Things to Do with Felt Beads/Balls

Here are a few things made from wet felted beads.
There are lots of tutorials on how to make felt balls. I learned to make them back in 2005, from one of the earliest ones found on Craftster.

There are fewer tutorials on what to do with the beads. Mostly one starts playing with the beads, piercing them with a needle or awl and letting their imagination lead the way.

Sometimes one just wants a no thinking, already planned project to guide them. This tutorial on "Thats Clever" Wool Felt "Bead Buddy" Charm by Gage Evans, uses a felt ball as the body. Looked pretty cute to me, so ordered some feet and hands from Pink supply and tried out Gage's tutorial. My little buddies look entirely different from hers, but would not have thought of making buddy charms on my own, so the tutorial lead me to work in a little different way than usual. Thanks Gage!

If you want to make some Wool Felt "Bead Buddies" of your own without making the felt beads too. You will find a number of hand made felt beads available on Etsy and elsewhere. I also offer a few in one of my Etsy Shops "Felt Sew Crafty" and one set is available through the Craft Show on Crafter's Challenge.

If you make some bead buddies, or have other ways to use felt beads or balls, give us a link in comments, we'd love to see what you make.

Thanks so much.
Craft on!

Felt Trim for Your Cap

photo used with permission of Kate, Beautiful Things Blog

Found this fabulous Hat Badge Tutorial through a standing "Google Search: felt hat." Oh what a joy. It is light, bright, sweet and so doable. Beautiful Things Blog went right into my blog reader. :D

Whether your desire is to trim a cap you made yourself or do like Kate did and add personality to a purchased cap, her quick and easy approach gives great results. Many thanks to Kate for a swell tutorial.

Celebrating Nora Blansett

Creator of this beautiful carved dragonfly pendant, voted as the


Winner of the April Challenge at Crafters Challenge website. This was Nora's first venture into carving rock. The dragonfly eyes are swarovski crystals. Bravo Nora for an amazing entry.

Nora's focus is Fantasy art in many forms - painting is her main medium. Find her range of work on her Gallery - Borealis Art. Be prepared to ohh and ahhh.

Summer 2008 Craft Show

Every season a new series of Booths opens on the Craft Show page at Crafters Challenge website. Don, the webmaster, is busy setting up the "grounds" while booth venders are are busy refreshing and preparing booths. Look for some new features when the Summer 2008 Craft Show commences on May 1.

Many previous vendors will return and new ones will premier. Each vendor gets to share up to 5 items. Many of the Crafters Challenge Craft Show participants have online stores so the Craft Show gives viewers a sweet introduction to a variety of goods. A few of the vendors only offer items at the Craft Show, making this the only place to purchase their goods online.

Some booths will remain essentially the same, some will retain similar products while moving to spring and summer color schemes, some such as mine will experience major make overs. While I don't have specifics on what others are doing, can tell you that in Jane's Felt Sew Crafty, I'm getting into the summer spirit by photographing bright straw caps and a fabric amulet pouch. For those who like to make things themselves watch for the beginner disk braiding kit and felt beads.

We hope you pop in on May 1 for the unveiling of the Summer Craft Show at Crafters Challenge.

*If you are interested in having a Craft Show Booth, contact Don with information on the Craft Show page.

Earth Day 2008 - Crafting Green

In the Crafters Challenge Yahoo Group Deborah reminded us it is Earth Day. There are many ways those of us who make things with our hands work green. Saving waste and energy through recycling, making over, using up, using earth friendly products.

So lets do a bit of sharing today, what do you do to lower your impact on the environment? Particularly what do you craft or make that re-uses, renews, recycles items. Please do share links to photos or your own blog articles in comments.

One of the things I do is searching for already shrunken sweaters in thrift stores. Then turn them into new items such as cell phone cosys.

Here is an example of a shrunken sweater sleeve.
Cut, re-sewn, added a vintage button, red cotton scraps for lining, and new rat tail cord and Scotty buttons.

Scotty - Wool Small Purse or Cell Phone Cosy

I make such items both for myself as well as for sale.

Look forward to seeing your ideas and what you make for fun or for profit. Thanks.

Caps for Spring

Like to sew, like caps, then let me tell you about this great online tutorial with down-loadable pattern from Curiously Crafty.

These hats are ones I made using the Curiously Crafty Pattern. BTW, while I do also sell hats, these hats are for myself or friends and not for sale. Curiously Crafty holds a Creative Commons License, allowing people such as you and I to share, use, make the pattern - for personal use, but not to sell.

These caps fit low on the head, and also make great cover ups for people who have lost their hair. Thus great for cancer caps to donate.
Enjoy!

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events at the Crafters Challenge website include the May Challenge. Enter an item in our challenge for a chance to make it into the Crafters Hall of Fame. All you need to do is send a picture and 3 word title to entry@crafterschallenge.com.

Also, the Winter Craft Show will end April 30th and the Summer Craft Show will begin May 1st and will run thru August 30th. Booths for the show can be reserved for $1.25 a month. Reservations for a booth can be made here.