Good Day Hat!

I have a ton of merino silk about the place and decided to give it some play time. I usually only use it on my felt flowers, but thought this hat might looks nice with that fiber combination. Three colors of green were used in this hat and one color of purple that repeated itself at the top and the bottom. I quite like the weight and the texture and may have to use the merino silk more often. The hat is light weight and has an exquisite feel to it, and then here is that lovely sheen from the silk.
I should have been doing a bunch of cleaning yesterday, but making felt brought more comfort. This is my good day hat. However, today, I do have to clean.

Felt Sculptured Headwear

I know, I know, I keep making this hat style, but I really do love making it. Every time, it comes out a bit different. I learned the process at the Midwest Felting Symposium a couple of years ago and am so glad I did. I can hardly wait for the class schedule to posted on the site. I know that there are going to be so many wonderful instructors and class options, and only one of me! ...That cloning thing might come in handy for that week, come to think of it, it might come in handy most weeks!
Blessings of joy!
Suzanne

Stacks of Batts

I've been dyeing and blending up some batts for some future felts. This is the stack that I finished today, but lots more to go. When I first started felting, I never thought I would like to use a batt, now I find them completely enjoyable and fun to work with in the felting process.
Lots more dyeing to do.

A few of my favorite felty things

In 2008 at the Midwest Felting Symposium, Pat Spark introduced me to the joy of Tupperware lids. This little tool has become so important in my felt making that I wonder how I've made felt without it. It is great for gently encouraging the wool to bind together and for taking out any wrinkles that might occur during the rolling process and for hardening the final felt. I just love it and know that these lids are hard to find. I've got to spend more time in the second hand shop...oh like that's going to bother me~NOT!

Ewa Kuniczak (www.feltheadtotoe.com) introduced me to the wonderful rolling pin made from tubing. I so enjoy using it for finish work, to create a very smooth felt. It's almost like a portable, light weight washboard, but lots better! In the background is my bamboo mat which I tend to believe has become an appendage of mine. These really are a few of my favorite things and I use them almost everyday. Not so pretty, but very important to me.

Beautiful Dianna, my step-daughter popped in this evening to tell us of her day and to bring me a special gift. It is this lovely bottle of wine from New Zealand, Dyed in the Wool. How cool is that! I usually drink a kosher wine because of the added sulfates in most wines, however, I will not resist this one. I'll share it with my Sabbath group one day. Love the label!

Had one felting mishap this week... a hat that I'd working on was done in mostly lovely, bold blues with commercially dyed merino. When I did the final very hot water phase of the fulling, so much of the color spilled over onto the design that it all became very muted in color. It started out very brilliant and rich in the colorways. It's still a good hat, but not what it was intended. I find that happens in my water with pinks, but never had it happen with blues before. Makes me wonder if I shouldn't add a bit of vinegar to the final hot water bath, or just skip it altogether and just do a bit more rolling. Got to figure that one out.

Zach-ly

This wall hanging was done for Zach to go with the pillow sham I'd felted previously. I am still messing around with how to hang it.

Felts Journey

When I began this project, I'd meant to make a small vest for myself, but as I began working with it, it became clearer and clearer ( along with some helpful urging from Zach, my daughters' beloved) that this felt wanted to be a pillow cover. After it was felted, it just kind of needed to dry over a pillow, and there ya have it, the absolute joy in the felt making journey. Who knew it was going to take a turn...and all I could do was follow happily.

The first layer of this was done completely in black, then with the help of prefelts, the surface design was applied, along with a very light layer of roving. The colors were great fun to work with and I am thinking that I'll be doing a bit more of this type of work. It feels comfortable to work in geometric design. There are rugs, blankets is still running around inside of head and just maybe I'll get them out of my head and into felt on my tables. Gotta start doing more sketch work when the ideas come. Oh, btw, the prefelts were acquired from Jilly Gully at : www.outbackfibers.com

We've made the family decision to have me return to nursing full-time. It is not what I'd hoped to do, but I am thankful that I have the skill, training and ability to do this work. I'll be studying to re-take my Nursing Boards, so I'll not be posting much for the next couple of months. I'm going to have to limit my shows, and my felt making. Can you tell my heart is sad? The plan is that I'll study for a few hours each morning right after I walk a couple of miles. I'll walk then head off to the local restaurant for coffee and hit the books. I am walking more and more now that the snow has stopped falling and am convinced that it will help oxygenate the brain calls that are going to have to retrain and retain years of lost nursing information.

I am updating this post and as I am, the sun is coming up--spectacular colors, orange and pink and plum. It's the kind of thing that reminds one of the blessings of each day. There is wonder in each day. I hope you find it today too.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Fiber, Friends and Mentor and .Sugarbee Studios

http://www.sugarbeestudios.com/
When you get a moment, go check out this website. Too EXCELLENT! I've not heard form Chris is several months, but now I can see why, she's been very BUSY!!!!! and her wool batts are stunning. For knitters and spinners and felters, here is a wide array of items in her shop, and her prices are very nice. Love the website and am hoping to watch it as it progresses into something even more special.

For those of you who have followed this blog for a bit know that Chris and I met some time ago over fiber. She is someone that I've mentored and encouraged, but along the way, she's pushed and mentored me. I've loved the progress of her beautiful work and I hope that you'll take the time to take a peek in at her work. I think you'll enjoy her sense of humor right away.