Chicks

Chicks have hatched (sorry this is a bit late as they hatched 2 weeks ago now!!) they are not so fluffy now they are getting their real feathers - the cats are very interested but can't get to them.

The stripy chipmunk ones are the girls (3 yippee) and one little yellow boy (oh dear what am I going to do with him one of our neighbours complained when we tried to have a cockerel before- not thinking about it yet). Mummy hen is doing a good job and chatters away to them we can't handle them sadly yet as she would take my hand off but when they are six weeks old she can go back with the big hens and we'll keep the chickies separate for a bit longer.

I have been busy stitching makes for the magazine but sadly can't show you those but I can show you the masks I've been making for Jessie's school production of jungle book - she is a wolf and I said we could make the masks for all the wolves thinking there might be 4 or 5 to make so I made a mock up and she took it in to show her teacher and came after school telling me that her teacher thought it was great and could I make 10 please ....er .....ok then.......so this is how it went....

I carded all the grey merino and finn wool on my drum carder to make big batts then laid them all out on a bamboo mat ready for the felting - its been really hot here over the last few days so I could do the bubbly soapy bit outside trying not to get burnt.......

Then I felted like a whirling dervish - think the neighbours were wondering what was going on and then magically the big pile of fluff turns into a thick solid felt fabric- I had to make two pieces in the end this was the smaller one ! I finished off the felt by rinsing in the washing machine, then dunking for 20 minutes in a bowl of hot water with white vinegar added and then machine rinsing again. When dry and steam ironed I then cut all the masks out sewed them together (added a little commercial felt for details) on my trusty old Bernina sewing machine that made easy work of going over about 10mm of felt thickness on some bits (note to self oil the poor old machine!)..........

 

 

 





 

 

This bigger mask above is Jessie's as she is one of the main ones with one other wolf pack leader??? Phew bit worn out with a whole weekend felting and making in some heat....its been wet and cold for so long its taken us by surprise. Garden is looking messy but I've got too much work on at the moment to get out there - seedlings are wilting wanting to be planted out maybe this evening if it cools down...got a broody hen too sitting on some eggs should hatch next week about 16th/17th July hopefully if the eggs are viable - will post pictures then.