Inspiration Starter - A Felted Brooch
Here's any easy project for making a felted brooch. I started with two sizes of circles, one 3.5 inches, and one 2.5 inches diameters. I used a wool felt as a base, but you can use your favorite fabric or interfacing for your base. I hand felted the circles separately, and along the edges, I wrapped the extra roving to the back and lightly felted to hold in place. I was concentrating so much on the felting, I didn't even notice my circles had become lopsided. Well, since I was just practicing, I decided to continue on, making a mental note to watch the shape. I then added a contrasting color to the center of each flower circle. Now it was time to stack the two flowers, and see how it looked. I attached the two layers by concentrating the felting in the center making it tighter. This also leaves a nice area to attach something for the center of the flower. I added a rhinestone button, but there are many things you could use. With the sparkle in the center, I decided to add a little more by sewing some seed beads along the edge of each flower.
Well, as so many times, one thing leads to another. The flower was complete, but now I noticed an area that was really lopsided. :-) It was too late to add more felting, so I looked on my table, and there found some paper leaves and attached those on the back to fill in the uneven space. I finished it off by adding a smaller piece of wool felt to the back, using a slip stitch and fabric glue, then a pinback.
Next dilema came when it was time to take a photo. How can I display this and make it look like a piece of art. After trying several decorative papers, I remember another project I had started, and maybe the colors would work together.
I usually have several projects going at any one time. I had some fabric that I was trying the Adirondack sprays to dye. I first washed a piece of muslin, to remove any sizing. I twisted it to wring out the excess water, and spread it on a piece of plastic. While the fabric was still wet, I sprayed the fabric randomly with Terra Cotta, Butterscotch, and Lettuce color washes. When it was dry, I decided I like the wrinkles look, so didn't I didn't iron it, and just wrapped it around a canvas panel and glued on the back. So now I had a background to photograph my felted flower.
To complete the arrangement, I added a page of text, piece of ribbon, and lace scrap which was also dyed with the same Adirondack color washes. I think it's ready for the photo!
Paperwhimsy products used:
Wool Roving and Hand Felting Tools
Rande, you rock! Thanks for sharing the process of creating this wonderful brooch...I love the "story" as much as the "pin". Hugs, Carol
Posted by: Carol Stocker | March 08, 2008 at 11:09 PM