Needle Felting Beginners Class with the Needle Arts Guild of Toledo

It has been several days now since I went to this Beginners Needle Felting Class at our Needle Arts Guild of Toledo meeting.  Caren Scarbrough, our past Guild President, gave us a beginners lesson on Needle Felting.  I had exactly zero experience with Needle Felting prior to this class.  All I have to say is it was fascinating. 

The piece above and this incredible gentleman were made by Kay Griffith.  All I can say about her Needle Art Skills is                     .  Her work leaves me speechless every time.  There are always those experienced Guild Members that have seem to turn every piece of work into a breath taking object of art.  She is one of those in my eyes.  Not to say there are not many more....but today, I'm talking about Miss Kay :)

Kay stitched and felted every part of this gentleman.  Isn't it incredible?  I bet I could visit her house and spend the entire time taking photos and never wanting to leave.

Caren brought her Baby Lock Felting Machine.  I did not even know such a machine existed.  It has 7 needles and no thread.  It just felts and wow it is a fast and wonderful machine.

This is a close up of the felting process.  It is much like free motion quilting.

These are some samples of other felted pieces.

Our beginners lesson was about making this birds nest.  We started out with a felting needle and a piece of Styrofoam.  We just poked and poked and turned and poked until it became the shape of an egg.  I think it was a great beginners project.  I'm going to use mine as a pin cushion. 

And I'm going to put these "Just Pins - Around the Block" in the pin cushion.  Won't that be so fun?  I think it will.  Another reason to smile.  By the way.....I'm always open for another reason to smile!!

Smiles,

Kelly