I don't know about ya'll, but I have gotten so that I like having little wire armatures in most of my felted animals...  It gives them a frame of sorts, and offers stability, and makes them able to be gently posed in several different positions.  I use aluminum wire because it is soft enough to bend by hand, and it is still very light in weight, and it doesn't rust.  I personally tend to make the little armatures that stop at the neck, versus extending that piece that would be felted up into their head. Here's a little picture of one of my armatures that I use in most of my pieces...  This one already has little hooves felted onto it... it's actually a little set of donkey legs ready to go! Do you use armatures in your felted creations?

  Well, here it is...  the local Art Stroll has rolled around, and I have signed up!!  Actually, I signed myself AND my Mom up!!  I will have my needle-felted critters, and she will have her lovely handbound journals!  We've only done one trade show type of event before, and it was super small, and probably not the right venue for our goods, actually... but we had fun and made a little money to boot, so we thought we would give it another try! 

Hopefully, we have thought it all out and won't forget anything...  keep your fingers crossed for us!  Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for good weather too... that's always a necessity it seems!! I've read lots of blogs, and lots of posts that include advice for people attempting these shows, and I feel like I'm armed to make this a successful event for us!!  If you're in the local area... Yorktown, Virginia...  come check it out!!  It's Sunday, September 24th, and we'll be there... with bells on!! :)

I don't know about you... if you've ever tried needle felting before, or just been thinking about maybe giving it a try... or maybe you're a seasoned felter...  whatever your situation, hopefully you've found this page because this strange, quirky art has peaked your interest... just like the rest of us!  Hopefully, you will become addicted to it once you realize just how much fun it can be!! Just imagine... turning fluff into stuff...  it still amazes me every time I create something, that it actually turns into something just by stabbing wool fluff with those crazy sharp barbed needles!  I mean, honestly... there is NOT ENOUGH TIME to create everything that I have on my list... because the sky is the limit!!  My intent, through this blog, is to share my experiences, and what I have learned, and am STILL learning as I go... maybe some of my tidbits will make your experience better, or easier, or clearer quicker!  Bottom line...  let's have fun!! :)