Saturday, February 28, 2009

A wooly giveaway


I've been spring cleaning lately, going through the studio and putting excess supplies in my "extras" shop, and through the closets and donating bags of unworn clothing. I found, tucked away in a closet, my wool dress coat. It is several sizes too small (sadly), and not really my style anymore but holding it in my hands it was clear that it wanted to be useful to me somehow. It was begging to be cut up and used for crafting, and that's just what I did.




Because the weave of the coat was so dense, there wasn't really any felting that needed to be done. I cut it up at the seams, pulled out the liner and cut off the buttons, and washed it on hot for two cycles to make sure it was clean. After it dried and I ironed it out, it was a beautiful pile of felt - 2 and a half pounds worth - that was remarkably similar to commercial 3mm wool felt. Making your own wool felt is remarkably easy and if you're a wool lover I encourage you to try it. I'm so pleased with how it turned out that I'm offering a small giveaway to celebrate and share the recycled wool love.



I'm offering a small stack of recycled wool pieces and a little blackbird brooch made from the wool to one random reader. All you have to do is comment here and make sure I have a way to contact you should you be the winner. I'll be randomly drawing a name on Monday and will post the winner here.

Good luck!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a sweet tweetie, and the wool sounds super too :) Please count me in!

m@mchenwears.com

Jessie Keating said...

Me too! I love to work with wool, but it's so expensive unless you can find something to felt up and cut up. I need to be better about looking at thrift stores and such. :O) And lovely brooch too!

Anonymous said...

I love the bird, and the photo is yummy!

Amanda said...

How beautiful! Please count me in, thank you for the chance!

prettyfnmess(at)gmail

http://prettyfnmess.blogspot.com
http://kindovermatter.blogspot.com

N. said...

So lovely! Count me in too!

Anonymous said...

Blackbird singing in the dead of night...take this broken wings and learn to fly...all your life...you were only waiting for this moment to arise"

hugs
tizi

Janice said...

4 and 20 Blackbirds Baked in a Pie.....
I think it is wonderful that you are still finding time to be creative, some how or other I am sure a whole night of sleep still isn't happening! Best Wishes to you-

Anonymous said...

Love the little blackbird! What a generous giveaway, count me in! :)

Have a great day!

Ahama said...

Lovely birdy, and what will be from the felt? Who knows, we will see :))

NanaBeast said...

Lisa,
What gorgeous black wool. If I were so blessed as to win it I would be making black cat pins, similar to the sweet little bird. Your work is so inspiring.

Denise Leavens
aka the Nana Beast

Brittany | the Home Ground said...

That is beautiful wool, Lisa. I think your coat has been very useful! I think you already know how much I would love the birdie and wool :) Thanks for the chance, friend!

Sonia / COZY MEMORIES said...

Oooh Lisa, this is such a generous giveaway ! I didn't even know you could make your own felt this way ! (frankly, how silly is that ?!) I'd love it if you could count me in, the blackbird is so awesome (and it's one of my favorite birds) that I simply can't let this one go !! Thanks again for hosting this, my friend. Sending you six (and all furry & feathery friends) much love xoxoxo Have a great weekend !!

Annie said...

Hey, I'm hooked, this is a great giveaway :) I already have two of your birds (an owl and a robin) and I'd love to have a little blackbird to add to the group.

kate said...

what an awesome thing to giveaway! i'm thinking now if i have an old coat i could do this with....

: )

kate (AT) the clean plate club (DOT) (NET)

Christie said...

What a great idea and such a cute bird! I think it's time to go to the thrift store.

Anonymous said...

oh i love reusing things.

lynt@blueman.com

Sue said...

I have just started to use recycled wool sweaters as well and love it!
The color and texture of the felt looks great!
I love your creations
Have a wonderful evening!

Laura said...

I'm about to attempt felting for the first time - I found an old wool sweater of my dad's which is a nice camel type colour. I'd love to have some black to play with too!

Anonymous said...

nice.
smilingcas@hotmail.com

Birgitta Sif said...

Please count me in! I just love your work!

erin, maker of chimes said...

It'd be fun to see what the winner creates :)

Elizabeth said...

I adore your little birdies and would love to add another to my collection. Plus it would be great to try my hand at making my own!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful wool and what a great idea! It has inspired me to go rummaging for second hand woolens. Your blackbird is lovely, too. Thank you and please count me in!
lc

Anonymous said...

Hi Lisa!! As always, your ideas are wonderful and thoughtful...the blackbird is a joy to look at!! Please count me in...Take Care,
jenterry56

big.tea said...

This is such a great idea! I love the inspiration to reuse and create something new and beautiful.

Alison said...

oh please add me in to your list. You are one of my inspirations. I would be so happy to give that little bird a good home.

valerie2350 said...

very cute!!! and great that you're able to give new life to the old wool

Heather Eddy said...

Lisa,

Great idea! Glad you are having a couple of moments here and there to do something creative! - Heather (princessheah(at)yahoo(dotcom).

Megan said...

I love the bird and have a ton of uses for the wool pieces.

meg

onourwayonline.com

Anonymous said...

i use wool with my embellisher and would love some of your stash! thats a shame about the coat though.
d.wolff
ninemlskid@aol.com

ikkinlala said...

I'd love a chance to win this!

ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

Vintage Inspired Jewelry said...

Lisa,
I didn't know you had a blog. Congrats on the new addition. You know I LOVE everything In your shop and would love to win your lovely giveaway. Bless you,
Kathi

Amanda said...

Count me in! I love felt, even though I haven't been inspired lately to make anything with it.. And that little bird is too cute!

Lisa at lil fish studios said...

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! We have a winner so I'll be closing comments.

Lisa (Lil Fish)

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