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.

Upcoming classes and pretty little things

A bit back, I was asked to be part of The Rose Gazebo art shop on Mackinaw Island. I think she is going to have about 50+ artist there, including my dear friend, Dawn Edwards of Felt So Right. (see side bar for her website) Jodie, the gal who is opening the shop, has asked me to supply her with many things...most of which I'll be lucky to get done! We talked a good deal about price points and how she needed to have some of the smaller items that walk out of the door easily. I decided to dye up a bunch of merino silk in some wonderful water colors (she is opening the shop on an island after all) and made up 50 felted soaps for her. I hope these soaps will grow feet and will walk out the door for her. She also wants 30 pin cushions, 30 bags and 30 nuno wraps! ...all by the end of the month, YIKES! I am confident that I'll be working into the wee hours of the morning trying to accomplish all that she wants for her shop, plus get ready for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the end of the month.

The teaching schedule is filling fast this year. I am so pleased to be introducing or furthering felting for so many. I will be teaching at Barb Marr's in Allegan, MI this next weekend for a group coming up from Chicago, have 5 women for a class in July at my home, Michigan Fiber Festival, two classes at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, and will likely hold another class in October.

I've also been asked to teach at our local library, children and adults next month. It is always great fun to be with the children. They are not programed to think a certain way, thus they listen to their hearts and beauty is created. They are my favorites to show how to felt, then stand back and let them discover what their hands can do. Children are amazing! If you are interested in taking a class from me, please feel free to contact me. I do teach privately if that is what you need.

We are anticipating a very large group here for dinner tomorrow at our Sabbath Group. I think there may be 20 people. I better get "the studio" turned back into a dining room as soon as I can.

Have a blessed weekend and remember to rest. It refreshes your soul.
Shalom
Suzanne

Michigan to Maryland- ROAD TRIP!

I am accustomed to working alone, but these days prior to a show, I need all of the help that I can get. Kate, much loved daughter and Zach, much loved son to be, have been working so hard to help me get ready for Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I leave on Monday and will be gone for 10 long days. I'll be staying with my sister for the whole time and am very much looking forward to seeing her and her husband. I'll be in Susan's Fiber Shop and will have a bunch of felting spinning batts, feltmaking kits and some fun stuff to share.
Orders have been coming in, kits have to be made up, batts to be made, locks to be dyed, hats to be made, ( which I fell of the wagon on getting one completed per day...what was I thinking?????????????????) van to pack, then re-pack, check list, re-check list, pay bills due while I am away, where is my check list? , where are my directions, did I fill the tank? and so on. Still, with all of the work, I am looking forward to being with my friends, meeting new people, and sharing the absolute joy of feltmaking. I get a bit scattered while I am getting ready for a show, there is so much to do and wool is flying everywhere. I sometimes wish I was one of those more organized folks, planned, all put together, but that's just not how I operate when it comes to this art form. It does overwhelm me at times, and then I sit in front of my computer, and go to youtube.com and listen to Susan Boyle. It somehow helps. I thank God for her voice and her sweet, spirity self. I laugh and cry when I watch her and it is a good thing for me.
I'll write more when I get back and oh, I did want to mention that Martha Ely Steines will have my hat forms at the Shepherds Harvest: Here is that information:
shepherd's harvest
washington county fairgrounds
lake elmo mn
may 9th 900am to 5pm
may 10th 10am to 4pm...
it is great fun with lots of classes and vendors
shepherdsharvestfestival.org
she is listed under rachels moms-nordic bohemian
Martha has been making some amazing hats using my extra large needle to wet felt hat forms. She is full of fire and joy when she talks felting. Be sure to pop in to see her works!
God's Peace to you all,
Suzanne

Random Acts of Carding--Wool Batts

Again I am packing for a Fiber Event. This time, I am heading off to Wooster, Ohio for the Great Lakes Fiber Show. I'll be leaving a day earlier than I have to, just so I can rest up a bit before the show, and visit some friends there. Am looking forward to the show.

I've put together about 6 pounds of "Random Acts Of Carding" batts for the event. These are so pretty, with a bunch of wonderful fibers, including merino wool, mohair, silk, llama, alpaca, angora, ...well, you get the picture. I've enjoyed making them and love to spin them or felt with them. They make for wonderful one of a kind items.

If you are at the show, I hope you'll pop in to my booth if you get a moment.

Shalom --Suzanne

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?