Hooked On Felt

Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes

2012-01-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

Life happens FAST! and with it comes changes that we sometimes see coming and others, not so much. My much respected husband Jim and I have aging parents, my Mom and Dad are still alive, traveling between FLA and MI as the weather changes, 6 months here in Michigan, 6 months there in Fla. and his Dad (Bob) is alive living a few miles from us. This week, he, Dad (Bob) informed us that he's decided to take us up on our offer to have him come live with us. He is nearly 90, alone, lonely, funny, capable, delightful, wise, loving, fussy, neat as a pin, and a bunch more stuff, and soon he will be under our roof. We are delighted, and anxious and disrupted and honored. It is a life changing event...and change can be good!
For the past 4 months, I've been working off and on at the task of de-cluttering our home. We have four grown children who use our home as a storage unit, plus both my husband and I run our businesses (yes two businesses from one home) from our home. Do you need more detail? Probably not. So the goal is " a more organized chaos". Our living room will become Dad's apartment for all practical purposes and we are scurrying around trying to move things, get rid of things, reallocate things, all in an effort to give him is own space and allow us ours as well. I need to be three people right now...and one of us seriously could use a nap!
Prior to the phone call from Dad, I was able to make a new hat and a couple of flowers. It may be a bit of time before I can get back to the felting.

That's all for now, got to get back to rearranging my home and then pack up his large, two-bedroom, filled to the brim apartment. He moves in within weeks. Please wish me luck!

Shalom and Happy Felting!
Suzanne

Some stuffs

2012-01-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

For the past 10 years I've been collecting silks...and have decided to start putting it into use this week. Hat, bag, purse...nuff said.
Peace and love to you,
Suzanne

Small thing for today

2011-12-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

This is the scarf that I dyed today. I quite like the colors and am left to decide if I want to sell it or keep it. Got thoughts?
Shalom,
Suzanne

Which One, Where, Why...really? Too much?

2011-12-28T14:37:00.000-08:00

Been thinking a good bit lately about the amount of time one could spend just promoting a product...and then which is most effective, why is it effective, what gets the most exposure, and does that exposure turn into profit or sales, why or why not? and when is too much, simply, TOO MUCH!

My current venues are:

this blog, obviously, Indiepublic, FaceBook, Hooked n Felt website, Flickr, Ravelry, Etsy, Google +, ...and probably a couple of places that are not coming to mind right off the top of my head, like Pinterest and Linkedin. When does it all just become too much? Too much time, too much energy, too much information, too much invasion of creative space? Really, are all of these necessary? Why?

Got thoughts? Would love to hear them...and what is it that brings you back to this blog? What would you like to see here?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89303117/nuno-scarf-fabric-5mm-habotia-hand-dyed

...anyway, I've been making a goodly number of flowers for the galleries that I supply and I've been dyeing 5mm habotai silk for nuno felting. You can find the new fabrics on my etsy. I am in a good spot on the energy-meter and that feels wonderful...coming out of the holiday funk....yeah!

Good Peace to you and Shalom,
Suzanne

Finding Peace in the Midst of Choas

2011-12-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

There are times that can trouble a soul; death, defeat, illness, separation, grief that overwhelms, depression, sadness, the great unknown. But of late, I've come to make peace with all of these thieves of joy. They are simply part of the human experience, part of makes us who we are, how we deal with it all says even more about us, I think. Embrace, embrace...and then let go.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88346276/hand-dyed-habotai-5mm-silk-fabric

I've been dyeing a good bit, but only for myself. This is a newly listed piece of 5 mm Habotai silk that I dyed and named BREATHLESS because the colors simply left me that way. I adore this piece of silk. I've too many projects in front of my right now, so this one has to go up for sale. I do wish my old camera could capture the nuisances of the colorways. Totally YUMMY colors.

I've been making and selling a lot of hats and tams and so have not made much felt lately, but decided that I would make a few small pieces of felt jewelery pieces. This is one of them and yes I did do some hand sewing on it...but it was just a few stitches, so I don't think it really counts as sewing, does it?

About 4 years ago, I was given a huge book on needlework, embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, applique, crochet, macrame, pacthwork, rug-making, quilting and lacework. I am most interested in the embroidery stitches. Pam MacGregor, http://www.tarveycottagestudio.com/will be here this next week and I hope to have her show me a few of the stitches. She does amazing, yet very simple, stitch work. She does "elegant simple" the best of anyone I've seen. I am very much looking forward to the time with her. We will also be doing some experimentation with the Feltscraft.com Rolling Machine during her three day stay. Should be more fun with felters!

We had our first real snow this week. Already I am looking forward to the long hours of white, gray, cold, but not the shoveling, of the lovely white stuff, so much. There is an amazing stillness in winter that is astoundingly beautiful. A full moon on newly fallen snow...what a memory, what a sight!

Off to go enjoy the rest of this day.
Happy Felting, Shalom,
Suzanne

Oh, One more thing:
http://www.lindasfund.com/
Sometimes we want to do good... but we don't know where to help.
Dear Linda is a fellow-feltmaker who could use the goodness of our hearts, our prayers, thoughts, encouragement and obviously any financial support we can give her as she struggles with the payment of specialized cancer treatment. Please think about it and help if you can.

Finding Quiet, Self Sequestered

2011-11-26T04:35:00.000-08:00

It always seems that during this time of the year, there is a soft, sad quiet that over takes me, and honestly, sometimes I simply welcome it with open arms. Thanksgiving until the New Year, a soft sadness, nothing anyone would notice, to be sure, but just a whisper of heartache for what could be, and is not. Thanksgiving has turned into a feast day, not truly giving thanks for the abundance of blessings pour out on us. Oh, don't get me wrong, I know many do. It's just that I am old enough to remember a more collective voice of Thanksgiving, and I miss that. Christmas...oh don't even get me started on that one. Listening to the news reports this morning about people pepper spraying each other, shooting each other, shoving, pushing, looking for the best deal, all of it seems a far cry from the Bethlehem manger, the shepherds watching their flocks, the Saviors birth, and Peace on Earth, goodwill toward man. It all just makes me very, quietly, sad, and I've probably spoken more honestly about here than ever in my life, maybe more than I should ... and so I sequester myself from nearly all of it, and that I am happy about.

I've been crocheting a good bit lately. My shoulders have taken quiet a beating with so much felt-making and now it is time to simply sit and make hats of a different sort. I love theses snood, tam, rolled hats. They can be worn in many different ways all from one style. Love making them! ...and I get to watch movies while doing it. Can you tell I am having some very nice afternoons?

About my brother...he is doing better, home with his family and recovery nicely. Thanks so much for your concerns and prayers.

This is a hairy little thing made from wools that had been gifted to me. I had no idea how they would felt, and this is the vessel that came from that experience. I wish it were a bit shorter, but all in all, it was fun.

The first felt piece shown is also an experimental piece, a piece still in "process". I've not a clue as to where it is leading me, but I am going to enjoy the journey.

Good Sabbath and Shalom,
Suzanne

It's Good To Be The Queen!

2011-11-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

This is a small next wrap, dyed in fuchsia, reds, and purples. It is very similar to the small neck scarf shown on a previous posting. The wool side is a blue red and an orange red. I think it is kind of fun to have things that are designed to keep you warm also "look warm". I hope that the color combinations here will accomplish that.

We are trying not to turn our furnace on and as the temps drop out of doors, it gets more and more difficult to find ways to keep warm without the furnace. We have three "hot spots" in the house, the bathroom and my studio/dining room/office and Jim's office. We have little space heaters in these rooms to chase away the chill, and I, of course, keep a felt hat on to stay warm. Our little "QUEEN" Frankie, the chihuahua, has found the perfect solution to keeping her skinny self warm...a full fleece of Icelandic wool. Oh yes, it is good to be the QUEEN!

My brother, Jason, remains in the hospital, is having trouble with speech, balance, has passed out or possibly another stroke. Had a rough night. Please continue your prayers on his behalf. We appreciate them and pray that God honors them all.

Shalom,

Suzanne

ps: Nice article on felting...enjoy!

http://lubbockonline.com/life/2011-11-06/felting-transforms-raw-material-art#.TsZ9qmC0xT4

Earth Bound

2011-11-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

This is a piece of silk fabric that I'd dyed some time ago and finally got around to putting the wool in it. It is a very large piece of silk and I think it will look really nice worn over the shoulder and perhaps belted. The wool side of the nuno is in olive green, chocolate and aqua marine. I love both sides, but per usual, I like the silk side best.

I hope to get some more nuno done tomorrow, and some dyeing as well. I've not made a hat in so long, I wonder if I still can. Must try to do one sometime soon.

Just got a phone call that my brother has had a stroke. He is 14 yrs. my junior, just set a Guiness World Record for number of pull-ups in one minute (67!!!!!!!) and is in really great health. We are carriers of a genetic disorder called "sticky platelet syndrome" and stroke is very common, very early. Another brother had a stroke at 23. He survived, but is monitored very closely. This news has quite overwhelmed me. If you are a person of prayer, we would appreciate your prayers.

Gotta go for now.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Skirt Fabric...

2011-11-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is a photo upload from my phone, so quality is less than usual. However, this is the fabric that was completed to day to make the skirt. I am also thinking of making a camisole to go with the skirt....and somehow, stretchy black lace appeared in the dream last night when I was dreaming about this. Will have to investigate that a bit more too...and enjoy the process.

That's it for tonight. What did you make today?

Shalom and Happy Felting!

Suzanne

PS:
yet another choice in the design process....

The First Rule of FELT CLUB....

2011-11-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

For several years I've been talking about forming a feltmakers group, FELT CLUB, that would meet periodically throughout the year to share, encourage, teach, and help each one become better skilled at the art/skill of feltmaking. At the class that I taught in Otsego a few weeks ago, it was brought up again and this time, Dear Karin was there to really push me and help me in the process. Since I am not by nature a terribly organized person, I need help in that area. Karin is innately organized and well connected in the community, while I tend to stay mostly to myself. It looks like FELT CLUB will start in January 2012 on a Saturday. Further details will follow as Karin and I get them worked out, but for now, we need to know if you are interested in becoming a part of FELT CLUB. This is not a commitment, just need to know if you are interested. Karin and I are also looking to keep the cost very reasonable so that many can join. I'm asking that you respond to this blog post or contact me through my email: info@hookedonfelt.com

When we meet it will be from 9AM-5PM with a pot luck lunch. We will be able to work on felt projects, build community, enjoy each other. We are looking for ideas and hope that you will freely share ideas for FELT CLUB. For example, a study of differing types of wool/fibers, so that we could each make a book of felted fiber samples. What would you like to do at FELT CLUB? Don't be shy, we need all the ideas you very talented, creative women have to make this a great experience for all of us.

I hope to get the skirt done this week. I cannot stop dreaming about it. At least in my dreams, it looks wonderful. Now to bring it to fruition.

Shalom and Happy Felting!
Suzanne

Faceless Felting + New Classes Forming

2011-11-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

Andrea Morrison, of Wonder Why Alpaca's, attended the nuno felting class I held a couple of weeks ago. She went to Your Local Yarn Shop and shared her lovely creations with the gals there. They then contacted me to have me teach there in December. I will be teaching for three days this dyeing and nuno technique. This class will be for gift giving or New Years Eve. Class dates are December 8th, 9th and 10th from 9-5 each day.
Each class is one day only, but you will have choices on which day works best for your schedule. Space is limited and it will be first come first served. For more information call Kelly at Your Local Yarn Shop, 2171 Columbia Ave W Battle Creek, MI 49015

(269) 964-1256

Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to stand in front of a group of eager workshop participants and tell them that you know absolutely NOTHING about the color wheel...and they are counting on you for dyeing techniques? Sometimes I wonder what I am doing even teaching dyeing. Am I out of my mind? Okay, let's just not go there right now... but I can teach what I know...how to dye the silk, float color, get intensity, pattern and make beautiful nuno. So far, the classes have been successful...but I am anticipating that one failure that is due to occur. Grrrrrrrrrrr!

I have a nuno skirt in mind, so much so that it is infiltrating my dreams on a nightly basis. I've simply got to get the table cleared off and get it laid out and get rolling! I've been drawing in out, thinking, planning, making samples, discovering shrinkage rate...now is the time to implement!

There are so many family things going on right now, aging and ill parents, moving them into appropriate living spaces, doctor appointments, packing up their apartments, disposing of things, selling things, oh it is all exhausting. Makes me what to get rid of everything in my home so that my children never have to do this for me. Then, I look around at just the wool in this house and know they will have to put on a fiber festival here in our yard if I die.

One of the gals whose work I took with me to Rhinebeck is Elynn Bernstein. Her web site is:
www.amanostudios.com Please go check out her clothing line, it is simply amazing. Ellyn makes amazing coats and her nuno is simply lovely! I was so honored to rep her delicious felts. Love her style!

Sorry about the faceless nuno felts. After a day of work, I looked tired and cut off the face on purpose. Some days, it just ain't that nice to look at!

If you can come to one of the classes, that would be great. If you can't, will you share the information with a friend?

Thanks for popping by!
Shalom
Suzanne

Home

2011-11-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Whirlwind of events lately, have taken their toll on my energy. Rhinebeck, NY was a wonderful event, then off to Ann Arbor, MI for Fiber Expo, set up, tear down, drive 14 hours here, sleep best you can then off to the next place, again, another 14+ hour drive, total exhaustion. Finally, I am home, back where the food is outstanding, the arms are warm, the eyes soft on mine, the bed is mine. Home, my favorite place to be.

I taught a nuno felt workshop this past Saturday, and I've just got to say that it was the hardest class I've ever taught, the most rewarding, the most honest, and I gave the most I've ever given in a class; so much so that I was unable to get out of bed on Sunday from the total fatigue of it all. From now on, I will always teach this way.

Thirteen wonderful women showed up for this dyeing and nuno felting workshop. I was so honored by their presence and absolutely in love with the works they produced. Each one was unique, totally beautiful, well executed, simply spectacular. I expect to see so many wonderful things in nuno coming from these gals. The whole room had great anticipation as we all monitored what the outcome of the wraps. I'll be quiet for now and let the pictures do the talking. Ladies, do take a bow. Your handiwork is lovely!

Shalom,
Suzanne

Class announcement one more time...and supplies you'll need.

2011-10-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

I've set up a nuno felting class for Saturday, October 29th, at the Otsego Historic Society building, 218 North Farmer Street from 9AM-5PM in Otsego Michigan. We will dye the silk and then nuno the silk, like what I've shown in the photos above. Space is limited, it will be first come first serve so do let me know as soon as possible. You can let me know on Face Book or via my website email which is: info@hookedonfelt.com Cost is 125.00 for the day. I will supply silks, dyes, mordant, and wools. Will have a complete list of supplies later. Remember, space is limited, first come first served.

Please bring with you:
lunch and water to drink
LARGE glass bowl that will never be used for food again
3 old towels
pool noodle if you have one
iron
apron, if desired
we will be working in dyes so wear old clothes in case an accident happens or a plastic apron.
The class is now filled.
See you all then!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Rhinebeck, NY, I'm nearly on my way!

2011-10-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

In a few short hours I leave for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. I hope that if you are in the area you'll stop by. I have so many wonderful pieces of felt this year, some are mine, some from other friends spectacular felt works. I'll have a large number of hats, and some are really special. I will also have some wonderful works by Pam MacGregor, Jone Rakoski and Ellyn Bernstein and Barb Lambrecht. It's my favorite show all year, the folks are wonderful there. We are supposed to have rain, sadly but there are worse things...like snow storms, which we had one year.
I'll tell you all about it when I get back. I am really looking forward to the travel (14 hours) and seeing everyone. I hope one of the folks I see is you!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Sweet, sweet story about my felts!

2011-10-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

If you click on the photo, you can read the story. Sorry, don't have a link.

Just some stuff I've been working on...

2011-09-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Not much to tell you. I'm enjoying the cooler days and the rainy days here, am getting ready for the upcoming shows, dyeing lots of silk, making nuno and felt hats. Life is so good when the heart and the hand work together. I love making felt.

Shalom,
Suzanne

Fabulously Fun FELT UNITED

2011-09-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

Again this year, Barb and Gene Marr have invited Sue Pufpaff, me and YOU to join them on October 1st from 12-4 for the international day of feltmaking. Sue and I will both be doing demos and Barb will have the shop open for sales of their fine, farm grown yarns and fibers. All of the details and the "how to get there" are on the link. I hope that you will join us. It's great fun and very educational.

http://marrhaven.com/feltunited.html

The colors for this years FELT UNITED event are red, blue and purple. It should be exciting to see what we all come up with. Please do come and join us if you can. It won't be the same without you.

See you there!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Class Announcments, and then some...

2011-09-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

While taking a breather from feltmaking, I decided to get more of my house in order and take care of some organizational things. Since my home is my studio and my studio my home, those spacial areas often over-cross each other, creating it's own unique chaos. I can live with a certain amount of disorder, but then...it's just got to be dealt with. Feeling pretty good about the progress, but still have miles to go before I can ease up a bit. Each day a bit more gets accomplished, but focusing on the "clear out" has left me with little time to felt....but I think of it constantly!

Last weekend was the Wisc. Sheep and Wool Festival, where my friend Brigitte DeMaster and I share a booth. The weather was PERFECT, and we got to see many familiar faces and friends. Dear Martha Steines repeatedly stressed to me that I had to enter the dress and cape in the design competition. I've never entered any such thing before so was very reluctant to do so. Finally I relented and entered. Martha was such an encouragement and I got "Best in Show". Shocked and humbled, I was. There were gorgeous items in the design category. I was really honored to win and happy that I have friends who push me out of my comfort zone. God bless you Martha and Brigitte. You bless me always! (My friend Zelda is wearing the nuno dress and cape in the photo, I am wearing one of my nuno scarves.)

While at both the Michigan Fiber Festival and Wisconsin Sheep and Wool, I got to see Chris from Briar Rose Fibers:
www.briarrosefibers.net
Chris usually dyes beautiful yarns, but has started dyeing silk bricks that are so spectacular! I've posted the link and let her know that I was going to share the information with you all. I do a lot of dyeing of silk fibers...this stuff blows my socks off! Great colorways, very good prices. Let Chris know you found the information here, please. Are these silks YUMMY or what?

Often I am asked to teach and have decided that with the upcoming show schedule, I have only one more option for teaching this year, unless there is a miracle. So, I've set up a nuno felting class for Saturday, October 29th, at the Otsego Historic Society building from 9AM-5PM in Otsego Michigan. We will dye the silk and then nuno the silk, like what I've shown in the photos above. Space is limited, it will be first come first serve so do let me know as soon as possible. You can let me know on Face Book or via my website email which is: info@hookedonfelt.com Cost is 125.00 for the day. I will supply silks, dyes, mordant, and wools. Will have a complete list of supplies later. Remember, space is limited, first come first served.

The days are becoming tipped in autumn, a fresh coolness in the air, birds flocking together, spiders laying eggs for next years' crop of spinners. The sky looks bluer, the clouds whiter, a fullness of time fills the abundance of this good earth and the goodness of God seems exceptionally clear during these shortening days of daylight, even the moon seems brighter somehow. These are days of early morning walks with sweater snugly wrapping my shoulders, a felt hat on my head, an awareness that these days too are limited before the winter white envelopes us. I love these days of color tipped trees and cooler weather. They are my favorites always. I remember more easily now the days of harvest on the farm, the canning of tomatoes, pickles, beets, corn, peaches, pears...the days of final hay cutting and baling, all things harvested, fields cleared, the rush to get it all done before the snow. Just writing this has brought back a vivid memory of warm apple cider on a field trip I took with my daughter... hay rides, root vegetables, cool air, and cold nose kisses. I love this time of year.

Okay, I'd better stop before I get lost down memory lane and can't make it back.
God bless and Shalom,
Suzanne

Breather...

2011-08-24T03:45:00.000-07:00

Prior to the Michigan Fiber Festival, there was three weeks of "get ready"....and that meant more thinking than I am accustom to doing. This year, I was scheduled to teach three wonderful classes, multiple resist felt purse, needle to wet felt hat and fingerless gloves. Now, normally, I would share wonderful photos to with you, but since I left the camera at home...that is not the case!(...and shame on me.) The purses were wonderful, every single hat was great in quality and design and the fingerless gloves were so, so pretty. I hope that if any of the folks in the classes read this blog that they will send photos of their finished projects my way. I'd love to post them. (hint, hint.)

I love-love-love teaching. You get to meet the neatest folks, build friendships, laugh a lot, and watch together the wonder of felt happen. The joy of watching that for the first time with someone who has never done it before, is just a pure pleasure treasure for me. Do you remember the first time you made felt? Do you remember that lovely feeling, that smile?

Okay, now about the nuno dress...
It is a project that I've been working on for some time and there are other components that I hope to add to it as time allows, but for now, here is " the skinny" on how I created the fabric.

1) dye Habotai silk ...I used 5mm
2) cover tables with towels, then cover towels with 2mm plastic large enough to cover your project or table surface
3) lay out silk on the plastic and apply thin wisps of super fine merino wool
4) wet fibers and fabric with COLD SOAPY water
5) cover with another piece of plastic large enough to cover your project or table surface
6) massage with a large sponge the entire surface of the wool/silk for about 10 minutes...a wet sponge works best to rub over the plastic.
7) then roll everything up on a pool noodle, except the towels, firmly, but not tight.
8) after that, then roll your roll in the towel and begin rolling . ( I roll 1000 times in one direction, then un-roll and roll from the other end 1000 times...and yes I actually count them all.)
9) then flip and begin the rolling again.
10) if the wool has not migrated through to my satisfaction, I begin again, and usually do roll a piece about 8000 times. (long arm roll, not short little rolls)
11) then I rinse and toss into the dryer, wet but not soaking, on AIR ONLY to do the tossing for me. It produces incredible texture and saves my arms a bit. This process in the dyer must be closely monitored, say like every 5 minutes to make sure the fibers are not sticking to each other and that they continue to migrate through the silk. Allow to bang around in there until you get the texture that you want on your finished product. A couple of tennis balls help a bit too.

Nope, no bubble wrap...I want the warmth of my hands as close to the feltmaking and fibers process as possible. I also do not use a netting over the wool. I figure that with the nuno laid out between two pieces of plastic, the wool has no where to go except into the silk. Pulling the netting up has disturbed the fibers for me in the past, so I simply do not use it anymore.

This is how I make nuno, and there are many other ways that create wonderful results. Everyone does something different and each piece reflects the hand of the maker. Do you have some pointers to share? Would love to hear them! I hope this "how to" is helpful to you.

After the fabric was made, it went off to Emy Myner, a skilled and creative seamstress, who helped me with the design and details of the dress. I wanted a very simple dress because the fabric and color are so striking. I think we achieved our goal. I am hoping to have some professional photos taken of the dress very soon...but like I said, I am taking a breather...it's been a busy three weeks.

Photos by Jim Higgs and Beth Pulsipher.

Felt Happy!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Simply Red...

2011-07-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

A simple red hat to share today. I've had a very busy week of dyeing silk, felting, making a lot of nuno,...and there is so much to get done before the Michigan Fiber Festival, which is August 17-21 in Allegan, Michigan.

I'll be teaching at the Michigan Fiber Festival. I was informed by the workshop committee that I have some openings remaining in the multiple resist bag class. The details are on the Michigan Fiber Festival website,if you are interested. The other classes have filled. I will not be teaching any nuno classes at this event, but nuno will be incorporated into the bags if desired.

So much to do, so this is all for today.
Be Happy and touch others with your gifts,
Shalom,
Suzanne

It's toooooo hot!

2011-07-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.castlefarms.com/
is where I'm heading off to in a few short hours. I just returned from beautiful Asheville, NC and home just long enough to catch my breath, do a bit of dyeing, unpack and re-pack the van, do laundry, answer a few emails, pack orders, pay bills, all while under incredible heat indexes. I can not function well in this heat, so I keep ice packs on my person at all times. We do not have central air, only a small window air conditioner. It at least dries it out...or so that's what I am suppose to say, right?

Sold most of my nuno while in Asheville, so I am heading off to Castle Farm with very little other than newly dyed silks. I have one I am working on, but that may be more than I can accomplish right now. The air conditioner is keep the house at 88 degrees. Can you tell the heat is bothering me?

I leave you with these photos of the newly dyed silks. I am getting requests to teach a nuno class in October. Are you interests? If so, I need to hear from you so that I can finalize the dates.

Shalom and good felting!

Suzanne

Green Bird House

2011-07-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Just a few minutes to write today, much to do, still getting ready to leave for Asheville, NC. We leave early next week and will be away for a week. I will miss being home.

I got to thinking about how our felt bird pods....(you've made one, haven't you?) are really green and they last a long time even left out of doors throughout the year. I just love the versatility of felt and felt products.

This is a small sample of the next project I am working on. It may be mid August before I get it all done. I am the slowest feltmaker ever!

Off to get more stuff ready to go.

Felt Happy!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Tunic Response

2011-06-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

A month or so ago, I was in Cedar Grove, WI teaching for four days. Had a great time and met some wonderful people. I brought some of my finished works to show them some of the possibilities. One of the questions that comes up is how I made the tunic. This is a typical email from folks who want to know how I did it.

Hi Suzanne, Well, last week I taught my sister-in-law to nuno felt and she is now obsessed with it.  Her very first project was on black silk.  She made peonies and daisies and it turned out gorgeous.  We have ordered more silk and are inviting another friend over tomorrow to do another project.  It really can become addicting and so fun to see what happens.  I really would like to try to make a tunic like you showed us at the workshop.  Do you have any suggestions?  Would I only felt the center section of fabric?  Do you have a photo of your tunic anywhere on the internet?  Anyway, wish you were here to help and to see the enthusiasm that your class has engendered!    Warm regards, Pam 
Iron Mountain, MI

As you know if you are a regular reader here, I cannot sew! and seek to work in uncomplicated lines. My focus this year is on two basic shapes: rectangles and circles. The tunic is one such rectangle.  Here is how I did it:

I laid out the hand dyed silk on my table top with a good amount of fabric, evenly draping off the ends and sides of the table, then nuno felted the table top fabric only. the a hole was cut for the head in the center of the rectangle and it was sewn from waist to arm pit area only. Tie were applied to the back of the tunic so that it can be sized that was. It is pretty simple to do...it has to be, I did it! (Need I say more about that?)

Hope it helps my friends in Iron Mountain and beyond.
Shalom,
Suzanne

More Classes In Asheville, NC

2011-06-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Felting with Pre-felts-A unique neckwrap with fused glass buttons with Jone Rakoski

You will be the talk of the town, wearing this creation! Using hand-dyed merino prefelts, needle & wet felt techniques that are unique to prefelts, you will create a fab & Warm neckwrap you will be proud to say “I made this!” Basic glass fusing will be discussed. Minimum Age for Class:18, Students should bring 2 towels, sharp fabric scissors-beginners are welcome!

Date: 7-16
Location: Vendor Booth
Cost: $90.00
Material Fee: $45.00
Start Time: 12:00 PM
End Time: 6:00 PM
Total Cost: $135.00

Felting with Pre-felts-Making a unique hat with Jone Rakoski

A fab way to create a hat! Using hand-dyed merino prefelts you will needle and wet felt your way to a hat you will be proud to wear! Needle & Wet Felt techniques will be taught in a way that is unique to prefelts. Hat construction and unique embellishments are on the agenda! Minimum Age for Class:18, Students should bring 2 towels, sharp fabric scissors, hat block (could be bowl, pan, tin etc.the size of your head)-beginners are welcome!

Date: 7-17
Location: Vendor Booth
Cost: $90.00
Material Fee: $45.00
Start Time: 12:00 PM
End Time: 6:00 PM
Total Cost: $135.00

Class Announcemnt for Asheville, NC July 15th.

2011-06-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Wool Felt Pottery

Make a vessel or piece of wool pottery using flat resist and surface designs elements. Prerequisite student skills: beginners and up. Students should bring scissors, 2 towels and an apron.

Date: 7-15
Location: Vendor Booth
Cost: $90.00
Material Fee: $25.00
Start Time: 12:00 PM
End Time: 6:00 PM
Total Cost: $115.00

http://friendsandfiberworks.com/summer-retreat/

If you are in the area and want to take this class or several of the other felt classes offered in Asheville, NC, now is the time to sign up. Looking forward to seeing many friends there!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Nuno Felts this week...

2011-06-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

Close up of nuno on chiffon.

The entire scarf. It was dyed by Char Epley, then I did the felting on it. We both like it.

Silk side of a nuno wrap.

Wool side of the same wrap.

Start of layout

Completed.

It's been a busy week, cool cloudy days are most productive for me. Time seem to move slower somehow and I feel like I get more accomplished. The heat is due to return today. Got to get a lot done before we have our Sabbath group here tomorrow. I am looking forward to their arrival and our time together.
I wish you all God's Peace and Good Sabbath.
Suzanne

Finally, Hats!

2011-06-21T05:01:00.000-07:00

Cloudy, rainy days...how I love them! This has been our weather lately, and I've enjoyed it completely! Most everyone else I know, not so much.

Creative Felt Gathering has announced a special guest teacher from far, far away coming to the event this year. She's not told us yet who it will be, but I am thinking it will be great. This is a wonderful event. Surprises make it even better! Her is the information in case you've missed it. Come to this if you possibly can. It's amazing! The instructors and participants are amazing as well. It is just super to be there! Elis Vermeulen , Chad Hagen, and Pam MacGregor will be there...plus a surprise guest teacher. I'm getting anxious for Sept. to arrive!

Time	Monday, September 19 at 9:00am - September 24 at 6:00pm

Location	Dainava - Manchester, Michigan

Created By	Creative Felt Gathering

More Info	September 19 - 24, 2011 Chad Alice Hagen - resist dyeing Elis Vermeulen - raw fleece and roving bag, roving bag with fab shapes Jone Rakoski - glass fusing Pam MacGregor - fused glass and loop and toggle cuff $450.00 - early bird price $500.00 - March 1, 2011 $10.00 per night for 9/18/2011 or 9/24/2011 payment by check or Visa/Mastercard after August 31 2011 - no refund after July 31, 2011 - 75% refund after June 30, 2011 - 90% refund Catering by Marilynn $100.00. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 5 days. Simple and healthy comfort foods. Catering is optional. July 31, 2011 is the deadline for ordering. Sheets are provided limited blankets and pillows available. Dormitory style sleeping arrangements. 4 to a room, 90 beds, but since we limited the Gathering to 30 you can spread out. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Monday 6-8 registration 8-9 discussion, coffee 9-12 classes 12-1 lunch 1-5 classes 5-? dinner, discussion, possible activities Tues., Thurs., Fri., 8-9 discussion, breakfast 9-12 classes 12-1 lunch 1-5 classes 5-? dinner, discussion, etc Wednesday free day - felt, rest, take mini classes to be scheduled, take a class from a visiting artist TBA, whatever you choose Saturday 7-8 breakfast, discussion 8-11 classes 111-12 lunch 12-4 classes 4-5 closing ceremony, certificates, photo ops Contact: Jone Rakoski - spectralglass@hotmail.com phone - 517-456-6066

I've been making a lot of nuno lately, but decided I needed to build up my hat stock a bit. Finally, hats! The show season is upon me and I've got a lot of stock to get made. I think there are a lot of long nights in my near future.
Got to get rolling....felters, you know what I mean!
Shalom and may Peace be all around you,
Suzanne

Breathless...

2011-06-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Since being on Facebook, there is a wide exchange of fiber art photos that get shared. Some folks share their travels to fiber art shows, some share their teaching, their workshops, the participant in the workshops, the finished goods, the foods they eat, the sky they share, flowers and things that inspired them. It is just great fun to see the things that others are doing.

Well....
there are some folks that ROCK MY FIBER WORLD, and now I've just added another to my list: Vyga Iene. Her work leaves me breathless! I've asked her permission to showcase this wrap. I've looked at it about 30 times today! I love how well executed the process has been implemented, but the colors are simple, understated, elegant, oh yea, and so my colors! I adore this wrap. If you are on FB, do take the time to let her know your thoughts. This is her website: http://www.jadvyga.ten.lt/ Is this beautiful or what?

Who rocks your fiber world?

This is a wrap I've been working on with hand-dyed silk and super fine merino wool. I'm liking it a lot, but my arms are sore from two days of rolling nuno scarves. I know, I could use the sander, but I am unhappy with the nerve damage from the sanders. Using my legs a bit more these days. Getting older is not, NOT easy...but you do get more inventive about getting things done.

It acted like it wanted to rain all day today, heavy clouds, overcast, high humidity, cool ...oh, I love days like these. We didn't get much rain, but any day without lots of heat is a great day. I had a wonderful day! You?

Shalom,
Suzanne

Monday's List...

2011-06-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

So many things were written on my "to do" list today, and only got a few of them done. Top on the list was to make a nuno felt on one of the silk scarves I dyed a couple of weeks ago. The scarf was dyed in golds, oranges, a smidge of purple, cherry and red. I used fine merino on the opposite side. The colors of the wool are burgundy, hot fuchsia, hot orange and gold. I love how the wool migrated through this habotia silk. It is ultra light, super soft. I am almost wondering if I see it as something else...not just a wrap/shawl. Hmmmmmmm....something to think about.
What's on your mind today? Did you get your Monday List completed?

Shalom and Blessings,
Suzanne
Dream from your heart. Share what you have.
Live simply. Love deeply. Work with joy. Pray with love.

Thank God always.

I Feel Like the Queen of Stupid!

2011-06-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

(Inside before dyed)
I've got a few classes coming up and have been asked for samples to have available for the potential participants. Okay, I could do that...but why do I do what I know fails! ( by definition, in my book, stupid is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results!) Again, I tried to put golden yellow and purple together in a felt bag.There is some silk on the surface that was golden, in hope of tying it all together....but it didn't work. The gold migrated through the purple, making it look dirty, dingy...yucky. This is not my first this doing this....and continue to try to make it work. It does not work for me. Perhaps someone else can make those two colors work together, but not me! So........

(Inside after dyeing)
As you've come to know about me if you are a regular reader, mistakes are an opportunity to try something else....like the dye pot!

(bag before over dye)
So I took this purple/yellow bag and over dyed it in purple, the extracted color, then over dyed in multiple greens and teals, then removed more color. I like it so much better now. But what about you? Do you think I made a mistake over dyeing it.

I often make the inside of my bags lighter on the inside so that when I open them, I can see what is in side my bag.

(bag after over-dye)

This is the final end result on the over dye, un-dye and over dye of the bag. These colors appeal to me more than the gold and purple....so why not start out that way? Really, I am the queen on stupid.

I hope some one learns from my mistakes.

This is a portion of a scarf that I over dyed for a friend of mine. It had become muddy during her felting process by using colors that did not blend well together. She was about ready to throw it away. She in fact, gave it away to Jone, who gave it to me to "try to fix" it with the dye pot. She had used olive, gold, gray, some purples to make the nuno scarf....but it just did not look good color wise. The nuno itself was wonderfully done, beautifully executed. I pulled all of the colors out then over-dyed it with multiple greens. Now that it's been dyed in one of her favorite colors, I'll be gifting it back to her. Hopefully, she's going to fall in love with her own creation.

The heat has been terrible here for two days. Finally, some cool weather and rain today. I love rainy, cloudy days. Looks like tomorrow will be cloudy and overcast like today. Yes! the smell after a rainy time is simply wonderfully earthy. I love that smell! We have many ferns around our home and they seem to give off a strong fresh fragrance of 'clean' after rain.

Shalom
Suzanne

Dream from your heart. Share what you have.
Live simply. Love deeply. Work with joy. Pray with love,

Thank God always.

Happy Discovery

2011-06-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

I had to leave town for several days for a family matter, right in the midst of a nuno felted scarf. I had dyed two silk gauze scarves, one gold, one gray/green. My idea was to marry the two pieces together with the wool between them. I, more often than not, prefer the "un-wooled' side of a nuno scarf. I've no idea why, perhaps it is just the wonderful water color effect of the the colors blended together that appeals to me so much. So I thought, why not make a scarf that is completely "un-wooled" by having the wool between two scarves. I had first seen this done on a small scale by Connie Delameter ( I might not be spelling that right) several years ago. Connie is an amazing fiber artists and shepherdess and person. I laid out a very thin layer of merino wool, in multiple colors between the two scarves so that there would be a different effect on each side. I love the look of each side, and maybe the darker side the best. Since I had to leave in the midst of the felting, it was allowed to dry is this lovely crinkled state. Oh Wow, do I love the effect, it is nearly pleated, and has great "give" the fabric. The results are very pretty, very feminine. My big problem is that I'll need to find a place to allow it to dry for 2-3 days next time around.

Does anyone else love the back side of nuno? Would love to hear from you!
Are you going to try putting two scarves together? It could be fun!
Peace in your heart, joy in your felting!
Suzanne

Busy time around the Shanty

2011-05-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to making a hat! I love this pattern. About 5 years ago, while I was at the Midwest Felting Symposium taking a classes from Judit Pocs, I developed a severe migraine. Ruth Walker went into the class in my place. She designed the pattern and over the next two days, we made this style hat. Truth be told, Ruth did most of the work. One day I was not even there, and the second day I was mostly "post-migraine". I think I've shared this pattern with most of my felting friends in Michigan. It is fun to make and most folks wear it well. It's been sooooo long since I've made a hat. Just felt good to make one again.

In a few hours I leave for a 4 day work shop in Wisc. where I'll be teaching nuno felt, bird pods, rug stomp, and vessels. I've been packing most of the day and trying to get some last minute dyeing done. Sometimes, great work can come out of time pressures. These silk scarves turned out so interesting. I think the participants in the workshops will have great fun with them. There were many color splits that occurred and that adds another element of interest to the silk.

There is still a good bit of packing to get done plus a load or two of laundry before I head out. I hope I can sleep tonight. I'm so looking forward to seeing my friends in Wisc. I hope that when I get home, there will be wonderful photos to share with you.

The bouquet is packed and ready to go. I am sharing one last photo, mostly because I am going to miss having her around the house. I'll probably never do another.

Happy felting and Shalom
Suzanne

Holly's Wedding Bouquet

2011-05-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Finally, here it is. I have to make a few tweaks, but for the most part, Holly's wedding bouquet is completed. My prayer is that she likes it and that their marriage is filled with loving and good memories.

Sister Pods!

2011-05-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Char and Sharon spent Thursday with me making felt pods. Char raises the most amazing Cormo sheep with incredible fleeces. They used the cormo for their first two layers, then began to apply the Llama and other fibers to the outer layers. I think their results are spectacular. What do you think?

Have a blessed weekend.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Mama Pod

2011-05-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

My beloved mother returned home from her 6 month stay in sunny FLA. On her way home, she stopped here to spend three incredible days with me and Jim. It was a precious time together. We walked a lot, worked in the woods clearing dead wood, started a fire...that almost got out of control and made felt together. This is her first pod. It is made out of llama fiber. She is totally impressed with herself and I love what she did with the fibers! She is a "birder" too, so I'll be anxious to hear about who nests in her pod.
Yeah Mom! Nicely done.
Just thought I'd share it with you all here too.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Felting, Dyeing, Spinning,...OH MY!

2011-05-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

What a day! Kelly (shown below with her new works of art) spent the day with me, felting, dyeing, eating, talking, laughing, and learning form each other.

I'd started the llama pod for an upcoming class that I'll be facilitating in Cedar Grove, WI the end of the month. I needed to make a couple of samples because the class will be using raw llama fibers. I'm accustom to raw wool, but llama does felt differently and I needed to practice. The llama felted bird pod is the finished results and will be sent off to Wisconsin Sunday. The birds were checking it out already this morning. I am concerned because the llama is such a soft felt even when felted hard. It is also not as water resistant as wool is. I may have to put a water resistant stiffener on the outside of the pod. Any thoughts on that? Got ideas?

I made this wrap this week and then decided to over dye it in hot fuchsia and purple. Love how the colors melded and played with each other. I was going to keep it for myself, but Kelly purchased it. She wears it well.

Kelly asked for private felting classes and this is the results of her wonderful labors. Love what she did.

Jone stopped by for a quick spinning lesson. I think she'll produce the lovely lumpy, bumpy yarns that she so wants to add to her incredible felts. She took my wheel home with her to practice. She is going to love spinning her own funky yarns.

Have to get ready for dinner plans and my mom arriving in town for an extended stay. It will be so good to have her here.

Happy felting and Shalom,
Suzanne

Color Morphing

2011-05-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

While on my Felt Play Retreat with Pam MacGregor, she showed me how she pulls color from fiber. Trust me when I say I am not following her instructions well. I can however tell you what I did, and hopefully these photos will help explain as well.

#1:
First off, I'd made these fingerless mitts in lime green, then did an over dye with violet in a random wrapped form.

#2:
After that, I threw them into a dye pot of a raspberry colored dye and let them "cook" for about an hour.

#3
Rinsed them thoroughly and then did a fan fold on them in a rather random fashion, then bound them into place with heavy string.

#4:

Prepared un-dye bath with RIT Color Remover, very hot solution, one full packet. (I actually could have used less but wanted to be sure that it was going to work. I think this is something that I "get better" as I move along in the process.)

#5:
Placed bound mitts into hot bath and stay close by. Color can come out very fast, so it must be closely monitored. Have tongs close by to pull out of the dye bath when the color agrees with you.

#6:
Rinse thoroughly, untie and see what you got.

#7:
If you like it, great. Maybe you'll want to tie it up in a different fashion and place it back into the un-dye bath. Maybe you'll want to re-dye and start over.

The questions have been asked about what kind of dyes I use, so I'll address that. I use whatever I can get my hands on, sometimes food coloring, along with Jacquard, Country Classics, Dharma, truly, whatever I find. I also mix them together without much concern for how it turns out. This is play...the fun is the adventure of what will happen. I have no specific goal in mind other than discovery.

I hope this is helpful. I also hope that if you have questions about how I do something that you'll feel free to ask it. I write this blog to inspire others to try it, and to hopefully show you enough of my flops and successes to encourage new felters to keep trying, keep pushing yourself. I've been making felt for 10 + years and make mistakes all the time. I've learned to turn them into "design elements" or I've released them to someone else who can see something I cannot. It's the journey that is joyous.

Enjoy your journey.

Did this help?

Shalom,
Suzanne

Re-Dye, Over Dye, Un-dye

2011-05-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

It is rewarding to discover and rediscover the dye pots. I'd been away from them for some time and decided to re-dye the piece I was playing with before. This piece was over dyed with olive and black, then wrapped, dye pulled out, then re-wrapped and more dye pulled out, then again, re-wrapped and more dye pulled out yet again. I think now I am very pleased with the results...and have many ideas bouncing around in my head because of it....but that is for another time.
The first photo is after the second dye over, the second photo is what I started with, which I'd played with previously.
Good Sabbath and Shalom,
Suzanne

Promises Kept

2011-04-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Through a series of unfortunate mishaps, Kim had taken a class several years ago, traveled long distances, paid good money, only to end up making her project out of SUPER WASH WOOL! Can we all understand her grief, sadness, disappointment, frustration? She came away with a glob of wool. I was there, not teaching, but still there to see it all happen. I cried with her and then offered to teach it to her whenever we could arrange to get together. Yesterday was that day.There was HUGE success. I am sorry that I don't have the final results to share with you just yet, but they are coming soon. Since I like small groups best, I invited Evelyn to come join us for the day. I think we all walked away at the end of the day feeling very blessed to have been in each others company and to have had such great success. I think that sometimes God has us wait for some things because there are greater rewards awaiting us somewhere in the future. How could Kim and I have known that God had prepared such a day as yesterday for us? What a blessing indeed.

Hope your day and your felting is a blessing to you and to others!
Shalom,
Suzanne

It is enough

2011-04-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

So anxious to try out some of the things that I learned from Pam...I got a prefelt that was purple and nutmeg, applied some textures in the middle and felted it firmly. Then did a 'discharge" on the entire piece after I put the fabric into a fan fold. I like the result. My husband sees North American Indian pottery, Pam sees something oriental, I see a woman dancing and lifting her hands in praise. I would do things differently now that I see the results, but it is a learning thing, and I am looking forward to more adventures in the dye and un-dye pots!

I am pleased to announce that I've been asked to teach at the: Crooked River Fiber Fling Aug 4-7 2011. I'm not sure if all of the classes are up on the page yet, but it looks like it is going to be a wonderful event and venue. I hope that I'll get the chance to meet some of you while I am there. Others who are teaching are listed below. Nice bunch of talent.
The Fiber CAFE of the Peninsula Art Academy presents
https://fibercafe.org/Home_Page.html

Sharon Costello, Sally Melville, Suzanne Higgs, Carol Adams, Joan Brasaemle, Gerrie Hotton, Jennie Hutchings, Mary Kapenekas, Rosanna Ludwig, Cris Welch.

I hope to get a bunch of samples completed this week for the upcoming classes. My ADD is really bad right now...I do things I want to do, not the things I should. Got to work on getting my "get focused" and follow through. So hard sometimes, just so hard. But today I'll finish the scarf I laid out and then put things away so I can think better. Though I am in a state of scatter, I am so filled up with joy and peace, and that is good enough and far better than I deserve!

Happy felting and Shalom,
Suzanne

4 Days of WOW...

2011-04-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

I've just come home from 4 incredible days with Jone Rakoski and Pam MacGregor at Pam's studio in Ohio. I am overwhelmed with the information shared. We did things like Goodwill shopping, looking at hardware, going out to lunch, going to garage sales, hypnotizing chickens, talking late into the night, and felting. There is no way I can share all of it---this entry would be a book, but I can share some.

In the first photo there are several items that might be of interest. The green scarf and book Pam gave to me, as well as "Bad Girls of the Bible", a battery operated dremmel and sea shells. I've long loved Pam's books made of felt. This one is made of some of the hand dyed merino silk that I'd given to Pam last spring. The scarf we did some discharge on to our happy delight.

Jone laughs at me because I drink instant coffee...life moves fast around here, so it's become convenient for me. She picked up this two cup coffee maker, some coffee, sweet sticks with lavender, and made the soda cover. I'm drinking "fresh ground coffee" as I write this. YES! She would be so proud of me...and that way I'll have it available when she is here.

Being with other felt makers is joyous. Being with these two incredible felt makers was fantastically joyous. I nearly cried when I left. It was I was filled to over flowing.

Are there those people in your life who fill you up? I hope so!

Happy Felting and Good Sabbath,
Suzanne

One thing leads to another

2011-04-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

In August I acquired some cormo wool top. Oh my goodness, is that stuff soooo soft! I thought I'd try it out on some felt over silk gauze, and add some sari silk and silk roving. Initially, the whole project was done in white, except the sari silk. While I've used the sari silk a lot, I've never had the fabrics "run" before. This time it did, with gold bleeds and purple bleeds on the wool and silk...and so one thing leads to another. After the scarf was felted, I over-dyed all of it in s bold yellow for just a few minutes, then took it out, twisted it up randomly, put some blue in the dye bath and let it soak some of that dye up for a bit longer. Thought I would like the bold side best, but not so much. I like the muted, water color effect the best. Moreover, it is reversible with two completely different looks. I like that aspect a lot. After all the work to make sure the sari silk melded to the wool...I like the softer side better...go figure!

I leave Wednesday morning with jone to spend 4 wonderful days with the incredible Pam MacGreger, feltmaker, amazing and generous! If you want to see her amazingly spectacular works, do take a peek at her website listed below.
http://www.tarveycottagestudio.com/

Anytime you get the chance to take a class from Pam, don't even hesitate. She is an amazing artist, communicator, source of creative thought and design. Pam has been a teacher in her professional life, but from personal experience, Pam is a natural teacher in her personal life as well. I am so looking forward to spending the time with someone whose work I am totally in love with, and who is becoming a friend. We will have good felt talk, felt making, great food and wine, peaceful evenings on the porch. We've been planning this trip for months. I am so excited to spend the time with her.
Until next week, good felting adventures and Shalom,
Suzanne

Wrapped in Felt

2011-04-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

For several months now I've wanted to make a wrap out of the prefelts that I've acquired from Jone Rakoski. With "Spring busting out all over" it doesn't seem like the right time to make the wrap, but when it calls to me, I have a hard time ignoring it. This is one that was dyed in olive greens, and while I adore that color a lot, I decided that I wanted some plumb overtones on the prefelt. It was dyed it in purple/plumb to give it some lovely hues of all of the colors. The silk was applied for contrast and movement and visual stimulation.

Working with prefelts (merino) usually provides at least a 30% shrinkage. I really didn't want to lose even that much of the width in the process. Before I started felting it, it was stretched in all directions and throughout the entire process, I continued to stretched it more than I normally would do. The drape turned out lovely. It is about 9 ounces of complete comfort.

The fiber from Bahr Creek Llama Studio came in on Thursday. I've got to do some experimenting with it before I teach the classes using their fiber. For the hat and nuno classes we will be using merino top, but for the bird pods, we will be using raw llama fibers. They have a colorful herd of 30 llamas. I've got to perfect it before I teach it. It is a different hand to llama and alpaca than to wool. Stepping out of my comfort zone...hope I don't stumble too much!

Some have questioned me about the lichen photos...will I translate to felt? It is a hope that I will. I've got some ideas...now to bring them to fruition. So many ideas, so little time and so little of me. I fatigue more easily now, so it all takes me a bit longer these days. Still, felt is patient with me and I with it. We will get there.

Side note to the felt coffins is this blog spot:

http://bellacouche.typepad.com/leafshrouds/

About 7 years ago my husband sent the link to me at my shop. I thought the ingenuity was spectacular, the thought, comforting. A body wrapped, rather than boxed, just sounds more loving to me. We wrap precious things, babies, gifts, heirlooms, fragile things, things we love. I like the idea of wrapping the remains of someone loved.

"Dust you are, and dust you shall return"

Just seems to make the whole process more natural.

Pam MacGregor said she thought of putting her ashes in a cement ball, having it dropped to the ocean to start a new coral reef. How cool is that!

On a happier note...it's the weekend! I hope yours is filled with good things that inspire you, family and friends, and renewed wonder in the Creation God has given to us.
Shalom and Good Sabbath,
Suzanne

Rest in Fleece: Woolen Coffins Offer Green Goodbye

2011-04-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

Rest in Fleece: Woolen Coffins Offer Green Goodbye

There is something comforting in this thought. How often have some of said we could just lay down in the wool and stay there? I have very often. I'll have to share this with my husband and friends. I've thought of making my own urn for ashes and this helps me in that process of creating such an urn. I've thought it "not fancy" just simply to hold the ashes to be buried in.

Recently one of my small chihuahuas died from a brain tumor. Her ashes are still here in the house until the frost left the ground. I think I will make one for her ashes.

Hope this post isn't too depressing, just interesting and thought provoking. I think a felt shroud would also be lovely... your thoughts?

Shalom,
Suzanne

GRRRRRRR and success as well

2011-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Pathetically, I am down to one hat! ONE HAT! Yikes. Of course, that means that sales have been good, but one hat, come on! I usually have about 40 on hand and am just simply out of them. So I did make one and here is the front and the top of it. It is double hooded and very warm. I love the color and texture play. I may have to keep this hat for myself....maybe.

A few months ago I received a pre-dyed silk scarf from a dear friend of mine. I decided to use it in a nuno felt. I worked and worked and still in the end, I am disappointed. I think that it is a tighter mm than I thought and the fibers did not migrate the way I had hoped. It is just about make it as a soft nuno but not one that I would sell. It just isn't up to my expectations of myself. Too bad too, because I really like the colors.

But that is part of the process, don't you think? Finding out what works and what doesn't work.
I hope that the efforts of today will be more successful.
I wish the same for you.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Lichen, Woods, Workshops Coming

2011-04-06T07:27:00.000-07:00

Usually I walk a mile in the morning at one of several stores around town until the warm weather arrives here in Plainwell, Michigan. It was dark and raining this morning and I got a late start. I like walking very early before the stores get busy. When I arrived at my destination, they were already busy so I decided to go to the woods to "just look". What an excellent choice for the day! There was beautiful, spectacular lichen. I took some photos via my phone and most of them are up on my facebook page. I am struck by the subtle colors and incredible shapes lichen take on. The smell of the woods in the early spring is lovely too, very earthy, sweet, sometimes musky...and with the soft rain and overcast shies. It was a lovely time there. I love rainy days. ( You might want to click on this photo to see the detail. It is lovely to see the moss on the lichen!)

Over the past few days I've been trying to finalize three workshops I've been asked to teach in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin at Bahr Creek Llama Farm and Studio. I think we have done it. Bahr Creek Llama Studio is having sheering days on their very large herd of llama. They have a huge turn out for this annual event.
So here is the line up:
#1
Felt Bird Pods-Wednesday, May 25th, 9:30AM-2:30PM, cost 55.00 + 20.00 material fees.

#2
Nuno Felt-Thursday, May 26th, 9:30AM-2:30PM, cost 55.00 + 25.00 material fees.

#3
Sculptured Wool Felt Hat -Friday, May 27th, 9:30AM-2:30PM, cost 55.00 + 20.00 material fees.

For more information on these workshops, please contact Brigitte at Bahr Creek. She told me that the classes always fill very fast so if you are interested, I'll encourage you to act with haste.

WWW.bahrcreek.com

www.bahrcreekllamasfiber.blogspot.com

If the classes are over filled, I will stay one more day to teach.

The scarves below are the ones that I've dyed for the nuno felting workshop at Bahr Creek. The colors turned out so softly lovely. I am thinking I'll have a hard time letting go of these scarves.

I am also counting down the days until I get to go spend an extended time with Jone, the amazing, and Pam, the incredible. Looks like we're going to manage a felting get away. YES!!!!!

Well, off to go felting for the rest of the day.

Joy in the day and Shalom,
Suzanne

Hook, Line and Sinker

2011-04-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

The dreaded cold is finally starting to abate and I am so grateful. I've been more sick with a cold than I was with this one, but this one was a shape shifter----one day nausea, next day non, one day no voice, ear ache, croupy cough, the next day none, but all through it, incredible fatigue. I really do think I am over it and happy to be past it.

About 4 months ago after I fist learned to make the fish with the incredible Pam MacGregor, I was asked to make a bunch for a yacht group in Chicago. Not inclined to be real thrilled with production work, I asked Jone Rakoski to work with me on the project. By the grace of God she said yes!...and we got to work together, in her studio, which I loved.

Jone works primarily with prefelts, where as I work mostly with roving. For this project we used prefelts that Jone had dyed, along with some rovings. Day one was design, then gather prefelts, calculate peices that we needs, begin pattern making, and plan the rest of the project. Day two, we each made three fish, and day three we did as well and day 4 again three fish. Finishing touches, like eyes applied were done by Jone and we breathed a collective sigh at the production being over. What Jone and I find most interesting is that we used the exact same pattern, fibers, soap, water, etc and our fish look so entirely different from each others. It always amazes us that each persons hand to the feltmaking process is uniquely their own. The two fish featured at the top are our faves.

The fish were cast out of the net in front of the clients last night. They loved them! ( oh good!)
I think Jone and I might end up being "fish mongers".

My New Favorite Cup + Tea + Veracious Cold

2011-03-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Jone gave this wonderful little cup to me this past week, along with a terrible cold. The cup is my new favorite, which is unusual for me. I am usually a big mug kind of gal, but this little cup just fits my hand perfectly, I love the detail and the shape; perfect for a strong cup of tea. And since Jone shared her cold with me, I am drinking a lot of tea with honey in it. Tastes so good when I can taste it.

My booth buddy Christee raises organic sheep, feed, pasture, hay, all organic, all wonderful! She is breeding for a long silky staple length and she is so achieving that goal! The fleeces that are shown here are from her flock. They are a cross breed-Teeswater-Coopworth in the raw.

I've used Christee's fleece for my bags, some for spinning, love to dye the stuff!!!!! and have used it most frequently for the birdpods. It felts tightly, lock structure is long and strong and soft. It remains a course wool, naturally, but it does have a wonderful hand to it. I am hoping to send some off to a friend today, and then perhaps begin a bit of fiber play myself today if I find the energy. (I hate colds!)

Christee has about 10 white fleeces left. If you are interested in purchasing any of them, please let me know. They weigh about8.5 pounds and the cost is 10.00/pound raw. Working with this wool is pure delight!

Okay, just writing this little bit has exhausted me. Going back to bed now. I really want to play in the wool today, not schlep around on the sofa. Oh well....tomorrow is another day Scarlet.
Successful felting!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Briefly, Bouquet

2011-03-10T07:50:00.000-08:00

Been teaching a lot of private classes lately and working on the wedding bouquet. This is the bouquet, so far. I am planning on pulling the centers of the flowers together with pearl beaded stitches, three per flower. I've got to make three tulips yet and then begin the work on the greenery.
I was thinking of trying to put it all together myself, but have decided that I will take all of the elements to a professional florist to help me with the final product. Making all of the spiky sprites is tearing at my shoulder a bit, so I've had to slow it down...pacing myself...something I'm not really all that good at.

What are you all working on? I'd love to know.

Happy Felting!
Shalom,
Suzanne

The Round Rectangle

2011-03-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

Elis Vermeulen had asked a question of the the feltmakers list and on FaceBook: what we were doing this year? I did not answer on the lists, but I will here. I had already decided that I want to focus on two basic shapes this year. One is the circle, orb, round, the other is rectangle. Much of what I do is already in these two shapes, but I want to push myself to explore more, deeper, find meaning new to me, in them. I used to do a lot of vessel work early on and in re-exploring "the round" I think I will be doing a few more of them in the future....though not all vessels are round, right? I love it when a friend challenges me to push farther, look deeper. Thank you Elis, I am looking forward to the year of the round/rectangle.

While at Art Hop I had a gallery owner ask for some of my work in her place. Honored, yes, of course. But then again, I am faced with the percentages given to the owner. When I price my things I take into account many things to come up with a price. When it is given over to a gallery, the losses become significant for me. It's great to have the exposure, no doubt, but the losses are hefty. Since I will still be on the road this year going to art and fiber shows, I think it will be okay to have a few galleries carrying my things, but it will definitely not be something I seek to expand in the future. I think that the ones that are already carrying my work is enough for now. I have trouble keeping up for them as it is.

One thing I've wanted to post and keep forgetting to do is this:
CREATIVE FELT GATHERING info

Time	Monday, September 19 at 9:00am - September 24 at 6:00pm

Location	Dainava - Manchester, Michigan

Created By	Creative Felt Gathering

More Info	September 19 - 24, 2011 Chad Alice Hagen - resist dyeing Elis Vermeulen - raw wool and prefelt projects Jone Rakoski - glass fusing Pam MacGregor - fused glass and loop and toggle cuff $450.00 - earlybird price $500.00 - March 1, 2011 $10.00 per night for 9/18/2011 or 9/24/2011 payment by check or Visa/Mastercard after August 31 2011 - no refund after July 31, 2011 - 75% refund after June 30, 2011 - 90% refund Catering by Marilynn $100.00. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 5 days. Simple and healthy comfort foods. Catering is optional. July 31, 2011 is the deadline for ordering. Sheets are provided limited blankets and pillows available. Dormatory style sleeping arrangements. 4 to a room, 90 beds, but since we limited the Gathering to 30 you can spead out. Contact: Jone Rakoski - spectralglass@hotmail.com phone - 517-456-6066

It is an incredible event, priced so reasonably.
********************************************************
I am trying to get my camera to download some photos of the bouquet that I am making for my friend Holly, but it won't work. I'll mess around with it later and see if I can show some photos of the work in progress. Until next time, Happy Felting!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Silence and then not so much....

2011-02-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

I've not had the time to post lately...life is usually pretty busy here, but then it goes on steroids and gets CRAZY, out of control, heavier than one thinks one can handle. Such is life here right now, and an end of it may be in sight soon. The operative word is "may". Since I've not had time to post, I've had even less time to make felt. Here is the latest work...time is a gift. (I want more presents!)

For felting news....It's kind of cool! A friend of mine is getting married and has asked me to make her bouquet out of felt flowers. How cool is that! I am so excited and honored to do this for her...and I get to work with two of my favorite colors, white and purple! I used to do floral design on the side, so this is going to be great fun for me. She is knitting her wedding dress (can you imagine!) out of lace weight kid mohair, she'll carry felt flowers, and I think I am going to try to incorporate nuno ribbons coming from the bouquet as well. Anyone got ideas that they want to share with me?

Gotta run for now. Plainwell is having the ART HOP tonight and I need to hit the shower and get ready for a fun, fun night. Pop over if you can, many wonderful artist there!

Kisses and Peace to you all,
Suzanne
Oh, the second photos is of a wall hanging: "Birth: To Spill Forth"
It is made of merino wool silk fabric, silk fibers, Mohair and Teeswater locks, cheese cloth and beads.

Can you come to the Winter Retreat in Ashville, NC ?

2011-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

http://friendsandfiberworks.com/
Lisa Mackey is holding a Winter Retreat in Ashville, NC the 14th, 15th and 16th of this month in Ashville, NC. The details are on the link that I've posted. Will you be able to come? Would you like to? There are some great teachers there, Chad Alice Hagen to start with. We will be in a mall! How neat is that? I think it should be a very interesting venue.

Jone Rakoski and I will be traveling together to be at the show. We've already made plans to have dinner with Chad. I am looking forward to that, just wish some of her genius would rub off on me. I wonder if she'll mind if I sit really close to her so our shoulders are touching? (You're right , that would be inappropriate. I'll try to behave myself!) Anyway, if you are in the area, or looking for a fiber road trip, please think about coming to this event. I think it is going to be wonderful! For spinners, I'll have my "Bling Batts" Jone will have wonderfully dyed prefelts, her incredible felts, and I'll be bring a few hats. ( I only have a few and didn't know about this show until two weeks ago..Yikes, no time to get much done!)

These are three of the nuno felts that I'll have at the show. I put the photo up on Facebook and got a bunch of questions off and on the thread. I've been asked about the type of silk I am using and how I get the intense crinkle effect. For the purpose of brevity, I am going to re-post here what I wrote there. Hope you don't mind.

Here it is:

These three were done on silk gauze. I roll them a lot, maybe more than most. I roll in each direction, on both sides 500 times, by actual count. Then I may roll again another 200 hundred times if I want it a bit tighter. It also gets "slapped" on the table top about 200 times. Then I will toss it in the dryer on AIR ONLY until I get the texture that I'm looking for. I also do this with the habotai silk, except the initial rolling gets bumped to 1000 times each way on both sides. Added note, I use cold water through the entire process.

Well, I've got lots to get done before we leave and am starting to get excited about the trip. What's not too exciting, is that we are to get 17 inches of snow over the next few days, right when I'm packing the trailer! Snow is so beautiful...shoveling it is not.

I'm wishing you all wonderful felty moments.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Final Post...

2010-12-31T06:58:00.000-08:00

Final post for 2010.

Happy 2011 to each of you. May it be filled with promise, creativity, enough triumph and tragedy to keep you humble and aware of the blessings that surround you each day. May you have wonderful sunrises to greet you and spectacular sunsets to sleep you, may your arms be filled with often with the people you love, and your heart overflowing with joy often, the kind of joy that brings tears to your eyes. This is my wish for each of you, and I wish it also for myself.
God bless you,
Shalom,
Suzanne

Little Girl with a Ball

2010-12-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

We're settling into the cold weather here in southwest Michigan. We keep our heat at 60 degrees (15.5 Celsius), wear warm wool sweaters, turtleneck shirts, and several layers under that, oh yea, and long underwear or leggings. I think it is so funny that 60 degrees in the winter is cold, but in the early Spring, we'd open the windows to let in the fresh air and warmth. We also "spot heat" where we are with our Eden Pure infrared heating unit. Works out pretty well.

It's been a busy time with family and most likely will be until the years end . I've not had much time to make felt, but did make this small bag for my sister who has a birthday late December. I still have to get the handles on it, write her a note and send it off to her.

And speaking of birthdays, I had another one this year. I am delighted to have made it thus far. This is an ancient photo of me when I was a year old. Love the dress...it has Disney characters on it. How fun is that?

QUESTION, BIG QUESTION:
Several of my friends and I are planning on bringing the delightful and very talented feltmaker, Andrea Graham ( see my sidebar) to the greater northern Ohio/southern Michigan area in the near future. We will need to have 12 students to bring her in. Are you interested in attending? Do you want to tentatively sign up? Do let me know.

I'll be back as soon as I make some felt!

I wish you all deep Peace and Joy in this Christmas, because:
Luke 2: 8-14
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Shalom,
Suzanne

Monoliths, Cappuccino, and Four Dreaded Women

2010-12-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

It's a quiet Saturday morning, gray skies, bits of clutter that needs attending to, a hot cup of cappuccino at my ready, and am compelled to blog a bit.

This week Sharon Costello, of Black Sheep Designs, announced the Felter's Fling line up on her website. So many talented felters will be there, teaching, sharing, making memories. I'd like to go. Will have to see about that. Here is the link.
http://www.blacksheepdesigns.com/fling2011.html

I think you'll be impressed with the line up she has provided this year.

So while I 'm reading through the list of folks who will be at Felter's Fling, I come upon the YURT Guy link and begin anew, my search on line for monolithic or dome or yurt living units. I love them. My ideal living space has become the dome. For those of you who read this blog often, you know of my passion for monolithic structures. There is something in the simplicity, the womb or earth shape, the safety, the unusual, to be sure, that attracts me to the shape; finding them rather comforting. However, there are some things that make them look rather stark as well, and that I find less attractive. However, while looking on line for monolithic homes, I found the one that combined so many features that I like, mixing the traditional with the unusual--creating beauty and balance. If you are interested, here is the link:
http://www.monolithic.com/stories/feature-home-emerson
I could so live there!

The Four Dreaded Women are pins that have been ordered and they will be on the way today. They are time consuming to make. I've enjoyed making them, but am unsure if it is something I want to add to my product line. Maybe they will be what I do on those days when my arms have fallen off and I can finger felt only.

Cappuccino is gone, time for me to get moving. Blessing surround you....look!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Tunic/Overdress Concept Piece

2010-12-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some simple pieces, on a slightly larger scale than I am accustom to. My work space is limited. This is one of the projects that I've finally brought to fruition. It is a simple tunic / over dress, one I would wear over a turtle neck sweater and leggings and some jazzed boots. It is not sewn all the way down the garment, just from natural arm hole to the waist, the rest of it is rather free flowing. While not my colors, I hope it will find it's rightful owner.
I hope I'll have more "concept pieces" to share with you in the weeks to come.

For now, I am feeling very flu like and am thinking I might head back to bed.
Shalom,
Suzanne

TA-DA, Jami's Bag is done!

2010-11-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, these are the final photos of the bag for my niece. The leather straps were custom made for the bag. I think they are the "saving grace" on the bag. Tomorrow, it gets sent to Jami. I hope she likes it.
There, one less thing that "has to be done". Yeah, I love it when that list gets smaller.

I'd like to have you go take a peek at another blog I've come to enjoy more and more. Her work is feminine, delicate and lovely. Let me know what you think, okay?
http://bolichoniespi.blogspot.com/
What are your favorite blogs and why?
Shalom,
Suzanne

Flops +

2010-11-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

Success and failure and frustration and re-inventing .... the way things are, right now.

I had put a nice, long, hard felt handle on the bag for Jami. I had sanded the bag with an electric sander, then rolled it for about 4 hours and was getting pretty tired. I threw it in the dryer on "air only" to let it flop about a bit while I took a break. When I opened the dryer door, one side of the handle had pulled away for the bag. I had this awful sinking feeling, wanted to cry and hoped secretly that the felt fairies would show up and make it all better. They didn't. I was stuck trying to re-think the bag and salvage it from nearly being thrown away. I finally decided to cut handles, and have now taken the bag to a friend/seamstress who is going to add leather straps to it. This is being done so that Jami has the option to carry by hand or throw over her shoulder. (Can a woman ever have too many options?) These are not my final photos of the bag, just showing my progress, if you want to call it that. This bag is 6 layers thick. I think I'll not do that again. I do love how the silk and wool play together on the surface.

The other item shown here is a wrap cloak that I've been working on. This is my second one and I wanted to add a collar to it. The collar is a stolen piece from a different " failed piece", cut and sewn into place on the cape. It turned out so nicely. I am well pleased with the results on the cape...and so thankful I didn't have to model it.

Looks like a very busy week ahead of me. Dear Jone ( pronounced Yona, long o) will be leaving for Finland on Tuesday,(so going to miss her!) taking care of some family needs, doctor appointments, dental appointments, yada-yada-yada...that kind of week awaits me. I'll pop in here when I have something to share.

If I forget to tell you how much I appreciate you all stopping by, let me do it now. Just knowing that you stop by helps me feel less isolated. Thanks you so much. You are THE BEST!

Shalom,
Suzanne

The Start of Jami's Bag

2010-11-25T07:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for! Could we ever count the blessings we receive daily? I could not.

Tuesday, I thought I'd get started on the rather large bag my niece has requested. I cut the pattern/resist. Got the wool, the silk fabrics, the do-dads I was going to add, started the handle and then promptly felt overwhelming, crushing fatigue. Took a 4 hour nap! What's up with that?

After the a fore mentioned nap, I did get the handle finished. The lay out completed on Wednesday. It is 6 layers of fine merino wool with silk fabric and tussah silk and little wool blebs of turquoise. I must confess I have no clear vision of what this bag will look like when it is completed. I'm flying by the seat of my pants and hoping for the best. (so what's new about that?) I'll work on it a bit today as time allows.

We (Jim and I) are having a very low-key Thanksgiving dinner this evening. I'll be working at the Plainwell Community Center serving dinner to our community if they need me. Love doing that. It is just the coolest thing to see folks from all different walks and stages of life, sitting together, enjoying the foods, and each others company. On any other day, their paths might never cross, but on this day, they are neighbors sharing in a moment. It is amazing to see and to be a part of the celebration.

May your day be over-flowing with things that remind you of the gifts that surround you.
Shalom,
Suzanne

The all day Wrap...

2010-11-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

My slow, rainy day Monday was indeed slooooooooow! Seems like it took all day to get anything done! I started this nuno on silk gauze early in the morning and didn't get it finished until about 9:30 PM. Talk about putzy! I'd start, then stop to do something else, then come back and leave it again. Truly, my ADD ruled the day.

The colors that I dyed the gauze are gray, blue, crimson and plum. The merino wool colors are hot orange, cinnamon and purple. The close up shows the colors far better than the "live shots", because again, we are dealing with bad lighting. The lay out was very random (... see ADD gone wild!) leaving many open areas to form puckers and bubbles. I love that more and more in the nuno/laminate felts. I wish I had asked Jim to get a couple of shots of the "wool side" of the wrap. Maybe I can ask him later...maybe.

Next on the list of felts to make is a large bag for my beloved niece, Jami. She is a teacher and wants a large felt bag for carrying her "homework" home with her. She's asked for it in brown. Not a color I usually work in, so there will be some creative challenges for me. I hope I'm up to it.

My Mom sent this little video my way. She knows I love watching the humming birds. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. What a rare treat for this young man!
http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/
Well worth it if you take the chance to watch, really wonderful.

What are you making these days? Are you having fun? What is your favorite thing about felt? I am asking because I really want to know.

I am thinking about doing a give-away for my blog readers. If I do, what would you like me to put up for a FREE GIVE AWAY?

Gotta go.
Shalom,
Suzanne

I hate it when I am the only model I can find!

2010-11-22T05:43:00.000-08:00

I wanted to show you the final results of the nuno/laminate felt wrap. It was dyed in shades of blue, gray, green and soft plumb. the wool that was added was olive, navy and plumb-purples. I adore this wrap, and really wish I had done it in colors that were more suited to me. (I rarely wear blue.) I imagine it will look quite lovely on a blond. This wrap rates pretty high on the "flutter factor" and I love that about it.
I have to admit that the photos are not very good, lighting is bad, my husband is not thrilled at doing this for me (but he won't model it either!) and I am the model....need I say more!
Woke up this morning to 60 degrees and raining. Not bad for November 22, in Michigan. Love rainy days, the coffee tastes better, the day moves slower, wool felts faster and I have time to breathe!
Shalom and happy felting all day long!
Suzanne

Random layout, delightful surprise!

2010-11-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

This post will be brief and to the point today. I simply have too much on my plate, as usual.

The past few weeks I've been playing a lot with nuno felts, dyeing the silks and playing with the lay out. On the piece I am going to show, I did a random layout, and am thrilled with the final results. The photos explain it, so I can be brief today.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Wish I could chat longer, but I really can't right now. I'll be back soon.
Shalom, and Good Sabbath to all!

Learning to expect the unexpected....well, trying

2010-11-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

I've put too much pressure on myself to get too much done this week. How do I know? Nothing got done and I've a headache today and tons of guilt about not getting anything done!

It started Sunday with no water pressure in certain parts of the house...the really important pasts of the house, like bathroom area and kitchen. Our small city of Plainwell does the fire hydrant flushing and when that happens, all kinds of iron and lime and other stuff gets released into the water system. For the past several years, it's cost us dearly in plumber fees. It will lodge in our pipes and literally bring our water pressure to a trickle. Not good for showering, not good for a houseful of people for our Sabbath celebration and not good for felting. Yesterday it was all fixed....until next time.

Monday, sculptured hat. It was made from some roving that I'd picked up from and indie-dyer who was experimenting with some new dyes. Well, I know her dye works are wonderful, so I think it is the dyes that gave her trouble. Anyway, the thing is, as I was rolling the hat in cotton fabric, something I do often when I am finishing a felt, the dye began to bleed out onto the cotton fabric. It took my breath away with the muted colors and textures that unexpectedly happened. I quickly snapped a photo of it for myself, and have decided to share it with you.

This entry really has very little to do with felting, but with the unexpected beauty that God offers up each and every day, no matter what we did or didn't accomplish.

BTW, the hat that I made had to be over dyed and I'll share that within the next few days.
Shalom,
Suzanne

November Already?

2010-11-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe how fast time is moving....must be a true sign of aging, and not one that I appreciate much. However, it does bring to mind that time is limited and therefore, one must work hard to even try to get some of the ideas brought to fruition!

This past week has been spent trying to get some felts made, dyeing silks for nuno felt that will be up soon, (I hope), planning some workshops, writing proposals for next seasons teaching schedule and just in general trying to pull it all together, however in very short, attention deficit disorder spurts. (It's not easy being me!) It will all come together, but not necessarily as I had hoped. I could just eat and felt and think my days were completely happy. There is just this other stuff that has to be taken care of too that I find disruptive to my day. I find myself multitasking on a level far bigger than I am. (Washing silk, cutting silk, dyeing silk, writing proposals, opps forgot about the dye pot, phone calls....layout on a nuno, another phone call, roll the felt, check the dye pot, shipping orders, did the dog get her medication? and what's for dinner? roll the felt some more, HUH, are you talking to me?) Anyway, it's been that kind of week. I'm glad I have anything to show for!

First photo is of a hat that I made this week, the background is of a silk that I dyed in olive and a hunter green color. The olive split in the dye bath...I love when that happens because all of these wonderful under and over tones emerge to create something incredible and unpredictable. I love that!

The other pics are of silk that I dyed and the champagne and brown nuno is from a silk that I got from Elis Vermullen. It was too pale of a color in champagne for me to feel comfortable with so I over dyed it and then applied the wool to it. It is a small triangular shawl. The texture is just wonderful and I love the color play on it. I added some orange, purple and black wool. It has a very autumn feel to it. Thank you Elis!

It's the end of the sales season for me and I have only 4 hats left, no nunos except the ones I've started to make. I think with all of the ideas running through my head, it's going to be a nice winter to stay inside and create.

Also wanted to let you all know that the Felt United site is up and wonderful! Do take a peek! There are more than 1000 pictures of felts from all over the world, incredible felts! Amazing felts. I love this medium!
http://www.feltunited.com/

Shalom,
Suzanne

Alas, I didn't get it!

2010-10-29T03:54:00.000-07:00

I had hoped to get some photos of the wraps I'd completed before they sold, but it didn't happen, just this one. This wrap is being worn by Channel 7, Detroit, news anchor, Kim. She did not buy it, just modeled it for me. She is beautiful and sweet!

All of the nuno felts sold, so I am busy making more. The whole week has been filled with dyeing, felting, dyeing some more and felting some more. Tonight I am having dinner with good friends and am looking forward to the break. Sometimes, my brain just hurts form the ideas and color combinations going through my head. I'll never have enough time to get all of the ideas completed! I'm sure you all have the same problem, don't you?

Peace to you all,
Suzanne

Fiber Expo

2010-10-22T03:48:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the Fiber Expo here in Michigan in a few short hours. Since getting back from Rhinebeck, NY it's been busy here, dyeing and felting, mostly scarves. These are just some photos of the pieces that I did. I didn't get a chance to photograph them in their wearable state. Hopefully I'll get to do that this weekend.

Have a blessed weekend and happy felting!
Oh, did you see the moon the past few days/nights? Outstanding!
Suzanne

Autumn in New York and Thank God for Rhinebeck!

2010-10-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

Each year I look forward to Rhinebeck and the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. When all other shows are down or slow, Rhinebeck never fails to be an adventurous, profitable and beautiful show. The buyers are educated, knowledgeable, share openly and teachers are outstanding! It is my favorite show, hands down. We had some pretty severe winds on Saturday, 50 mph gusts and the booth took a bit of a beating, but it survived. Sunday was a perfect autumn day with stunning color, sunshine, 68 degrees and lots of people. Check out the parking lot...and that's only part of it!

Little Ms. Ammie came to see me again this year! I love seeing her. We've been fiber friends for 3 or 4 years now. It is always wonderful to see the changes in her. What a lovely young woman she is becoming! She is wearing the red hat, that I think looks wonderful with her full crop of great hair! The hat was made for one such as this. It went home with her.

I'm home and happy to be so. I leave again for another show this weekend. Then the travels will be over except for teaching commitments. I am looking forward to the "down time" and spending time at the dining room table creating and experimenting with felt. What an incredible gift felt is!

Happy felting!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Women in dreads/ Strong Women

2010-10-10T18:26:00.001-07:00

My parents are the "snow birds" in our family. Mom has already traveled to Fla., but before she left, we got to spend an afternoon with her. This is a photo of my mom and four of her five daughters. The three boys couldn't make it to have dinner with us. One sister missed out too. I so wish this photo would have been of my mom with all of her girls. Maybe next year. My mom is the most amazing person I know. I've thought long and hard lately about the love of a mother. It is that one rare love that I have that no one else can ever have for me. She knows all about me and loves me no matter what. My mom is as close to me as my heart. I cannot imagine my life without her. Even thinking about life without her puts a huge lump in my throat. It is good to be loved. Each one of her children has been taught astonishing strength in weakness, calm in the storm, steadfastness when everyone else leaves, do the right thing even when it is the hardest thing. I am so blessed by this woman. I hope that your mom is a blessing to you too.

Perspective: I've asked my mom to refer to me as her first born instead of her oldest child. I remember being 13 and loving being the oldest...not so much anymore! First born sounds better to me the older I get!
The time has come for me to get packing for Rhinebeck NY. I am not finding much time for felting, but I am making these brooches, these wonderful "dreaded women". They look great as a pin or brooch, wonderful as an additive on a bag, great closure on a wrap. They are time consuming, different and for now, about all I have time for. I'll be packing the van, making some final "bling batts' for the sale and planning the booth space. It's about a 14 hour drive and hopefully this year we won't run into snow! It was so cold last year. I am praying for good weather.

I am getting a lot of emails concerning classes. I will be planning some in November. If you are interested, please let me know so I can add you to the list. Also, let me know what classes you are interested in.

Got to get to bed... it's nearly Monday!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Felt United, Marr Haven Style

2010-10-03T06:10:00.000-07:00

More to follow...

Piece on Piece

2010-10-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is a wall hanging that came about yesterday after looking at the pile of felt scraps that I've collected over the past 10+ years. I wanted to make a collage of the small piece. I took white pre-felts, 2 layers, laid it out then began to add the "felts" in random order. I then covered the entire lay out in white silk gauze. This was done to primarily to "hold tight" the felts to the prefelts. It worked! Now I've got to figure out the difficult task of getting it finished and hung. Got ideas?

Tomorrow is FELT UNITED! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Will you be coming to Marr Haven tomorrow? Noon till 4! See you there!

Felt Underfoot in Grand Rapids

2010-09-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Oh my, to have the chance to work with / for Janice Arnold as she puts this felt piece together is so much fun! Jone and I went there early this morning . We cleared the area of chairs and tables, measured the dimensions, measured the grid and awaited Janice. We were her "chalkers" for the lay out. Jone and I had to leave at noon, but I am going back up in a few minutes and I'll take more pics of the process. I wanted to stay all day but just had to get some orders shipped. There were wonderful feltmakers there when we left, Mary Wallace and Deb Lueders from Wisc., Dawn Edwards from Feltsoright.com in Michigan and more were on the way. Just wanted to share some of the photos....so far!

These photos are not in order, obviously! You can see the lay out and the swing dancers that showed up at 8:PM to start to dance the wool. It was amazing to see so many people there to take part in the event. Janice was definitely tired, but you could see the joy on her face! She did a very good thing. I hope the memories last a long, long time for her. I know they will for me!

This is the article published by the paper about the event:

Felt Under Foot Artprize Dance - Breaking a World Record

A Community Felt-Making Experience (and experiment) by artist Janice Arnold - creator of Chroma Passage at GRAM.
Chroma Passage has been in the top 25 piece of art since the opening of Artprize.

When

:Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10am - 10pm
Where

:Rosa Parks Circle and Grand Rapids Art Museum
Note:

Join artist Janice Arnold as she prepares to create the world's largest piece of handmade felt on the Maya Lin Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle, in Grand Rapids for Artprize.

Beginning at 9:00 am, Janice will begin to draw the chalk pattern for the Felt lay-up on the Ecliptic . At 10:00am she will begin laying down raw wool fibers ( over 70 pounds) on the center of the Ecliptic, assisted by other Felt artisans. The wool she will use is from local sheep and has been donated from local farmers. Throughout the day Janice will continue the lay-up process of wetting the fibers, and inviting the GR community participants to walk on the wool - to start the felting process. Community participation in the wetting and felting process is encouraged. Ms. Arnold wants to help everyone learn the traditional process of making Felt and be a part of making a piece of art for Artprize.

In the evening, around 6:00 pm, Janice will be joined by the Grand Rapids Original Swing Society . Swing Society dancers will help continue the felting process, through the agitation and pressure of dancing on the wool!

There will be live sheep on hand around 7pm!

Over the following days (Weds, Thursday Friday) Janice will continue the process by shrinking the Felt piece (on GRAM's terrace, just outside the Chroma Passage windows. Again the community is invited to come watch and help her scrub and shrink the wool to complete the final step of making wool into Felt. The goal is to wrap the center exterior column of the GRAM with the finished piece of handmade (footmade!) Felt sometime on Monday October 4th.
*************************************************************************

Only Time for Little Things

2010-09-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Jone and I went to see ARTPRIZE in Grand Rapids, MI. Janice Arnold has the most exquisite felt instillation I've ever seen. I could use all of the adjectives in my vocabulary and still fall grossly short of how jaw-dropping it is. Stunned is how I am still, happily stunned!

We had the opportunity to talk with Janice for about a half hour. What a doll she is! She is strong, wise, a visionary. If anyone is questioning if they should come to see her work, the answer is YES, YES, YES!!!!! You'll not be disappointed at all! To be in it was amazing. If you want to take a peek at her work, check out:

http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/49090

I am getting ready for Felt United 2010! Again this year we will be at Marr Haven in Allegan from 12-4 PM. You are all invited to come join us. Please, please do. It's going to be so much fun.

These two small pieces are made from pre-felt that Jone has dyed. The colors are perfect for Felt United, so I made these two small pins. Looks like I'd better get busy!

Happy Felting and Shalom,
Suzanne

Jone, Pam, Finnigan and me

2010-09-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is the fish I made when I went to spend a bit of time with Pam MacGregor of http://tarveycottagestudio.com/ and Jone Rakowski came along with me. It was like being on vacation, only better in some ways, I got to relax and laugh with incredible felt makers. Pam's home and studio is relaxing, she and her husband gracious, her lovely dogs and critters, enchanting. Finnigan is the full size standard poodle in the photos with us. What a doll he is. See Pam's website to see the vessel she made using his curls! WOW!!!!

I think Jone and I are looking forward to spending more time with Pam. What a treat!

Good Sabbath and Peace to you all,
Suzanne

Happily Exhausted

2010-09-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Ingrid with nuno scarf and new hat!

Playful customer!

Me and Mary Wallace. We were both teaching so we didn't get to spend much time together, but each time is wonderful! Creative felt genius she is!

Gisela, wonderful feltmaker

Ramsey in hood--she sure is lookin' good!

Jan in newly felted hat and fingerless gloves, looking like a woodland happy heart!

Two more of the students from the fingerless glove class. Did not take a s many photos as I should have, we were under heavy time restraints in this one! They made beautiful felts. I was so proud of them!

Carol with her new hat!

Linda in her new hat!

Ingrid in her new hat!

The beginning with the hat class, Ramsey adding some "are we done yet" antics to the class experience at the near end of the day. So enjoyed these gals.

I am still so tired. Had a great time in Wisc. good sales, met amazing women! Got to see Mary and Martha and Rachel who I see so rarely and love so dearly. Also shared booth space with Brigitte and any time I spend with this woman is a blessing.

It was great to be there, it is also great to be home.

Shalom,
Suzanne

Felting My Fingerprints Off!

2010-09-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I think I could commit crimes and there would be no fingerprints to identify me! I've been felting like a crazy person...but let's no dwell on that too much!

Ms. Allison and I spent the day together yesterday and she made two scarves, one was in the white pre-felt and the other was a lovely nuno felt scarf, her first! I was very please with her designs and lay out. She felts with such ease. I love how her mind works and her hands play!

The cream/tan hat was needle then wet felted. The red hat in an improvisational piece from a former pattern I've used. I took the viking princess hat resist, cut off one of the rosettes/horns and turned the hat around. In stead of making a rose or horn, I cut it open to be flames and then ones own hair becomes part of the design.

The hood is one that I started at the Creative Felt Gathering and finally finished. You can't see very well from this photo but there is a very long tail that hangs off the back of it. It was made with pre-felts, hand dyed prior to felting.

The green, blue and yellow vessel is my beginning creation for Felt United. I am going to do some beading on it and put a floral design in it before it is completed. I'll try to remember to post pics of it when it is done.

I leave in a few hours for Wisc. Sheep and Wool Festival. Other than flying through Chicago, I love the drive there. I am bringing a lot of Bling Batts, teaching and enjoying the company of good friends.

Before I leave, I've got to make a nuno felt scarf for my friend Judy. Her son is getting married next month and she's asked for one of my nuno scarves. I am so honored to do it for her. I'll be working in blues, so those of you who know I struggle with blues, please pray. I'm going to need it!

Shalom and hugs,
Suzanne

-

Slip Sliding Away

2010-09-02T05:23:00.000-07:00

September is here already, and I for one am happy about it. I am hoping for much cooler weather as this has been an incredibly hot summer for us here in Michigan. It is raining today, perfect for napping, making felt, maybe some cleaning, but I wouldn't count on the latter geting accomplished unless there is an energy surge after a nap! I love rainy days. They seem to move at a slower pace and I can appreciate that on so many levels!

Next week I leave for the Wisc. Sheep and Wool Festival, and will be teaching two classes there, and getting to see my dear friend Martha. One class is the needle to wet felt hat class and the other is the fingerless mitten class. I had not made a pair of fingerless mits in a while so decide to attempt do a pair as a sample. I messed up my cuts, and really wanted them longer, so back to the drawing board on them. I'll have to perfect it again before I teach it. I've lost my original resist on them. I am also using a very fine merino on the pair that I just did and forgot to sample my shrink factor! What was I thinking????? I used silk noil and silk top for surface elements. I can't believe I messed up the cuts! I get so frustrated with me sometimes!

Yes, I did make another cheese cloth wrap. Can't help myself, I just love them. They are so light, wonderful drape, and a bit unusual in texture. I put hand dyed tencel on the surface. When the light hits it....it's very high on the "wow" factor!

Lat night, I just wanted to sit and do mindless hand work. I played a couple of games of Bejeweled on FB, then made the crocheted ear warmers. The solid color yarn is alpaca, the sparkle yarn is mohair. Since there are so many small samples of yarn laying around here, I am going to be making more of them.

Friday can't get here fast enough. Elis, Rachael, Jone, Dawn and I will get together for the day. I am so looking forward to making one more memory with Elis before she heads back home. It has been a wonderful experience to meet and love this woman. There is a wise tenderness about her that is breathtaking, refreshing and at times overwhelming. I unabashedly, love her and am a whole lot in awe of her!

Jone and I are planning to get together for many play dates! I can hardly wait. What a treasure I have found in her, as fellow felter, more over, as a heart to heart friend. She is pure delight and I am looking forward to many play dates with her. FUN! We live about 30 minutes from each other...and we'd never met? How can that be?

Off to enjoy this rainy, cloudy, slow paced day.
I wish you joy in the day, and great peace all day long!
Suzanne

First Annual Creative Felt Gathering

2010-08-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

I don't have enough "OOOOOOOOH's" and "AAAAAAAAAAH's" to describe the Creative felt Gathering in Manchester Michigan. Chad Hagan, Elis Vermeulen and Jone Rakoski were amazing teachers, in a place that called out to feltmakers. Rustic, calm, spacious, beautiful, tress, water, trails. It was an in gathering of wonderful feltmakers and wonderful people. I am so glad I was there. It was perfection!

I was not able to take all of the classes, I arrived two days after the event started. I needed to get some rest after the Michigan Fiber Festival, which was 5 days of intense teaching and "vendoring". I needed to get some rest and I am only sorry that I missed so much of the time with Jone and Elis. To say that I learned a lot would be an understatement, in so many ways! I made this scarf with Jone and a piece of fused glass as well. It doesn't sound like much, but what I came away with is so much more! I simply do not have the words to express it!
(Me, nearly speechless...my husband is liking this part!)
Back to the felt table for now! Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival is coming up shortly. So much to do, so little of me to get it all done!
Shalom,
Suzanne

PS: Elis, me and Rachel in photo

Amazing Students, Amazing Hats!

2010-08-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I was totally blessed and honored to assist these amazing folks learn to needle felt, then wet felt a hat using the Hooked On Felt Needle to Wet Felt Forms.

We started with the showing of one of my favorite films: On Gentle Threads, featuring the incredible felt works of Judit Pocs. I like to show this film to inspire beyond what I will teach. I find that sometimes one can have a strong influence on what another person creates. Seeing multiple different artists work can inspire a relatively new feltmaker to look beyond the instructor, to look at endless possibilities, to listen to the inner voice of creativity, to hear their own voice and thus, create their own art form. I have no doubt that every single one of these folks who took this workshop will hear their own voice. They have an abundance of creativity and courage. Truly, amazing hats all the way around and spectacular felt, good, soft, strong felt was made by each of them. I am just so honored to have spent the day with them. Some classes can fatigue me, this one energized me.

You all ROCK!

Shalom,
Suzanne

Cotton Scrim/Cheeze Cloth Laminate Felt

2010-08-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Martha, Martha, Martha! She planted this seed of making a cheese cloth laminate/nuno felt in my head. I told her I wanted to do one and she challenged me to do one before Michigan Fiber Festival. Ok Martha, you win, here it is. What do you think?

It is ultra light, great drape-ability, perfect for walking one of Michigan's fine beaches in the evening. Now, to get to the beach!

Happy Felting, and Shalom,
Suzanne

Eva Cassidy/Fields of Gold/Nuno Felt

2010-08-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I was listening to some stuff on You Tube and found Eva Cassidy, quite by accident. I was shocked, amazed, tear filled, awestruck by her amazing voice. I listened to everything I could find. What a gift in her voice, her delivery, her soft strength. I went on to do some research on her, only to find that she died some time ago from melanoma. It appears that the UK is well aware of her, though USA born. They made her a household name, then her fame filtered back to us here in the states. If you have the time and inclination, do take a listen.

The nuno here is in honor of Fields Of Gold, no matter who sings it. I'd love say that I shibori dyed the silk, but for those of you who follow, you know I just twisted, knotted, tied and twisted some more to get the effect on the silk. I used hand dyed 50/50 merino silk along with some hand dyed mohair locks and hand dyed tencel. It is a very large shawl. Though I don't sew a stitch, it makes me want a dress of this fabric. It is YUMMY!

We are having phenomenal heat and humidity. I continue to pray for an early, long, soft autumn, temperatures in the 70's again. Naturally, I want it right now. The Michigan Fiber Festival starts next week Wednesday. I'll be teaching the Needle to Wet Felt Hat and Let's Just Bag It there. One is on Wednesday, the other on Thrusday. I think there is still a spot of two open in the bag glass if you are interested. I'd really like the heat to cease for the festival. It is 5 days of hard work, hugs, booth set up and tear down. Ok, maybe the heat won't stop, but will you at least join me in praying for a very nice breeze?

Don't expect much for the next week or so, gotta finish getting ready for festival, houseful of Sabbath guests and of course, delicious rest.

Shalom and happy felting!

Laminate/Nuno felts with mohair locks

2010-08-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

A dear friend gave me some mohair locks that she could not use. I've had them here for some time and decided to try them on the nuno/laminate felt wrap/skirt. Love the effect of them, the sheen is wonderful. Also used some hand dyed tencel ( the blues) in the wrap. It is a different type of sheen, very very nice indeed.

That's all folks, for now.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Recurring dream

2010-08-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of recurring felt dreams that I have had over the past 10 years, one was the needle felt hat forms 10 years ago. About 6 years ago I had the opportunity to spend about half an hour really looking at, studying, inhaling the sensual colors an incredible piece of stained glass at the Kalamazoo Museum.

That night the dreams began about making felt with stained glass in it, with light shining through so that they could both be enjoyed. Now, usually I am pretty quick to jump on an idea that I have, but this one needed time to "just float". It was not something that I wanted to enter into quickly, mess up, or get frustrated with. This is only a small portion of the piece I started to day. I will no doubt have to work on it more in the next few days. It is many layers thick. Since I cannot roll the piece, I am quite literally doing it all by hand; so much so that the skin is peeling off of the palms of my hands. I had to stop before I could felt it all the way down to the finished stage. I wanted to get a bit of sample done today because my hope is to incorporate these elements together into my piece for Felt United, Oct 2, 2010.

This photo was taken at night, so it is difficult to show you that the light does shine though. The fiber has been cut away on both sides of the felt so that the wonderful colors of the stained glass can shine though. Now that I've started this idea, so many more are coming. So many ideas, so little time!

I think a lamp shade with felt and stained glass could be stunning. Does that give anyone else an idea?

Not much more for today. Heat, humidity and felting have done me in for the day.
Sleep well, dream well
Shalom
Suzanne

Fab Feltmaking Day with incredible women!

2010-08-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Allison, Megan, Terry, Betty, Heather, Dena, Sue, Christee, Pam, Evelyn, and Chris, shared in a day long event to make felt. These gals were nearly all first timers! I am so impressed with their results, hard work, colors choices and designs. I have so few photos to share because I was more tired then I knew and there were some seriously "shaky" photos taken. In the last photo, you'll see that Terry got dye all over her. I don't know why that color bled out, but it did. Still, she has a brilliantly colored bag. (I covet that bag. The color is yummy to me!)
I am so proud of their hard work and accomplishments. I hope they are too!

Coffee Break

2010-08-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'll be having coffee with my buddy Dawn of www.feltsoright.com tomorrow. I've not seen her in so long it will be a real treat. I've got some of the sari silks I want to share with her. I hope she likes them!

It's about all I have time for today.
I'll try to finish this entry tomorrow after coffee with Dawn .
Shalom,
Suzanne

Post coffee entry:
I think she liked the silks. We made a small flower together so I could show her how to ensure that it attaches. It went well, but we choose colors that didn't really go well together, so though the experiment went well, the end results could have been much prettier has we pad attention to the details of color combination. Nonetheless, I expect to see more silk fabrics showing up in Dawns works. Her hats are wonderful, if you not taken the chance to see them, do take a peek.

We took off for coffee and giggles and long talk. It was good to be with my friend, who also happens to be a felting friend!

Catching Up / Falling Behind

2010-08-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

It has been a couple of weeks of packing, unpacking, dyeing wool, getting ready for the next show, blown head gasket on my big van, (gerrrrrrrrrrrr!), packing orders, getting ready for classes, and finding precious little time to create. I also find the heat, which has been intense this year with very high humidity, disabling.

I've only made a few things in the past two weeks. One of the things I was able to get done was this nuno/laminate scarf. Huge shrinkage was achieved on this piece. It started out 7 feet x 3.5 feet, but after it was all done, it measures a mere 54" x 24". It has merino silk, hand dyed silk roving, mohair locks in scattered clumps all on silk gauze. What great fun to watch it all come together. My goal is to get one a day completed over this week.

On many of my felts I've been adding sari silks and a huge new shipment arrived last week. These are in fat quarters and the variety of colors is stunning and inspiring. I've been buying them from Fiona Wright on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Glitzandpieces

The service and selection is outstanding. If you decided to try out the silks, you'll be hard-pressed to be disappointing. These are recycled so they do have some small, and I do mean small, flaws. For those of us who use them in the feltmaking process, it is completely un-noticeable. The colors are incredible.

This hat has was made of hand dyed merino/silk with some of the sari silk on the surface, as well as my beloved cheese cloth. When working with the sari silks, be sure to be very gentle and use cold soapy water until it has really melded into the wool.

I had the unique opportunity to be on a local TV station, Channel 8, the program "eightwest" this morning. Here is the link to watch it if you'd like.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/eightwest/Hooked_on_Felt

So tired tonight, maybe I'll not make any felt tonight.
Sleep well in Peace,
Suzanne

So Good to be Home

2010-07-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

While away at the Midwest Folk and Fiber Show, my friend Joyce died, unexpectedly. Joyce is home, but her family is grieving terribly, especially her husband Dennis.

With the coming changes in my life, time has become incredible precious to me. Time, always a high commodity, even more so with interviews, resumes, orders, hats to make, sleep to catch up on, show schedule getting hectic...inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, relax and let it go, one thing at a time.

This is my recovery day and it has been fairly non-stop. The show was nice, sold a good number of hats and many "Bling Batts" to spinners and felters. Met some really nice folks, had wonderful food --Sushi Thai two days in a row. My mouth is still happy just thinking about it. The weather was really hot, but the venue had AC! How wonderful that was! Picked up another teaching opportunity and perhaps a truck show for the fall. All in all, it was good, but as always, it is better to be home. The photo of the lovely woman in the hat is Joann. She bought the hat just as I was saying that I was thinking of keeping it for myself. It looks so good on her and I know it will keep her warm, it is a double hood. She looked so cute in that hat, I had to take a photo of her.

Since my time was limited today for doing anything creative, I decided to dye this silk Ruana. As usual, the camera simply does not capture the colors. Love this rauna!

Gotta go work on the resume, get some sleep and then get ready for the next show this weekend!

OXOX and Shalom,
Suzanne

Beautiful Viking Horn's or Roses

2010-07-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is a fairly large resist, 32 inches wide x 22 inches tall. Very large even by my standards, but I was planning only 2 fine layers of wool in the layout of the fiber. As Bonnie Arhens taught me; "trust the wool, trust the wool". I achieved well over 50% shrinkage, but it did take a long time, a lot of rolling, nearly to the point of boredom....and that has never happened for me before. Finally, it was done being felted, but then the time for how to form it. Because of the points on it, it could have been formed into a "Beautiful Viking"...which I did play with for a good bit, but in the wee, small, quiet hours of the morning (1:30 AM to be exact) I made the decision to go with the roses. This is my new favorite hat because it it ultra light weight, tons of colors and silk fabric laminate on the surface it just perfectly felted into place. I might have to keep this one for myself...but I always think that when I make a new hat. Still thinking about a "Beautiful Viking" hat for the near future.

The felt making class for August 7th is filled. I am now forming an overflow list and we may do it again in October, so if you are interested, please feel free to contact me through the website.

I'll be at the Midwest Folk and Fiber for the rest of the week. I hope you all have wonderful felting adventures.

Until next week,
Shalom,
Suzanne

Late entry:
The hat, completely dry weighs 2.7 ounces. Even I am shocked!

Be a Mikey, ..."Try it, you'll like it!"

2010-07-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Martha ( of: http://www.rachelsmoms.com ) giggles with such glee every time I tell her that I've used cheese cloth in one of my felts. I don't know what it is that makes her laugh so, but it gives me joy too. Anyway, I've challenged her to "try it, you'll like it!"

Ok, I'll grant you that cheese cloth doesn't sound real glamorous or sophisticated, but the effect of it is so lovely, who wouldn't want to use it from time to time in their felt making projects. It creates a lovely effect, nearly lacy, meshes easily with the wool and adds a lovely dimension to the final product.

So if you too think that cheese cloth sounds a little too folksy and you want to spiff it up a bit, here are some other names it goes by: cotton scrim, which BTW, does come in different weights and in Britain it's sometimes called butter muslin. Cotton scrim does sound nice, don't you think? I think it all has to do with how ones views something. Personally, I love cheese cloth.

I made this small flower to show you all what effect it has when felted. I've used it in my hats and bags and wraps and each time, I've loved it. So I am challenging you and Martha, if you haven't tried it, "Try it, you'll like it!"

Shalom and laughter,
Suzanne
If you get a chance to check out Martha's hats, please do. She uses my large hat forms to make them. Love the white and pink one. It remains my favorite!

Midwest Felting Symposium

2010-07-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Unless there is a change of events, I'll not be able to attend the Midwest Felting Symposium--The PREMIER EVENT for feltmakers in North America. I have a scheduling conflict, sadly. The line up this year is spectacular and well worth your time and effort to get there. It is truly the event I look forward to all year. The feltmakers, the gallery, the incredible classes, wonderful vendors...all just fabulous! It's not too late. If you can get there, GET THERE! If you click on the heading of this blog entry, it will take you to the Midwest Felting Symposium website. Go, go.

This hat is a combination hat. One of my students had needle felted several hats with the full intention of wet felting them. Some big changes occurred in her life and she brought them all to me to finish off. I made a few design changes, like a silk cap over the crown and the beading in the flower. For some reason, I have a hard time working in blue. I do not understand it, but clearly recognize it. Navy blue, that's fine, but all of the other blues are very difficult for my mind's eye to see well. Perhaps it is because I do not wear blue. Do you have any colors that give you trouble? This hat was also made with a goodly bit of mohair so it is a fuzzy hat. I'll have to give it a shave before it goes to market. This hat is her third hat. Very nice job for a first timer, don't you think?

Happy Felting and Shalom,
Suzanne

It's Too Darn Hot!

2010-07-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

Very hot 4th of July, and warmer still today in southwest Michigan. As the day cooled down a bit last night, I decided to make sculpted felt hat. I used two very thin layers of roving in the lay out, so it took a lot of rolling to get the rate of shrinkage that I needed. It is a light weight, very sturdy felt.

Today I am going to get an ice pack and take a nap through the heat of the day. Is it "sweater weather" yet?

Passed!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

I took my state boards on Wednesday of this week. Found out at 5:30 PM today that I passed with flying colors. Change is coming fast.
Enough said.
Shalom and happy felting!
Suzanne