"I CAME TOGETHER"

Being inspired by a great site, Fiber Arts Mixed Media, http://fiberartsmixedmedia.ning.com/,  I finally finished my batts from a previous post, "felt, ribbon and recycled beads"  into......♬TADA♬.......
"I Came Together" wallhanging!!!!  Requires a picture here...

and another

I'm entering it into a March Challenge about "Found" ...things you forgot you had, things you pick up outside, etc.  What did I find?

• Beads from The Restore in Barre, Vermont.  They are a good size and have large holes..a bit damaged, but just the thing.
• A branch from outside which I sanded, painted and sealed
• A previous felted leaf
• copper coil I used to use for making jewelry
• Recycled Sari ribbon (well, I bought it on Etsy).

THE BIGGEST FIND IS THAT I FOUND I COULD PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!

I machine stitched Sari ribbon to the sides.  I wrapped orange thread around an orange sari ribbon and gathered the end (shown in above picture dangling).

Here are some closeups:

This pix shows where the two batts are joined.  I used some fancy ribbon threaded through three of the Vermont beads (two shown here).  There are two of my previous felted beads which I wrapped in thread.  The blue object on the left is the sari ribbon wound in copper wire with the addition of a fancy fiber.

Here's the top big red bead

I had one heck of a time figuring out how to hang it.  I looked on several sites, went to Joanne's fabrics and finally just put a casing on the back.  The stick I found, sanded and painted.  I used metallic green liquid acrylic and some new felt tipped pens.  I then gave it a coat of acrylic varnish.  I figure if I ever sell it, a dowel can be put through it.  For the photos, I had two nails already in the wall and just rested the stick there.  You could also string something (felted snake or ribbon) on either side of the stick and hang it on one nail.

The backing is commercial felt which is machine stitched with some multi-colored thread to the hanging.  I added a little muslin tag:

WHAT"S NEXT?

It should be 'WHO'S NEXT"
We're waiting for another grandson to be born - due date - April 8th.  He will join his brother who will be three on April 12th.  Needless to say, I have a suitcase ready.  I already mailed presents and
SpiderMan birthday decorations.  I don't know how this will all work out (taking a 12 hour train ride) as to when, b'day, work, baby,, but I do know

it will
"ALL COME TOGETHER"

Felt,Ribbon, Recycled Beads

Beautiful Day!!!!  CREATIVE IDEAS!!!

I woke up early and as always, my mind was filled with creative ideas.  After my morning Starbucks' Chai Tea Latte (my one addiction) and a walk with the dog, I sat "meself" down in my artroom.  Actually, I stood cause I'm too energetic from the springtime.

Felt, Ribbon and Recycled Beads
I took two pieces of recent feltings (made from batts) and sewed them together with ribbon.  The ribbon is from a pack of special fibers I bought last summer.  Some of that same ribbon is in one of the pieces.  I actually found a needle big enough to thread it through......  I have some beads I bought at the ReStore in Barre, Vermont where my daughter lives:  http://www.myspace.com/restorearts  It is a great place for finding all sorts of things.  These beads were given to them by a bead factory (da).  Many of the ones I bought are cracked.  I chose a few and strung them on the ribbon.  I like that they are re-cycled.  I also strung one of my felted beads.  I added a felted leaf at the bottom.

I also have some other bits of feltings.  Some I cut from bowls I made that didn't quite work.  I also added one of my spiral brooches (before the backing was put on).

Here are a few pictures of a work in progress.  This will be a wallhanging.  I may add some bits on the end.  As with any art project, there's a fine line between overdoing and "leave it alone".  I'm happy I started on this gorgeous day.