Needle Felting Experiment 1

So, I thought it was time I got to my first experiences with needle felting. I admit, I am kind of bummed with how things turned out, but I know that eventually my work will get to a level I like. While I do like what I’ve created, I didn’t like that they didn’t turn out how the picture on the kits said they should. I have always had a problem following patterns to create something the way someone else says it should look. So I think from now on my felting adventures will be more from my creative eye and less from somebody else’s. I may still get a kit every now and again, but I want to try seeing what I can come up with on my own. Once again, I blame Maqaroon for giving me the needle felting bug. I really love her channel and videos. She inspires me in my future goals in where I’d like to take my hobbies.

So after getting bit with the needle felting bug I jumped onto Amazon and found some kits for relatively cheap to play with. The first kit I picked out was Dimensions Needlecraft Feltworks Complete Beginner Kit. This kit has everything to get you started needle crafting. Well, almost everything. I say this because, when I opened the kit to make it, I tried using the needle that they include in the kit and found it almost impossible to use. I stabbed at the wool lightly, hard, and somewhere in between but it wouldn’t felt together. I then took a needle from a needle felting supply kit I bought from a Chinese seller on Amazon, and it worked instantly. So if you do buy a kit, you may want to have some other trustworthy needles to actually put it together with or risk sitting there a long time stabbing at the wool hoping it will felt, see the needles below I got from the kit. They are very small and don’t have a lot of “barbs” on the end.

Once I got the right needle, the felting part went relatively smooth. I read the directions, put on my needle felting thimbles, and started. After a few minutes of stabbing, I got into the flow of things. However, being new at needle felting, I wasn’t sure how much pressure to put on the needle and how to angle it, even after reading the instructions, still found myself having to stab at weird angles to get the look I was going for. So I wasn’t too shocked when about a forth of the way through I felt a snap, heard a metallic click, and noticed my needle was no longer pointy. I looked at my project and noticed the blunt end of the needle poking out from the wool. I carefully pulled it out, replaced the needle, and took it much gentler with the stabbing. So from what I understand, when you needle felt, go directly up and down so you go strictly in and out. This means no stabbing from funky angles, at least not when you are a beginner. And don’t be to aggressive with your needles or they will snap. You can see my blunted needle and the underside of my work below. That pointy bit on the right part of the picture is the other half of my needle.

Once I thought I was done, I simply pulled the project up from the mat. Do this carefully and slow. I don’t know why the whole process of pulling the wool out from the foam mat gave me shivers. To me it was the equivalent of finding a plant growing from the rug, it was just unnatural to me. LOL! So I tried to pull up as quickly and as slowly as I could go. LOL! I took a quick video of me pulling up to show you what I mean.

As you can see, I like to watch, or rather listen, to things while I craft. That day I was catching up some on the Shaytards. I am still behind on videos with them. I need to have another crafty day and soon. Also, you could see that after I pulled the project up there were a lot of gaps I didn’t see while working on it. All I did was put it back on the mat and work on it some more. What you didn’t get to see was when I started working on the center of the flower I started putting the black in the wrong place, placed it where the white dots are instead of the surrounding area, and had to pull them out, pull the fibers free as best as I could, and then put them where they were suppose to go. Needle felting can be very forgiving on your mistakes.

So, what do you do with your appliqué after you are done? Well you can either cut close around it and attach it things like clothing or bags, you can frame it, or you can get another felt item like a little purse or bag and needle felt it onto that. The possibilities are endless, just use your crafty imagination. What am I going to do with mine? I think I may frame it to remind me of my first attempt at needle felting.

So what do I think about needle felting? I like it. I want to try it some more, try different felting fibers, try different needles, try different mats, and just see what I prefer to create with. As with any new craft I start, I went the cheap route in case I didn’t like the craft. I got a cheap supplies set that ended up working way better than the stuff that came with the kits; take a look at the first picture above, I got 5 kits to make, and I got some thimbles/ finger guards to get me started; take a look at the second picture above. Can I just say I LOVE the thimbles I bought. They are silicone and have saved my fingers many times already. I got some leather ones in the cheap supply set I bought, but they are a tight fit for me and I’d rather be comfortable, and part of me believes they won’t protect me as well as the silicone ones will. However I will give them a try again, after I get better at needle felting, and will report back to you on how well they are. Also, the mat that I got in the cheap set, although it worked better than the mats I got in some of the sets I got, it is still super cheap and after a few uses it becomes useless. So I want to invest in a better mat that will last me longer than the “packaging foam” mat I got in the kit. Seriously, if you are in a bind for a mat, the one I have is just like the foam you’d find in boxes that hold electronics. So if you have some laying around, BAM!, there you go, instant mat.

And that’s about it for my first try at needle felting. I enjoyed the motion of felting and no sooner I finished this I decided to jump into my next project right away, a felted bunny. Now that was a whole new adventure. Felting flat and felting round, though very similar, takes forming a new tactic on doing. You’ll see that blog post really soon. :-) And on that note, I will talk to you lovelies later. Until next time. Take care. Bye for now. :-)

This Is What A Thyroid Biopsy Is Like

So, I lived through my first biopsy. Let me tell you, while it wasn’t that bad, it is definitely something I am not rushing out to have done again any time soon. So, what happened? Ok, so when I showed up for my appointment, I got my vitals read and then placed in this room I had been in before when I got an ultrasound of my throat done about a week before. The table starts off like a chair with a high back, so I sat there waiting. Once the doctor and her assistants came in, she sat down with me and explained everything that would be happening and asked me if I had any questions. With no questions to be had, they laid the chair back into a table and the table tilts you a little so you are slightly upside down so they can get access to your throat. From there they proceeded to set things up, the set-up honestly took longer than the procedure. Once they were all set up, they opened a package and took out a large cotton swab looking thing that had soap on it and they wiped it across my neck. Then they opened another package with another cotton swab looking thing that had a chemical on it that made the skin on my throat sting some. After that, they turned out the lights and used the ultra sound to find the nodule. Once they found it they used a cold spray to numb the area, then using the ultra sound she asked me to swallow and then had me hold still. She poked a needle, that is smaller than a needle used to take blood, into my throat into the nodule and poked it in and out of my throat 4-5 times to get a sample. She had to do that 4 times. On the 3 go the needle bent some due to the calcium in my nodule, I didn’t feel anything when the needle bent, and only knew about it from her telling me afterwards. Also, there is a lot of pressure during the poking. I’m not sure if it was from the needed or the ultra sound wand, but it can feel like someone pressing hard on your throat. As with the needle, the pressure is tolerable too. After everything was done, they wiped my throat, gave me a regular bandage, and an ice pack to hold on my neck for 20 minutes to help me from getting a hiccie bruise. I thankfully didn’t get one. After that I went home.

She said if I experienced pain to just take a Tylenol because other medicines may cause me to bleed, she told me I didn’t really bleed during the procedure. Now speaking of bleeding, to prepare the night before you need to make sure if you take pain killers that aren’t Tylenol that you don’t take them the day before so you don’t have issues with bleeding. Also if you have blood thinners make sure your doctor knows because that could cause bleeding also. So it’s been a few hours and it just looks like I got stung by a few tiny bees. It itches a bit and has a dull pain when I touch it, so I will skip the pain meds and just deal with the itching. It wasn’t that bad, but she told me that sometimes not enough sample is pulled out, and in that case I’d have to do it again when I see her again in 3 months. *sigh* Oh well, at least it’s over with for now. For now I will relax before I have to start stressing out tomorrow over what I am sure is to be my second biospy of the week. Yay me! LOL! Now, if you are brave, here is a video below of what a biospy basically is. It seems that this patient got a numbing shot instead of the numbing spray I got. Either way, you will be numb for the most part. You will feel the initial needle prick, but it’s tolerable, and this is coming from someone who hates needles and has a low tolerance for pain.

So yeah, that’s how a thyroid nodule biospy was for me. Not as bad as I pictured, not completely pain free, but it was tolerable. The only thing I felt was when she would stick the needle in for the initial stick and the pressure. I didn’t feel the in and out poking. So I basically felt about 4-5 needle pricks. Not fun, but you can deal with it, and before you know it, the lights are on, the table is back in the sitting position, and you are on your way out the door with a bandage and an ice pack, ice up at home if they don’t give you an ice pack so you can avoid bruising. So if you have to get one done anytime soon, you will be just fine and you’ll be so glad when you get the negative results. 95% of those tested come out negative, so try not to stress too much over it. And on that note, I will talk to you lovelies later. Until then. Take care. Bye for now.

This Song Is Suppose To Make Me Happy!!!

So I found this video a while back, but I've recently come across it again, and I swear this song kills me. It's a "happy" song, but the beat is so slow and sad. It makes me so sad, and I know I should listen to something else, but I love this remix. Have a listen.

*sigh* I wonder if I should stop blogging again. I'm just going through some stuff and I hate that I am not bringing something interesting to my blog. Oh, one update, the block was reenacted yesterday, so that's good. Other than that I've just mostly been marathoning "Orange Is The New Black" on Netflix. Omg, so freaking addictive! For mature audiences only, this show is crazy with a capital "C", but you just can't look away. I'm into the second season and should be done with it in the next day or so. I'll treat myself to some episodes after tomorrow's appointment. I'm so nervous and so angry I have to do this. I feel like I've done it to myself and must pay for it all now. Meh, I think I will go read a bit on clean eating and then get a few hours of sleep. Is it weird I don't know exactly how to eat clean? Or is that a thing most people have? Anyway, tomorrow is going to be interesting. Will report back with how it went. Until then, take care lovelies. Bye for now.

Damn It Girl Get It Together!

I'm accountable. Can this count for a post? No? What if I leave you with this?

 

 Counts as a post now? Yeah? Awesome. Catch you lovelies tomorrow. Until then, take care. Bye for now.

One Week, Bad Day?

Hey guys, so today is kind up and down for me. I am going through some hormonal stuff again, which I hate with a passion. I wish they would level out so I cold have more normal human days than not. It got so bad I foolishly unblocked someone to say hi out of emotion. Regretted it no sooner I sent the text. The convo was basic and nothing exciting. I was reminded of what an @$$ he is and I am back to having my fill of all that. Like I said, it was done in a hormonal moment and I am soooo not proud of it. I believe they will get the block again in a few. I feel stupid.

Found some more interesting fashions that I would love to not only draw but make for dolls of various sizes. I especially love the v-neck shirt. Now that is a lowwwww neckline, but it's so cool. As I look at all these fashions, I wonder how that would translate into 1/6th scale. I'm sure the v-neck and cowls could be worked out depending on the fabric they are made out of. Well when it comes to 1/6th it all really comes down to what the fabric is made out of really.

So next week I complete another run around the sun. Fun, right? Meh, guess so. Ok, I am glad I am having another birthday. I know of many who won't get this chance, and so I respect the fact that I do get that option. It's just with each birthday I get a little sad because I feel like I haven't accomplished anything due to getting sick and having anxiety, and also I reflect on the fact that I am way older than my older brother now. I was catching up on Eastenders and the brother of twins was saying good-bye to his twin sister at her funeral. He mentioned how she was almost 8 minutes older than him and she never let him forget it. However, he was now older than her for the first time ever and it didn't feel right. That's how I feel about my brother. It's not right that I am older. Just realized, even my younger sister is older than him now. It just feels wrong. I loved being the middle child, but that status was ripped from me and I would give anything to have it back. I miss my brother.

So maybe it's best not to blog when you are all weepy, but I worry if I don't do it then I will disappear

for months again and I am really trying to get back into the things I love. So fake it until you make it i guess. Next week is going to be a horror. I hope, at least,  I have a good birthday, even if it's just me laying in bed marathoning the last 2 seasons of Doctor Who, the new one starts soon. Yay!

And on that geeky note, I will talk to all you lovely people tomorrow. Until then, take care. Bye for now.

Korean Male Fashions For Dolls

So I've been thinking about things I want to sew and create for male dolls in the 1/6th world. When it comes to fashion, my eyes pop when I see colors, prints, patterns, shapes. Don't get me wrong, t-shirts and jeans are amazing, I love to live in them myself, but there is just something sexy about sleek and colorful outfits. This preference was resparked in me when my sister recently sent me a link for a music video by Korean male singer Henry. In the video he had a certain outfit that caught my attention and that I decided I wanted to somehow make in 1/6th scale in my own vision. Take a look at this screen-cap I caught from the video.

So I'm not sure what the design is on the front of the pants panel, but I would be going for a more subtle look for my outfit. Maybe a solid color with a strip of color going across the middle of it. Not sure. But I love the concept of  "skirty" like pieces of clothing on men. Yes, I am fully aware it's not a skirt, just not shirt what it's called. But it's not shocking to see Asian men in the entertainment business to wear a skirt. It's usually over pants or leggings, and it just kinds of add to their edgy look.

But skirts on men aren't the only thing I find fascinating. Korean male fashion in general has always caught my attention. I especially really love watching Korean dramas and seeing the fashions the men wear, and they wear it like it was just effortless for them to put it together. It almost seems like they put it on as easily as it is to put on a t-shirt and jeans and call it a day. Here are some fashions I am in love with and would love to recreate for dolls.

I am in love with the fact that men can make turtlenecks look so sexy. I don't see many men here wearing turtlenecks, but I see them a lot in Korean fashion.

 The concept of t-shirt and jeans is amazing too. I love seeing something that doesn't have superheroes, game characters, cartoon characters, team logos, etc. on it. I love the pop of color on the shirt and how it's more "fashion" but still it's casual.

Sweats are done "fashionably casual" as well. I know in real life I'm sure those strings are tied and tucked in, but in the "world of fashion" those strings hang loose and it's fashionable. Even in Korean dramas sweats can be just casual fashion and isn't meant to be worn strictly indoors or while exercising.

Even casual wear is just so bright and sleek. I just don't see that in regular life where I live and I'm sure not a lot of people do unless you live in a more fashion-centric area like New York, California, Paris, London, Seoul, etc.

Winter wear is still bright and bold as well. While around here we bundle up in big poofy pillowy coats, in other parts of the world they still work it. And now let me pic spam you with some other male fashions I just love.

Elbow patches, not just for fashionable college professors. Love.

So while searching for Korean male fashions I found some non-Korean fashion pictures that would fit perfectly under the male Korean fashion bubble.

I wish I could see this type of fashion in person to see how it really falls on a man and how it moves on them. If I do see a suit it's because the man is going to work, church, wedding, or a funeral. I would love to experience a place where fashion is more expressive. Now I know these fashions are also mostly worn in certain areas of Korea just like anywhere else. I'm sure most of Korea is much more casual, I would just love to walk around the areas of the world that are high fashion just to see them, how they flow, and the people who wear them. *sigh* Dream big Michelle, dream big. Until then, I will plan and plot and design patterns for my dolls and let them live in the fashions I'd love to see in real life. :-)

And on that last note, I am off. I shall continue the search for high-fashion and drool over the colors, patterns, textures, fabrics, and shape. My next fashion post will be on the complete other side of the spectrum.  Can't wait to post about that soon. Until then, take care. Bye for now.