Fab Feltmaking Day with incredible women!

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

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

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

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

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!"

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

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!

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!!!!!!!!!!

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

What makes felt so fascinating, so fabulous, so addictive?

I've been thinking a good bit about my love affair with felt, nearly a 10 year passion and journey. As I am looking forward, and knowing full well, that I'll no longer be able to spend the amount of time with the beloved wool as I have in the past.

About 7pm last night I decided I wanted to make a felt hat. Hadn't made one in a long while so decided to do it. Dishes were done, the house was quiet, it would be good to get my hands back on the wool. I selected the resist, the fibers, the colors, the surface stuffs and poured a small glass of wine. So began the hat making of last night. (Wine is not the usual part of it for me...it just was last night.)

All the while, I kept thinking about going back to nursing, being away from home 8-10 hours a day, having to give up the fiber art shows, and the loss of personal independence. After running my own business for 10 years, going to work for someone else might be a difficult transition. But things are what they are. I live in Michigan. Our economy is awful. I have skills that can bring in much more money that fiber art (nearly anything would do that!)


What about the fiber am I going to miss the most?
I think it comes to this; I am going to miss the continual fascination of being a part of creating felt, watching the fibers come together, the fluidity of the fibers melting into each other, forming structure, taking form, transforming from individual fibers into single fabric. It is just such fabulous stuff, it's just so fascinating to feel it happen. I will miss the daily dose of making felt. Felt is my addiction, and I am not ashamed.

There is also the loss of personal goals. I have long wanted to be a really good felt maker. That takes time and practice, successes and failures, experimentation, understanding, tactile knowledge, something almost visceral. There are too many ideas in my head that I wanted to get out on felt. Making felt is what I want to do the rest of my life. These are goals I have to release.

I've been in denial, experienced anger, tried to bargain, certainly experienced depression, and at long last, have come to some level of acceptance that life is going to change. I can either whine and complain about it or get on board for the changes that God has provided for me.

It will be several months before all of these changes come about, so for now, I am going to enjoy the incredible, fascinating, fabulous gift and challenge that we call Felt!

Fascinating Felt, Felt Fabulous Workshop Date Set

These are just some hanks of the yarns I spin while Jim and I watch TV at night. Though I'd love to, I can't be felting all the time. These will go off to a local shop.

Since I closed the shop some years ago, it's been very difficult for me to teach more than one or two people at a time, and usually at my dining room table, surrounded by a house that needs to be cleaned, desperately! However, I have 5 women who have asked me to teach them at one time, so I had to search for a place to do a workshop. I've found the perfect place and a wonderful group of folks to work with. I am opening the class room up to additional students, so if you are interested, please do contact me and pre-register for the workshop.

*Felt Fabulous Making Workshop*

Pre-registration is required

First Come, First In


What: Flat resist one of a kind hat or a multi-resist felt bag-students choice


Where : Otsego Area Historic Museum, 218 N. Farmer Street in Otsego, MI

air conditioned! Large work area


When: August 7th , 2010, from 9am-5pm


Cost of class: $65.00


I will supply everything you need to make your project.


Students need to bring:

2 large bath towels

Apron if desired

Calculator, design ideas, black magic marker, sharp scissors

Something to drink—especially water

Sack Lunch and snack

Wear clothes that can get wet, be very comfortable in your clothing choices.

If you have any questions, please call Suzanne at 269-685-6189 or on cell 269-330-0115

Construction Zone

Seems as though I'll be making pods for a good bit. Have orders for them and am enjoying the randomness of designing in my head!

This one is very much like the first in shape and design. I am planning others that will be more abstract in shape. I'm tempted to hang is outdoors, but knowing how fast the birds moved in last time, I'll not chance it. I am however very, and pleasantly surprised at how natural they look hanging from a tree limb. It doesn't look showy nor peculiar, simply interesting. I can imagine a whole backyard filled with lots of different color, shaped and designed pods, filled with feathered friends from many places. It would be nice to become "their summer home" stop.

The fact that these are like wombs to me and that there is life in them...it's good enough.
Much Peace to you,
Suzanne

New Kids In Town Loving Felt Too!

On a whim, I decided to hang the felt pod outside of my office window Sunday late afternoon. After my walk this morning, I was delighted to find a pair purple finches moving in! They are busy bring nesting materials into the pod and singing orders to each other. Some of the sticks that they brought to put in don't exactly fit, so there is a small pile of sticks gathering under the pod. Pictured here is the squirrel that I thought would move in, but the finches got there first. Their noise is like music! I cannot even begin to express the absolute joy I am experiencing knowing that these beautiful new friends have moved into the pod I made. I am nearly giddy with delight and reminded that simple joys are surrounding me everyday.

I know I have to hit the books and get back to studying! Exam day is coming up soon. Last week was a lost week. Our daughter Dianna fell down a flight of stairs and broke her ankle in three spot. I had to take her to Mackinaw Island where she was scheduled to speak on Tuesday, returned Wednesday, doctor visit on Thursday, and her surgery is scheduled for this week. Seems I am getting some close up and personal nursing in before the exam!

I've been making spinning/felting batts, doing a bit of spinning, and planning my next felt projects. Most of these will have to wait until the exam is over, however, even the planning of them is mental delight. If you are interested in some of the batts that I've made, my friend Carolyn is selling them in her Etsy shop. You can see them at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFlyingEwe?section_id=5099586 They are wonderful to spin, and pretty nice for felting as well. I use commercial and hand dyed merino, silks, angora, kid mohair in nearly all of them. Here is a picture of one of the batts, part felted, part spun.

Off to enjoy the day. I hope you find blessings in yours!

Shalom,
Suzanne

Mandolin Pod

It's been a bit since I've spent any time here, and it is likely to be a good bit more before I get back here. I am getting ready for the upcoming show season, teaching, and studying for the state boards every moment I can. I've missed blogging and sharing, but somethings got to give and it is my time with you all right now.

The mandolin pod is made out of hand dyed Lincoln/Teeswater cross with a silk cap overlay and seed beading at the orifice. I made it so that it could be hung from a tree with a loop handle. If I were a squirrel, I think I'd like to live in this pod. It would be soft, quiet, comfortable. Not being a squirrel, I can only imagine that it might be kind of nice in there...almost womb like.

so far...

I've been away to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. on the last day of the show, Susan McFarland had a lamb, who found himself a nice corner to take a nap in. It was in the loom that we had under a table. How precious he looks taking a sleep in the midst of the clamor of a fiber festival.

The other photos here seem to be unrelated to a fiber event, and perhaps they are. My friend Donna and I drove back and took some side trips on the way home. One was to a cover bridge, it was a short distance off the the plotted path.

The other side trip that we took was planned. We wanted to stop at the Flight 93 Memorial. We'd seen the signs for it the year before and made it a point of destination on our drive home. It was about 8 miles off of the Lincoln Hwy, Hwy 30. I was unprepared for my reaction once we got there. I could not stop weeping, nor could Donna. We could not even speak. I took a ton of photos to be able to share with my husband, but only a few are here. The gal who was there in the information booth said that they get 5000 + visitors a week, still.


The wall with the shirts, flags, hats, etc has to be cleared once a month from the things that people leave there. They are all being archived, number, preserved, and will go into the memorial once it is completed. There was much construction going on all around us, still there was an incredible, audible symphony of silent tears. I cannot help but wonder what I would have chosen were I a passenger on Flight 93.

They chose us...They chose us.