cozie crazy!

Okay, I'm done with cozies for a while.... I think ;)

Here are some pics of all of them together! The last 2 projects for my online felting course are scarves, so I'm going to focus on those for now :)



I know felt has TOTALLY taken over my blog, but I was just telling my hubby... I think it's my "thing". I really love it and it makes me feel great to do it and look at what I've made! It's this totally organic and earthy process that is just so therapeutic for me! Anyways, there they are, all my little iPod/phone cozies! Hope you like em!

-elyse aubrie

Happy December!

This is what it has been looking like outside our window the last few days! It doesn't look so pretty in the pic, but believe me... snowy Germany is lovely! Especially with the Christmas market in the city center and the mountains surrounding the valley of Jena :) It is pretty dang cold though, and when you don't have a car things can get preeetttyyy chilly!

Despite my having to go out all the time to meet with different schools wanting me to teach English, and actually teaching the classes... I have been cramming in some more felting! Here is a little pic of what our kitchen looks like these days.

Just completed these two little felted pouches. The purple on is big enough to hold a little digital camera and the green one is perfect for my iPod Touch! These were project #3 in my online felting class! I'm having a blast with this!


ANNNDDDD.... We got Christmas gifts from my parents!!! My Mom wanted us to open them early so we did, last night! In case you don't know, Dillon Beach is on the northern coast of CA and was always my favorite beach to go to. And then I met Ryan and we would go there sometimes too, and I would always tease him about having his own beach (our last name is Dillon). SO... my prents sent us a whole life time supply of Dillon Beach accessories! These sweatshirts are goingt obe a fave of ours in this cold weather! Thanks Mom and Dad!


Well, I have t get going because I'm teaching an English class today. I just wanted to wish Everyone a blessed and happy December! This is our last month in Germany, keep us in your prayers as we strat winding things up and having to say goodbye to our dear friends here. Now, go decorate your Christmas tree and make some yummy cookies or something... Christmas is almost here!!!

felted flowers

Just waned to share with you all my recent project. I was a little late in being able to start my felt class due to some technical difficulties, but I tried my best to catch up yesterday! (Yesterday was my self-proclaimed snow day!) The first project with the class was felted flowers. I already know how to make flowers with one kind of technique- but this is totally different (and easier and cuter I think)! So I spent yesterday creating some lovely little flowers to share with all of you as well as the other people in my felting class- we have a Flickr group that we upload all out photos to :) I'm all caught up now with the course because the second project was leaning how to make felt beads/balls and I already know how to make them. Today's lesson is an iPod cozy- we'll see how that goes!

So, enjoy looking and let me know what you think!









ps- these little cuties and MANY more goodies will be for sale in my Etsy shop once we're back in the States!

Felt-a-licious e course!

Woo hoo! This is a first for me :) I just signed up for an online e-course... and it's for felting! I'm super excited to perfect some of my felting skills, oh goodness... I'm so obsessed with this new craft :) The class is great because it's really not that pricey and I can go along at my own speed with the download-able videos and photos.





Here is a little more info in Emily’s words:

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

This is a fantastical, fun introduction to felting! During the course you will be shown the nitty-gritty of what turns fluffy piles of wool into magical felted goods.With that knowledge you will be guided to make several variations of felt for our projects: round felt beads, a layered felt flower, a flat felt scarfette and a dimensional felt mobile-phone pouch.

Armed with your new skills you will be ready to felt your little hearts out (warning: felting is higly addictive!) and fall in love with this delicious artform. Even if you have felted before, this workshop is definitely going to have you saying “AH-HA!”

THE WORKSHOP WILL RUN FROM NOV 26 – DEC 4

There will be four core ‘lessons’ during the course (video and photo format), tips and tricks from the gurus, a gallery to share your creations, and two live chats with Nicole and Emily. You will be able to work at your own pace, downloading the project information at your leisure. The classroom will remain ‘open’ until the end of 2010.

CLICK HERE if you too would like to sign up for this awesome class!

crazy over... wool.

Ahhhhh, I love wool. I love how it feels. I love knitting with it. I love how it comes from really cute little sheepies. And recently I have found a new love when it comes to wool. Felting! Actually I have been felting wool for a really long time with my knitted felt wool bags (see below), but I just started what's called wet felting. My girlfriends and I took a felting class last week and have been addicted ever since. I can honestly say I felt something everyday :) If you click on that "wet felting" link you can see a video of my favorite wet felting project. Anyway here are some things that I've made. I'm trying to make a ton of cool stuff now, while I still have time to do it, to bring back to the States and put on my etsy site. So, keep your eyes peeled for some new goodies at Handmade by Elyse!




A couple examples of my knitted felt purses :)

Inspiration

I wanted to give you all a peek into my world here for a minute :) I am ALWAYS drawing inspiration from people and am constantly on the lookout for blogs to follow or websites to always be checking into. I wanted to show you a few that over the past year or so have been inspiring me almost everyday. Maybe from sharing these with you, you'll be able to understand a little more about why I am the way I am :) But hopefully, you too will be inspired by the wonderful words, ideas, art, love of Jesus, photographs, lifestyles of these different people and websites!

The first FOUR blogs are actually done by the same person! (That's even more than I have!!!) Anyway, I first heard about this special family from one of Gretchen Magruder's blog posts, and ever since then I have been HOOKED. Sarah Janssen's first blog, The Happy Janssens, is all about their life on the road! They live in a sweet decked out RV and have so many stories to share!



Her next blog, Walk Slowly Live Wildly, is more of a personal one where she is always talking about family, God, photography, dreadlocks and so much more! Her blog is my inspiration for starting my own more personal blog outside of the Dillons in Deutschland one. So many wonderful words, stories an photos in this blog :)


And her NEXT blog is the hooping one, The Happy Hoop!!!! Ahhhh, hooping. It makes me happy just typing out the word :) She is also a hoop lover and so many videos, ideas and resources available on this site. Unlike me, she is actually suuuuper good at hooping and has much advice to give!



And FINALLY her last blog; The Happy Foody. This is where I first found out about the wonderful and amazing green smoothy. So many great ideas for foody type people :)


And now for Boho Girl. I love this blog because the woman who writes it is just so honest with her posts and is a very spiritual creative person. She always has a lot of photos (she is a professional photographer) as well as great stories and inspirational thoughts. (....and awesome dreads.... teehee)


The next blog is brought to you by Juniper Moon Farm. This tells the story of a ex news reported in NYC who decided having a fiber farm was a better idea! Susan Gibbs has a farm out in Virgina where she raises goats and sheep for fiber. Her yarns are gorgeous! She also has beautiful dogs, cute mini pigs, chickens, bees and wonderful writing skills! Her blogs always crack me up.... and leave me wanting some sheep of my own!


And now for Etsy. I don't have to say much about why I love this site :) It's kinda what I'm all about. I don't have my Handmade by Elyse shop running right now since we're in Germany, but be sure to check out the other sellers! Buy Handmade!

So!, That's it.... for now :) Hope you are able to enjoy these sites as much as I do! Let me know if you too get sucked in by any of their magnetic pulls!

What inspires you? Do you have any awesome blogs/ sites that you draw from everyday? Please share!

-elyse aubrie

1 Month Dreadiversary!!!

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's already been a month since I got these crazy things! I also apologize for the fact that it's also been a month since I posted last. If you head over to our Germany blog you can read a little more about what we have been up to- October was a crazy month for sure!


Well having my dreadlocks has been a crazy adventure so far! After preparing myself for dreadlocks by reading about a million different dread stories, I assumed that I would have to be working on my hair everyday, my dreads would probably look super ugly and poofy, and that I would always be thinking about them. None of that has been true for me! I hardly ever work on my hair (I probably should do a little more though...), they're locking up quite nicely, and almost right after I got them I just felt like they were a part of me. I hardly ever think about them being there, they kind of feel like they're just supposed to be there. Hmmmm, okay... maybe these are the types of things you talk about only with other dreadheads or else you end up sounding a little bit insane...


I don't think I'm going for the dirty hippie look or anything- I haven't actually changed my style at all... I just have dreadlocks now! And they're amazing!


I have gotten into the routine of washing my dreadies every Saturday. Through out the week when I take my other showers, I just put my dreads up and wash my bangs. I feel like once a week is good for me now- i'm still hunting for a good shampoo to use on my dreads. Lately I've just been using body wash.... but I don't know if that's the best thing ever. With dreadlocks you're not supposed to use conditioner (obviously) or shampoo that leaves residue. I have read a lot of things debating the importance of the residue free shampoo, but I would rather be safe than sorry! Also, I'm looking to purchase a few little things of some essential oils for some nice scalp soothing/ yummy smelling goodness :) Speaking of scalp soothing.... My head is not actually that itchy or flaky! Sometimes my head gets a little itchy just from always wearing a headband. BUT it's no thang!



Now, I do have to admit that there have been some times when I feel like screaming at them!!! They're sometimes super fuzzy and I have some loose hairs that never really want to stay in. I have a crochet hook that I'm supposed to use to control the beast, but it really just takes way too long :)

These next couple pictures are some that I took last night. As you can see I am still being my crafty self even all the way in Germany! I made these wool felted flowers- PERFECT for dreadie decoration!

SO... all of these pictures in this blog post are posted in chrnological order (except for the first one) so you can see.. or maybe not see how my dreads have changed over the last four weeks. Okay... I know you can't really tell from the pics that they look much different now... but they really are tightening and locking up very well! I love my hair and I do plan on keeping them for quite some time! Years and years hopefully!

If you have any questions PLEASE feel free to ask! If you always heard something weird or gross about dreadlocks, just ask me about it and I'm sure I can clarify and debunk some of these awful dreadlock myths.




YAY! I've loved this first month of dreadies! Can't wait for the many months to follow! Again, feel free to ask questions!