Hats...

Not much time to write. Very good friend has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and they asked me to be their nurse through the crisis. I'll probably be away for a good bit. I did get these three hats made. Yeah! I need to make felt to feel connected to the felt community. I have to go love my friend through her final phase of this life and help her die with dignity and grace, of which she has much. Hard days ahead of me and I am asking God for the strength and grace and wisdom to get me through.

Spring is coming way too fast here. Crocus are up and looking mighty perking! Robins all over the place. Isn't Spring just too wonderful! The only down side for me is that I'll have to put my much loved sweaters away....and I'll miss them!

Thanks for all of the new followers adding this blog to your list. Much appreciate that.
Shalom and make happy felt!
Suzanne

Bird Pod Class Announcement

Felted Bird Pod Workshop

When:
Sat, May 12, 10am – 4pm

Where:
Kalamazoo Nature Center (map)

Description:
Come enjoy felt fun for feathered friends! Build a felted wool structure that blends beautifully into the landscape and houses song birds and their young. These pods are made from wool, llama and alpaca fibers and will last for many years! All materials are included in workshop fee. Please dress comfortably and bring a snack! Fee: $55/members, $65/non-members Registration and payment required by Monday, May 7: (269) 381-1574 ext. 0 Indoor workshop for ages 12+; no felting experience required!

Earth Bound

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...

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....

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

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

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

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

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

Class Announcments, and then some...

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

Tunic Response

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

Class Announcemnt for Asheville, NC July 15th.

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

Monday's List...

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.

Happy Discovery

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

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

One thing leads to another

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

Random layout, delightful surprise!

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!

November Already?

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

Felt United, Marr Haven Style

More to follow...