Kim asks: “I’m just starting with Needle Felting and my sister has asked me to make a Snowy Owl…I just don’t know how I’m going to do the little talons. Your posts are very helpful!

ANSWER:

Hi Kim,
Welcome to my blog. Thank you for your kind words. Several ways come to my mind for talons. You could make them out of polyclay like sculpy or fimo. That is how I made the beak and nostrils on my parakeet. I have also seen them made from wire wrapped with embroidery thread. People have also used beeswax for talons. I would use thread wrapped wire myself as I did for the parakeet. Thanks for your question!
Happy Felting!
~Gerry

Someone just asked me what my favorite sculpture was!

This is my FAVORITE Sculpture that I have made so far! This was a Sculpture that I made just for fun and sold on Ebay.  I even put him on my business cards! I was sad to see him go. Many hours and much love went into him. He had a piece of my heart!

My Needle Felted Fairy Horse is in a lovely Fairy Tale Treasury! Here is the link if you would like to see it!  Please click on other items and the heart to favorite this treasury! Thanks!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjM2NDg1M3wxNjM2NjUxMTY0/fairy-tale-dreams

ANSWER: YES! They do get dull, but there is no formula as to when to replace them! It all depends on the wool that you use, your style of felting, the pad, and time involved. If it seems to take longer to felt than it used to, then it is time for NEW needles. My first felting needle lasted 3 months and I used it all the time. Now I ONLY use DELUXE SUPER DUPER felting needles made by Kay Petal! They are TERRIFIC! They have a nice soft handle to grip so the needle doesn’t dent your finger! You can felt lots longer this way! AND now she has DOUBLES!! Yes two needles in one handle! Great for felting areas TWO times FASTER!

She even color codes them so you always know which is which. The are TOTALLY worth the money and they will spoil you!!LOL! She calls them Super Duper and they DO live up to the name!

http://www.needlefeltingsupplies.com/Super-Duper-Felting-Needles_c_30.html

Tell her Gerry sent you! Happy Felting!

~Gerry

QUESTION:

I use glass eyes with a loop to sew on. I tried making a hole and fasten them with a few stitches but they keep sticking out. I tried pulling them in the holes and make a knot, they disappear almost in the head then but after a while they pop out again and don’t stay in the holes but on top of the surface, it just doesn’t look good.
What am I doing wrong? Gluing is a bit difficult, as my hands are not very steady and I get the glue mostly everywhere except where it should be….

ANSWER:

I rarely use those kind of eyes. You do have two options:
I would cut the loop off and just glue them on OR you could take an exacto blade and slice a slit in the wool.  Be VERY careful that you don’t get cut! Add glue to the loop and stick in in the cut wool.  This also works for eyes that have a post attached as in photo. I also use Krazy glue to glue the eyes and noses. It has a little brush in the cap, so it is MUCH easier to use and it takes longer to dry out after you  start to use it. The top never gets clogged either.  It is a purple liquid that dries clear. You just remove the cap and slide the brush on the lip of the container to take the extra glue off. Apply to the eye and glue quickly to the spot. It dries almost instantly, so you have to put it right in the slit after applying the glue. Be sure to apply the glue to the BACK of the eye only as it does make the glass eyes cloudy which takes away the shine.

I always apply the glue to the back of the eye. If you put the glue on the wool, it soaks right in and you have to put it on a few times to get the wool wet enough to adhere to anything. Then you have to hold whatever you are gluing in place for a minute or so as it takes longer for the saturated wool to dry. I also use the Krazy glue formula that is purple. That way if it accidentally gets some where it shouldn’t be, you can quickly wipe it off as you can see it. The purple does dry clear.  Be sure to felt a little hollow to glue the eye into so it isn’t sitting on the surface.  I hope this helps!

I get all of my eyes from http://www.glasseyes.com. Please tell him Gerry sent you! Thanks!

I hope this helps!!

I just added a

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Scroll down on the right side, Type your email in the box and click FOLLOW.  What could be easier? You will receive an email whenever I post anything. I have contests and give-aways like free wool or felting needles so sign up and you’ll be the first to know! Thanks for following my blog!!

~Gerry

Gerry do you add your eyes and nose before you add the hair and fill in around them, or is that the very last step? I have to tell you your site is better than any book. Thanks again.

• Edit Comment

Hi Linda,
Actually I do both! But adding the eyes and nose are one of the last things that I do on a sculpture. Until then I mark the eye position with straight pins with black balls on the ends. (See post on eyes) Be careful not to get glue on the eye as it takes away the shine.

It also depends on the breed. You can put all the fur in around the eye, but it is hard to get the eye in without messing up the fur. So I usually add more after the eye is in to touch it up. With a dog with fur hanging over the eyes, I would add the fur after so it would be easier to work on the eyes. Be careful not to get glue all around the eye or you won’t be able to felt any fur close to the eye as it will be rock hard!lol! Learned that the hard way! Be sure to make a hole for a socket. There aren’t many breed with eyes that pop out!

With noses it is hard to add fur after due to glue, so I try to put the fur on and make a indentation for the nose. Then just glue it in. (see post on making noses)

Thank you for your kind words on my blog! When I started needle felting years ago, there wasn’t much help around. It was hard to even find wool for felting or even a book on it!! So I struggled a lot and had to learn things the hard way.  I made this blog so people could have more fun needle felting! I guess it is a pay it forward kind of thing!

Hope that helps! Thanks for your question!
Happy Felting!
~Gerry

I had so much fun creating this cute mini Poodle Sculpture. Her name is Ebony, but she turned gray as we all do!!lol!! It is so much fun felting curls! I made her little chew toy also. I hated giving her up to the owner.  Fully poseable.

This was a fun breed to create…..an American Hairless Terrier. It was fun to add the spots and a little pink for a skin look!