Joyce and Gillian and me

About 7 weeks ago I got a phone call from dear friends, Tom and Joyce, asking me to stop by as soon as I could. I went immediately and learned that Joyce had stage 4, fully metastasized lung cancer that had spread to her brain, bone, bowel and liver.  They wanted me to be her nurse for the duration. I did and that is why the entries here have been few and far between.  Joyce's struggle ended April 13.  Helping Tom cope with this incredible loss is time consuming, heartbreaking, fatiguing and rewarding. I will miss Joyce very much for a very long time.

In the past week I was able to  put all of the finishing touches on the (purple) Gillian Hunt Hat, which is being shipped to Scotland today. This was an artist exchange between me and Gillian. The prints she sent me as so wonderfully beautiful. I've got to get them framed and hung. They are splendid and I think I may have gotten the better end of the deal. Gillian's work is outstanding!

I also made the White on White on White on White Hat...white 15.5 micron merino with white bombyx silk roving, white silk neps, white wool neps and white 5mm habotai silk. This 15.5 micron wool from Ashland Bay is also most like working in wet paper the minute it gets wet. It begs to felt. The habotai silk nearly disappeared into the wool. Now I am anxious to make a wrap using the fine micron merino.

There is much to do in the days ahead. I've been asked to write about felting for the Michigan Fiber Festival's e-magazine and I've got to work on that, classes are just around the corner at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and I need to prepare for them. Orders to ship, thoughts that need to be put down on paper and drawn out, dyeing silk fabrics, batts to get made for spinners, laundry, cleaning, life stuffs, all needs to be done.  Much of my life has been on hold these past few weeks with Joyce...now on to getting back on track.

Felt Happy!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Polka Dots and Silks

There is so much SPRING all over the place here in southwest Michigan. Our blooming tress are in full or past full bloom, tulips are up and flowering, bees and birds all over the place. It is delightful and disturbing...snow is in the forecast for next week. YIKES! Frost and freeze could be very damaging to our fruit trees statewide.

Dad is happy in his "Man Cave" and is in good humor and doing quite well. I cannot even begin to say how happy I am that he is living with us. Perhaps it is because I am from a large family, it just feels right, even the extra laundry, food, appointments, dishes, etc....it just all works for me. Thankfully, it works for him too.

On a daily basis, I am caring for a dear friend who has terminal cancer, and my beloved husband Jim is taking over the task of cooking for her and her husband. They have no children and we have, for the time being, become their children. I had thought about going back to nursing full time...I didn't know it would come to me. They asked me to be her nurse and I am honored and humbled...and very sad for my friend.

About the hat above:
I was rummaging through some of my stuffs when I came across some of the old yarn samples I'd had from when I had the shop....hmmmmmmm....could those yarn samples be polka dots? or rosettes? or some kind of interesting surface design? Well, the answer is always "YES" ( ...which loosely translates into "try it...yes it worked, or yes, you have to try another idea") So, with that I took the wee samples from several different companies and made up the little colorful polka dots and used them on the surface of the hat. I like the effect of additional texture and the colorful pops on the black hat. The pieces on the brim are also bits and pieces of left over silks, sari silks, and cheese cloth. My mind is gathering ideas for small snippets of yarn for further applications.

The other thing that I wanted to mention is THE MIDWEST FELTING SYMPOSIUM in Madison, Wisconsin . I will be teaching there for two days and am hoping to take some classes as well.

• Patricia Spark Albany, Oregon
• Pamela MacGregor McClure, Ohio
• Marlene Gruetter Scottown, Ohio
• Suzanne Higgs Plainwell, Michigan
• Anna Gunnarsdóttir Akureyri, Iceland
• Regina Doseth Klaipeda, Lithuania
• Margo Duke Mount Airy, Maryland
• Pam de Groot Blue Mountains, Australia

Some classes have already filled, but the talent that will be there is outstanding. I wish I had the time and $ to take each class. If you've not been to this event and wonder if it is worth it, I can tell you with great certainty, it is wonderful. It is filling fast so don't wait to register. I think there is a discount for registration prior to May 1st.

Blessed Easter and Happy Passover.

Shalom and Felt Happy!

Suzanne

How is your Russian?

http://www.livemaster.ru/masterclasses/valyanie/mokroe-valyanie

Is probably one of the most AMAZING sites I've found, via another felt maker, on the world wide web. Inspiring, great photos, SPLENDID IDEAS, and great at the "show and tell" of felt making. Just thought you'd like to know...I hope to try them all!
Shalom and Felt Happy!
Suzanne

Two Views for Gillian Hunt

This is the hat for Gillian. Have a few finishing touches to put on it, then off to Scotland it goes. I love trades with artists work I truly admire. I pray that she likes her hat as well as I do her photography. I hope it is worthy.

Felt Happy and Shalom,
Suzanne