Yes, you heard it right. He was feeling mad. That’s been happening a little bit more lately as we’ve been cooped up inside due to the horrendous midwest weather.
Last week I taught Isaiah how to felt. I tried a couple of months ago. Back when I was so inspired by the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival that I wanted to move to a sheep farm. At the time, he just wasn’t interested. I thought spinning and felting would be something we could enjoy together, but I wasn’t daunted. Even though he showed no interest, I didn’t let my interest wain. I wanted to felt. Needle felting is cathartic, how could it not be? You get to pound a hunk of wool with a needle. A lot. So of course I completely understood Isaiah’s statement, and was very proud of him for identifying a need and finding a constructive way to deal with it. After a few minutes he went from being mad to wanting to felt a pancake. Yes a pancake. I know, I felt birds, gnomes, princesses and even little play men for Isaiah. I never thought of felting a pancake, but hey, who am I to squelch his creativity?
More about needle felting. There are a ton of great resources on YouTube, I basically taught myself by searching for needle felting tutorials and watching a few. You need some supplies, and I suggest getting decent ones. I picked mine up from the Sheep and Wool Festival from Mielke’s Fiber Arts. Don’t get them from Michaels, their stuff is cheap AND expensive. I think felting is a great project for kids who are responsible enough not to poke themselves, or can handle poking themselves without tears. Because, let’s face it, even I poke myself 🙂 The needles you use for felting are barbed, so that they push the wool down and then lift it up again as it comes out (which is what it does when you stick it in your finger too). The point is you are tangling the fine fibers together so much that eventually what was soft fluffy wool becomes a dense wool object, it is really quite cool, and very satisfying! Don’t be afraid to try it, I think it’s something even the most craft-impaired person can do.
Homeschooling My Way 
This is so interesting. I’ve never heard of needle felting up till now 🙂
You should try it, it’s cathartic and fun. And you wind up with all these little thingies you can give as gifts!
Yes, the ones you’ve made look really pretty! 🙂
i love needle felting, and totally agree that it is cathartic. Goblin is still a bit young for needle felting as he’d probably stick the needle straight through his finger and end up with lots of very red wool ornaments. But i have tried him on wet felting and that worked really well.
Isaiah needs that needle pounding! I tried wet felting with him and he was so impatient I had to finish his snake for him 🙂
nice to see you in this space (:
i clicked on and was so surprised to find my twin in this new space!
it’s so wonderful when kids can figure out what it is they need (:
happy blog warming (:
Thanks Mama! So glad you are better and checking things out. This is definitely a fun space for me! Still working on it….but loving it 🙂
I have heard of needle felting, and have even seen a demonstration, but I never thought to offer it to the kids- something about arming them with sharp objects seems wrong to me- but it’s awesome that he has a release! Maybe I will have to look into it more!
Yeah, as long as he’s only sticking himself, and keeping that barbed implement of doom away from me or the dogs, we’re OK. But really, it’s a lot of fun, and even though to make anything decent it has to be a collaboration, he loves it!
Oh I love that your boy knows how to channel his anger into something that helps him release it! That is so wise!
I keep seeing felted things on pinterest and wonder if maybe… just maybe I should have a go….
OK so as I was doing something tonight, hmm can’t remember what…..oh well, anyway, I was thinking how felting is really easy. I mean really. Even craft-impaired people like me can do it! And everyone thinks my stuff looks great, I just snicker…..You should give it a go, your kids will love the silly things you can make!
Pingback: How I Refused To Learn My Lesson and We Came Full-Circle | Homeschooling My Way