Here it is folks, the big reveal! This is the commission work that I have been referring to in my recent sneak peek postings. A while back I was asked to do a window panel for a beautiful yarn shop in LA called the Knit Cafe. The request was for a felted piece to be used as a fall window display. One requirement was that the panel allow light to come into the shop and not obstruct the view. This was quite a challenge for me and an ambitious undertaking! The finished dimensions are 34″ wide by 54″ long. I’ve never created a piece this large before.
I was fortunate to find a Missoni-esque knitted fabric to use as the background. It’s got a variegated chenille stripe and is sheer enough to let light pass through. All of the elements are needle felted using the technique shown in my Clover tool tutorial.The little wooden clothes pins are real and so are the knitting needles!
Click on the images to see them larger. The details and color were difficult to capture in photography. If you’re in LA, stop by the shop and check it out in person. (I wish I could!)
Taking on a project outside ones comfort zone like this can be tricky. Is it an opportunity to grow, or fail? Will it be fruitful or an exercise in frustration? What’s the worst that can happen? (Will I keep asking myself questions, or will I just do the darn piece?)
Sometimes you just have to go out on a limb…and I’m really glad I did.
Betz, I really like the little details you’ve put into the piece. I think that doing things outside of your comfort zone makes you grow. You’ve already succeeded by allowing yourself to stretch your boundaries. Lyn Conway (who is a great motivation speaker for home based businesses) says to think of your comfort zone as a rubber band. You want to slow stretch it so eventually it gets bigger and bigger. I’ve been admiring your work ever since I discovered your blog through CraftSanity.
What a great comment, thank you so much!
Betz White, you are a felting goddess! Amazing work! Good for you! I just found your blog a couple of weeks ago and am so glad I did (through whip up I think…lol). Love your work!
Beautiful! (And now that you’ve stretched your comfort zone alittle – your next project will be even more wonderful!)
P.S. I thought your solution for creating your own cake stands awhile back was great. As creative people aren’t we lucky to be able to find more than one solution to a need?!
: )
Well done you did a great job, this is really beautiful and so much details! I wish I was in LA to see this in person.
“out on a limb” – no pun intended right! This is awesome! You’re doing so much cool stuff these days. It’s great to follow along via your blog.
Great! I love every detail!
Congrantulations!
That yarn store is very lucky to have such a lovely window.
BTW – love the little tape measure thngies!
i thought it was funny that you said you had to “go out on a limb” hee. am i the only one laughing? anyway, so often felted things look sloppy…this is so crisp…i love it. and the teeny clothespins and knitting needles. so cute!