Monday, December 13, 2010

Here at The Pot, we felt more than just scarves!


Yes, we do! For example, this fine vessel adorned with vintage buttons. How nice to receive a living plant in a woolly package. Or a place to store your necessary bedside accoutrements. A bed for an especially loved ferret. Spoon holder. Catch all. It's sturdy and stands up but the sides and top move and mold to your needs.


Headbands slash ear-warmers slash belt for skinny chick slash neck accessory are a new venture and I've been having a lot of fun with them. I haven't gotten pictures of all of them and the cutest ones have already sold, but here are a couple.
Of course the one that started it all was the only thing I've made for myself in two years and you can see it in my profile page here and on Facebook.


The cool thing about them is they tie for the most part rather than button, so they're fully adjustable. My two year old can wear the same one I can, just gaining her longer tails.


Excuse the horrible suburban backdrop. I'm trying my hardest to change that.



Flowers! Felt flowers or is it felted flowers? hrmm... Flowers which are felted are one of my favourite things to create. I make about a dozen a week, and haven't got pictures of many at all. These go quickly each market, and they also embellish hats, purses, scarves and shawls, the headbands, etc...

This was just a bit of whimsy we got to experience one day when our swallowtails began to emerge. This one stayed around for time enough for a play with (2 out of 3 of) my beautiful impish children.



Dolls, especially Merfolk, are charming to see come to life. All their different colour schemes and bedazzlement, you never know what s/he'll look like when complete, until there.

She was a custom order, now off to California.

The West is the best, Baby...



I think of this one as a bit of a Sea Witch. But not the Disney kinda witch, yuck. I mean the swimming waveclad hugging whales algae tincture lore kinda seawitchymama.



She has wild hair with weeds strung loosely and remove-ably through it and pearls nestled hidden upon her head.
This is also in a new home now, but we do have these pictures to remember his time with us...




Oh and, the owl....I wasn't his maker.....


This is #2 of this bag as the first one sold, but came out totally different. The felt was originally made to be wrist cuffs. Think Victorian Gothic, Steampunk...
I'll make them again.
They made really cute purses with enough room for your smartphone, money, keys...



And believe it or not, there's still more, not super new stuff that I need to take pictures of and post!! I'll get there.

Next Saturday the 18th is the Deep Ellum Outdoor Martket behind Cafe Brazil. 11am-5pm.
Last market for most people for the season! We'll be back on the schedule again come 2nd Saturday in March!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Long delayed update part one!


So this duo I made while trying for a set that matched but was not matchy. I really did not mean to make the hat look like a tiger. But then I realised it's perfect Longhorn colours so maybe it's all good. Yesterday at White Rock Local Market I took it to show and it was still damp from being made on Friday. It's very thick. The shawl, which is now gone, is very lightweight.


This was possibly the hat I would have kept for myself out of any I've ever made. Alas, it also sold quick smart yesterday. Of course I can mostly duplicate everything I have made to a certain degree. The flower was an experiment with a scrap of silk gauze. It came out even more delightful than I expected.
I think the cobweb nuno felted scarf (blue wool on white silk) is still around.


This shawl was (yes, was) absolutely stunning. Like spiders silk and deep ocean coming together.
It had a silk flower brooch to accent it, use as a closure, etc. This ensemble sold first at White Rock and the girl who bought it looked incredible with this around her.




This is one of the most fun scarves I've ever made. I adore rainbows.
I've since made a couple others, miniature ones, for sweet children who relish the opportunity for a hug from a rainbow. The clouds at the ends are laced with wild harvested silk and serve to be the "silver lining" all clouds are said to possess.


Have you seen ANY better way to chase away the winter doldrums than this?



Sold. The same greens were used in this set as were in the large shawl.
The scarf is cobweb nuno felt (green on black silk gauze). The hat is black on the underside (all my hats are reversible), and the corners turn up gently.


Some more sun to shine on you...The yellow nuno scarf with purple merino/silk/alpaca blend. The crinkled ruffly border keeps this scarf light and airy and able to be worn in most seasons as an accessory even when you don't want to wrap it around your neck for warmth.



Navy silk nuno. Bordered with a blend of 60/40 wool/silk and the white in the middle is tiny slivers of more silk.

Grey silk nuno. The flowers are latticed onto the pink merino and their stems laced throughout. A great change from a chunky heavy necklace to wear with your LBD.

This one was so super elegant and dainty, but had big bold colours. It sold a couple of weeks ago but I am happy to remake. It's extremely delicate cobweb nuno made with black silk gauze, dyed soysilk and purple merino.


I have so many more new things, some that are still here, some that are gone. I am about to make another post with more so as not to cram too many pictures together in one post.

I'm glad to take custom orders up to the very last minute. It doesn't take more than a couple of days to get it made and ready for you.

Thanks, readers!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Saturday market day!

I'll be at White Rock Local Market on Buckner at The Green Spot this Saturday from 8-1pm
It's my very favourite market in the metroplex, you should definitely come check it out!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Home Show

I am showing my work at a private home show in the Highland Park area of Dallas on the 19th of November. I'm happy to add you to my invite list if you would like to attend.
There will be a local jeweler and a local photographer who will also be showing and selling their wares.

Let me know by commenting or email me at amba.whatley AT gmail DOT com with your email address you'd like the evite sent to.

Thanks!

Friday, October 29, 2010

It's 55° outside? You look like you could use a woolly warmer.

This was actually the very last thing I felted, and very last thing I photographed. Huh.

I realized as I was making this baby blanket-newborn swaddler-tummy time mat-diaper changing surface-snuggle rug-stroller blanket-lovey-tea party scene-picnic blanket-chair art-wall hanging that it could be all of those things, and more, and how fantastic that something like one piece of warm, forgiving, insulating cloth could really service someone throughout their life.
I actually have my first piece of felt I ever made, which was when I was about 10 or so, and it's currently used in my daughters room with her wooden kitchen set. It's only gotten stronger.



And there is said daughter, who danced out the door right at the end and sat herself down right on top of the thing I was trying to photograph.

I let her get away with it.


This is the river that carries springtime.



So this was/is really fun. Fun to make, fun to take pictures of, fun to wear. It's double sided. The first side is a peaceful winter scene and the best part about this scarf is it even tricks you into thinking you're colder than you really are.
It's magic.
The silk lining the branches and floating around in fluffy puffy snowflakes shining under the glow of a streetlamp.


Look, my cat thinks it's a real bird! It comes to life, this scarf. It belongs in Narnia.


The texture you can see in this photograph is so exciting for me, because I never think I capture the whole picture, if you know what I mean.

Click on it.
By now you've forgotten there was even meant to be a second side to this scene huh?
The reverse is more silk.


Rapture.

I don't know, luck of the Irish?


I want to see this draped across the shoulders of a lovely bride in one of Sixpence Weddings' pictures. I could even felt their wedding dress. That would be something else. I have a hard time putting this one down. I've been wanting to felt a pure white shawl for some time now, and am very pleased with the absolute luxury it turned out to be. This is Polwarth wool top,wild harvested silk and just a hare hair of angora.

It drapes like a lover.

Delicate, webby, ethereal.


My middle child calls this a spikey ladder. He wants me to make him one all black and blue but with no spikes coming out the sides so when his guys climb up it, if they fall, they don't become impaled by felt. Woe.

The colours are striking up close. A deep pool.

This scuffed old button is vintage leather at its loveliest. Worn in the middle but still shiny all around the edges.
This handsome neck warmer is elegant and strong all at once.

If I was consistent with the naming of my pieces, this one would be something wonderfully flossy like Mirabel or Trixie.



I have stepped, or should I say put my toes back in the cordwainer bucket. It felt fine in there. I think I'll stay a while.

The purple ankle boots (or high tops if you fold the cuff back up) are about a 7, as my foot was the last. hehe

These elfin cuties are about a 2-3year size.
Closest to a size 7 small children shoe.

And...hats. These are all fancy hats when you want them to be, or you can remove the adornment and use it elsewhere.
The white one is especially cute when folded up like a Gil Elvgren girl would wear.




Come see me on Saturday at the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market where you can obtain any one of these fine felted wares. 11am-5pm Halloween on Elm Street!

Do it, Dallas.