Catching up with the Needle Felted Rock Heads

The new Group Photo

WOW!  Where has the time gone?  The "Rock heads"and I have been quite busy this past Winter, couldn't have asked for better weather out here in the MidWest! 
Now the "Rock heads" and I learned some techniques, with a new size needle that is slicker than butter on toast!,  Met some really fun and interesting needle Felters,made new friends that have really inspired me(which does help the "Rock Heads")  and some of the "Rock Heads" made new friends.  In the next few blogs I will show you all some of these. 

Right now I am going to let you all in on how this group picture of the "Rock Heads" took some doing and then with the new Facebook Timeline it wouldn't even work, so we had to take another, this one just wouldn't stretch out right,if you don't get that pic just right, you end up with a pic looking like your at the circus or fair with those mirrors!

My new security

Oh our youngest just begged and begged me if she could help with the group photo.  How could anyone turn her down?  She even made her own camera!  Pretty crafty this one, wonder if Security 1 could learn something from her?  She tried her best, those sneaky little "Rock Heads" left for Ice Cream.  So you all know I called in Security 1 to set everything up. 

Security is back

I do believe they are doing a very good job this time.  Working quite hard but the head cat "Mr. Super Jack"  is not really helping, sure does look like all he wants is tummy rubs! 

Then all of sudden I couldn't find Moe the Moose!  Here he is taking it easy on the new park bench that was just cut out.  Don't we all wish we could take it easy?

It took a better part of an afternoon just to get a picture of the group to post on the new timeline for our Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/Needle.Rocks2   The outcome turned out pretty good for now.

This blog to a bit to get done, I am using a different Lap Top then what I am use too. Takes a bit for me to change! 

Now here is a sneak peek at what is to come.  I have already given clues on my FB page, I am trying  to get a few items finalized.  I am getting so excited and so are the "Rock Heads". 
Watch for my next blog in the next couple of days. 
We have a lot of catching up to do!

Tammy and Moe are just excited they finally get to do ..................
Stay Tuned.  I am glad to finally be back.  Take Care and thanks again for reading. 

Happy New Year

Grandpa Henry and his Cousin Alfred

WOW! It's hard to believe that 2011 is already gone.  The older ya get it just seems like the years fly by!  This last year was very busy for my family here in Minnesota and alot of changes from being excited over the new house to as my little kids say "Mr. Mean Tornado" made a visit on July 1st and changed all of our plans for the rest of year.  

That was O.K. sometimes it takes a jolt in your life to really make you think and then you get back in the saddle and push on. 

I didn't have much time for blogging or the "Rock Heads" this past year.  I think we finally have some things back to normal shhhhhhhhhhhh!  lets not jinx things yet. 

My "Rock Heads" had a long talk with me,about getting some Characters made.  I have had a lot of inquiries on if I am selling them yet, or I have even gotten some wonderful ideas from some of you.   So I am going to take the bull by the horns and plunge in.  A little scary for me, but exciting.  My plans are in the works so I will keep you all informed. 

I also had many of you ask how the little kids are doing, thank you.  They are all doing great and love my "Rock Heads", I do believe that this wonderful craft of Needle Felting has helped them too.  FAS is a very diffucult disability and it never goes away, and some days are very trying for us, but with all the friends I have made through Needle Felting ,our family and our friends that I call on a regular basis or call me to check in and are always there to yell at me when needed or I can vent to Thank you.! 

 

Cousin Alfred and Annie




It's time to get back to the fun stuff,my "Rock Heads".  Wow as many of my family and friends said to me this past Holiday Season.  I decided to do a Secret Santa gift Exchange with the Workshop that I belong to.  www.Theneedlefeltersworkshop.com that was started by Kay Petal and her husband,what a wonderful place on the net.  When I told my husband I had signed up for it, he just smiled and said you have to ship a "Rock Head" out for EVER!  Heck I knew that, the very first Rock Head to leave home for real!  Do you know how hard it is to part with a Character you made!  Oh I was excited but then it was oh crap is the person that receives this Rock going to like it.  So the kids and I decided that it would be cool if a cousin left home.  So Cousin Alfred was born, he ended up in New York a place I have never been.  The family that received Cousin Alfred love him, and he couldn't be happier, by the picture I have seen he is smiling. 

Well shipping him out was pretty easy, I did hire part of my summer Security team back, she did a pretty good job of it.  She even stayed awake this time. 
                                                    

Moe the Moose made sure it was Cousin Alfred in the box.

As you can see Cousin Alfred watched over all he could.  Security did scare him a bit,he had heard some pretty hairy stories from some of the Rock Heads.  Gotta say She did a good job his time. 

But before he left all the "Rock Heads" had a party for him and they also wanted to wish him well,in his  new adventure.  Even my good friends from Germany came out to see him off. (They don't like their picture to be taken so all my little gnomes are on the Christmas house,look hard and you can see a few).  Those little guys (gnomes) really didn't think I had it me to send one off.  Just to make them feel at home Cousin Alfred did spend a little bit of time at the Brewery, little does he know my 3 little children were told it was a Root Beer Brewery.  Hey they believe anything I tell them.  Before Christmas I told the children that Toys 'R" Us closes to all children,hey they believed it.  

Fred and Louise did tell Cusin Alfred if he is ever back this way, to stop in and they would fix him a Martini.  Fred is just hoping for a few good fishing stories.  I am sure as the Rock Heads go they will some how stay in contact.

Here he is by our "Root Beer Brewery"  Alfred sure did have a good time visiting here.

He even made time to sit in Santa's  lap.

So that was Cousin Alfred's stay with us, he was quite busy while he was here, hopefully he was able to get some rest at his new home,before starting the New Year. 

I received the most cutest and wonderful little Gingerbread lady in the mail from an artist that lives in Alabama.  We all named her "Miss Ginger"  Well  Louise tried to make her a welcoming Martini but "Miss Ginger let her know all she drinks is milk.

Look those little gnomes came out to see Miss Ginger.  Everyone is smiling, and happy to have a new friend.

Mrs.  Claus really had a good time snuggling with Miss Ginger,just look at them they were smiling and probably swapping some good cookie recipes.

I hope you all had a great Holiday Season and have a wonderful,prosperous, and healthy New Year.  Take Care and please do let me know what you think about my "Rock Heads". 

Until Next Time ..........................

Grandpa Ernie



Grandpa Ernie


Ok now Grandpa Ernie has gotten your attention, or you are all thinking what in the poo............. am I doing now! 

I belong to this really Cool Workshop on line, www.theneedlefeltersworkshop.com and Kay Petal the owner has these challenges for her members, so much fun, you can learn needle felting from her and get advice from and support from all her members.  If you ever wanted to learn this craft of Needle Felting this is where you belong!  So please make sure you check it out or go to Facebook and look up The needle Felters Workshop page.

Ok back to Grandpa Ernie, the Challenge was to make a head and put it in a jar.  Basically the idea came from the adult Cartoon "Futurama".  Well I never had seen this Cartoon before, so I watched it one night and decided this would be a  fun Challenge. 

After "Mr. Mean Tornado" had come and gone, we were cleaning out what used to be where the shop was that I had all my Ceramic supplies in and I came across some water globes I had purchased years ago, now some were in tact just scattered and of course some were shattered. 
The light bulb lit up in my head, hey better than a jar I will put my head in a water globe.

Grandpa Ernie is Needle felted on 2 rocks.  One for his head and 1 for the bust.  Did you notice his eyes well they are 2 LED lights. 
Hey  he is preserved so don't think maybe his eyes may glow by now! 
I did his head in a Grey wool or its called Fun Felt and I purchased that from www.needlefeltingsupplies.com ( Kay Petal and Patti from Dream Felt own it,great wool. ) 
Grandpa has been perserved so he is a little on the pale side.  But he sure does have a nice smile.


As the story is told by Uncle Henry it all started on one long and hot Summer day,back in 1940 down by the old rock creek,where the fishin was always good and the water ran fast.
Grandpa Ernie was always down at the creek so no one thought anything about it when he didn't return for a few days.  The town just thought he must of snagged himself a big one or just plain ran off with the sexy old bar maid that worked  at the local saloon in town.  Back in them days it was named  The Flying Rock. 
So for years and years  that was the story.  UNTIL........................

Just the other day Uncle Henry was getting ready to go on his annual fishing trip with all his friends and there on the porch was Grandpa Ernie whistling a tune!  It was a little foggy out so Henry did take a double take, it wasn't so weird for him to see just a head as lot of his friends are just Rock Heads, but it sure was different to see one in a jar with glowing eyes. 



Grandpa and Henry

Grandpa let Henry know that back on that day he had just sat down on his favorite rock cracked open a beer and Boom!!!!!!!!! All he remembers is a big green light.  But look at Henry he doesn't care he is smiling ear to ear, Grandpa is back now he can learn all those cool fishing tricks and just maybe he might finally catch a fish!   Henry just couldn't keep this a secret and he knew no one would believe him, that his grandpa lived in a jar.

Fred,Grandpa and Harvey

Well Look at Fred he thinks this is so cool another Rock head  to tell his fishing stories too,but I don't think Grandpa is going to listen for long,once Tammy stops over!.

Fred,Tammy,Grandpa and Uncle Frank

My OH My just look at Fred,Grandpa and Uncle Frank, Boy does Tammy know how to turn the charm on.  OOH LA LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now Grandpa just wants to hear all about Tammy and her fishing stories but she doesn't have any.  All she does is gossip and play bingo on Saturday nights.  Don't think Grandpa or the rest of them careand she may have some new bingo customers this Saturday!



All my helping Gnomes from Germany

Now I have these Gnomes that were sent over from Germany to help us with the clean up from the Tornado earlier this Summer,they came from a good Needle Felting Friend of mine Angela.  All of them were out working and they seen this odd looking glass ball and he was talking.  So they all took a break and came over to make sure he belonged here.  Did they get a kick out of this. Laughed and Laughed.  Can you just imagine what a bunch of little gnomes would like on top of your head with his axe!
  I am sure all my gnome friends are thinking us Minnesotans are different, well at least me!   Sure do love them though.

Tommy, Tammy and Grandpa

The fun has only just begun with Grandpa.  The whole Crew wants to have a big picinic for grandpa and have him tell them all about how he bacame a head in a water globe.  Sounds kind of Kooky and gross to me.  Oh its my story!  But then again this has been the biggest News story to hit town in a long time.  Some day soon though Grandpa does want to get to the big Museum to meet the other Heads.  "The Needle Felted Head Museum".  Betcha he will be the only "Rock Head" there. 
But I have seen some of those Heads and Grandpa's eyes are going to get brighter............  So until the Picinic when everyone comes out to meet Grandpa thanks again for reading and Everyone Take Care............... 

Max and his very Interesting Family Story

WOW!  I looked at when I posted Tammy Tulip's blog, and that was at the end of April of this year.  Boy does time fly by.  I have been so busy, we first of all spent pretty much all the month of May with Dr. appt.'s with the kids and then we had Pre-School graduation! and school was out.  We have been working on our new house pretty much non stop.  We have gotten some landscaping done, but boy oh boy the humidity is back!  If you don't know Minnesota is pretty famous for HUMIDITY!  I do believe as we age it gets harder to stay outside during the day.

I finally after so long I finished my Needle felted Rock Head that lives in a Tree. 
 Max is an old man that lives in a tree on his lake, he loves to tell fishing stories, while all his friends gather around to fish or just relax. 

Clarence the Moose, Henry and Max all spending a relaxing day at the lake

 All of his buddies sure did enjoy themselves that day.  A couple of evenings later Tommy Twister of the Rockin Rock Tornados stopped by with Tammy Tulip and they all sat around and sang songs.

Tammy Tulip, Tommy Twister and Max


I had so much fun and laughs making Max,here is a pic of him by himself

Max

Now some of you that read this and see Max will say, WOW she has really gone of her rocker, a head in a tree, or some may say cool, or maybe even that is one of the different things I have seen done.  I love all of those comments! 


My own family even just smiled at me and said OK Pam!  I even looked at Max and thought where did I come up with this idea Needle Felting a Rock Head in a tree and then put a solar light on top,so at night you could see where you were going. 
Guess what Max had and has a purpose  1 week ago today SW Minnesota had some terrible storms and as my middle little guy says "Mr. Mean Tornado" came he took my barn, my Dad's beautiful tree and left me my camping chair and my family.  My older girl stated look Mom Max is lit up on your desk now we can see until they turn our lights on. 
Max was a friend in a tree at just the right time!  You do know pottying is pretty important stuff and girls can't potty outside by trees.    We lost a lot of trees on that afternoon, but I betcha we will be making a lot of friends with some. 
The kids now love to set Max outside during the day and charge his solar battery and bring him in at night for a sense of Security. 

Max Charging for his evening time!


There was a lot of damage for alot of families and businesses all over on that day, but by the grace of god no one was hurt. 
For my family we will be fine and clean up will be long, with Family and friends we will re build a barn and oh yes more landscaping after the MUD!  :)

Just think about how on those days when we all have lost electricity,how a small friend with his light would be comforting.  I never dreamed that Max would be a hit with the kids, but he takes no batteries or electricity, just UV rays or sun.  He also doesn't care if they are crying, mad or upset. 
Once again as always he has a smile on his face.

I do hope to be able to Needle felt again soon, I miss it dearly.  Please do let me know how you like Max even if you think he is Kooky!  :) 
Take Care Everyone Until next time ..............................

MISS TAMMY TULIP / NEEDLE FELTED WOMAN

MEET

TAMMY TULIP

Hello My name is Tammy Tulip

Just a "Ray of Sunshine" 

Tammy is quite the girl.  She loves spring.  Its not to hot, so her hair doesn't frizz in the humdity,her lipstick stays looking good.  She can go walking everyday, Flower gardening is her passion.   She just loves to plant flowers and tell everyone else how to do it too!  But she has such a sweet and loving attitude, no one seems to get irrated by her.  But I not sure how many people actually listen  to her either.  Tammy doesn't care, she is off to talk to the next person. 

Side View of Tammy

Now let me let you all, she is pretty proud of her booty, and how she stays in shape.  She walks everyday and is constantly waving.  Now where Tammy lives is Rural, so she has to walk a mile or 2 to the next neighbor.   

She does love to go to town on Saturday night and play "Bingo".  You can just imagine how happy they are to see Tammy running the Bingo wheel!  

I put Tammy on our island in the kitchen and everyone that walked by for the past couple of days,
 started talking to her.  Oh was she in Heaven, smiles from ear to ear.  I am getting a little worried she might start an advice column! 
Could you just see that and the topics!   Next thing I know she will be twittering,  I had to put her away when she started talking to the head of Security about a Neighborhood B-Que and if Tommy Twister would perform. 

Tammy says,
BYE! BYE! until next time. 

If I know her she will be back real soon.  
I am going to do a little blog on the making of her and what I used to make her clothes too.  
Take care and again thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoyed. 
Pam  



The Making of Tommy Twister

I wasn't able to finish this blog, a couple of weeks ago.  We have been so busy.   So I am going to start with Tommy.

Tommy Twister

the

Making of a "Rockin Rock Star"

Well, Tommy has been on the back burner for a long time now.  Back last year when I started all this Rock Needle felting,I started to keep a notebook of all my ideas and names to use.  Then towns, started popping up(or should I say in my head)! So I have everything written in this notebook, on napkins and on the back of envelopes. Well, a Facebook friend, said I should do a Rock Star,this was last summer.  I thought cool, well never did do him.  

Then I started the Rock People with Henry, and I thought very fitting for my Rock Star to be a full Rock person.

Now Like I said before he is shy- shhhhhhh about his rocks, but in dim light I got a picture of him all together and he has his guitar pinned to his body.

Tommy Put together

I have Tommy put together here, I struggled and struggled and get him to stand by himself and I have no wire in him, the joints work real well, he never would stand by himself.  But he is still happy.  Do you know how many times he sang "Rock, Rock, Rock" ?  Well, I do!!!  I think I dreamed about it too.

These are the rocks I used in the making of Tommy.  1 for his body,1 for the head the 2 are the bottom of his feet and the last one is his guitar.

 

Here is Tommy staring up at his chest and thinking WOW! I have a little muscle there.  I don't finish the face until I get the body done.  I am constantly playing with the size.  You know 2 head size for this an that or 1 1/2 head size.  So I use my head for measuring.  They never seem to mind, there is always a smile on their face!  Now I can't say I get the size right, but I am trying.

I should have showed you all this one first, Look Tommy is so happy with his rock chest! 

He was so much fun to make.  The laughs I got from family and friends.  But the truth be told, everyone already thinks I am crazy! 

Here is Tommy one more time competely done with his guitar.  Now a little bit about the guitar.  I used that flat rock in the body of it and then just needle felted the rest of it.  I used Jewelry wire for the strings.  and a very small crushed rock for his pick.

Thanks again for looking.  Tommy will keep rocking on.  He is looking forward to having another concert someday, before he goes on an adventure.  Remember my Security, well lets just hope they do better.

Take Care,  Until next time

Pam

Meet Rockin Rock "Tommy Twister"

"Good Afternoon"

I was asked by a few and teased about when would I do a Rockin Rock!  Well he was in the plans last summer, but at that time he was only going to be a head needle felted out of a rock.  But we all know how my rocks grow:)  I am first going to blog on Tommy's story and then I will post how he came to life and show his shhhh! rocks.  He is pretty quiet about his rocks!  Not a bragger.  His head is 1 rock, his manly chest is 1 rock, both feet have a flat small rock on bottom of them.  His guitar is a rock and the pick is a rock.    I used a necklace from my grandmother's old jewerly and cut it up to make him a necklace and bracelet.  She would probably say PAMELA!  and then smile at me and realize there would be nothing to say.  But Tommy really likes his jewerly! 

 My little kids picked out the colors for the guitar. 

So here he is

                                                            Tommy and Moose" Mo

My one older daughter that helps me sometimes with my stories or setting up for pic's found this rock for his rock stage!  It is prefect as you will see.  Well my little Moose Mo who by the way thinks he can ride a skateboard, all of sudden jumped on stage when Tommy was rehearsing and was busting out Moose moves my son said.

Now the first thing my husband said to me was,hey Tommy is holding his guitar backwards, well  he is not I am left handed and I made him that way(honestly shhhh I didn't even think about that until he said something,but I am not telling him that) ,So Tommy is la left handed guitar player.

Security for the Concert

So I was told the first thing you have to do is hire Security well being a week day and we do live in the Country and when I tell people I do rocks or even my little kids say "My Mom needle's rocks with wool", you really don't get much help.  So I hired or begged my daughter and the resident cat Jack to help.  Well they both fell asleep on me in the sun!  So I was on my own, I sure hope they wake in time for the concert.

WOW! What a crowd

I sure was lucky that this crowd wasn't wild and pushy.  They just all were smiling and very happy it was a sunny day day out and the snow was melting away. That stinky little Mo he made it up front of the stage again, boy he is a fast little Moose.  See the shadow off to the right, well that was my hired security, SLEEPING!   Personally I wouldn't hire them again,but you never know I am push over and they were pretty cheap.

The one and only Tommy Twister

Look at that crowd so they are so quiet listening to Tommy play and sing his jingle. So here is a little jingle my 7 ,6,5 and --- year old kids helped me with.  The head of my fine Security probably wouldn't want me to tell everyone her age.  But I honestly couldn't have done this quirky little jingle with out her.  Now I really don't know if this is a true jingle format or what, we just had fun and went with it.

"My name is Tommy Twister,I am with the  band  Rockin Rock Tornado's, I came to Stone Vally Minnesota to visit my good friend Benny.  I just learned he has aquired the "On the rocks" Saloon.  So he asked me to sing a little Jingle for you all. 

"Just look around there is a rock for everyone. 

From the oceans,to the lakes and down the rivers

to the mountains and the fields

in this great World we live.

Rock,Rock,Rock

needle it, needle it, needle it

Whenever you look down and find that one special rock,

it will always be smiling up at you

SO

rock, rock,rock

needle it, needle it, needle it

So bring that one special rock home today!

wrap that smiling rock up in some wool

bring it to life in your own special way

but don't forget to

Rock, Rock,Rock

needle it, needle it needle it "

ROCK!!!!!!

This jingle was put together and made up by Amanda, Megan, Dakota,April and Pam (Mom) and is for all Needle Felters and  Rock Heads (C) April of 2011

Tommy ,Henry and Clarence the Moose

Tommy ended his concert by the field where his rocks came from and and his Rockin career began. 

So the story will be tomorrow on how Tommy started, but for now I leave you all with my Rock Head 's and friends heading over to the Saloon for a nice cold drink on the rocks.

So until next time.............

Thanks again for reading and please give me feedback.  Take care Pam