etsy shop immediately.

Sounds like you had a great blog-friend meetup! Isn't it fun??

raining sheep said...

That is an awesome flower...I really love that and am checking out that etsy site as soon as I finish my comments. I really love buying Etsy; I love supporting a female small business artisan.

Windyridge said...

The flower is lovely. I have only dabbled in needle felting and I also made a pair of felted slippers a few years back which I have since worn through. I think that was called wet felting. I used hot and cold water to felt the wool and used a form around which the wool was wound.

amanda said...

The flower is really lovely, and I can see how you can accessorize it many ways!

How fun that you and Jillian got together - if I'm ever in SoCal again we will have to have lunch, too :)

I checked out Amber - already found a pattern I love for some Kidsilk Haze I've had stashed...

Anonymous said...

How fun to meet up with a knitblogger! Have even more fun with your visiting friends!

Anonymous said...

The flower is stunning...and a very versatile acessory by the looks of it!

Firefly Nights said...

Although I haven't developed an interest in felting, the flower you purchased is just gorgeous. It looks good on everything you've shown it on.

That's great that you actually met one of your blogging friends. Isn't it nice that we have a way to meet people that we never would have met otherwise?

Ally Jay said...

A very pretty accessory. It looks very sophisticated on your slacks.

Anonymous said...

The way you have presented the flower is so utterly amazing! I am so very glad you are enjoying it!
Here is how I make them
http://www.ingermaaike.nl/index.php?/archives/41-Tutorial-on-making-a-cherry-blossom.html

Unknown said...

The flower is so lovely and you have found some wonderful ways to wear it!
~Emily in Norway

Anonymous said...

I admire the creations people can make with wet felting. It's just amazing. I love the flower you purchased.
Thank you for the link to Kim's new book. I love her Nell design. I'm a sucker for cables.

Monika said...

It's so nice to be back, reading blogs once more. I like your felted flower, the way you present it! The pumpkin looks great to me! :o)