Hope

Wobbly Pins Gifts, Workshops , 0 Comment

I think like most people I am glad to see to see the back of 2020 and start the year with trepidation but also with some hope.

Roots

Last year I had a lot of plans and made the decision to put down some roots for my small business. Over the last few years it has been great fun attending craft fairs and events and hosting workshops at venues but there also comes a time when you really just want to have everything in one place and not be loading stock in and out of the car/office/garage.

Not on the High Street

As I knew I would not be in my business every day and I would not be hiring staff, the decision to not rent a unit on the high street was an easy one. I wanted somewhere accessible 24/7, within each reach of home and within easy reach of public transport and parking so customers could attend my workshops.

it is difficult to find affordable suitable premises but I had my eye on somewhere local but had to wait for a unit to become available. After a few phone calls and a fleeting visit on a Friday afternoon in November 2020 a match was found – The Springboard Centre in Coalville!

Tune in next month for an update and the plans for 2021

Felting in the washing machine

Wobbly Pins Needle Felting , , , 0 Comment

Did you know you can felt in the washing machine?. You may have accidently done this with your favourite knitted jumper that you put on a hot wash by mistake. So why would you want to purposely put the wool in the washing machine?. Well it can save you a lot of time if you have a project that you need to complete in a hurry.

Soap & Agitation

Felt is made by adding water, soap and lots of agitation will make wool fibres attach together and most f the time I do this by hand, I have been making some bird pods lately and these take around 2 hours to lay out and felt but half way through I can add to the washing machine and save about 40 minutes and my arm muscles.

Not all wool will however felt and each time you undertake a project the results may differ due to the type of wool and water temperature. The bird pods are ideal for the washing machine method as they are all unique in colour size and texture.

So the next time you accidently shrink a garment…tell them it was meant to be.

Felt From Fair Trade

Wobbly Pins Crafts, Needle Felting, Shop , , , , 0 Comment

Although I make a lot of felt items to sell I also buy felt from Fair Trade suppliers. Over the last few years I have visited many trade shows to talk to suppliers to ensure there is traceability of the gifts I was purchasing and they are part of a Fair Trade scheme which you can read about here https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/ . The supplier I now buy from has been a Fair Trade organisation for over 20 years in Nepal so they have been able to build and sustain relationships with the surrounding families and towns.

The wool used by the wonderful artistic Nepalese crafters is New Zealand wool , brought in a raw state which is then washed, carded and dyed with a fantastic rainbow of colours. Then comes the hard work with the wet felting. with some wool, warm water, soap and a lot of elbow grease you can make some fantastic items from small keyrings an inch wide to vast blankets and clothing. If you have never tried wet felting it is very therapeutic – you can book onto one of our workshops and try it your yourself when we get beyond Covid.