Brooches from Etsy

I put together this set of brooches from Etsy. To do it, I looked at just about every recycled felt brooch on Etsy. There are fabulous things available. My favorites are by WanderingLydia and Woollyfabulous and mdemag.
But I love them all...  It is interesting that even when I set out to shamelessly copy someone else's work, mine turn out different.    For example: I was really just copying the work of mdemag but I ended up putting a lot more buttons on mine, and started making squares instead of circles.  
A sample:

Mittens Galore

I like my mittens unlined. I think the wool breaths better, so the hand doesn't sweat. I guess I've just never liked fleece. A quick search of Etsy today reveals that I'm in the minority. I'll be curious to see if any of these will sell on Etsy. If they don't, I may have to line with cashmere. I'll never give in and use fleece. I think it feels nasty. I think I react to fleece the way some react to wool. My hands get kind of prickly when I touch it...

Buttons and Wool

Make fun brooches or pins.  I'm finding I like the square shape better than the round ones I started with.  I'm not sure why.  But I like the round buttons on the squarish shapes.   You could wear it as a diamond or as a square.  

Photos from Adore: House of Bloomsbury Loft

Nice photos from the facebook page for the store that has bought some of my things...  Amazing how cool it is to see MY things as arranged by someone else.  The monster is my sweet valentine girl.  The pumpkins and little owls are mine. 

SCORE at VOA !!!

I've tried to limit my time in the thrift stores these days.  I don't need any more wool.  I need to use what I have.  But, I'm allowing myself to go to the "half-price" on everything day at my favorite local VOA  (Volunteers of America) store.  It is the last Tuesday of the month.  It was been crazy last month, and today.  Next month, as the last sale day before Christmas will be even busier, I expect.   I can't figure out where all the stuff comes from.  People wheel cart after cart after cart out of the store, and the racks are still full.

I found many many beautiful pieces of wool--a gold and black check skirt, pleated, very lightweight, and a size 20.  There must be more than three yards of fabric.  I've already had one piece of it in the washing machine and it is making beautiful lightweight felt.  Gold and black check--really small checks?  So unusual.  It will be fabulous for so many things.  Right now I'm thinking snowman scarves.   Three yards worth of snowman scarves?  Never.  But something fabulous. 

An old old old black boucle coat.  I'm thinking really classy hats.  Or stuffed animals.  Or owls.   It is too small for me, and pretty worn.  It may be a shame to cut it.  I'll look at it carefully before I do. 

Two sweaters I will wear.  

And finally, a winter white merino cape thing.  Beautiful yarn.  I've already unraveled one panel.  The collar was like an attached scarf.  Once I detached it, I have a scarf.   The softest, prettiest, warmest scarf.  I think I'm keeping it for me.  The rest of the yarn will be for sale eventually on Etsy.  It is so soft.  It needs to be a baby sweater...

Felt Flowers

A felt flower makes a hat look special.

Inspiration from success

I'm feeling particularly inspired to sew these days because a store in town is selling my things.  It is such a joy to get a call--"Do you have any more pumpkins?   I've sold them all.  Bring me more."  The store owner likes my things, and her store has a funky, not quite perfect, colorful, random vibe that is really comfortable for me.  She tells me to raise my prices, not lower them.  (I can't raise them as high as she wants me to.  I just can't.)  She buys some things out right, others she is waiting to pay for until they sell, but splitting the cost 60/40.  I get 60 she takes 40.  That seems really fair to me.  I'll see how it works out.  She has a lot of small things in the store, but also some fairly expensive items.  She recently moved her store from the suburbs to the "Arts" district of Columbus, and it she has had great success the first few months.  The name of the store is "Adore" and the sign inside the door says "Find things you adore."  If you are ever in town, stop by 745 North High Street!

I'm inspired to make things that take a bit more time because I'll have a place to sell them.

A few more stores like this--maybe in a few different cities-- and I'll be busy all the time--AND--set for my retirement!

I added the quote to the above right on blog today.  It is perfect.