knitting a teddy bear

In the latest book from Femma you can find a pattern for a lovely knitted teddy bear.

I couldn't resist to knit one, just for the fun of it. 
He's a super cute cuddly bear, with a little green jacket.  I added a little piece of felt under the buttons for the eyes. Those buttons are old leather buttons from a sofa we had a long time ago. 

The button on the jacket has an anchor on it, so I guess the bear used to sail the seas before ending up with us.  I'm sure he has many interesting stories to tell from all his travels. 

it says 'hand knitted' on this little wooden heart.

 I used the Scheepjes Stone wash XL, knitted with 4mm needles.  The green jacket is on 3.5 needles.

Marie Suarez

Sometimes I need a change from knitting and crochet.  Once a year, I find myself craving for a little embroidery work.
So, when I discoverd the lovely shop 'het gaerehuys' in Ghent, I couldn't resist buying a kit.
It is from 'le chat dans l'aiguille', and they have wonderful patterns.

I could spend hours in this shop...

this little basket is called 'Summer'

a lot of different stiches and colours

So - still in emboidery-modus - when I read about a workshop patchwork & embroidery near my hometown, I quickly enrolled.
The teacher was Marie Suarez, a Spanish wonderwoman who makes the most exquisite designs.

It was just perfect.  We learned a lot of new techniques, stitches and tips&tricks to get a professional result.
This is it , after 2 days of 'hard' work.

working with felt & jeffitex

all 4 sides have different emboidery

would be nice for easter eggs too, in yellow/purple...

For more inspiration, I bought her delightful book filled with little embroidery projects.

Many thanks to Sophie Van Driessche and Patchwork Atelier Varsenare, for organising this wonderful and inspirational workshop, the great lunch in the garden and the homebaked cakes.

a felted bag

Last friday, I spent a day at Mieke Recour's atelier, making a felted bag.  I really enjoyed this, although it was pretty hard work.  We started from scratch : first we made a design,  then we choose our colours and worked our way through the many layers of wool, with the aid of soap, and hot water.

It was funny to see that we all had a different bag in the end.

this is how mine ended up.

our hands were sooo soft afterwards !

with an orange inside

Mieke came to help with the details

pretty in pink

everything is felted

a wonderful bag this is !

in black 'n white

with curly endings

this finishing touch !

accents in real sheeps wool

rolling and hitting the felt

and more soap...

Mieke at her table

so, what do you think ?

the black beauty

artistic !

nearly finished !

this one is ready, pffff - now it has to dry

We enjoyed the day very much, it was well organised and we were all proud to go home with the great bags !

felting

There is a lot more you can do with wool than knitting.  I was about to learn this at the 3-days workshop given by Mieke Recour.
We worked really hard at felting, it is quite intensive to make the wool change into felt.  You have to start very gently, but then just hit it, throw it around, slap it, get all your frustration out of your body, and the result is simply beautiful !
We could chose what to make, and as I'm not a scarf person, I made a few necklaces.
I love them, they are very light to wear, and I made them into the colours that fit my clothes.

earring made of silk cocons, handpainted

felted wool in spiral technique

plain felt ovals, but I love the colours

silk ribbons

handpainted, they were white when we started

needle felted rose

the only scarf I made : silk cut in fine strings

silk flowers on a felted base

silk is all handpainted

I'm quite proud of this one.

love those colours !

and here are some pics of the workshop itself :

Mieke explaining carefully what we can do

I love this necklace she made !

She has her own working place, an 'atelier'

silk ribbons painted in matching colours

lunch is served in the garden !

the spiral one and his secret : a plain plastic tube

Claire is making one too

Karin is making a book cover

ready to finish, or should I add more stuff ?

trial and error ?

look at that lovely stash of wool in the background....

Claire busy making her bookcover

it involved ironing, in this heat !

finishing the necklaces

I really enjoyed this 3 days.  Mieke is thinking of organising 'free ateliers' , that means you can come and join her in her atelier in De Haan, use all the material she has (and pay for it of course) - and she will help you when you have a problem or want to turn an idea into a scarf or necklace or handbag or anything.  She is a very good teacher, patient, friendly and empathic.  Check out her website for more info !