Our giveaway, washcloth & eco soap nuts! #etsycraftparty

Here is another great giveaway by Nataliya (NataliyaMalik ) ! This great set of felted washcloth & eco soap nuts is all about natural materials! 

The washcloth is made of wool. The soap nuts contains saponin, a natural alternative to chemical laundry detergent and cleansers. When in contact with water, it creates mild suds, which is similar to soap.

Please do any (or all) steps below to enter. The more you do, the more chances to win!

Leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave your email address here in comments or send it to us throughconversations on Etsy so that we can contact you if you win! 

The entry period for this giveaway is from June 17 through the June 19th. The lucky winner will be announced on June 20th. This giveaway is for US residents only.

1. Visit and heart  NataliyaMalik shop, browse her collection and leave a comment here on what you like the best (1 entry)
2. Follow / subscribe Nataliya's blog (1 entry)

3. Like Nataliya's page on Facebook (1 entry)
4. Follow/ subscribe this blog (Russian Artists blog) (1 entry)
5. Share this giveaway on your social medias ( pinterest, twitter, facebook, instagram, your blog) - 2 entries

Good luck, everyone!

Felted brooch to give away! Etsy Craft Party 2016

This lovely felted brooch can be yours if you will participate in our giveaway! It is handmade by Nataliya (NataliyaMalik ) and kindly offered for our virtual Etsy craft Party.

This aqua blue and apricot brooch made of soft wool, fiber silk and cat eye beads and is approximately 8" in diameter. A lovely accessory for a coat, jacket, scarf or handbag embellishment!

The entry period for this giveaway is from June 17 through the June 19th. The lucky winner will be announced on June 20th. This giveaway is for US residents only.

Please do any (or all) steps below to enter. The more you do, the more chances to win!

Leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave your email address here in comments or send it to us through conversations on Etsy so that we can contact you if you win!

1. Visit and heart  NataliyaMalik shop, browse her collection and leave a comment here on what you like the best (1 entry)
2. Follow / subscribe Nataliya's blog (1 entry)

3. Like Nataliya's page on Facebook (1 entry)
4. Follow/ subscribe Russian Artists blog (1 entry)
5. Share this giveaway on your social medias ( pinterest, twitter, facebook, instagram, your blog) - 2 entries

Good luck, everyone!

Felted balls DIY

Every child likes to play with balls. There should be a lot of them in different colors, sizes and made from the different materials like plastic, wood or textile. 

How about a felted wool balls for your home decor? Let's make it together with Oksana from LaFiabaRussa shop on Etsy!

You will need:

100% wool yarn, new or recycled from old sweaters

one or two unexpensive nylon pantyhose (leg portion only),

a pair of your old jeans

string or cord,

washing machine

Roll the yarn into balls (we are using 100% wool only for this project. Non wool yarn will not felt). 

Now it is ready for a cycle of intensive wash. Stuff them one at a time into the legs of the pantyhose and tie a cord in between the balls.

 Continue this way until all of your balls are inside.

Toss your filled pantyhose into a washing machine on a short hot cycle together with a pair of your old jeans to help the process of felting.

Check your balls, they should be fulled into balls but they are still soft! 

So it's time to embellish them with colorful threads or wool appliqué.

Return your balls to a washing machine for further fulling. Repeat the process of washing on a spin cycle in hot soapy water. Use as little water as possible to help the balls bounce together more.

If the balls still feels too soft after the first cycle run it again.

When the balls are tight enough switch the setting to rinse and add a big towel to hold your balls in place as they spin.

Ready!

For a couple days dry your balls out in warm place with lots of air circulation.

So, here they are, bright, warm, soft and safe for your furniture! Just don’t be surprised if your new felted balls will be a hit with your kids and pets!

Interview with a star - Irina (Chopard)

Please, welcome our team member Irina who runs Chopard shop on Etsy with great felted items.


Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, My name is Irina and I live in a beautiful place near Baltic sea, in Riga, Latvia, with my daughter and my husband. I am an economist and I work as an accountant in many companies. But I am lucky, since I work part-time, so I can work from home and have time for my hobby.


How long have you been creating? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?
I have started when I was 7 years old. I knitted my first dress then and my grandma embroidered it. I have been knitting for a long time, and there are knit dresses, hats, sweaters and other items in my collection. But 2 years ago I started looking for something new to do and found some information about felting. It sounded very interesting and I decided to try. My relatives told me that I was crazy.

My felting collection started with a scarf. It looked like a thick carpet on my neck :) But now I am much more skillful and in my shop you can find scarves made in the cobweb technique. Cobweb felt is deliciously fine and airy and has a beautiful glossy appearance when made with silk fibers.



What items do you carry in your shop?
In my shop you can find a lot of different items. There are dresses in nuno-felting technique. This dress collection took part in 3 fashion shows – the first one was in Lithuania, and the other two in Latvia. You can find different ladies hats, bags, scarves and wraps, even slippers. By the way, the thickness and strength of the wool being felted keeps your feet cozy and warm during the cold season. The natural fiber will also wick moisture away keeping your feet cool and dry in warmer weather. These slippers are perfect all year round.



What inspires you?
Nature, everyday life and happy clients inspire me to create new exclusive works.


Do you take custom orders?
Yes, I think it is the best reason to make something interesting and original. You can be sure that your item will be one of a kind, and that you won’t ever see another one just like that! But until now I had only one serious custom order – it was an evening dress. I made it in Riga, but my customer was from Moscow and we contacted each other only by e-mail. My client wanted an exclusive dress for a wedding of her best friend. She was very happy when she received the dress!!!


What items in your shop do you most enjoy making and why?
Most of all I like to make hats




A stylish hat plays just as an important of a role in woman's wardrobe as do clothes and shoes. For centuries a pretty hat was a requirement for fashionistas all over the world. A great hat will certainly make your look unique and unforgettable.

What would you say makes your shop unique?
Most of items you can find in my shop are one-of-a-kind. I could not copy them even if I wanted to. Every item is unique starting with its statement, the story it tells and the mood it conveys.


Any sales or promotions?
Currently I am running a sale on this interesting blue bag


Name 3 things you can’t live without?
Family, coffee and felt!!!

What would you say to your clients?
Dear ladies, don't be afraid to look original, different and exclusive!

Story by Irina Chopard and Alla FleetingStillness

Stay Warm and Look Cool!

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that Fall is the best season of the year - from the golden foliage to pumpkin-flavored everything and cool weather, Fall gives us many special things and one of them is new look. Fall Fashion shows were presented in Spring and we had a good six months to prepare for autumn dressing.

In our collections you can find all what you will need in this season: chunky knits, sweater dresses, felted and knit scarves and many other accessories to stay warm and look cool. Bright, eye-popping colors make a statement this season - favor the bright and don't be shy to pair different shades of the same color.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

All these would complete your winter look and more would also keep you warm in the windy and freezy days.

Accessories all year round can transform a boring outfit into a stylish look. In another words, accessories can revive an old dress and turn it into a fashion masterpiece in a matter of a moment. The bottom line: selecting and using accessories tastefully is an art that pays back.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Here's a summary of all big trends of the Fall/Winter 2012 with from Vogue Magazine for F/W 2012:

Mood/Style:
layering is the starting point for a collection that consists of many pieces that are also mix-and-match and purposefully crafted to combat the winter temperatures. The source of inspiration, then, is the book The Stonemasters and its images of the California climbers of the Seventies. Sporty details mix with very masculine pieces and feminine dresses. It passes from the checked shirt to pieces in oversized knits, from touches of fur to ponchos with decorations that bring to mind the typical graphic prints of Native Americans. But also trapeze tops worn over undershirts, skirts that look like shirts or cardigans, flower-printed dresses and ankle-length skirts

Lengths:
midi and maxi

Colours:
black, bordeaux, army green, red, cement, khaki, anthracite, sandpaper, white, ivory, dove, camel, pearl

Fabrics:
fur, woolen knit, cotton, nylon, woolen cloth, satin, lightweight wool, silk, cashmere, sweatshirt, lurex, chiffon

Shapes:
flared, sarouel, oversized, A-line, loose, layered

Accessories:
knit berets, cloth belts, robust patent leather lace-up high-top shoes, pearl necklaces, wool gloves, fur stoles, lightweight knit collants, wool stockings, maxi woolen scarves, fur busbies, knit muffs, charm necklaces

Vogue.it

To find all new listings for upcoming season use "rusteam fall fashion" key words in Etsy search.

Story by Lyudmila (WoolSolution)

Felted rose-brooch - summer give away

This elegant brooch was handmade with fine merino wool which was felted and then formed into a beautiful rose.
Wear this brooch to accent clothing, hats, and bags. You could also use it as a closure for scarves and capes.

It can be yours if you will participate in our giveaway!

Lena (Baymut) is hosting it today. She makes wonderful 100% hand felted clothing, accessories and jewelry.

To be a lucky winner please follow these rules:

1.Visit Baymut's shop, browse around, and leave a comment here on what your favorite item is (1 entry)
2. Follow/subscribe our blog (1 entry)
3. Grab Etsy Russian Team’s button and place it on your blog (1 entry)
4. Share this giveaway on your blog/ facebook/ twitter (1 entry)
5. Follow Baymut's facebook / twitter (1 entry each)
6. Purchase anything from Baymut's shop and come back letting know what you purchased!

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave us your email address so that Lena could contact you!


The winner will be announced on Jule 16nd, so have fun, guys and good luck!

Tutorial how to color dye felting wool with KoolAid

A great way to color or dye felting wool is with KoolAid. It comes in a wide variety of colors that could be mixed up to create even more colors. It doesn’t wash away and is as natural as a food coloring could be. Another great thing about KoolAid is that it can be found in any grocery store in US.

I suggest we start with a few bright colors like red for cherry flavored KoolAid, yellow for Lemon and orange for Orange and a few felted beads of medium size. To read more about the process of creating felted wool acorns please refer to my post on How to make felted wool acorns.

I first made colored water. To make it I added powder from KoolAid packs to the water in a few small plastic containers. As a result I’ve got five containers with brightly colored water. I added approximately a tea spoon of powder to each of the containers. Then I put each of my five beads into a separate container and let the beads suck in the colored water.

One can vary the quantity of powder dispensed in the water to make the solution more or less saturated. As a result beads can turn out of either pale and pastel hues or bright and vivid colors. It makes sense to heat containers with solution and beads in a microwave up to the boiling point for color to fully penetrate the beads. However be careful as beads will be super hot! I usually cool them off in cold water afterwards.

The result is pretty impressive. All of my five beads turned out to be colored differently. The most intensive, bright and beautiful color turned out to be orange. Yellow bead was not that intensely colored but I really like the light lemon color of the bead. They smell of oranges, lemons and cherries! Yummy!

All those brightly colored beads could be turned into acorns or into an acorn wind chime.

This post describes my personal experience with a particular product.
Please be careful trying to replicate the experiment!!!

Tutorial by TonyaUtkina

Fun coat scarf

When a felt artist wants to rest they make something simple and colorful.

If you'd like to make a new felt scarf for yourself or as a gift I will show you how to do it. Best of all, it can be any color you like. You can let your fantasy go wild!



For a scarf measuring about 100x20 cm* you will need:
a piece of bubble wrap, 100x40 cm
white or undyed roving wool, about 100 gram
dye for wool
microwave safe bowl
vinegar
mild shampoo or foamy soap

* Finished size will depend on fiber you used and layout

Tear long thin strips of roving wool and position them on the bubble wrap as in picture.


Fill all the space of the scarf with such strips. Since we want to achieve the effect of holes in the scarf, fix the layout of wool as you position it and form holes with your fingers. It can also be done after the wool has been dampened.
Having placed all the wool, spray it with soapy liquid, cover with another piece of bubble wrap and massage the scarf through the wrap in order for the entire scarf to become damp.


You can use a rolling pin or a sander, however, this can be done by hand too. Roll the scarf as it is in the bubble wrap and start rolling it with your hands or feet, which ever you prefer. As first press the roll lightly, but as wool starts felting you can press it harder and harder. From time to time unroll it and roll from another side of the scarf in order for it to felt smoothly.



When you unroll it, you can also lift the bubble wrap and correct the positioning of the scarf as well as the holes in it with your fingers.

Keep felting until you see that separate wool threads cannot be separated from the scarf and when you lift it, the scarf holds it shape well. Gather the scarf into a pile and start rubbing it, making grating movements as if hand washing it


You can also delicately throw it around and rub it with bubble wrap. Continue doing this until the wool is completely felted – the scarf has to shrink both in its length and width, it has to hold its shape as a single item and it should not be possible to separate any threads or pieces.

Rinse the scarf first in hot, then in cold water, changing its temperature several times.

The next stage is to dye the scarf. First soak it in vinegar water for a couple of minutes, then press water out of it without applying to much strength.

Lay cling film on a table and put the scarf on it.


Dye can be applied either by pouring it on the scarf or by spreading it with a brush. Cover the scarf with another piece of cling film, fold it and put into a microwave safe dish with some cold water. Put the dish into the microwave and heat on medium 3 times for 3-5 minutes each. Wait till it cools down and take the scarf from cling film. Rinse it in vinegar water until water becomes clear.
Iron and dry your new scarf and it is ready!


Tutorial by Gala (Galafilc)
Translation by Anastasia (Lightkeeping)

Interview With A Star - Yana at YanArt

Yana is one of the talented felt artist from Ukraine who is also a member of our group. So we asked her to tell us more about herself, her work, her inspiration. She kindly agreed and we are happy to introduce you Yana at YanArt today!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Yana. I live in Cherkasy, Ukraine. It’s a beautiful town on the bank of the Dneper river. From my early childhood I liked to draw, sew, knit, and sculpt clay. So sometimes I even wonder why I graduated from the university with an absolutely different major. Probably this is why now I invest more time in my hobby which begins to gradually replace my profession. Of course, it became possible only with the support of my family, and I mean all its members! My beloved cat is always around :)

Tell us more about your work

I learned about felting a few years ago. This particular method attracted me with its variety and unlimited possibilities: you can mix wool in the same way as you mix paints and literally draw with it and see it comes to life in your hands.

Do you use any special techniques or tools?

I prefer to use natural materials in my work: wool, clay and fabrics. Though at the present time I spent much time with felting/needle felting. You can’t often predict the outcome though but the result is always magnificent.

Work with wool is surprising, live, interesting and remarkable. There is no place for ordinary, it is always one of a kind! It is also a constant self-perfection of your own knowledge and techniques. Wool allows you to create felt products using different kinds of fabrics as a basis and different kinds of wool, fibers of silk, banana, etc. It goes further, it’s not only wet felting, but also dry or their combination!

What are your main sources of inspiration?

What gives me inspiration? Just about everything! A beautiful sunset I can see through my window, a bouquet of summer flowers, sparkling raindrops in the spider’s net. All these things are so appealing!

Do you take custom orders?

I do and I am often inspired by the orders themselves. Take a look at my work for a little girl who was only two month old at that time, for instance:

The most touching requests are to create a figurine in memory of a passed pet:

Also, I just have to mention my favorite client, a little Roxolana:)

Each and every of my creations are made with great love. They carry a bit of my soul and warmth of my hands. It is very important for me that everyone could feel it and get the greatest satisfaction possible!

Meet Lanadearg

Picture a cold blue January day when a blizzard is covering cars and buildings in a down blanket of snow. Trees shiver and shake from the howling wind… Rare passers-by, wrapped up to their ears in their warmest scarves, race by trying to escape the cold and get home as fast as possible… On a day like this it is great to visit a warm and cozy store, and I know just a place. It is a store filled with sunshine, warmth, and love - it is the "Argentinian Sun" store by Etsy seller Lanadearg.

Lana, the owner of the store, is a wonderful host and she would love to show her creations to you. Lana makes and sells hand-knit scarves, hats, and accessories.


Her works will immediately impress you with their elegant yet simple design, flawless workmanship and unbelievable feeling of warmth and love coming from them. Her scarves will keep you warm no matter how cold the weather gets, her hats will resist any wind. You will look great in it on a skiing slope or taking your date out in the city on a cold day.


Lana creates her hand-knit items in a variety of styles. For those of us who love to knit but do not consider themselves to be a professional, Lana's shop has knitting patterns and tutorials. Using step-by-step instructions provided by Lana you would be able to create a masterpiece yourself, just pick your yarn and color.


Also, Lana has a blog where she explains the knitting how-to. This is extremely useful for knitting beginners www.lanahobby.blogspot.com/ The blog also has a ton of other useful information such as recipes, fitness tips, bead jewelry tutorials and so on.

Come on in, visit Lana's store. I am sure that among all these soft, warm, and cozy hand-knit items there is a special one waiting for you.

Story by Lana (FineEmbroidery)
Translated by Alla (FleetingStillness)

This story also available in Russian there

Stylish Things: OOAK felted goods at Galafilc

Today, we share a story about Gala who runs great Galafilc shop on Etsy
A fairy called Gala lives in a small town in Poland on the coast of the Baltic sea.

She walks in beautiful surroundings, takes photos of white chamomiles and flamboyant poppies, delicate daffodils and royal sunflowers, autumn leaves and ripe ash berries.

And then Gala creates her magic items.
Gala does not need a magic wand to transform a shapeless piece of wool into a delicate flower, poppy field on a bag or a flexible reptile. Galina’s hands can create anything – seamless clothes, scarves, mittens, slippers, hats, brooches, lamps and amazing panels.


This is what Gala says about her handmade creations herself:

"I have liked creating things with my hands since childhood. In my school and university years I knitted a lot, everything from sweaters and hats to socks and mittens. A new unique item of clothing was gradually evolving from balls of yarn.


In 2007, I discovered a medium new for me - felting.

By pure accident I saw creations made by my university friend Lena online. They were felted scarves. I became interested how amazing woolen flowers were painted on thin chiffon and decided to try making something similar. Having read all instructions and recommendations available online and bought some wool, I felted my first scarf and flower. I really enjoyed the process of creating these simple things and started looking for materials, techniques and explanations.

Lately I became interested in dying wool and made felted items. This allows to make items even more unique".

Gala often participates in regional craft fairs and communicates with other felt artists. These fairs enable her to meet her clients and learn their tastes and likes, hear their wishes. This way she can make creations to order.

Exhibitions-competitions for amateur artists and craftspeople take place in the local chamber of culture on yearly basis. Gala’s creations have won awards in the category "Artistic fabric" in town and council competitions for three years in a row. This year Gala exhibited her felt painting "Birchwood" at the competition.

Today is the 7th of January – Orthodox Christmas. It is accustomed to give presents to relatives and friends on this day. Galina’s creations could be a perfect gift for this occasion – they are bright, optimistic and will bring a lot of joy to you and your beloved ones.


Story by Lana (FineEmbroidery)
Translated by Anastasia (Lightkeeping)

This story also available in Russian there