Tuesday morning, October 13, 2015. On a gorgeous Southern California morning.
Today, our craft group gathered in the lovely garden outside of The Company of Angels store to wet-felt cushion covers using alpaca and sheeps wool fiber base as the front side and recycled wool sweater fabric as the back side. The final size of this cushion would be about 14 – 16 inches square. The supplies fees for today’s project was $12.
Thank you Christine for preparing all the materials and teaching us this craft! She told us Gina donated some of the raw alpaca fibers. Thank you Gina! – Jzin
Gloria pulling the raw (and dusty) alpaca fibers apart and laying them down in perpendicular orientations for each layer.
She added blue sheep’s wool to decorate the alpaca fiber base.
Stacey embellished her alpaca fiber base with blue spun yarn.
Next, hot, soapy water was sprinkled. Then, fibers were gently pressed under big sheets of bubble wraps to saturate the layers of fibers with soapy water. Remember to lay out your designs adequately big. The wet-felting process will cause the felted piece to shrink 20-25% percent as the fibers lock together.
Kathy wet-felting her piece with hot soapy water on top of bubble wrap.
Christine brought in a sample of previously wet-felted alpaca and sheep’s wool piece.
Kathy’s stunning piece, work-in-progress. Evoking the aurochs of Lascaux… This is why I love working with natural materials!
Stacey’s work: thick, blue spun yarn sinking in.
Out come the rolling pins! 
Raw, rustic, animal. The alpaca nature shines through the beating, the subjugation of human hands.
Gloria’s piece (with more inclusion of the dyed sheep’s wool) however, speaks of Joan Miró, or curlicue day-dream of a feisty safavid hunt.
Next week (Tuesday, October 20, 2015) we shall be finishing up this project by sewing a recycled wool sweater backing onto the wet-felted piece to complete this handmade cushion. Click here to see our exciting line of up crafts.
October 20, 2015. Gloria with her finished cushion!
Kathy and her finished pillow!
Christine added a very thin layer of sheep’s wool batting to the wet-felting process to keep the yarn adhered to the rest of the fibers. The thin layer is barely visible.
Stacey and her finished work. Soft, luxurious recycled cashmere sweater on the back side of the pillow!
Jzin’s Upcoming Classes on Thanksgiving Weekend 2015
What are you doing Thanksgiving weekend? On Black Friday, November 27, 2015 1-4pm I am teaching Finger Puppet Gnomes class for Adults and for children at the Piecemakers Country Store in Costa Mesa. Instead of shopping, you could be learning to make gifts for all your loved ones this year! They make great fall seasonal display, Christmas presents, X’mas tree decorations and stocking stuffers. Please sign up now as spots are limited. Register here.
Click on this link to view other classes on schedule.
I am also teaching my Guardian Angel Wool Relief Workshop that Sunday. You can sign up now:
- Click here to sign up for this workshop.
- November 29, 2015. Sunday. 1-4pm
- Piecemakers Country Store in Costa Mesa
Castle of Costa Mesa was Featured in a Magazine!
I was a little embarrassed about the superlatives used in the magazine interview. But if you like to see it, here is our magazine feature in I Heart Costa Mesa! As much as I love to share my work with the world, I did feel exposed, because handwork is a very personal thing. Thank you for the kind words, I Heart Costa Mesa. You can follow I Heart Costa Mesa on social media here: Facebook. Instagram: #Iheartcostamesa
I am teaching a beginners wool relief workshop this Sunday, October 18, 2015 1-4pm at Piecemakers Country store in Costa Mesa. Please register ahead so you have a space! Register for Jzin’s Wool Relief workshop by clicking here.
Jzin’s Finger Puppet Gnomes and Other Classes
I am teaching Finger Puppet Gnomes class for Adults and for children at the Piecemakers Country Store in Costa Mesa. They make great fall seasonal display, Christmas presents, X’mas tree decorations and stocking stuffers. November 27, 2015. 1-4pm. Please sign up now as spots are limited. Register here.
Click on this link to view other classes on schedule.
I am also teaching my Guardian Angel Wool Relief Workshop. You can sign up now:
- Click here to sign up for this workshop.
- November 29, 2015. Sunday. 1-4pm
- Piecemakers Country Store in Costa Mesa
Castle of Costa Mesa Etsy Shop
I sell my handwork on Etsy. Thank you for supporting my work! – Jzin
October 13, 2015. Here is a little boy with a kite I just finished this Tuesday morning. He is now available on Castle of Costa Mesa Etsy shop.
Follow Castle of Costa Mesa on Pinterest!
Schedule: Upcoming Tuesday Morning Craft Group Projects and Other Local Crafting Events
You can “like” and follow our weekly craft group projects on facebook here.
Let’s Be the Support for Each Other
You may place a free ad on this page below. Let us be the support for one another! love, Jzin
Be in the know for upcoming handmade giveaways: Like CastleofCostaMesa.Com on Facebook
I give away my lovingly handmade dolls and crafts seasonally. If you “Like” my Castle of Costa Mesa Facebook page, you will be notified of upcoming giveaways. Click here to view the list of my past giveaways. Perhaps the next winner could be YOU? 
Castle of Costa Mesa Facebook page.