I am so enamored of The Nightjar’s (Tarra Lyons) encaustic and oil paintings. They are truly wonderful. Even better, her reproduction prints are very affordable.
Are they not gorgeous? The Nightjar also has a new blog featuring some pretty amazing finds of her own.
It’s Monday (again) and there’s not much to talk about as everyone is busy preparing for and/or celebrating the holidays. Why are they ALL at the same time of year? Anyway, my new toy arrived over the weekend and all of you needle felters out there need to know how great it is. 
Last week I ordered one of these pretty little wood needle holders from GOTWOOL ($13.50). Sure, you could get the plastic single needle tool from Clover but wouldn’t you rather have a pretty, handmade walnut one? Honestly, not only is it more attractive, this one is much more comfortable to use, too. I didn’t even realize how badly I needed one until I used it. It felt more natural than struggling to keep a grip on a bare needle. Also, it’s a little less expensive than the plastic ones. What more could you want? If you needle felt regularly, you need one of these.
Oh, wouldn’t it make a lovely gift for the felter in your life? Yes. Yes it would!
(I do recommend the Clover Needle Felting Mat instead of foam for several reasons but bigger and cheaper would be better. If anyone has a suitable alternative, please let us know.)
If you’re a regular visitor to my blog, you’ve probably noticed I haven’t been updating much lately. Life has gotten complicated! New boss at the day job, issues with the ex, the kid and health, jury duty, failing computers, etc… At any rate, I’ve decided to take a break from blogging and selling so I can deal with all this fun stuff and, hopefully, regather in time for the holidays.
If you should have a desperate need for something felty, feel free to contact me and we can work something out. 
In the meantime, please check out the work of some of my friends and fellow felters:
Buddies:
busterandboo.etsy.com – scrabble tile pendants
idyllhands.etsy.com – amazing jewelry
kieutiepie.etsy.com – industrial jewelry and cute robots
punkinhead.etsy.com – upcycled totes and more
uniquedesignsbykathy.etsy.com – handspun yarns, knit and crochet
woolies.etsy.com – original knitted soft toys
Felted goodies: NFEST (needle felting street team) Items
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ve no doubt heard of Kathy Withers. She and our friend Holly are, in my little world, the Fiber Mavens – my teachers and friends. Their styles are about as different as they can possibly be but they are both very talented at spinning, knitting, crochet and probably anything else having to do with yarn from fleece to finished product.
Kathy is sort of our hub. She has more energy than two average humans and is one of the most generous people I know. She owns and runs a working fiber ranch with a variety of sheep, goats, llama, alpaca and angora rabbits. There are even a few chickens, ducks and geese around. Her property is also home to Unique Designs by Kathy, a wonderful fiber and yarn shop and studio (this is where my needle felting workshops are held). Kathy’s style is what the art world refers to as “loose”. It is fun, free and fabulously random. If she was a painter, her work would be compared to the impressionists. 
I try not to go to Kathy’s place too often because it is so lovely and peaceful that I have a really hard time leaving. Most people seem to have the same problem. If you visit UDK to check out her yarns, you will probably be offered a tour (call ahead if this is your plan) and end up seeing the entire process from animal to yarn to felted landscape or freeform shawl. Her ranch is also home to the Tucson Wool Festival which will take place October 25th this year. Nearly every Saturday, groups are there to learn wet felting, free form knit & crochet, or to just hang out and spin.
Kathy’s yarns are unique, indeed. Her favorites, coiled and embellished, are like none I’ve ever seen. If you can’t make it to the ranch, a small assortment of Kathy’s yarns are available in her online shop. I’m sure if you contact her looking for something special, she would be happy to send you photos of a few of her yarns that may meet your needs.
I met Holly, a recent transplant from Illinois, at Kathy’s ranch. Holly is a beautiful, gentle and sweet woman whose talent is probably deeper than she knows. She is very grounded and intelligent and exudes calm. Could be all the yoga… Her work is what I think of as “tight” – it is very precise. If she were a painter, her work would be among the great realists.
Holly is an admitted fiber addict. She has a tendency to buy entire fleeces and spend hours picking, dyeing, carding (and I suspect fondling) her fiber stash. She then goes to her spinning wheel and lovingly spins thin, consistent yarns for her knitting. Some of her yarns and batts are available in her online shop. Perhaps most impressive to me, she designs her own knitting patterns (for her friend Leslie at Samson Angoras)! Recently, we’ve gotten to watch the process as she creates a stunning, lacy cowl. She is also a very accomplished quilter and is finishing a degree in computer science. What a woman!
To learn more about these amazing ladies, check out their sites and blogs:
I just love altered art and truly unique jewelry. Lynn Davis has combined the two to create what she refers to as “invented vintage”. Her one-of-a-kind creations have the appearance of a treasure you would find in Grandma’s attic but are composed mainly of new materials. (You can always pretend it was Grandma’s!) Vintage images, rich patinas, natural elements and lots of love coalesce into pieces that are ready to write their own history.
Aren’t they just gorgeous? To see more of Lynn’s fabulous creations, visit her lovely SHOP and her blog.
The Etsy forums are always buzzing with questions about running an online business. There are plenty of experienced sellers around to advise and critique. One of the quietest, but I think, most informed and blissfully logical around is Pamela of TotusMel. Yes, I blogged about her shop in May and began reading her blog. She has some really useful and honest things to say to new and experienced sellers alike. Here are some of my favorite posts:
On pricing your work: You Want How Much For That?
Why you aren’t selling: Why Am I Not Famous Yet?
Addressing the ongoing issue with item views: Oh, Lookey Loos!
Even if you aren’t a seller, you will enjoy reading her blog. Her intelligence, honesty and gentle humor are worth sticking around for. She’s also a very, very talented modern needle tatter. If she’s beautiful, too, I’ll have to hate her!
Etsy Project Embrace Donation Page:
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