Working away and video on the way

I have been working hard on my felted animals and finally working on my childrens bathroom incorporating my felt addiction. Meet Sammy the seagull and my art in progress the mermaid under the sea. I have found a new love for the possibilities of using felt and i have a severe bug for making things in an almost childish way. The bathroom still has a long way to go now i have decided on a nautical ocean theme, i expect ill post more pictures as it progresses but for now the seagull stands proud in his new home watching as my kids soak the bathroom at bath time lol.

Sammy sits on driftwood in a wooden bowl of shells

sammy  on his driftwood

Still incomplete but getting there slowly

I have been working on a video showing you how to make a mouse pin cushion by facing your felt with a gorgeous fabric and as soon as i do finish it i will upload both pattern and video here for your lovely eyes. I love seeing others work so why don't you show me your own by finding me on facebook.

I have sold a few items through my etsy, and wanted to share the custom bird and my new items for your input. Let me know what you think or go look at them on my store x

custom bird ordered via etsy

my mummy bird guarding her eggs

i think this is my favourite piece to date

I have ideas for so many things and i hope this addiction doesn't fade as quickly as it started , although i think my devotion to my little birds will live long as i just cant resist making them in every colour lol.

Maybe a rainbow of birds would be a sweet mobile over a baby's cot? who knows where my felt bag will take me next xx

As a last minute peek ill show you what i finished tonight and sold literally 4 minutes after i posted on my facebook and etsy...my felt gecko...i hope hes the first of many more little lizards to come xxx

Sharing my Easter bunny knitting pattern with you .

I spend so much of my time creating things, designing and coming up with things i sometimes forget to share some little tit bits with all of you. So i figured what better way than to give you all a treat with one of my knitting pattern designs... the variations of this sweet little toy are endless and all you need is some scraps felt, a couple seed beads and your chosen wool . This is a small toy perfect for baby hands or just as a cute shelf ornament.
I'm sharing my Easter bunny version seeing as Easter is just a short leap away, add it to baskets filled with chocolate eggs or as little gifts to keep the children company as they hunt.

This pattern is knitted using oddments of DK wool in your chosen colour, size 12 needles work but i prefer the thinnest toy needles 2 1/4 mm for a tighter finish.
small amount of stuffing
oddments of felt for tummy and nose in your chosen colour, seed beads for eyes are optional in black and
some black sewing thread for eyes and nose detail, finally coloured thread to match your felt.

abbreviations :Abbreviations -P - Purl, P1 - Purl one, K - Knit, K1 - Knit one, Sts - stitches,
KW - knit wise, PW – Purl wise, Inc 1 - Increase 1 stitch, Y.Fwd - Yarn forward round needle
St-st - Stocking Stitch, G-st - Garter stitch, K2 tog - Knit 2 Together,
P2 tog - Purl 2 Together. SL1 – slip one stitch.
B+T tightly - Break off yarn leaving a long end and thread it through stitches left on knitting
needle, pull together tightly then fasten off.

Additional instructions - for some of the detailing you will need to be able to make a chain stitch as
pictured

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Starting with base of body
Cast on 20 sts
St st 10 rows
K2tog to end (10 sts)
P1 row
KW into each stitch giving you 20 sts again
St st 10 rows
K2 tog to end (10 sts)
P2 tog to end (5 sts)
break wool , thread through remaining stitches and pull tight, this is the top of the head.

Sew down back seem, stuff the toy then leave bottom seam open to insert legs later.
Take a piece of wool and sew in and out round the neck area, pull up slightly to tighten the neck, tie and sew in wool.

Legs , make 2 of these

Cast on 15 sts and st st 14 rows
Cast off

Arms , make 2 of these

Cast on 10 sts
St st 10 rows
Cast off

The arms and legs are made up the same way, starting with the cast on edge and right side facing down roll the knitted piece towards the cast off end quite tightly creating a thin tube like piece, sew cast off edge to close the piece and then stitch the base of the leg closes as this will be the foot or hand, the piece should look like a stuffed tube.
To attach legs push them into open bottom of body side by side so they are the same length and stitch in place, also closing body.
Sew arms open ends to each side of body.

Ears , make 2

Cast on 8 sts
St st 8 rows
K2 tog to end (4 stst)
break wool and thread through remaining stitches and pull tight, this will be the top of the ears, sew down seam and flatten seam to centre back of ear before sewing to head.

finally cut a small heart from felt and stitch on with matching colour to chest and a small circle to the face, use black thread to stitch details or use black seed beads for the eyes.

a ribbon bow looks especially cute around this bunnies neck.



if you have any problems making up this bunny feel free to contact me , either leave a comment below or find me via the links on the top right of my blog.


happy crafting knitters xxxxxx

Sorting things out!

I spent a lot of time trying to co-join my 2 blogs and finally decided to delete the other one i had going from my time as a make up artist on youtube, i now will only use this blog and almost deleted my channel in the process of 'clearing ' up my internet sites, oops, 2 frantic hours of clicking and sweating and channel is restored and happy .
I have started to realise i may have more than a birdy obsession and possibly a serious birdy addiction that may require proffesional help and just spent 2 hours making a natural looking birds nest for one of my creations. I will post piccys when its dry and assembled.. In the meantime here is a barrage of felt creations to catch your eye, all can be found on My etsy store

my baaaaaaa sheep brooch

my goldfish brooch

hanging bird decor

valentines hanging bird

assorted felt brooches

my felt fawn 

As i keep ranting on i moved to etsy and i find i have somewhat dissapointing sales since the move, wierdly the only place i have good sales is through facebook itself which down heartens me, i critiscise my pieces and wonder how many find the amazing success they do yet i struggle to drum up traffic, id really appreciate inout . xx

Felt addiction

So since i created my felt lil birdys i have found my obsession once again for using felt, its such a marvelous fabric, easy to sew, doesnt fray and adorable results.... i figured while in the love zone with felt why not make some more cutesy items for my etsy this week.

Trying Harder!!!

I am the worlds worst person at writing a blog, i do intend to carry through and always feel a lack of interesting content stops me, so from now on i promise to myself i will try and post a weekly post (when i remember) and maybe then ill get into the habit! I had a long spell of illness of the christmas and new year period which left me omitted to hospital a couple of times and it was a horrid thing to go through, i'm glad to say i'm fit and well (almost) and raring to go, i have new stock in my etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/LianaMarcel?ref=si_shop) and a lot of great ideas for the oncoming months. Firstly i thought i would share my current passion..

my handmade felt friend stands on his own 2 feet!

Tweety my new desk friend, this took me a few attempts as working out the pattern for the shape and type of bird i wanted was a bit of a hassle and maybe once i have him down to a fine art i may make the pattern available on my etsy. In the meantime i have so many variations to make and some stands to create for the lil birdys.

I am obsessed with natural things currently, especially balsa wood and in fact any kind of wood, i think it inspired me to make birdy and i love the resin glazed leaf jewellery collection.