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:

  1. Anonymous9:52 AM

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

    m@mchenwears.com

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  2. 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!

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  3. Anonymous10:11 AM

    I love the bird, and the photo is yummy!

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

    prettyfnmess(at)gmail

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

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  5. So lovely! Count me in too!

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  6. Anonymous10:57 AM

    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

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  7. 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-

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  8. Anonymous11:54 AM

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

    Have a great day!

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

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  10. 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

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  11. 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!

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  12. 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 !!

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  13. 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.

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  14. 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)

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

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  16. Anonymous8:49 PM

    oh i love reusing things.

    lynt@blueman.com

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  17. 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!

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  18. 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!

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  19. Anonymous9:33 PM

    nice.
    smilingcas@hotmail.com

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  20. Please count me in! I just love your work!

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

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  22. 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!

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  23. Anonymous10:49 AM

    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

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  24. Anonymous11:26 AM

    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

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

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  26. 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.

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

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  28. Lisa,

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

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

    meg

    onourwayonline.com

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  30. Anonymous4:51 PM

    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

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  31. I'd love a chance to win this!

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

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  32. 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

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  33. 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!

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

    Lisa (Lil Fish)

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