How did he get those cheeky cheeks? :)

Have you been trying to needle felt some cute bunnies but just can't get those cheeky cheeks right?  Here's a quite little 'how to' for you!

After you've felted the ball for his head, pull and mix the fibre for both cheeks.  Once mixed split into two balls and work back and forth, felting them down to the same size.

Here I've shown you how much the ball has shrunk as I've felted to give you an idea how much fibre to use for the cheeks.  It does shrink down a lot.  Don't felt them too hard though, just firm.

To attach the balls hold them both in place and 'tack' them on with a few deep pokes to check you are happy with placement.  If they look ok carry on.  Work slowly 

I'm happy with the placement so change down to a finer needle to keep working the cheeks until they are firmer and well attached.  As you work, keep the needle on the angle above, like you are felting one ball into the other.  This way you won't end up with a gap between them.

Want to needle a nose too?  Just take a smaller amount of fibre, felt into a firm ball and then attach, poking downward so that it sits snugly on the cheeks with no gaps.

I just love the way these turn out, they are also great for other animals like cats and dogs!

I hope you enjoyed this quick 'how to'. Stay tuned for more and feel free to make a request if you need help with anything.

You can also join our subscriber group over on facebook at just $10usd a month.  Live classes, and lots of fun.  Click here to visit my fb page  for more info.

 

Whats New!

Ok, in an attempt to forget my current woes here are some pics of my latest work.

I recently had to make up some samples for a 4 day workshop, so the first ones are a few examples of what we could do over that long weekend. I have something else in the works but don't want to show until it's finished!

These are just some basic wet felted soaps, done with merino, very easy

This ornament is just a ball on a base, it does take a long time to felt it down nice and hard, but then you can decorate it as you wish!

Badges! This was free form onto commercial felt from a photo

This was done using water soluble fabric for the pattern and felting onto a commercial piece of felt. Really pleased with how this works, you could do almost anything with this method!

Henry was felted for my last One day class as an example of the gorgeous romney wool we were using. He is a big boy, almost 4 inches, and he has lovely features!

Twit Twoo is a birdy type thing, another example of decorating a ball

Harley is one of my new favourites. I actually made him during the one day class, his head wasn't felted as hard as I usually would, but it meant that his eyes sank further in giving him a different look. I really like how he finished up!

Gnome Girl!! It had to be done, had seen a pic of one and had to do one for myself. She turned out ok I think. I had to make a second face for her as wasn't happy with the first one!

Finn is a real baby looking bear. He was felted in the same romney we used for the day class. It's amazing how many different looking bears you can get from the same supplies!

Hope you enjoyed looking at the new work. I've just donated 2 bears to a charity auction which is being held in Sept, so hope those go well!

Thanks once again for your interest in my work, I really do appreciate it and all the lovely comments that are sent my way are a balm for my soul!

Beary huggles,

Liza

Off to the South Island

Hi all! It's been a busy month, I have had a big order to do and christmas decorations to make for my shops too! As well as night classes to teach, doing extra days at work and hubby working overtime. I'm knackered!! :o)

I wanted to show you some of the new bears tho, so here is a selection for you, I have more to show but my computer doesn't like me uploading photos and keeps dropping the connection, so annoying!! So I will post these and try to do another one after or I might loose them all.



The bears for this order all needed to be felted from Ashford corriedale wools, this one is in the new mint green colour with apricot detailing. Scotty now sports a tartan bow!

Magnus is one of my favourites, felted in the new Cupcake colouring he also has magenta accenting and has the sweetest curled up toes! I just love his big nose!

Blue is always a favourite with me, just love this new Ice colour from Ashford, it's really great that they have come out with pastel shades in corriedale.

Gerald is felted in apricot with bean sprout accenting. He is such a sweet faced bear, and I do have a soft spot for the big noses, even tho they take me ages to get just right!

Bertram is a little different. He is felted in the new skin colour with chocolate accenting. I felted his nose and kept his detailing simple. I think it's quite effective!


Well I hope you like the new additions. I will show you some more soon and then it's time for christmas decorations!!

Happy crafting

Liza