Furry friends & hairy creatures
Issue Twenty Four
Be inspired to make and create for your home
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Furry friends and hairy creatures
Issue Twenty Four 2015
Welcome Where would we be without our furry friends and hairy creatures? For many people, animals and especially pets are an important source of love and friendship. It is also a well-known fact that pets are good for our health. It's obvious that we can benefit from taking regular exercise when walking a dog. However, it is not commonly known that over the last thirty years, there has been increasing scientific evidence that pets can help to keep us well. In addition to medical benefits, assisting with daily activities and working with us, animals can help us emotionally, psychologically, and socially. Just the presence of our pets can lift our spirits and help us relax. Pets are also great caregivers. They keep us company when we’re sick or feeling down. They can make us feel safe while we’re home alone and they keep an eye on the house while we’re out. Pets can greatly influence how we feel about ourselves and life in general. They are teachers and healers of extraordinary talent. When planning for this issue it is no wonder that our furry friends and hairy creatures came to mind. They are a very important part of our lives and it seemed right that we should give thanks and honour them, by making them the inspiration for our latest sewing projects, and the theme for this issue. Enjoy!
Warmly Lenna & Janice
Inside this issue: App Instructions
2
Welcome
3
Feature Photo
4
Designer Profile
5
Designer Project Felted Mouse
8
Two Cats Purse
13
Etsy Find
16
Let’s Decorate
17
Halion the Horse
18
Book Review
21
Inspiration Page
22
Woodland Animals Garland
23
Wally Koala
25
Video Demonstration Let’s Create
29 30
Binky Bear Wheat Bag
31
Feature Photo
34
Pinterest Favourite Finds
35
Crazy Creatures Laptop Bag Fabric Find
36 39
Blogger Find
40
Subscriber Page
41
Printable Page
42
Newsletter
43
We need your help
44
Back issues
45
Copyright Disclaimers
46
Being creative is not a hobby, it’s a way of life.
SARAFINA FIBER ART One-of-a-kind needle felted sculptures created by artist Sara Renzulli. Supplier of quality materials for needle felting, resources and friendly support to make felting fun and easy for anyone.
Designer Profile
Sara Renzulli of Sarafina Fiber Art
Sarafina Fiber Art stemmed from the seeds of creativity and business that have always lived inside of me. After 20 years as a fine artist, painting with oils and pastels, the rural and equine world, I found needle felting. I instantly fell in love with the process of sculpting with wool and began to develop my own techniques to take my work to the next level. Before long, I opened an Etsy shop and established my reputation for lifelike needle felted animals. I could not make enough foxes, bunnies, donkeys, and ponies! I began teaching workshops locally and found that I really enjoy sharing what I have learned. Soon I realized that I could grow my business by instructing and supplying quality needle felting materials online. Unlike painting, this avenue could grow beyond my own two hands and become more fulfilling with a presence in both online and local communities.
“Creativity is the fuel of our work. We would not feel fulfilled if we could not make our visions come to be.� Today Sarafina consists of six hard working creative minds in 3000 square feet. We package and ship daily for our web-based mail order business. One third of our space is dedicated to our store where we sell my work as well as the work of over twenty other artists. Another section of our space is dedicated to workshops; we host needle felting workshops, wet, 2D, and nuno felting workshops, spinning, kids classes, painting, jewellery making and much more. The Sarafina Art House has become a local hub for creativity.
Designer Photo Gallery
We use YouTube to promote our instruction and Supply Packs that go hand in hand with our free tutorials. Because searching YouTube can become a spider web, we have all of our Tutorials listed in order on the Tutorial Page of our website so you can easily access the episode that you need.
The Supply Packs have all of the materials that you need to create one or more of the project. They are a great way to become familiar with our terminology, wires, tools, and fibers so that you can branch out on your own and order supplies for your projects. Once you understand armatures, wire gauge, Core Wool, Top Coats, Pelts, and so on, you can use the same supplies and techniques to create whatever you can imagine from tiny to large.
NEEDLE FELTING BASICS An overview of what is needed to begin needle felting. Sara goes over basic felting background, types of wool, tools, and safety.
MOUSE SERIES 1: ARMATURE
Tap here to buy the mouse supply kit
This is the first video in the Mouse Series. Sara Renzulli walks you through building an armature for the mouse, including tiny front toes.
Requirements List One 3½” (9cm) purse frame with clasp 10” x 12” (25cm x 30cm) each of main fabric, lining and thin fusible batting Double sided fusible paper Two 3” x 4”(8cm x 10cm) rectangles of wool felt No 9 Crewel needle DMC embroidery thread to match felt colours Strong thread for attaching purse body to frame Scissors 12” (30m) length ribbon General sewing supplies
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Two Cats Purse Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate Size 4½” x 4½” (12cm x 12cm) Cat lovers will adore this whimsical purse. Ideal for those loose coins floating around the bottom of your handbag or make as the perfect gift idea for any cat fan.
Step 1 ~ Print the template page, then cut out the purse body shape on the line. Place the purse body template onto your selected main fabric which has been folded (as indicated), wrong sides together. Pin and cut out on the line. Repeat for the purse lining and the batting. Trim the batting back approximately ½” from the edge of the lining. Centre and iron onto the wrong side of your lining fabric.
Transfer the cat and tail shapes from the template page onto the paper side of double sided fusible paper. Cut out each shape roughly and iron onto your chosen felt using a warm, dry iron. Note that the tail colours have been reversed. Cut out the cat and tail shapes on the line.
Cats are like music, it’s foolish to try and explain their worth to those who don’t appreciate them.
STEP 1
Requirements List 14" (35cm) length main horse fabric 7” x 11” (18cm x 28cm) black fabric for hooves 4” x 7” (10cm x 18cm) wool fabric or felt for saddle blanket 5" x 8" (13cm x 20cm) felt for saddle 50g ball of variegated black novelty wool Small off cuts of cream and black felt for eyes DMC embroidery threads to match felts chosen Fibrefill stuffing Sharps needles Freezer paper General sewing supplies
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Halion the Horse
Tap here for pattern templates
Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size 11” x 15” (28cm x 38cm) A ¼” seam has been used throughout this project Delight those young at heart with Halion the Horse who is sure to become a best friend. Made from a wool fabric blend and embellished with a felt saddle, he would look equally good made from a colourful cotton fabric. Step 1 ~ Cut out the templates pieces supplied on the drawn line. Double the main fabric over, then pin the horse template pieces (body, ears, head gusset, and under gusset) well onto the main fabric. Cut around each template and set aside. Repeat this process for the hoof templates, pinning and cutting from the black fabric, and for the saddle which is cut from wool felt. Transfer any markings with a water soluble marker.
STEP 1
Let’s Get Crafty Requirements List Fat quarter of animal print fabric Double sided fusible adhesive paper Small offcuts of wool felt Small curved blade scissors Bakers twine 1 yard (1 metre) ric rac or ribbon Sewing needle and thread General sewing supplies
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STEP 1
Woodland Animal Garland Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate length of garland 1 yard (1 metre) Create this cute woodland animal garland in no time at all. Use the garland to decorate a child’s room, a picture frame or string across a window. A clever and easy technique that can be adapted to any print fabric.
STEP 1
Step 1 ~ Choose a fat quarter of fabric with an animal print. Select the animals that you would like to add to the garland and cut out roughly. Cut a piece of fusible double sided paper, (such as Heat Bond) slightly smaller than the cut out animal. Place the cut out animal on top of the web side of the paper and using a warm dry iron, press the fabric to the fusible paper. Repeat this process for all animals.
Note: If your fusible paper is larger than the print, it will adhere to your ironing board, be sure to make it smaller. An alternative is to iron a full sheet to the back of the fabric print, however there will be a lot of waste.
Mini Knitting Project Requirements List Small amount of grey and cream wool (I used Bluebell 5ply) 4mm (6 US, 8 UK/Canada) needles Black, grey, green wool felt DMC embroidery thread black #310, white, and Forest green #988. No 9 Crewel needle No 14/18 Knitters needle Fibrefill or wool roving Freezer paper General sewing supplies
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Wally Koala
Watch our video to see a demonstration on knitting
Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate Size 3” x 4” (8cm x 10cm)
Wally’s ears.
STEP 1
The Koala is native to Australia. These cute and furry animals have a preference for Eucalypt trees, eat four to six times a day and sleep up to twenty hours a day! Because of their ‘teddy bear’ like face, they have been referred to as bears when in fact they are marsupials. Wally loves to sit amongst the eucalypt leaves. He reminds me of a toy koala I played with many years ago as a child.
Step 1 ~ Body Cast on 16 stitches using the cream or light coloured wool. Starting with a knit row, work 20 rows in stocking stitch (1 row Knit, 1 row Purl). Change wool to grey. Working in Stocking stitch, work 50 rows in grey. Cast off.
Requirements List Two 7” x 11” (18cm x 30cm) brown wool felt Small off cuts of cream and brown wool felt and DMC embroidery thread to match 8” x 17” (20cm x 45cm) main fabric 2 cups wheat, 1 cup dried lavender 6” x 16” (15cm x 40cm) cream homespun 15” (40cm) ribbon No 9 Crewel needle Applique pins Freezer paper General sewing supplies
Tap to shop for requirements Safety Notes ~ Use wheat that is free of chemicals ~ Do not over heat wheat bags ~ Wheat bags should not be given to small children and should only be used as a heat pack for direct application to the body ~ Do not use wheat bags as a bed warmer because they can be a fire risk ~ Always remove the wheat pouch
Binky Bear Wheat Bag Friend Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size 6” x 10½” (15cm x 27cm) A ¼” seam has been used throughout this project Snuggle up with Binky and she will smell wonderful and keep you warm. Perfect for easing painful ailments, Binky is quick and easy to make. She would make an ideal gift. Step 1 ~ Using the template sheet provided, trace the head, arms, leg, eye and nose shapes onto the smooth side of the freezer paper. Cut out on the drawn line, then secure to the corresponding wool felt using a warm, dry iron. Cut out carefully using a small, sharp pair of scissors. Cut out the ear template and reuse the arm and leg template, to cut out each shape from the corresponding fabric.
when heating and replace the wheat and lavender after a period of time if the wheat begins to smell “toasty”
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STEP 1
Requirements List 13” (35cm) length main bag fabric, 17” (45cm) if directional 13” (35cm) length lining fabric 13” (35cm) length ultra firm stabilizer 3” x 5” (8cm x 13cm) off cut of batting for flap Quick vanishing marker Basting spray Rotary cutter, mat and ruler Large feature button Large press stud Walking foot General sewing supplies
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If you are making this project
Crazy Creatures Laptop Computer Bag Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size 12” x 16” (30cm x 40cm)
for a laptop computer, measure your laptop and then add 2” to the width and length when cutting out. This will accommodate the thickness of the laptop and will allow for seam allowances.
A ¼” seam has been used throughout this project Length is based on fabric 44” (112cm) wide Keep your laptop protected and travel in style with this colourful bag. This project would also be ideal as a weekend bag to take to the beach or for a sturdy bag to take to town. Whatever the occasion, this bag is sure to become a favourite. Step 1 ~ Cut two 13” x 17” rectangles from your main bag fabric and the ultra firm stabilizer. Use the basting spray to secure the fabric to the stabilizer, smoothing out all wrinkles. Cut two 12½” x 16½” rectangles from your lining fabric.
STEP 1
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