The Funky Felter: books

My husband and I frequent the local Half Price Books store. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a chain of book stores with used books and some new books at half price or less. You can also trade in your old books, music, and movies for store credit or cash. We really like browsing there because you just never know what you might find. It is also neatly organized just like the larger, more expensive chain book stores. Half Price Books has a bit of a hodge podge of a selection though because it is primarily a used book store.

I am always trolling the craft books section for anything felting, fiber art, spinning, dyeing, and textile related. It seems that most people want to keep that type of book because they are hard to find used. I must have gotten lucky this weekend though. I found not one, but two wonderful felting books! One is Nuno Nouveau by Liz Clay, and the other one is Sweet Needle Felts by Jenn Docherty. They are both well-written books with wonderful photos (and I am all about the photos when it comes to instructional books). I'm so glad to have a couple sweet new books to add to my ongoing fiber books collection. And, I scored both of them for just a little over $13. A great investment and a pretty amazing deal if you ask me.

Being preoccupied (to say the least!) with baby on the way, I haven't been a very good blogger when it comes to feltmaking and fiber arts. My apologies! Hopefully, today I can rectify that a bit by posting a recap of some useful feltmaking resources as well as sharing a nuno felted scarf that I completed a few weeks ago.

On to the resource info............
As some of you might have read in my previous post, I was suppose to do a feltmaking demo for a fiber arts class on Wednesday, but due to my contractions and order of rest by the doctor's office, I just couldn't physically do the tutorial that I had planned. I did however make a little info sheet for the class with some feltmaking resources listed. I thought that I'd share those with you. Some of the info, I have posted before, but it has been several months so I thought that a recap might be appreciated, and perhaps it will redeem myself for being so very neglectful in not posting more fiber art and feltmaking related things. Below you'll find some of my favorite resources - both in print and online. Please be aware that what you see below are just a few of the numerous good sources to go to for information and supplies. There are many, many more! And, if you are interested in expanding your horizons, I also suggest that you check out my blog roll in the right hand side bar. It is filled with fiber art and feltmaking related blogs. Also, please feel free to leave a comment with your favorite information and supply resources. I love it when readers share, and I learn so much!

Suggested Book Resources
Uniquely Felt by Christine White (my favorite of all time!)
Felt to Stitch by Sheila Smith
Feltmaking - Fabulous Wearables, Jewelry & Home Accents by Chad Alice Hagen
The Art of Feltmaking by Anne Vickrey
(These are just a few of my favorites, but really any feltmaking book that you can get your hands on will be inspiring and helpful so check out your local library or bookstore!)

Suggested Online Resources
The Felting Forum
Feltmaker’s List FAQ
Craftster’s Fiber Art Forum
Craft Gossip’s Felting Blog
(Once again, these are just a few of my favorites. There is an amazing amount of free online resources for feltmakers out there so search and browse the net. It is worth your time!)

Suggested Supply Sources

BULK ROVING & FIBERS
The Sheep Shed Studio
R.H. Lindsay Company

TOOLS & FIBERS
The Yarn Barn
Halcyon Yarn
Outback Fibers
Mielke’s Fiber Arts

SILK & DYES
Thai Silks
Dharma Trading Co.

I was also scheduled to do demonstrations on wet felting for the class. I had planned to show students both the roll or bubble wrap method for a nuno felted scarf as well as the resist method for a purse base. Obviously, this didn't happen, but I did find some wonderful online tutorials for both and was able to pass that information along to the students. I thought that you might be interested as well. (I have the greatest admiration for both feltmakers, Pat Spark and Nicola Brown, who have provided such wonderful and free online information. They are professionals to aspire to. Thanks to them for sharing!)

Suggested Online Tutorials
Making a Flat Sheet of Felt by Pat Spark
How to Make a Nuno Felted Scarf by Nicola Brown
3-D Feltmaking Enlosed Resist Technique by Pat Spark

So that's my little recap of feltmaking information and supply resources. I hope that you find it to be somewhat useful and decide to add your own suggestions in the comments.

Now on to my Show-and-Tell for the day........ a nuno felted scarf. I made this scarf a few weeks ago and had forgotten to post it until today. As you might notice, I am also working on my photos. I've decided to clean up the backgrounds and stick to a basic white. So far, I think it is working well and looks more professional, but you can let me know what you think.