This week I was in touch with National Nonwovens, wholesale purveryors of the lovely wool-blend felt I have been working with. You can buy their felt retail at Wool Felt Central. Melissa, felt-crafter extraordinaire, originally recommended their felt to me and I have loved working with it these past few months. The colors are so vibrant. It is a joy to work with.
I’m thrilled that National Nonwovens will be providing all the felt for the projects in my new book. And in the meantime, they asked if I would make them two butterflies for their booth at Quilt Market next month.
For butterfly #1 I chose black felt and did some cutwork with an exacto knife. I put some colorful felt behind the holes and then backed the whole thing with another piece of black felt and I finished the edges with a zigzag stitch. I made the antennae with some floral wire painted black and two black felted balls. The head has a little gusset to make it nice and round and I wrapped the bottom of the body with extra-strong black thread to make some bug-like ridges.
I took this picture with my new camera set-up. I’m loving the lights and the tripod. My photo lesson on Wednesday was a big success and I feel so much more confident with the manual setting on my camera now. Ask me to adjust the shutter speed or the aperture – sure! The best part? I can take pictures at any time of day and apply the best photography I have to create beautiful photos. I should have done this years ago. And if you also want to learn photography, then you may consider enrolling in professional photography courses from schools like the Academy of Art University.
plushpussycat says
Your butterfly is beautiful–love the contrast on the colors! I wish I could say I felt that confident with my camera while taking photos of my plushies in miniature vignettes. I am so happy with the skills I’ve recently learned in photo editing software, though–I should have done THAT ages ago! 😉 Can’t wait to see your second butterfly! 🙂
Maribeth says
I am happy for you – this big project that is already pushing you to learn and develop! All the best, and I look forward to seeing that penguin family when it is complete.
Las Flores del Sur says
Lovely butterfly!! Thanks for sharing!
oldschoolacres says
I LOVE National Nonwovens. It’s the only brand I will buy. My favorite is the 35% wool blend.
Your butterfly is gorgeous! It shows off the colors perfectly.
Linda says
Wow! That looks like a very good source. Thank you. I guess National Nonwoven is patting themselves on the back for finding you! Your butterfly flies!
Caren Adams says
Excellent! I’ve been experimenting with my very first gusseted stuffed toy (a rhino, of all things). I have definitely got a lot to learn, and thanks to your Elements series I’m keeping the mistakes to a minimum (aaaah, but experience is SUCH a good teacher!) I’ll be looking at the wool felt from National Nonwoven – and hoping my skills improve so I don’t screw up on a great piece of material 🙂
Kitty says
I’ll be at Market and will look forward to seeing your butterflies in their booth!
abbyjane says
That's so exciting that you are going! If you happen by the National Nonwovens booth and see my butterflies, please let me know!
Best,
-Abby
Kitty says
Saw the booth and your butterflies were the central design element. They had new booth designs made to go with it. Lovely!!!! I just sent you an email asking if you wanted the (thoroughly non-professional) snaps I took. 🙂