What a Week!!!

I can honestly say I will probably never have another week like this in my life.  It started by receiving an emergency email from the Food Bank requesting that I make a scarf, mittens and earmuffs for none-other than Paula Deen.   What an incredibly exciting and incredibly daunting task.  I've never made a pair of earmuffs so it was also a bit of a learning experience for me, but you're never to old to learn now are you?  Linda at the Food Bank was pretty specific in what they wanted - mittens in the shape of Michigan, and earmuffs with my flowers on the "ear part" - the color choice etc... was left up to me.  Given the time of year I was faced with a bit of a challenge in that I couldn't run out and buy some ear muffs to alter, nor could I go pick out sweaters to make the mittens; and my felting supplies (for the scarf) are all special order - no local vendors to run and get supplies.  I was limited to supplies on hand - thankfully I have just a few of those!  LOL

I actually went online and researched pictures of  Paula Deen and found that she wears a lot of coral/orange  so that is how the color scheme came to be.  (Well, that, and these were supplies I had in my stash.)

 ugh...such choices!!!

I did a small test piece of scarf first....

Laying out the wool on the silk

Adding the embelishments.

Now comes the fun part...you wet the wool, cover with bubble wrap and rub and rub.  Then you roll up the entire piece (bamboo blind and all) and roll, and roll, and roll and roll...  Seriously - if you want Michelle Obama arms this is the hobby for you!  Then, with all your mite,  you throw it down over and over again, rinse, dry and voila....

Finished scarf

I wish you could see and feel the piece in person - nuno felting creates such an amazing texture, look and feel.  There is nothing else quite like it.

 The entire ensemble

Modeled by Linda....

I sure hope Paula enjoys these!  More importantly, the point in sending them is an attempt to coax her into coming next year to the Full Plates Forever Gala - a huge fundraiser.   I can only hope all my hard work pays off in some large donations to the food bank.  Keep your fingers crossed!

And, on an even bigger note, I got to spend Tuesday with my beloved boyfriend - the amazing, phenomenal, incredibly talented, unbelievably cute (I could go on and on!) - Tim Holtz!!!!

Thanks to Notions Marketing and Sandy at Pages In Time for letting me attend this incredible workshop.  We learned so many techniques and tricks, got to have our pictures taken with him (of course I look TERRIBLE as usual) and even received a copy of his new book, which, of course, he signed for us.  Couldn't have asked for a better day!

Well, that was one heck of a week.  What could next week bring that could possible top this?  I guess only time will tell!