It's September, the weather is growing colder and I can already feel the threat of winter looming over me. Last winter I remember planning all of the craft projects I'd do outside once it became warm and sunny. Now here it is almost winter again and I still have the same list. Sadly, it looks like I may be putting off rediscovering my abandoned painting skills for another year. One technique I studied in college, wet felting, is one of those outdoor projects I held in my mind all of last winter. In the past year I've read a few felting books, noticed an increase of crafters working in the medium at shows, unabashedly petted any luxuriously hand dyed wool roving I ran across in shops or shows, and searched through the handmade craft site etsy, looking at the felt masterpieces of others. What's missing from my list is actually making a felt creation with my own two hands. Wet felting seemed like the perfect outdoor project since the only indoor way for me to felt would be to clean off my wooden kitchen table, cover it in plastic and try to do a quick project during a quiet time free of my 4 year olds curiosity. It seemed a simpler proposition to set up one of my 6 foot craft show tables outside. I could get the table wet without damaging it and I wouldn't have to worry about making a water mess in my kitchen. Alas, that didn't happen, but I haven't completely abandoned the project. I'm working on a few sketches, and hope to get a few pieces felted in the great outdoors before the days turn too cold.
