GYBP GIVEAWAY WINNER and I TAUGHT MY FIRST NEEDLE FELTED LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP at ARTSPLACE

HELLO EVERYONE,

I would like to thank everyone who have visited my blog during the GYBP and for leaving all your very lovely comments for me to read.  They were all greatly appreciated. 

 I would also like to thank Vicki again from "2 Bags Full" for hosting this great GYBP....It was wonderful to visit old and visit new Blogging Friends.  Below is the photo of the Giveaway pressies I Hand Made with Love for "One" lucky person. 

I received 58 Very Kind and Wonderful Comments to read.  I wish I had a pressie for everyone.  This time I ask my Sweetie to give me a number from 1-58 and he said, 38. 

Number 38 comment was from Terriea at
 " Terrie-.-Smiling....."  Congratulation Terriea.

Terriea said,
  So pretty and lovely treasure box. I love felting and stitching. The mixed media creation is truly a darling little thing. Your blog is amazing. I follow you immediately

Thank you Terriea. I will email you soon. 

 THE STORY BEHIND, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY THE SEA...

Needle Felted or Painting with Wool...
A Wild, Remote, Peaceful and Magical Highlands.

I created this Needle Felted Landscape that I call

 "Scottish Highlands By The Sea" 

during the month of January 2014.  

I had this scene in My Mind for some time. A good friend Carolyn from "Carolyn Saxby Mixed Media Textile Art"  gifted me some very lovely "Sea Glass" that she collected at
 St. Ives Sea Shore a couple of years ago.. I wanted to put these very special wee treasures back in the sand By The Sea ever since seeing them glimmer in my hands. Thank you Carolyn for the Inspiration for this art piece... 

My Sweetie renovated our Master Bathroom last year and I choose the theme of "BY THE SEA".. 

 When the back is Finished,  "My Needle Felted Wool Painting" will be going up in its special spot soon.

Why I choose the "Scottish Highlands" along with the Sea..

My Sweetie's "Grant"
family name can be traced back to 1697 from the town of Dunbar, Scotland. My DIL has been researching the "Family Tree" for several year. Thanks Robin for sharing your family history with me.

 I have never been to Scotland but this is how I imagine the "Highlands" would look with "Wooly Sheep" roaming about and with the beautiful "Heather" blooming everywhere.

In this photo I used "Art Yarn" to create "Texture" and it also created a horizontal line between the Mountains and the Highlands near the Scottish "Crofters Cottage".

The "Heather" I created with 
"Arctic Rays Wispy Fringe" thread so they would shimmer in the sun.  I also added wee beads to give the art piece lots of sparkle too.

I added dimensional "Rocks" along the shoreline to create "Rock Pools" that would Gleam like Jewels in the Sunshine.  I also wanted the "Rocks Pools" so the "Ceaseless Thunderous Waves" had something to crash into.. as they break into the "Beach"..

In this photo you can see the beautiful "Shimmering Sea Glass".  I used 5 wee pieces in all.
  
I also created "Tyvek Beads" to give the beach wee pieces of "Drift Wood".. 

I also added "Sea Shells" collected from the Florida Beaches that was gifted to me by a friend.

  The Highlands would look lonely without wee

 "Wooly Sheep" roaming about..

More Sea Glass, Rocks, Drift Wood, Sea Shells and also several Vintage Shimmering Rock Beads I bought many years ago.. The Copper Badge with the word "Inspire"...which My Sweetie made for me.

My Sweetie also made the Copper Badge that says "Faith".. Faith has always given me the strength to endure difficult times and it also gives me confidence to go beyond my comfort zone to do things that I have Only "Dreamed" of doing!!! 

 The Story Behind My First Needle Felted Landscape Workshop!!

My Friends and I visited "Artsplace" during the local Holiday Arts and Craft Fair.  We stopped in to see the Art displayed at Artsplace.  While I was talking to the lady at the desk we started talking about Needle Felting and I said I had been needle felting for sometime.  She asked me to email her some of "MY Needle Felted Art" which I was very happy to do. 

Two weeks later I received a message asking me to teach a "Needle Felted Landscape Workshop. Kris and I talked on the phone and My Workshop was set for February 1st. 2014.  To say the least I was truly very excited and at the same time very very nervous..  VBG

Thank You Kris for giving me the Opportunity to "Teach Art" at Artsplace...

 
The "Artsplace" is the most beautiful building. It is surrounded by Beautiful Art inside and out.

This is a photo of the Bi-Monthly Publication for the Newaygo County Arts and Culture Connections.

This was the Felted Landscape Workshop description.  It seems unbelievable to see My Name Published in it to give an Art Workshop..

My First 8 Wonderful Artistic Students. 

I created a PDF workshop Pamphlet for My Students with step by step instructions on how to create a Needle Felted Landscape from start to finish and plus much more. 

The workshop was 4 hours long.  Everyone had the front of their landscape finished.  All they needed to do was to add embroidery and beading if they wanted to and finish the back.. which I gave them instruction on how to do..

Everyone was so very kind and everyone laughed and chatted and we all had a fun time.

 All my worries and nervousness just vanished when I started talking and teaching my students.  I was told over and over again how much they were all enjoying the class.

 I was surprised when ONE student asked, is this your "First Time" Teaching Needle Felting??

I laughed and told My Students that My Dear Husband told me NOT to tell my students this was My First Class.  Very Big Smile....  Everyone laughed and said, they would of never know.

  Kris came in to visit us several times to show visitors to the Center our class and the student's art.

 Several students were interested in taking another class and Kris asked me If I would be willing to teach another workshop.  She told me there was several people on a waiting list for the this class that missed out.

 So I am now booked for another Needle Felted Landscape Workshop on April 12th.
  
Below is an up close photo of all the student's art piece.

A Pond in the Woods....

The Desert Southwest.....

A Mountain Sunrise...

An Autumn Reflection....

A Mountain Waterfall....

Sand Dunes and Beach Grass by a Lake.....

Ocean and the Beach....

Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park..

All My Lovely Students with their Very Creative and Beautiful Needle Felted Landscape..

 I will always "Cherish" the Very Fond Memories of My First Needle Felted Landscape Workshop!!!

  Thank you ALL..

My Sweetie gave me the Most Wonderful Valentines Card.  
It said, that Being Next to you is MY HAPPY PLACE!!!  Being Next to My Sweetie is also
 "MY HAPPY PLACE TOO"..

I am hoping the Calla lily will last a long time. I enjoy seeing a wee bit of Spring in our Home...

 Our Winter has been the most brutal in 35 years... Endless snow blizzard after snow blizzard.  I was experiencing "Cabin Fever" Big Time so My Sweetie took us for a Day Drive.  It was on a rare Sunny Day and OH, did we have a great day.. 

 More about the Day Trip Next time. A Belated Happy Valentines Day to You All. 

Thanks for stopping to visit My Blog and leaving your lovely comments to read... 

The British Isles holds a special place in My Heart and I have been sadden to read and see the photos of the horrific flooding in the south of England.. My thoughts and Prayers go out to you all.. 

Hugs Judy

2nd ANNUAL GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY A WOOL FELTED TREAUSURE BOX called the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and A GIVEAWAY

HELLO EVERYONE,

I HAVE TRULY MISSED YOU ALL.

Life has been pretty hectic and I have been finding it difficult to keep up.  First, an update on My MOM..She is making slow progress in walking with a walker with 2 people assisting her. I am not sure if she will ever walk alone again. But I hope for the best.

I made a commitment sometime ago to participate in this wonderful Party called "GROW YOUR BLOG" HOSTED  By Vicki at "2 Bags Full". and so "I am back" and very excited to visit old friends and meet new ones too. 

 GYB Party is Vicki's great idea and this will be the second year.  We are all very very grateful for all the time and effort she puts into putting on this super great party for all of us joining in.  Thanks Vicki from the bottom of My Heart.

Please be sure to visit Vicki's blog and visit all the wonderful blogs participating in the GYBP..  

THE STORY OF THE TREASURE BOX


Back in 2008 I took "My First Wet Felting Workshop" from a lady Up North.  I really enjoyed this class but I had never created anything from the fabric I created..

Last Autumn I said it is time to use this lovely wool art fabric I made so long ago.  I decided to make a "Treasure Box" to set on the table next to my stitching chair to keep all my "Stuff" in.

I can never "Just" create a "Treasure Box" without Embellishing it and creating a scene.

I  decided to try and create the beautiful
 "Scottish Highlands"..
 I started by needle felted some more colors into the fabric.  I added a beautiful green for the endless
 "Highland Mountains".  
Then Lavender to represent the "Heather" that grows wild in the Highlands.  The Lavender and Pink French Knots are to represent the Blooming Heather Flowers.....Of course I had to add a "Heart" too.

You can not create a  'Scottish Highland" without "Sheep"roaming about.  So I created 3 sheep and added a ceramic one too.

I added lots of other flowers, gold stars and clouds that sparkled... On one side of the "Treasure Box" I added a "Pocket" to stick more stuff into.  LOL 

 The copper badges say, "Kindness Matters".

I also added a wee Rose and a Pink Tyvek Bead I made sometime ago. 

I had so much fun creating "My Treasure Box"..
 While stitching away it made Me Very Happy and took my mind off the worries of My Mom.

So what do you all think of my
 Scottish Highland "Treasure Box"...

This is a photo of the inside of the "Treasure Box"..

GIVING BACK

Because, I am so very grateful to All My Blogging Friends I decided to make some Wee Gifts "Handmade With Love" for this Giveaway. There will only be ONE winner this time.

Here are the Details for My Give Away.

(1) Leave a comment on this posting.

(2) The Give Away will close on February 15th at 0800 EST.

(3) My Sweetie will randomly chose a Winner which will be announced on February 15th 2014.. 

(4)  I will ship Internationally.. 

I value all My Blogging Friends and with these Wee Gifts "Handmade With Love" I hope they will show My Appreciation for your Kindness and Friendship.

 

The above photo is a "Sneak Peek" of a creation I also have been working on for a special event coming up soon on February 1st 2014.

 Can anyone guess what this could be???

  More about this event in my next blog posting.

Thank you all for visiting My Blog and taking the time to leave your Lovely Comments..  They all are greatly appreciated. 

I Wish you all a Very Happy and Healthy Weekend and Year...

Hugs Judy

Click Here to read about the "Stash-Buster Challenge" and the January Link Party..

Thanks to Linda and Ana for this wonderful Idea..