Thursday, January 26, 2012

Seasonal Tree






I've been wanting make one of these seasonal tree wall hangings for a while.


Two home schooling family friends, with whom I was having a craft days at their places last year, had these felted trees that they had made on their walls. I would look at those pictures longingly and kept thinking to myself I really need to pull my finger out and make one of these for my home. I always admired the seasonal wool tree pictures that I saw on blogs and in a book, More Magic Wool by Angelika Wolk-Gerche, which I bought a few years ago. So it has been on my craft 'to do' list for a while now.


Last week there was a felting day with a family support group that Lou and I are in. Just over a year ago Lou was diagnosed with PDD-NOS / Atypical Autism . This is the first time that I have ever mentioned it on my blog. I never really had the desire to talk about it so openly to the bloggerverse. This blog has mainly been about my crafty adventures, not my personal (well, Lou's) stuff. I have to say that blogging and looking at blogs has been my escape from this reality to keep me sane...:)



If you are a regular reader, you probably noticed that I've changed my blog name. The name Loopity Lou, which I started with a few years ago, came up because while I was breast feeding Lou, I would knit. Lou was on the boob a lot so I would pass the time by knitting. Being a bub, Lou would grab at the wool and get tangled in loops of wool. My nick-name for him was 'Loopity Lou'. I used to have to explain that to people who know us when I would mention the name of the blog. I would get a few odd looks knowing what was going on with Lou. I thought that now we have moved our home and had a huge change in our lives, my blog need a new name too. Anyway, I'm babbling on and getting away from what I was posting about.....


The family support group does activities for families (well, MUMs) and Wet Felting was one of those. We were meant to make a banner to represent our family. There was only a few of us there and I asked if I could do my own thing, which was OK. I've done wet felting a few times so I kind of knew what I was doing. I brought my own wool along just in case they didn't have the colour range that I would like to work with.


It was just as well I did, as I didn't like the colours that they had. I used their white pre-felted back, for which I'm grateful as it saved me so much time layering the wool to make the back of the wall hanging. The rest of the wool was from my stash from when I was needle felting. It was so much fun and a workout. I needle felted the tree into place lightly, being careful not to break my needle because I didn't bring some foam to needle felt into. I think needle felting the tree into place on the pre-felted backing help it to not distort in the wet felting process. I was worried that the tree would smear all over the place and be a waste of wool.


I'm happy with how it turned out. Now I have to find some old branches on the ground and sew them onto the top and bottom of the wool picture and hang it up on the wall. And as the seasons change, change the wool lying on top of it according to the season.


10 comments:

Raggle Taggle Gypsy Girl said...

It does look great......And I think your name looks good.....I think if you move the words down so the red is more in the green it will contrast more than in the lighter colours......But it still looks good.....

Lynne said...

I'm sorry to hear about Lou - I'm glad you are building a support group around you. The felting looks great, can't wait to see it hanging on the branches.

Sea Star said...

Hugs Anne, I wish I were closer to you for a craft and cuppa marathon! Glad to hear a diagnosis has linked you in with support networks. A holiday up the coast is always on offer......
Mel
xx

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

Really impressed with your tree Anne! I love all the colours and textures you have created in the trunk and around the base. Looking forward to seeing you do one for each season! maybe : )

Pumpkin said...

I also really love the name you chose, it is nice and simple. Your felting project turned out so lovely! You are inspiring me to want to give it a try. Also, thank you for stopping by my blog.

Cindy Lane said...

That looks like a magical tree - well done.

Best of luck with your new home and news about your Lou.

Pixie said...

Hi Anne and thank you so much for stopping by at my 'crafte nook', and i am so glad you did, your blog is wonderful, and i shall be dropping by often.....

Lovely to hear from you Pixie x

Tonya Gunn said...

Your felting work looks beautiful. Wishing you peace as you journey with your son.

karisma said...

Very nice! I have given you an award on my kraft blog. Hugs xoxox

Bella Sinclair said...

What a fantastic idea! It looks wonderful. Great texture! And I'm glad to hear you have a great support group to help you navigate.