Scoring BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I 'met" Gillian Hunt of FB and fell in love with her incredible photography...the two nature photos. Gillian has agreed to trade these to photos for one of my hats...made especially for her. I am beyond DELIGHTED! I've wanted some of her art for some time, now that will happen. Happy dance all over the place!!!!! Her incredible photos will go in my green guest room. I may start a Gillian Hunt wall! I think these photos will look wonderful in the green guestroom.



The hat that Gillian wants is like the turquoise tam with the hand dyed silk, only done in purples and pinks. I am looking forward to making the hat for her...and trying to make it as special as I think her photos are. I'll try to rememeber to post it here when get it done.



This great moment in the sky happened as I was leaving my friends home a few weeks ago. the whole sky was a series of different clouds, light and shadow play...hard to take your eyes off it. I shot the cloud here from my cell phone. Wish I had had a really good camera on me. I love this photo of the clouds...so reminded me of being 8 years old and watching the clouds in new mowed grass. It was a great moment to capture and I was very happy to have my cell on me with enough charge to allow the camera to work.

This is one of the hats that I was able to complete this week. First photo is of it before felting, the second is finished. I may have to cut the resist down a bit. I used a synthetic organza on the surface. Love the texture it created!

Off to bed. Are you making felt? What are you making?

Shalom and make Happy Felt!

Suzanne

Udder Panic!

It's been a busy time here and the house is in utter despair. I keep promising myself that I'll get it taken care of right after(blah, blah, blah)......and some of you know what I mean. I'm at the point where if I get the dishes done, toilets cleaned and the vacuum run, I'm doing good.

There have been many orders, which I am thankful for, but they do take time to fill and ship.

My baby sister had a baby boy this past week. She lives in Boston, so we are in the midst of planning a "Mail Baby Shower" for her. It's taking a lot of coordination and computer time I usually don't spend.

My beloved husband has been sick for several weeks with what started out as a really bad cold. He had about 4-5 days where he started feeling better, then he relapsed and has lost his voice. For most people that might be a small inconvenience, but we run a radio station. He is the voice of the morning, news, weather, live ads, updates and bulletins. This morning he announces that I am doing the news, weather and live commercials. Utter panic! I was able to get through it, but like most folks, I don't like to hear my own voice and especially on the radio! YIKES! I hope his voice comes back very soon....like NOW!

After the orders were packed, I did get to make some pre-felts for some upcoming ideas, and I made this hat yesterday. I have to re-felt the little 'stove pipes", they are firm, but I am planning on putting a dowel up inside of them and felting them to very firm. The locks coming off of the top of each of them is Teeswater. Love how they felt! I am hoping to do a series of these hats. They are just fun to wear! I wore this one of my daily walk a got a bunch of comments. One gal says it looks like udders on a cow, but she liked it. It makes people smile and that makes me smile too. Just a great way to greet the day!

Keep Smiling and make great felt!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Fused Glass Inspiration in felt

Last year at the Michigan Fiber Festival, a woman gave to me a choice of one o f her buttons in glass. The one I chose has a mustard-citrine dominate color with gold and red-orange fire in it along with flecks of black and chartreuse. I've wanted to use this button for some time in one of my felt hats, and this is where it ended up. I hope the hat does the button justice. It really is a lovely piece of glass!
The Midwest Felting Symposium site is up and running! The choices this year are wonderful and I can hardly wait to be there. It is the best 5 days of my felting year, without question. If you have any question about attending, the answer is a strong, happy "YES!". The people, the classes, the setting, the fibers, the laughter, the gallery, the talent and knowledge all make it well worth ones time, effort and money to be there. If in doubt, check out the site: www.midwestfeltingsymposium.com
I might also mention that this hat was made using the technique I learned from Bonnie Ahrens at Symposium 2 years ago. LOVE IT! She is a delight!
I've been dreaming in felt a lot lately and rather enjoy it in the design aspect of it, but I also find myself rolling in my sleep as well and I am awaking with arms that are already tired! Not so good, in my opinion. However, I am keep a small notebook bedside so that I can write the ideas in the book for reminders when I really wake for the day. I'm finding it helpful.
I'll be teaching for the next few weekends and am trying to get stuff done, as well as get a bit rested for these events. I am looking forward to both.
I hope your day ROCKS!...and that you have the chance to make good felt!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Felts from the Midwest Felting Symposium Gallery

Beautiful bag by Judy McDowell and jazzed hatz by Ewa Kuniczak, of www.feltheadtotoe.co.uk.

Guilt can motivate too!

OK, so I blogged about making felt yesterday, then got to feeling so guilty about having a blog about felt-making, with little or no felt-making on it. So guilty in fact, that I decided ( or had a stronger than sleep desire) to make a felt hat. It is merino, merino silk, and silk. I love the way it turned out and I may have found my "felt grove thing" again. Whooooo-hoooooo!

(Sometimes, guilt just works! If it is painful enough, it does bring about change...and in this case, a felt hat too.)

Tippin' my Hat Good-bye

I'll be leaving for Maryland in just a few short hours. Spent two nights not being able to sleep, I am too excited about many things, Maryland Sheep and Wool being one of them. Did sleep last night so I am good to go!

Made this hat yesterday for the show. I love the color, which came out of blending deep red merino with a bit of a black corriedale/mohair blend. Because of the mohair, it is a bit "hairier" than I usually like, but on this hat, it kinda works, IMO.

I will be demonstrating the new hat forms, flower making and Judit Pocs video at Maryland Sheep and Wool in Susan's Fiber Shop booth. The video alone is worth it, so stop in if you get the chance. Susan will have the video's for sale there. You will not be disappointed in this DVD. I love it and watch it often, each time gleaming more and more information.

I'll be away for a week. Waving Good-bye to all of you and hoping to meet some of you at Maryland....now where are my car keys?