Felted dog

Today we are going to make a Cartoon Needle Felted Dog. My beagle might have a cartoon character looks and maybe he is not that realistic looking, but he is the easiest to make.

We will need:

1. Wool batt.
2. Rowing wool in white, tan, black and red colors
3. felting needles #38 and #40. We are using #38 during the whole process of felting and finishing our work with #40.
4. Foam sponge for felting
5. 2 black round beads for the eyes
6. A sketch of your project.


I usually draw my dogs in the size I am going to felt to make sure I am doing the correct size.


Step 1: Make a rough shape of your dog's body and head from your wool batt. It should be slightly smaller than desired size of your finished project. Poke through the wool evenly with the #38 needle until firm, adding additional wool batt if needed.




Step 2: According to your sketch make 4 white feet, 2 tan ears and black and white tail from your wool roving. Don't forget to leave the base of each detail un-felted to felt it later to the body.


Step 3: Connect all the body parts together. Felt feet to the body. Apply a medium layer of white wool all over the dog's body.


Step 4: Attach the ears with your felting needle. Add some tan wool where needed.


Step 5: Attach the tail and apply some black roving wool to finish the project.


Step 6: Make the nose by attaching a small amount of black wool with your # 40 needle, and glue your black beads for the dog's eyes.


Our dog is ready! Well, he looks a little sad doesn't he? Let's take some red wool roving and make a ball for him!


Much better! Look at him now, I think, he is inviting you to play! :)


Story by Yulia (HeartyDog)
Translated by Tanya (Socksandmittens)

One of a kind giveaway!

This giveaway is totally unique!

Please, don't be afraid, you will not receive a hairless head! :)

This giveaway is for your own portrait made in papercut technique. Nadezhda (MamaTita) who is hosting this giveaway will make a portrait of you or your friend as soon as you will send her your photo. It will be hand cut on paper, carefully packaged and send to you if you will be a winner of our giveaway! Look for A4 frame size in your nearest photo or craft shop to find the matching frame.

When you receive your gift, take a photo of it, send it back to us and we will publish it on our blog!

To be a lucky winner please follow this rules:

1.Visit MamaTita shop, browse around, and leave a comment here on what your favorite item is. (1 entry)

2. Follow/subscribe Nadezhda's twitter , facebook / blog (1 entry each)

3. Follow/ subscribe our blog (1 entry)

4. Grab Etsy Russian Team’s button and place it on your blog. (1 entry)

5. Share this giveaway on your blog/ facebook/ twitter. (1 entry each)

6. Share Nadezhda`s blog on your blog/facebook/twitter. (1 entry each)

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to LEAVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so that Nadezhda could contact you!

There are plenty unique items in Nadezhda's shop, please visit it today to find out more about her creations!

This giveaway will run from March 8 through March 18. The results will be announced on March 19th, 2011.

So join the fun and good luck!

Wonderful things wednesday - Winter woodland forest

Now that winter is upon us, how do our forest friends keep warm? They can’t wear warm mittens or coats but nature has given them their own means to stay warm.

Foxes, squirrels and other mammals grow a soft under fur to help them keep warm regardless if they hibernate like squirrels with their little stashes of food or are out playing in a snow like a foxes. Owls and other birds get a thick down under their heavy flight feathers.


One of the things we can do to make the winter easier for them and enjoy watching them, is to put out natural foods in a place that is visible for you. Some ideas are corn, suet, wild bird seeds and other such foods.

A winter forest is full of life even if you can not see it. Just stop and look around!

Our team has taken inspiration from the winter woodland forest and created many craft items for you to choose from!

{Photo sources from top, then l-r: 1, 2, 3, 4}

{Photo sources from top, then l-r: 1, 2, 3, 4}

{Photo sources from top, then l-r: 1, 2, 3, 4}

{Photo sources from top, then l-r: 1, 2, 3, 4}

Story by Tanya Socksandmittens
Photo collages by Katrin KarisaGraphic

Interview With A Star - Yulia Kazansky

Today our feautured guest is Yulia Kazansky who is a member of a Russian Artists Etsy team. Yulia has two shops on Etsy with complitely different content. One of them is yuliaart which has an artistic trend, the other one is Timeagain which features beautiful vintage jewelry, mostly of Russian origin made of amber, turquoise and coral.

Q. Tell us, please a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Moscow, a capital of Russia. I got physics degree from Moscow State University. 15 years ago I immigrated to United States with my 2 sons. After living in Minnesota and Alaska I finally settled in North West Washington State, near Seattle. My children are living now in sunny Arizona.

Q. Why did you start making artwork?
As long as I remember myself I was always drawing, painting and making something of colored paper. I started to go to paint on plain air together with my grandfather as soon as I could walk and carry paper and watercolor. He was fine self-taught artist. Later, when I was about 10, my dad introduced me to photography when he bought a cheap simple camera. We even developed films and printed photos ourselves! So I am familiar with the depth of the process.

Q. Your Etsy shop undergone significant transformation recently?
Yes, I closed down my photography shop and right now I am reorganizing my art shop. As a new venue I started to make small art pendants, miniature art work painted on canvas, glued to wooden tile and varnished. I did not forget about photography, too! Usually I take a lot of photos, especially after I bought a new digital camera Nikon 200. I found a way to employ them: I started making digital collage sheets of my own photographs.Most of my fine art photography, paintings and animal portrait paintings are on my new website now: http://www.yuliakazansky.net/

Q. What was behind the idea of opening your vintage jewelry shop, Yulia?
Well, after my aunt passed away in Russia, her sister sent me lots of her and my grandmother's jewelry, semi-precious stones, amber and so on. It was really exciting to receive all of this. I found it is very pleasing esthetically create necklaces, bracelets and earrings of those beautiful stones. I still have whole box to go through...
Follow my blogs: Journal of Shutterfreak and Art by Yulia

Thank you for being with us today, Yulia!