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By:
Paintgranny,
on 6/23/2016
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Middle of Nowhere
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Tiny Polar Bear (sold)
I recently updated my website and for the first time (ever) catalogued all my designs by year and month. Nine years of almost non-stop needle felting. It took many days of hunting on various camera cards and through this blog and Flickr, but eventually I got there.
Looking through it was a bit of a wake up call and I was able to look at my work and realise not only that I've done a phenomenal amount of work, but also that I've not really moved on, stylistically. Although, to be fair, the last few years haven't exactly been the time for creative navel gazing.
I think it has a lot to do with the last few years of creating commercial patterns, which have to be easy to make, and doing so many workshops, ditto. So I've not really stretched myself.
I think making myriad cute toys has almost run it's course for me, after all, I've been doing them for nine years. So I've been finishing off several bits and pieces, including this set of tiny animals and bird dolls, which despite being small, take around six hours plus to make
As usual, I've bunged them on dear old Etsy. I'll be starting a shiny new website soon, for my new work.
I started a new and very 'grown up' line of work this summer, but it is under wraps until I have several pieces. Suffice to say, I am stretching myself at last.
While I'm cheerfully shoving things for sale under your noses, I may as well add that I've got some fabulous new workshops in the UK, for later in the year. I have two winter workshops in Hampstead, London at the Village Haberdashery - my first time in London! It's going to be the red eye train at crack of dawn for those two.
In other news, I've finally started painting properly again. But I'll spare you that for the time being.
Ah, the slight awkwardness of work getting in the way of life and blogging. Work continues and not much else. Several days spent developing a new teaching, pattern and with that in mind, I have organised a new workshop for them, which is to be held on the 30th April at 'Make It' in Manchester which is already booking up after two days and only a few spaces left. You can book directly through the site here. The bunnies and I will be pleased to see you.
What else? Oh, putting together my first basic needle felt kit, which I should have done ages ago, considering how many times I've been asked for them. I looked at similar starter kits and in some cases was appalled at how little wool was offered, for the price charged. So I have tried to include as much as was physically and economically possible in mine, as well as a sponge mat, pack of decent needles and a wooden holder.
And at last, my February newsletter is out, with a free and simple pattern for making sweet little strawberries - these only take a small amount of wool, and a few hours (in my case) to make, depending on how wild you go with the decoration. There's also an article about a very odd and as yet unfinished piece of work...you can get the newsletter and pattern here - without even signing up. Apart from that, I appear to be surrounded by many small, unfinished things. Such is life.
Nothing going on, except a lot of planning, designing and unfinished work - here's a little something I have actually completed, with amber chips on a bronze wire. Yes, it's yet another hare. Well, it is nearly Spring!
By:
Paintgranny,
on 12/25/2015
Blog:
Middle of Nowhere
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Joe and I are enjoying our second Christmas together. Yet again it's simply a quiet time; a time of being thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food, logs for the fire and most importantly, each other. Whatever you do at this time of year - and especially if you are alone - we both send you the warmest of best wishes and hope for the future. Because there is always a better place, despite the long haul to get there.
I've made very few of my own personal creations this year; partly because I am still struggling to recover my creativity after the awful, life changing events of 2013. *Warning* This is an old post that some people who don't know what happened may find upsetting, but I've put it in, as this is to some extent my personal blog and anyhow, it's been 'out there' since it happened.Grief doesn't just stop once the initial agony subsides; it continues to send out ripples and in my case, this has meant a rather grey no-man's land as far as inspiration goes. Bit of a problem when your only income is creatively based.
So I have been busy flogging whatever I can on eBay, to pay the bills. Once upon a time, this wasn't such an issue, but my circumstances now mean that anything which doesn't bring in an income has to be forfeited in favour of things which do. But I have cobbled together a few things. Just to keep my hand in.
These odd looking beasties - 'Hawses' - were a bit of a self indulgent experiment and a move away from my mainstream cute style. If nothing else, it was good to try something different.
The rest has been more familiar work. I've fiddled about unsuccessfully with different ideas, including the 'Teddy Bear of Doom'. One of the most difficult things I have ever attempted, shown here at halfway stage. Limbless, unloved and a bit wistful. Little blighter.
On another note, my kits have found their way to Berlin, via the gorgeous AMODO shop - I feel as if I have gone international, albeit in a very small way! But sadly, a squirrel and a simple circus bear have been pretty much the only finished work so far this year.
I continue to weather things out and as always, try to look on the bright side. Despite everything that has happened, and some recent health issues, I have so many blessings in my life and count them every day.
Last year, the most terrible of my life, also saw one of my life ambitions fulfilled. With ghastly irony, the offer from Harper Collins to commission my first needle felt book came just two days after Andy died, in January 2013. What should have been a joyous occasion was like ashes in my mouth. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered any more.
Yet this book was part of my future survival; I was left rudderless and precariously positioned financially. Somehow the mortgage had to be paid, the electric bill, the water rates, the council tax and now it was all down to me. So having been given a deadline extension and much sympathy from my publishers, I began designing the first patterns in March.
Believe me, when you have lived through your worst nightmare, when you have howled into the snowy night for your love to come back to you, dreaming up cute toys seems like a monstrous irrelevance. And so the years of professional working kicked in and I immersed myself in making the best book I could, under the circumstances.
Somehow I found the strength to get this book finished by summer last year, despite having to take a break to organise Andy's woodland burial. I worked seven days a week, 8-10 hours a day. I often found myself crying as I sat alone in my studio, just me and my felting needle. But I did it. And in the end, I rediscovered my love of toys, as I surrounded myself with more and more of them.
Most of the designs were new.
Some were old favourites, like the Roly Poly robin, who I've made many, many times.
And I was able to include a good section on techniques, including how to sew in eyes and how I get that firm, smooth finish people are always asking me about.
I also wanted to produce a book which had more challenging patterns in - there are plenty of 'simple' needle felting books out there, and while I do have some very easy 'roll it up and stab' patterns, such as the Rainbow Mice, there are some more tricky designs for seasoned needle felters to get their teeth into. Over the space of four months, I produced a heck of a lot of creatures.
Although it is great to finally have my own needle felt book out, the person I wanted to do it for is no longer here. So these two lines are, for me, the most precious part of it.
"This book is dedicated to the life and dear memory of Andy Macauley, 1971 - 2013. My Forever Love."
I have three signed copies of my book to give away - if you'd like to have the chance to win one, leave a comment here so that I know who you are, and I'll do the draw next week, when I return from my workshop at Oxford Fibreworks. I'll also pay the shipping costs to wherever the winners are in the world. so all you have to do is enter and keep your fingers crossed!
If you don't want to leave it to chance, then it seems to be available in major book shops all over the place, as well as Amazon UK and Amazon.com. It's also available as a Kindle edition and iTunes. Harper books in the USA have also published it, so my American friends should have no problem in sourcing a copy. I do hope that people like it.
It has been one heck of a month. I think we've been walloped with so many life events this year - some good, others dreadful - that we are just reeling from it. However, there is always needle felting and I am so pleased that 'Mollie Makes' have used another of my patterns for their latest issue - a chicken brooch, easy and quick to make, with written and photographic instructions. It's in issue 21 which is in shops now, available to buy online here or as a digital download here.
It was also lovely to be in the same section as my online friend, Debs -
'Imagination of a Ladysnail' who has her sweet character brooches featured. We've followed each other's progress for years, and it's so nice to be celebrating a bit of success together. Deb's blog is
here.
Latest order to be finished; eight Christmas Cottages for one lucky person's tree. I'm all cottage'd out for the moment, but you can find the pattern in '
Mollie Makes Christmas' and make your own - I'd love to see pictures of the results.
I can't think why, but I have never made geese on wheels before
I might make one or two just for me, as these will be rolling off somewhere. Honk!
I've got a few things going on at the moment, life-wise - and an ongoing order list for full sized toys. But it's nice to go AWOL sometimes and sneak a bit of playtime in.
So when I can, I've been making little things. Such as tiny houses - as we seem to be having a house oriented year.
Which *only* take 3-4 hours to make.
These 'Wee Housies' were going to be popped into my Etsy shop for £30 each.
But the entire village was snapped up before I could list them. Sorry!
Despite all the various shenanigans which we are putting ourselves through, work still goes on. The first thing I finished in Shropshire was a commission from one of my regular collectors who wanted a copy of 'Kitty Blue' from my book,
'Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes'.
She is not 100% the same as the original but as near as I could get her. I know which is which.
I'm doing a lot of repeat designs at the moment and sometimes I need to try a new design. I have wanted to make a red squirrel for ages.
Betsy sold at once and made her way to America where she is making my friend
Janet very happy, I believe.
I've also just finished several doglet orders - Claudette, who is a copy of one of the first doglets from my
Mollie Makes pattern. (as the originals are all sold now).
Also, a larger clown version of the Mollie Makes doglets, who has gone over the border to nearby Wales.
Henri, one of the original magazine doglets was snapped up by a
French lady who runs an online boutique shop. So he has gone to his spiritual home, accompanied by a specially commissioned girl-friend, Henriette.
She composed this sweet montage of the two 'H's' on her copy of the Mollie Makes issue, many thanks for letting me use this, Savine!
Although I can't really arrange full workshops at the moment, I had a special all day one-to-one session with a lovely needle felter,
Jackelien from Holland. No, she didn't come all that way just to see me, but I am flattered that she wanted to spend the day learning techniques from me in the middle of her family holiday. She bought Dutch treats in a pretty tin - I am now addicted to the liquorice chalk sweets. I've had to hide the bag from myself. The kilner jar is not full of sweets, but little wax shapes - it's an outdoor candle which I am hoping to light in our new back garden.
Apart from working on finishing off techniques and fine shaping, we made funny little houses. It was a really lovely day, we talked our heads off and by the end of it, I felt sure that I had made a new friend. (Her version of the day can be found on her blog
here - lots of pictures if you don't speak Dutch, including one of me which makes me realise I have to start running again!)
Talking of little houses, we are now hopeful that we may be properly settled soon - in the precarious world of house buying nothing is ever certain, but we are quietly hopeful.
One of this month's completed orders.
Isobel and Phoebe - best friends forever.
Pheebs and Izzy to their friends.
January seems to have been sucked into a black hole - as I write, I am finally organised for my first (two day) needle felting workshop in Bath and will be away for three days; I'm feeling homesick already. As the trip must be done by bus and train, I am packing two rucksacks full of supplies and hoping it won't be too heavy. My nine pupils will spend the first day making this little duck, designed especially for the session, and I am expecting them to bring some prep work for their own designs, which I'll be helping them with - should they need help - on the second day. It will be a learning curve for all of us, and hopefully jolly good fun. See you on the other side, duckies!
By: Emily Smith Pearce,
on 5/20/2011
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It’s that time of year again, when little huts like this pop up all over the Hannover. I love the way seasonal produce is so easy to find. No trouble locating this vendor. Often an erdbeer-hof also offers spargel (asparagus, usually white) since it’s in season as well.
Along with strawberry season comes the annual Waldorf school bazaar. This time I was a contributor to the crafts table, and a salesperson, too. I was pretty proud of myself for handling a few simple transactions, considering that I had to speak and count in German plus make change in Euros. Simple things, but put all together it was a little challenging. Sorry the picture is a little backlit. It was hastily taken with the cell phone, as a lot of these were, since it doesn’t seem to be the norm to snap a bunch of pictures at Waldorf events. I wanted you to see a bit of the arrangement, though. I can’t take any credit for it, but it makes me want to buy the entire menagerie every time I see it.
That crazy blue thing in the upper left of the picture will be explained later.
Below are some of what I made, in addition to the little Waldorf men I blogged about earlier.
Hot sellers, these little bunnies.
They are made of felt, blanket stitched and stuffed with actual wool, with needle-felted tails. I had never needle-felted before and always sort of regarded it as a craft that must take a lot of training to do properly. It’s really easy, though, at least to do bunny tails. I was shocked. It almost seems like magic. Below are some more felt animals and figures, not made by me.
And here is my needle-felted doll, my first needle-felt project. The blue thing hanging from the top in the earlier picture is also a felt doll.
Here’s a little of my delicious Waldorf lunch from the bazaar. No Waldorf salad. Ha! There were bratwurst, too, but the salads were really the star of the show.
And here, an only slightly-related photograph, of
First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009
Goodness Heavens! I was completely overwhelmed at the amazing response to my little book announcement - and so touched to read such kindness, from 'old' blog friends I feel I've known forever, to all of you who commented for the first time and new followers. Thank you does not seem enough, but thank you all so very much anyway! 
First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009
It has been a hard secret to keep; I had my first meeting at Templar in February 2009, where it was loosely proposed that Templar and I should create this little world (it didn't even have a name then). And as it was a new approach to all of us, creating models which would fit in a pop up scenario, there was no definite book offer. I simply went away and did some brainstorming in a little Moleskine.
First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009
All I was required to do initially was draw whatever I felt would be in the world, so I set to work First I did little craft ideas for possible scenery and props, (at that point we knew there would be needle felted toys, but not how much of the rest of the book would be physically 'made'). Here I drew several toadstool and fungi models, of which one was eventually chosen to be made for the first book.
If you need a dose of cuteness head over to Natasha Fadeeva's website. Although it says that they are stuffed animals, some looked like they might be needle felted, like these adorable little mice. Either way they are absolutely charming.
A spoonful of creativity a day
Day 25
When I began this challenge, I did not imagine that I would end up doing so much needle felting, but I am loving it and and want to continue with it while I am having so much fun, and hopefully it is not boring for those of you that check in regularly.
It has also got me thinking about how I could use it in my children's book illustration work. I would love to make some little characters for a story and create backgrounds for them with a combination of illustration, collage and other felted pieces. I don't have strong photography skills, but that is something I could learn/improve upon.
So I am going to start with making a simple little bedroom scene with a mouse. I am excited to see how it will turn out, and of course, I will share the process with you. It may be a disaster, but if I don't try it, I will never know.
Unfortunately, today I didn't have much time to get started. Ah well, tomorrow is another day :)
Inspiring artist of the day: Chris Sickels
Art on my desk: Cutting a rug by John Byrne
A spoonful of creativity
Day 24
Today was one of those nice days where we had to go out early and got lots of stuff done (I am not naturally an early bird!). And the icing on the cake was finding an Art of Walt Disney book that I have always wanted but could never afford (it was originally $90) and I got it for $40 at Multimags. Happy, happy.
It is a wonderful book - it goes right back to the beginning of Disney and the artwork is just amazing. Lots of sketches and beautiful watercolour spreads. I was brought up on this stuff, in fact I learned to draw by copying stills from animations like Alice in Wonderland and Peter pan. I still have a soft spot in my heart for Disney.
Then I came home to some fun mail: felting needles (I had ran out of #40's because I kept breaking them, clumsy needle felter that I am) and glass eyes - not for myself but for my little guys! The eyes are a little smaller than I expected. I can use them, but think I will have to order some larger ones.
Now, on to my spoonful of creativity for today. A teaspoonful today, just the beginnings...
of two bunnies...
Inspiring artist of the day: Abigail Halpin creates whimsical illustrations with a lovely, old world charm.
Art on my desk: Vintage photograph that I have always loved. Look at the ladie's fancy coats with big buttons - fantastic!
A spoonful of creativity a day
Day 20
Whoo! Day 20 already. The time has zoomed past, which must mean that I am having fun. Not a lot of creative stuff done today. Just a smidgen of something new. Well, it was Sunday after all, and a beautiful, sunny, autumny day it was too....
So I only got as far as making a head...
Of a teeny mouse...
Squeak! Squeak!
Inspiring artist of the day - Needle felter: Violet Pie
Postcard on my desk: Tears by Man Ray, 1930
Okay I'm just not feeling the needle felting. I don't know if it's because of the wool I have or it's me but I seem to be struggling a little with it. I won't even show you what I made (my kid's laughed uproariously) But when I see all the neat stuff other people are making it makes me want to keep trying. My friend Susan Mitchell seems to be taking to felting like a duck to water. How cute is this little circus bear???
And check out these guys from artist Kit Lane. I just can't stop smiling when I see these little guys. They are so felting awesome!
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0 Comments on Tomorrow is another day as of 1/1/1900
I know someone who would adore the chicken brooch. Uh oh, fingers are itching and the needles are pricking.
Hope you have had more good than bad life wallops. Here is to a more calm and peaceful New Year.
I just love my print so thank you very much! I'm wishing you a lovely holiday and a very Happy and productive New Year! I know as you fix up Bodge Cottage you will grow to love it very much.
A very Merry Christmas from your friend in Austin, Texas :)
You have excelled yourself with those little houses, they are so very des res.
So good to get your work in such a
wonderful magazine, I hope all is going well at Bodge Cottage, we have had the same sort of year at
Gull Cottage. And doing some nasty remodeling too. Looking forward to the smell of a bowl of fresh lavender and shining floors once again.
Hope its a happy Christmas in your new home
best
julie
I think I'd really like to have a go at this chicken, so will get the magazine.
Do you think you'll be able to keep some real hens in your garden?
What a small world it really is ... I met Debs a few years ago ... she came to my house with a mutual friend. Its nice to see she is doing well in her chosen career.
Hope you are settling in your new home.
Vicky x
Cute!
PD
Hey Gretel, how fab to be featured again along with Deb.......your chicken brooches are too cute. You know how much I like a chook.......I'll have to be patient as issue 19 has only just arrived here and I like a hard copy rather than a digital one.
Sorry to hear things have been tough recently, you've certainly had a busy year with all your moving. I hope 2013 is alot calmer and you can really settle in to your new home.
Righto off to visit Deb's blog, her Robin brooch is gooooorgeous.......
Claire x
hi, congratulations on being featured in Mollie Makes! Ive just checked out your friends blog and her work is fabulous! Thanks for your tip on where to buy felting needles, Ive been pretty busy making my little nests, amongst all the other fairly random things I make, and other folk seem to like them too...which is a bonus!! The cottages are lovely...what a lucky Christmas tree! xx
Thank goodness for cotton and wool and yarn and fabric--all things to help us work out the worries of the day in a creative way. I'm sorry that you have been having a rough go of things lately--I hope that has run its course and you are on the track of more positive happenings.
As always, I adore what you make. :)
Gretel, on my walk round my neighborhood yesterday, I saw the new MM for sale, and bought it without even first glancing through the pages to see what treasures might be there.
So...what a grand surprise to see you absolutely charming hen! Wow! I think that you'll inspire lots of folks to try their hands at the art of needle felting. (Perhaps in the New Year, I might even find time for an attempt of my own.)
Your cottage ornaments are terrific, too. I could see folks starting a collection, so that in years to come, they might have an entire village hanging from their trees. Would you consider adding a church inspired from some of those lovely ancient places you and Andy showed me?
xo
I'm not the hugest fan of Molly Makes, but your hen and your cottages are absolutely delightful, I might even be persuaded to buy a copy of the mag!
Well done Gretel, they look absolutely gorgeous!
Thankyou for your comment on my newest painting, praise indeed from you.x ;)
Wishing you and Andy a wonderful and happy christmas in your new home.
Love Jess x