Acorn Mushrooms
j A combination of acorn cap collecting, wet wool felting and toy shoppe painting to create these woodland themed Christmas ornaments from 'The Enchanted Tree'.
jSoak roving wool (or carted wool) in warm soapy water. Roll into a snake. Cut into stem-sized pieces.
While the felted stems are drying, prepare your caps. Use a small screwdriver and screw to create a hole in the top center. Paint colour of choice (we chose the deadly, red Fly Agaric!)
Thread embroidery floss up through the base of wool stem, into the acorn cap, loop and back down the way you came. Tie a knot at the base of stem-and one at the loop on top for hanging,
While working, we read a story about the discovery of wool-turned-felt in 'Tales Told in Tents'; two boys are sent to the market to sell their mothers wool. On the journey, ones feet ached from the walk, so they stuck a handful of wool into his shoes. Sweat and friction caused the wool to turn into felt, which is widely used now in yurts for insulation-as well as slippers, carpets etc.