Felted ball bracelet

I just finished making this cute bracelet, using a kit by Handbehg Felts I purchased at International Quilt Market last week. You can buy a kit just like it on their Etsy shop here. It retails for $39. Kinda pricey, but it includes all the beads, findings and the 50 wool felted balls, which are pretty expensive on their own.

The kits come in four finishes (silver, gold, antique copper, or gun metal). If you want a bracelet with a specific color of felt balls, you can buy the findings separately from the felt balls. 

It was pretty easy to put together, but you do need to know some basic jewelry skills, such as how to open and close a jump ring, and how to roll the wire at the ends of the beads. And you need small jewelry pliers. The bracelet is surprisingly light to wear, but makes a big fashion statement!

International Quilt Festival, Part 2

“New York Jazz” by Patricia Mayer & Karen Watts won first place in the Traditional Pieced category

Here are more beauties from the 2010 International Quilt Festival in Houston!

“Dancing Granny” by Neva Waldt
http://www.artdollsbyneva.com/

“Time for a Nap” by Pearl Gonzalez

“Metropolis in Bloom” by Kathryn Botsford

“Are They Real?” by Jan Campbell
From the ArtBra exhibition
http://www.artbra.org/

“The Bayeax — Tapestry to Quilt — Sample” by Pam Holland
http://web.mac.com/pamholland3/Pam_Holland_Designs/About_Me_1.html

“The Bayeax — Tapestry to Quilt — Sample” (detail) by Pam Holland

Here is info from Pam about this piece, as listed on the card next to it: "The Bayeux Tapestry has been my passion for the past 5 years. I am in the process of creating the entire tapestry as a quilt. It is 238 feet long. This piece is my sample to work out the technicalities of making a quilt from a tapestry. I have illustrated with pigment ink to create dimension in the quilt. Techniques: Satin stitch appliqué, free motion quilting. Materials: Cotton fabric, batting, backing. Design source: Illustrations by Pam Holland from the Bayeux Tapestry, 1066."

“Dream Story” byYoshimi Umemoto

“Last Chance, Last Dance” by Moira Cannata won third place in the Traditional Pieced category

“Last Chance, Last Dance” (detail) by Moira Cannata

“Orphan Blossoms” by Timna Tarr
http://www.qtailoredquilts.com

“Facade” byMelissa Sobotka won a Judges’s Choice award
http://msfiberart.com/

“Tiny Dancer” by Margo Fiddes
http://www.margoquilts.com/

“Heron Happiness” by Kathy McNeil
http://www.kathymcneilquilts.com/

Turn-a-Tie Flowers

As they say on Monty Python, “And now, for something completely different…”

I’ve been posting like mad about Quilt Market and International Quilt Festival (and there is lots more to come) but I thought I’d take a break for a moment, because this is my 500th post! Wow. 

This is Amy Barickman’s new design for Indygo Junction. It is called Turn-a-Tie Flowers, and I bought it at Market because I have about a million old men’s ties in my attic right now. My mom had been collecting them, and had gotten the collections from my dad, and a bunch of his friends after they retired. 

You can use either old ties or regular fabric. I made the one pictured above last night, and the directions are very clear and easy to follow. They were fast and fun to make. 

I’m going to make some flower brooches to give as gifts, and some for embellishing wearables, and some for pretty pins for holiday gifts. And don’t you think this would be darling to do for men’s boutonierres at a wedding, instead of traditional flower ones? 

If you don’t have a huge bag of old ties in your attic like I do, they are very easy (and cheap!) to find at thrift stores. 

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment on this post before noon EST on Saturday, November 13. Tell me if you have old ties hanging around your house. If so, what you were planning to do with them? Or maybe you have already made a cool project with them; if that’s the case, tell me about it!

There’s still a bit more Quilt Market loot to give away in my next few posts, so please come back for a chance to win! 

WE HAVE A WINNER: Melinda wins the Turn-a-Tie pattern!