Thursday, August 26, 2010

A Needlefelt Treasure


Mrs. Harrison, we're ready to learn,
Mrs. Harrison, we'll try not to squirm!
We're hungry for knowledge;
We may go to college :-)
Mrs. Harrison, don't be too stern!

You can meet the very nicest people on the internet; just like I have! I was the lucky winner of Mrs. Harrison, the School Marm Blackbird, from a drawing on the blog MarthaandJane (http://marthaandjane.blogspot.com/) This is a delightfully whimsical blog that I encourage you all to visit. Mrs. Harrison is a beautifully needlefelted work of art by April Ross, and a teacher of young fairyfolk and their friends.

She reminded me very much of my own second grade teacher, Mrs. Harrison; an angular, upright, grey haired lady that taught us well. She was brisk and birdlike, neither kindly nor cruel. This Mrs. Harrison is a bit more indulgent, but just as sharp eyed :-)
Mrs. Harrison

Thank-you so much, April and Helen!

18 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, Beth...Mrs. Harrison has not wasted anytime settling in, has she? This is the happiest I have seen her in quite awhile! She looks so animated on that handsome stump and what a lovely class! I am very excited to see her in her element! You are so kind to give her such an important position in those beautiful surroundings. This is just Darling!!!! SO SO CUTE!!! LOVE THOSE DOLLS! Hugs to you and thank-you for this FUN Post!!!

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  2. Beth, you lucky girl. How wonderful to win something, and something so cute, at that. That stump is the perfect accompaniment. Is that a mouse peeking from behind the girls?

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  3. What a wonderful photo! Mrs. Harrison could not have gone to a better home. Speaking of nice and generous people on the internet, you rank right up there with the best of them. You are so kind to share your wonderful patterns spreading fun around the world.

    Like, April, I also wanted to mention the stump. My eye was immediately drawn to it. You have given it so much detail. It is a perfect perch for your scholarly birdie.

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  4. Thank-you all for your generous comments :-) I am indeed lucky to have won this felted treasure. Lisa, that IS a little mouse peaking out from under the Pocket Spirits.

    If anyone is interested, the instructions for the stump (and the meadow setting) plus the little mousy and a turtle (he is tucked in there too) are available on this blog...look for 'Crochet an Outdoor Setting' on the left hand side of the page.

    Beth

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  5. "A Needlefelt Treasure" - so true!

    What a lovely little birdie, and she looks so happy with her "class" :-).

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  6. Thank you, Beth for your visit and the nice comments you left on my blog. Your blog is fantastic, I love all the little treasure you make,they are all so poetic and fabulous..

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  7. Thank you, I have just spent a couple of hours reading and looking through your blog. How generous you are to share such wonderful patterns and gorgeous photos for free.
    I now must read more and gather my supplies.
    Thank you

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  8. Thank-you so much for your kind words, Gazette94 and Maria.

    Maria, I look forward to seeing a Spirit creation from you :-)

    Beth

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  9. Hi Beth, i've made your free spirit doll and now i'm going to try a make your pocket spirit doll. i just love them! i just picked up some patons astra yarn in aran color.i was just wondering what size is a C hook. i looked it up in a conversion chart and i'm seeing a size 2.75mm and a size 3mm. all my hooks are in metric as i live in Canada. thanks for your help.i can't wait to start one.
    ~Anne~

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  10. Hi Anne,

    Looks like hook sizes are not an exact science. My Clover Soft Touch 'C' hook says it is 2.5mm. So I think your best bet would be the 2.75mm hook, or a 2.5mm if you can find one.

    Hope you enjoy making your Pocket Spirit!

    Beth

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  11. Hi Beth, i noticed that about my clover soft touch. i only have a E and an F in it and they say 3.5mm and 4mm but the conversion charts say a 4mm is an G. crazy LOL anyway i do have a 2.75 so i can use that until i get a cover soft touch one. i really like the clover hooks the best but unfornutaly the only store that sells them is a half an hour drive away and they are a little bit more costly than regular hooks. i'll be sure to add a photo to the flickr photo stream. thanks again for all your help. ~Anne~ :D

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  12. Hi Beth, i just started making a mini pocket spirit. i was just wondering what size are they? i'm making the head and it seems so small. do you know what size the head should measure around? i guess maybe they look bigger in the photos after all they are mini pocket spirit and a pocket isn't that big. LOL thanks again ~Anne~ :)

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  13. Hi Anne,

    The Pocket Spirits are between 6 1/4 and 6 3/4 inches tall, depending on the weight of the sportweight yarn you use. I had some Paton's Astra that had been bought several years ago, and it was 133yds in 1.75 oz. The Paton's Astra I bought a month ago is 166yds in 1.75 oz, so they've thinned it a little bit.

    The head circumference is about 7.5 inches (19 cm).

    Hope this helps :-)

    Beth

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  14. Hi Beth, i just picked up a clover C hook .now to finish my mini pocket fairy. i haven't stuffed my head yet but i'll check the size when i do. i couldn't find size 30 gauge wire at my local craft store but they said they could order some 28 gauge in assorted colors. do you think that would work just as well or would i have to change hook size? thanks for all your help! :) ~Anne~

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  15. Hi Anne!

    Cool! I think the 28 gauge wire will work fine. Your wings may be a little larger, but that should not be a problem. If the wings look too big, then you could step down a hook size. Working with wire takes a little getting used to, because it is stiff. I used 30 gauge because that is what I had on hand :-)

    Beth

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  16. Hi Beth, i just finished my pocket spirits head and body with legs and her head measures only about 5 inches around,maybe i'm not stuffing enough,i also was using a hook that kept turning and snagging on the yarn so i think i was crocheting a little tightly.now i got my clover hook and the rest of her i was crocheting fine.(the head was the only part that i used my old hook on) also she measues about 6 inches tall. so i guess she'll really be a mini LOL i'll be sure to sent photos when i'll done. thanks for all your help. i'm planning on making another one in a different color maybe the color has something to do with the mearsurements. i'll let you know ~Anne~ :)

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  17. Anne, I think she will be darling :-) Darker yarns tend to be slightly thicker...I think the yarn drinks up more of the dye.

    Looking forward to seeing her!

    Beth

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