We have begun packing up our belongings to send them back to the United States. Most things are going into boxes to ship home, carefully cataloged both so that we can fill in the Customs Forms for shipping, and so that we know what is where. More treasured items will either be sent back next week with my sister (who is visiting this weekend), if we don’t need them soon, or will come in our suitcases when we head back in August. But we’re trying to be selective and thoughtful so we’re not traveling with more than really necessary.
Among the things I’m sending back with my sister are most of the needle felt pieces I’ve done. My yarn and fiber collections are being shipped. While their total value may be… higher than I’d care to admit… they are on the whole replaceable, whether directly or with something similar enough. Ok. I’m a little nervous about the Undercover Otter collection of 2020 Clan of Igors. But… there is more UO out there. But the needle felts, as my own artwork, would be harder to replace. My husband though, insisted that I keep at least a couple to come home in our suitcases so we wouldn’t have to wait to collect our things from my sisters’ house (several states away). This was sweet, and a nice little confidence boost in what I make.
That said, I also realized the last piece I did was in late April. I don’t really know how time slipped away so fast.
I’m still pretty pleased with it (though it goes with my sister), but felt it was time to do at least one more piece before packing up the last of my needle felting supplies. The bulk of my solid colored roving and top is already packed, but I still have my red drawers of fibers, and a couple pieces of prefelt. So I took a look at what I had, and pulled together this color palette:
I worked on it last Saturday and again on Sunday. I just started laying down strips of color, but as I’ve worked I realized that I’m mimicing the way the yarn builds up around a cross arm spindle. It’s not exactly the same, but it has a bit of the same feel. This wasn’t intentional, but I think that’s where it’s coming from.
There are still quite a few layers to go. When I hold it up, I can see the places where there is barely any fiber over the cream pre-felt background, and I want it to get steadily brighter as I go with more and more turquoise. Finally, there will be some splashes and pops of the oranges and pinks you can see in the colors I assembled.
We’ll see how it turns out. But, that two month+ gap in working on my needle felt? I’ll be glad when we’re in the United States and more settled, because I think it will be easier to find the time and creative energy to do more.