Needle Felted Christmas Baubles

 

                                               

                  Christmas is coming, time to start making things. 

                                               Christmas Baubles

Legend has it that in Pagan Times in Northern Europe The Fire of The Gods was stolen and given to man by Snake Lightning which lit up The Tree of Knowledge that granted consciousness to man. In order to appease the Gods men hung offerings of apples, bread rolls, and flowers on the branches of a tree. The tree would be set on fire in order to return the gift of fire to the Gods. This tradition was adapted to the Christian faith in the 8th Century.

St Boniface used the triangular shape of fir trees to introduce the concept of the Trinity. Apples were used to decorate the trees until a harsh winter killed many apple trees in 1858.Other forms of decoration were invented such as glass balls  and the Christmas bauble became popular as the use of fir Christmas trees as a decoration spread around the world.

I use needle felting which uses wool to make baubles ,replacing my old plastic ones for a natural substance.

Traditional forms may include the fir tree, the candy cane, candles, wreaths ,bells ,stars and more recently birds, and snow men.

                 

                                                        

                                                

                                                                         

Needle Felted Broody Hens

 More needle felting with some hens on nests .Getting ready to use these with some eggs in the nests for an Easter display at home.

                                          

                                          

A Russian Gun in Ely

 

            This cannon was captured from the Russians in Sebastopol in 1860 and given to Ely City by Queen Victoria after the Crimean War in recognition of the successful formation of the Ely Rifle Volunteers.

It has been decorated with the flag of Ukraine. 

Ely Cathedral has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage since the 8th Century.

                                       

                                                     

           

BBC Access to News

 

                                             How to receive BBC News from Ukraine                             

Ukraine's National Flower

The National Flower of Ukraine is The Sunflower

Painting and Crafting with Wool

 Felting

I have decided to work with a new medium for producing paintings ,sculptures and craft work.

Wool is a wonderful, natural medium, best known for lovely clothing but also used for painting sculpture and craftwork.

Here in England we have factories that are still producing beautiful wool both for spinning into fabric and unspun for artists and crafters.

I have been using dry felting techniques ,

This is some of my work, I am improving with practice. 

                                                               

A Marmalade Cat

Winter Night

                                                                           

Easter Eggs

                                             

Felted Easter Eggs

                                 

                                                                 

Using traditional wool from Teesdale

Memories are Made of These

 

              It seems amazing to my grandchildren that I grew up without TV, Wifi ,the internet and mobile phones. How did we face the summer break from school , what did we do in the 1940s and 50s?A simple holiday on the east coast of England was something we really looked forward to. My Dad would also add to my book collection with a story  like this  parent free adventure by Enid Blyton .                                                          

    

 No burgers or pizzas were  on the menu. A big treat was a bar of chocolate like Cadburys Dairy Milk. There were almost no sweets or candy at all until about 1947.My Dad was in the army , the soldiers had generous sweet rations and  Dad would save his share until he came home on leave to give it to us . A Mars bar would be sliced into slivers and made to last a couple of days .                         

Loose leaf tea like this was the drink of choice for most people. It would be made with boiling water in a well warmed teapot and served in cups with saucers after being left to brew for a few minutes to draw out the flavour . I hated the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. All sorts of signs were read into the formation of the tea leaves. A large floating leaf meant a significant letter was coming. My grandmother would spend hours ruminating over the possibilities. Mugs were unheard of in our house except enamel ones sometimes taken or picnics.

Food was pretty tasteless, the English had a love for boiling everything to a pulp It was not until I went to France at the age of 12 that I realised what food could really be like. Marmite which I like, was good on toast, crumpets or in sandwiches. It is enjoying a revival as it is suitable for vegetarians. There is a new version out with peanut butter added, I am not enthused by this.

                                                                 

            Bisto was another great food improver added to gravy. Once the war was over we always had a large beef joint for Sunday lunch.  These days a joint of sirloin that size would cost about £30 .The smell of it cooking was delicious .Cooked until very well done the Bisto gravy added moisture. Left overs were served cold on Monday as my Mum would be busy with washing day.                                                              

Every thing was cooked on a stove that looked like this

                                                                  

In 1952 Dad bought a TV. Black and white of course and 11 inches wide. Our entire family  watched the the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd on it. My grandfather stood up every time the National Anthem was played which was frequently.

       A new invention in 1964 was the introduction of Pyrosil cookware. Said to have been invented to use in connection with rocket ships this oven to table ware was popular. I still have some.   I was shocked to see some on display in a museum.