Amazing Students, Amazing Hats!

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

Eva Cassidy/Fields of Gold/Nuno Felt

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!