Beginning Felting Class

Twin Elm Farm

I realize it has been quite awhile since I have updated my blog and I am so sorry! Time is flying by. Having the space at Twin Elm Farm keeps me very busy and I love making things for my spot. I just filled it with Christmas things for the weekend, so has everyone else and it is so beautiful in there. If you are from the area and you haven't gone you really must. If you are from out of town and looking for a day trip, Peterborough NH has wonderful shopping and eateries, many to choose from!

   Here are a few of the things I have put in my shop at Twin Elm Farm!

Autumn

So, I can't help but think about fall in August. When August rolls around I start to feel melancholy about the summer but excited about fall too! I am one of those New England people that actually like winter!

I love fall colors and have been enjoying working with beautifully dyed wools in oranges, golden yellow's and reds. I also love Halloween and I couldn't resist making this crow. He is about 20" tall with wire legs. I have since made another one sitting down and I will post that as soon as I can. Happy Halloween!

Cat Cave

This is another "Katty Shack" I created, using local wool, Navajo Churro, some silk, and alpaca fibers for decoration was added. Inside is a bed made of bamboo stuffing and buckwheat seeds that can be warmed up in the microwave to create a nice warm, cozy place for your kitty or small pup!

Cat Cave's

First Cat Cave
This was my first attempt at making a cat cave, I really like the
way it felted and the color, I left the opening like you see
because it reminded me of cat ears! But there was a problem...,

Here is a closer picture, shown with the oil lamp to show
size in comparison.

Now you can see the problem! But really I knew it was
going to be small, I just wanted to try the process on something
not to large to start with, John was perplexed!







So here is my second attempt at a cat cave, the size is good and
I even made it a little artsy. I am looking forward to making
more!

This is one of two pillows I recently made
by both needle and wet felting. It was like painting
with wool!



Twin Elm Farm

I am now renting space at Twin elm Farm( they have a facebook page and soon to have a website) in Peterborough NH. and selling my felted sculptures, some antiques and other wonderful things I have made from repurposed fence materials that I saved from Crowe Fence & Deck Supply. Instead of sending the old fence to the recycling center I find many different ways to use them.

I have made many american flags from it, in many different sizes.

Here I have used repurposed fence and made a wall hanging that can be used as a flower vase, kitchen utencil holder, you could use it in the bathroom for toothbrushes, hair accessories etc.

I have also used the same look and put antique twisted iron hooks in place of the mason jars.

This is a sign I made and the reaction to it has been great! Everyone remembers having this song sung to them, or they would sing it to their children. I used to sing it with my cousins when we were young, it brings back memories of long, hot summer days, swings, and lemonade.

   This a a view of my space at Twin Elm Farm, there are so many beautiful rooms full of antiques and vintage furniture and accessories, it's a fun and friendly place to shop!

League of NH of Craftsman

First I have to tell you that I have a problem, I am a procrastinator!
I put off being juried by the League of NH Craftsman in February of this year. So when another opportunity came along I was ready! All except the fact that I was requested for jury duty at the same time and I don't think the Judge would let me out for this reason.

  The League was great about changing the date for me twice! Finally I went for my session, and I tried my best not to be nervous and not to feel to badly if I didn't make it. Many of Artists had told me not to be surprised if it took a couple of tries to get in.

 Well, I am proud to say that I made it! They loved my dancing pigs! So now I have to send two orders through the league and after that I am good to go.

 I  am also taking orders for these happy little dancers if anyone would like one. Just email me a terri@crowefence.com $80 ea. plus shipping.

OUR WINSLOW 1999-2012

When I first started dating my husband back in 2007 I went to his house for coffee one morning after the gym, when I got to the door I was greeted by Winslow, his Corgi. Rick opened the door and I exclaimed, " Oh My God, you have a corgi! I have a corgi! It was meant to be.

  Winslow and Maggie were like night and day as far as personalities go. I always said that Winslow was a dignified Eeyore and Maggie was Tigger all the way. They tolerated each other, sometimes they would fight, but most of the time they got along. Near the end, when Winslow wasn't doing so well Maggie changed. She became sullen and we would find the two of them with one or the other, resting their heads on the other's back. It makes me cry writing this, so so sweet.

  We understood that with Winslow being 13 and having issues that his time was limited, a very hard reality. I decided to make a felted Winslow so I could always have him with me, more than just a photograph.

  So I decided to felt him. It didn't take long but while I was felting the little Mini Me, I felt ( no pun intended), a sadness, maybe that is why I kept putting off making him.

  The picture with the two of them is in Maine at my parents home. Winslow really liked it there, he loved the ocean, the water, all of it. Winslow was named after a tug boat captain in Booth Bay so he comes by it naturally. :)  He wasn't feeling very well, I was hoping I could get him smiling the way he did and then the two of them would be spot on. Maybe it was just the dignified Winslow letting me know what he thought of having his picture taken with what was no more than a toy in his eyes. Dignified to the end.

Dancing Pig in Full Color

I was inspired to make this pig in color by my Friend Lauren who mostly works in color. I do use color for quite a few of my sculptures, but I have enjoyed the simplicity of working in white only. I feel there has to be more emphasis on the shape and definition of the shape in white. With color it is obvious and clear. But it's so much fun either way. This pig has a wooden spoon for a drum stick and a stock pot for a drum that I added after this picture was taken. I am now making his fellow band members.

Valentines Day

This little happy couple is just so cute! Picture Dancing with the Stars Pig Style!

Santa's

I know the Christmas is over, but I just love these guys! Everytime I make a Santa they take on a personality all of their own. When I first make a Santa, and sometime I will show you a picture of what that looks like, I really question what he is going to turn out like. But, when I add his beard and eyebrows it changes everything, it is truly amazing.

So I am using these Santa's for the jury process also, then they will go back to Frye's Measure Mill in Wilton NH to hopefully become part of someone's collection.

The Dancing Pig Family! Needle Felted Pigs

Stephanie Metz

http://www.stephaniemetz.com/files/Lorica__5.jpg

Mongolian Felted Tent or Yurt

http://youtu.be/gJ0uojUHYdA

Beginners Workshop; Sculptural Felting - As the Crowe Felts

Felting Class

This one-day beginners workshop is a complete introduction to the tools and processes of needle-felting. Class included hands on practice, discussion and demonstrations. Participants will complete a small project to get familiar with needle felting and leave with the skills to create a sculpture of their own. Materials will be provided. Enrollment limited to 8 students.

Upcoming sessions:

Saturday February 18 2012 10am-4pm

Location: My home

68 Pine St. Peterborough NH 03458

603-345-7842 terri@crowefence.com

Tuition is $60 plus materials (usually around $20)

You will go home with neddles and a mat for future

use and a finished project .

Call or e-mail to sign up

Lunch is included for $10/ soup and Salad/Bread

Or bring your own

RSVP by February 9th 2012

This beautiful little dove came to be this winter because of a little visitor we had. Earlier this same day we were watching a Pileated Woodpecker out the livingroom window. I am always amazed at their size and beauty. They are also quite skittish so we didn't get to watch him for long.
Later in the day when my son Reuben yelled to me about a bird I thought is was about the woodpecker we had seen earlier. He yelled and asked me to come take a look, he said, "What is that a chicken"? Now mind you Reuben grew up on a farm and their were chickens everywhere. I looked out the window and waddling up our walkway was a white dove!
Our neighbor has a Dove Cote next door and this poor little dove had lost his way. The dove walked all the way up the walkway and looked in the door. Then he tried flying up into the window were our cat Patch was watching intently. Then he proceeded to walk to the other front door and repeat the whole thing. Rick followed him out as he walked out onto the lawn and he gently herded the bird toward the back of the house. The weird thing was other than the one time of trying to fly into the window he walked everywhere! I went to the back of the house to the three-season porch/bunny hutch. About this time our bunny named "Rabbit" a Lyons head rabbit noticed the dove and I would say by his reaction he thought it was a raptor! He was running as fast as he could and thumping to frighten away this creature that was surely going to eat him. I went out on the porch and opened the slider in the direction on the dove, low and behold he came right in. We cornered the bird, called the neighbors and returned the bird to his home. It was quite the adventure. So I was inspired to make this dove. I also gave him to the neighbors as a gift, they wouldn't have to worry about this one getting away.

This Beautiful pillow and two more just like it are in a shop in Camden Maine. www.mainelavenderstore.com Please go to Lorie's blog and see their beautiful Lavender farm and shop. http://mainelavender.businesscatalyst.com/blog

So last night my husband Rick cut down these antique mallets for platforms for my dancing pigs. Now they really look like they are dancing up a storm. The last two for this series are in the works, just wait and see, I love these guys!

These are some of the most resent pillows I made from a beautiful but worn vintage wool camp blanket. I found a wonderful source for the down inserts too. I half been sewing since the age of 8 and I never realized that there was quite an art to sewing a basic pillow. As you can see in the photo my pillows are quite square, but the sewing of the pillows is not. I actually cut in with a presice measurement so that I don't end up with what is referred to as "dog ears". Very undesirable in the world of pillow making.

My First Blog of 2012

I am starting of 2012 with so many ideas for felting that I get overwhelmed in thought. I don't have enough time to do everything I would like, so I have to pick and choose. Of course I am making my sculptures from wool, but recently I starting making pillows. Some are wet felted and some are made from vintage and antique wool camp blankets. I think it is so nice to continue the life of a worn out blanket in the form of a pillow. These blankets are so beautiful. I haven't seen anything being made the same way these days.

I love working with wool in all forms. Raw, Roving, batting, yarn, blankets. What an incredible material it is.

I am putting together a collection of items so I can be juried by the League of NH craftsman. I am making a series of dancing pigs, so much fun to come up with the dances my pigs are doing. I tried to do a John Travolta but I wasn't happy with the results.