Thursday, December 7, 2017

Art Bead Scene Ornament Hop

Every year the Art Bead Scene blog hosts an Ornament Hop where participants are encouraged to make holiday ornaments using handmade components or beads.  While this is their 7th year, it's my first time playing along and I had a blast!

This year I decided to try my hand at making some needle felted Christmas ornaments.  I got inspired last year when I saw a blog post by my friend Diana Ptaszynski over on the Art Jewelry Elements blog.  (You can see her tutorial HERE.)  I was intrigued by the idea and already had some wool roving that I had bought to felt some beads and focals...  now I just needed to collect some cookie cutters and better needles.  I gathered my supplies this fall and got busy once everything had arrived!

Here are a couple of process pictures...  First, me getting all stabby on a Christmas Tree.  I love that, assuming the cat would let me have my lap, I could work on these while stretched out on the couch watching bad tv or movies!


After getting the tree shape all felted, I started playing with how I wanted to embellish the design.  Thanks to Heather Powers for teaching me some basic bead embroidery on the Bead Cruise a few years ago!  (She also taught me how to needle felt and lit that initial spark in me.)


Now, drumroll please, I introduce to you my very first three needle felted ornaments!  I'm pretty pleased with how I was able to felt the eyes and nose of the snowman as well as the top of the stocking.  The snowman's hat isn't quite how I'd like it, but I still think it works.  I've gotten a new set of metal cookie cutters since I did these three and I think the new snowman cutter is going to give a more distinct hat shape.  Time will tell!  I had a large gauge needle that I bought to work with deerskin leather lace that worked great for pulling the ribbon through.  My last step for the tree ornament was to felt some extra wool roving to the back to cover the threads from the embroidery.


Thanks for stopping by to see my ornaments!  I hope you'll stop by the ABS Blog HERE to see what everyone else made too.  Whatever holidays you celebrate, I hope that you have a happy and joyous holiday season!


14 comments:

  1. You made a whole SET of ornaments!! WOW! Needle felting for this challenge was a great idea, and yours turned out perfectly! I have to admit that the hat on your snowman looks a bit like a yamaka. So maybe he's a Jewish snowman? I mean, snowmen aren't reserved for Christmas! Ha! Seriously though, fabulous job on this challenge. I've tried my had at a little needle felting before and know it can be a tedious process to stab at the felt over and over. Yours turned out so luscious and thick. Beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! I thought the same thing about his hat! I have to be in the right mood for needle felting... it's sort of meditative and I need that right now. :)

      Delete
  2. Just adorable!!! Love, love the little snowyman

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great job! I tried felting a few times. I even bought a wonderful book about it. That is where my felting ended--maybe next year. All of the ornaments are very cute. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are so cute! I have a whole snowman display up this year. I love the sweet simplicity of these that recall classic Christmas times. Enjoy the day! Erin

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are so cute, great job on your felting! I'm hoping to do some felted mittens after I finish my polyclay ornament orders. It's so relaxing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So fun! I love the trio. The embroidery on the tree looks so fab, so sweet and festive. For that little snowman I'd make him a hat brim with a piece of black felt. 🎼There must have been some magic in that old black hat they found...⛄️❄️

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are beautiful! I tried needle felting in the past but you've inspired me to do more of it! I don't know about the eyes but the carrot nose of the snowman is a piece of art!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Out of the three the stocking are my favourite followed by the Snowman - he looks as thought he is wearing a biking helmet . LOL. I first saw felting in Nepal in 2011 and found it magical. I have seen several tutorials online but never had the raw materials to try it. I would love to try it one day

    ReplyDelete
  9. OOH what a great idea to use the cookie cutter! What cute ornaments, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just recently learned needle felting too. Isn't it fun? I love your cute ornaments. They turned out great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's great you were able to revisit a technique you loved with a twist to make ornaments. Using the cookie cutters is a great idea. I love how you embellished your trio of sweet designs.

    ReplyDelete