Not Quite Cate Blanchett

I have been wanting to blog this since I saw Cate Blanchett walking the red carpet on TV a couple of years ago. I love everything about Cate and specially wearing this dress! Cate is one of the coolest actors around and a great mum. A true artist. She would be the only person who could pull this dress off. This was Cate appearing as the 'Guest of honour' at an exhibition opening in Melbourne a couple of years ago. Why am I showing you this? Well I found this Granny square jacket at an op-shop, but it was miles too big for me. It was double my size. As I was walking out I remembered that for years I had been felting woolen jumpers into bags and woolen fabric and skirts into felted wool. I liked the jacket and was hoping by felting it, it might shrink down to fit me.

Here is  Cate Blanchett wearing Granny square dress walking the red carpet. Don't you think she is gorgeous? She didn't get a very positive review from the press wearing it, but I like it and it fitted in with my 'rags to riches' belief (image courtesy of Google image).

"Not quite Cate Blanchett" This is moi wearing my Granny square jacket after I shrunk it down to size. Luckily it fits me perfectly. I wore it the first time on  Christmas in July here at home. Dear Valentina mentioned it in her comment. I told her the story behind it and she said I should blog about it. So here it is Valentina!

I wore it again the second time to the quilt show. Three ladies stopped and complimented me on my jacket and I notiched many turned heads when I walked past. I had a good chat to those ladies and told them the same story. So it was a good choice getting this jacket. 'Rags to Riches' that is me! 

A felted bag that was once a jumper. I made a few of these for gifts a few years ago. I made the bag and handles before I put everything in the washing machine using very hot temperture and normal wash. It was exciting to see how it would turn out. I used the body part of the jumper for the bag and the two sleeves for the handles. It was really fun. Can you see the Teddy bear hanging in front of the bag? 

I made this one for Kit. She loves pompoms. This jumper has all the vibrant colours that I could pick for the pompoms. These bags are also great to keep you warm too. The jumpers have to be 100% wool for it to felt. Some new wool doesn't felt so well. I had some disasters a couple of times, but you know if you don't try you don't learn! If you are interested on how to make this bag just leave me a comment and I will email you back. 

STOP PRESS! I almost forgot to mention the Christmas Quilt-A-Long hosts by Sue of  Quilt Time. Sue is over in the UK and for some reason she thinks that her Christmas will come before ours in Australia LOL! I have joined her only on one condition; that I can work on my Christmas UFOs. Sue has set up Mr Linky over on her blog for you to sign in - Hope you will join me...!