Wet Felted Bird House

[feltpets]

Too cute!! 

[Harlan]

Very kewl!!!!

How did you add the drainage for the bottom? Did you cut holes or what?

[dragonflyducky]

I just used the point of a pair of scissors to get the drainage holes started and then a metal knitting needle to stretch them larger. I can't imagine it getting too wet inside with how well the water rolls off the top, but I did wonder if lanolizing it would be a good idea. I'd love to hear if anyone knows if that would deter birds.

[Harlan]

How do you get it to keep its shape??

I really don't know about the lanolin. I know that there are some treatments for birds that do include lanolin but on the other hand you'd think that an animal based product might deter them from using the nest. If you decide to test this out, you could let us know if birds still used the birdhouse!

Wonder if you could needle felt on a roof for over the hole to help prevent water getting into the bird house?

The thing that confuses me about this is felted wool seems to both repel and absorb water - those Shamwow and similar cloths are just wool felt. You have to soak such cloths before using them - so would that mean that initially the birdhouse would repel water but then it would start absorbing it?

[dragonflyducky]

It's felted to a hard felt, thick walled and fulled well so it will definitely keep it's shape.  That's good to know about lanolin being used in bird treatments. I will try lanolizing one and leaving one plain and see what happens. I guess I could try a felted leaf as an overhang for the opening if water seems to get in.  I'm not too worried about water soaking this fully, as stream of water does just roll off of it. If I soaked it under water in the sink  it would definitely get soaked through....but this will hang in a sheltered area under some trees and just be subject to rain drops.  It will be dryer than a nest just under leaves in a tree anyway.
I guess I will see if anything moves in!

[Harlan]

Thanks for answering all my questions!! I've only done a very little wet felting so while I know the basics, I still have much to learn!

I think these are so lovely and fun!! I hope the birds will love them!!!

[craftylittlemonkey]

I wonder, how do birds keep the nests they build dry anyhow? This has to be at least as waterproof as one of those...
I am too busy for this now but will have to try it when I find that roving and set it aside for next spring. It's so sweet, I just love it.

[How Lovely]

I love this! It is such a great shape! I saw it and wondered, hmmm... If that was done with one of those giant balloons I wonder if you could make a cat house? Do you think that's too crazy?

[dragonflyducky]

I think a cat house would be awesome! I'm not sure if a big balloon would be big enough as the piece ends up almost half the size you start with once it is all felted. But you could make it just using a flat resist...I have made slippers and hats just using a flat resist. The way you rub the wool once you  take the resist out makes it felt into a more three dimensional piece. I just googled felted cat bed and found this one on etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61378435/wonderful-felted-catcave
 I love it!  You could really make it look like anything...I think I have to make a cat house  for my friend's cat now...thanks for the idea!

[Harlan]

Felted cat house      - that's neat and I love all the stuff sticking out of the top too!!
Would those be added after the basic pod has been partially felted??

Maybe if you started with a weather balloon?? Those are huge!!