I've been thinking a lot these days about my “Felt Mama's” and how much they mean to me in ways that they may never understand. I want to take the time to tell you of my appreciation and admiration of them. They are amazing women. These women gave me encouragement, hints, challenges, shoulders to cry on, inspirations that I could share with them, dreams that I could tell them, goals to reach, and they gave without limits. There is no doubt in my mind that had it not been for them, I would not be making felt today. I am so honored to call many of them friends.
Barb Marr handed me my first felting needles and said go play. From that small act, came the needle felt foam forms and the beginning of my business. Thank you Barb!
When I wanted to learn to wet felt, I placed a call to Ruth Walker who told me to treat the wet wool like I was stroking a butterfly's wings, until I had a fabric that could handle the pressure of rolling. That opened up the world of felt making for me. Thank you Ruth!
Susan McFarland who has been a bouncing board for me for a good many years. She thinks as fast as I do and I love that about her!...and we can both speak at the speed of light. (I think we talk a different language when we talk together). Her efforts with the Midwest Felting Symposium have opened doors, windows and blown the roof of felting for me. Thank you Susan!
Bonnie Ahrens taught me to trust the wool...trust the wool...trust the wool. I do now. Thank you Bonnie!
Ewa Kuniczak taught me flat resist and smooth felt, good hand felt, good drape felt. Thanks you Ewa!
Rub the bump came from Sue Pufpaff. Early on I would get a crease in my felt. Sue taught me how to get it out. Rub the bump! Thank you Sue!
Pat Spark taught me to learn form everyone. What a valuable lesson that is! Thank you Pat!
My granddaughter Marie taught me that there is no such thing as too much color or texture! Thank you Marie!
Now, maybe all of these things don't seem like much to the more experienced feltmakers, but these are the treasures I take to my felting table each day. The books are great, the videos wonderful, but these women, their faces and their hearts travel with me. When I teach, each is mentioned by name, along with the felting tips they gave me. I want them to know that what they gave to me, is being given to others and their kindness toward me goes on. I think my “Felt Mama's” are the BEST!
Showing posts with label Susan McFarland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susan McFarland. Show all posts
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Midwest Felting Symposium 2008
Annemie and Carol Cypher together as new friends, Pat Spark and I hugging goodbye for another year. Have I mentioned that I love this woman? She has so much knowledge, so much skill, and a great heart full of good will. Pat is an amazing resource about feltmaking, fiber, what to do, what not to do. Her passion for this medium makes her sparkle. Personally, I think it is great that Pat's last name is Spark! She strikes a spark in me each time I see her, her work, her warmth.
Susan McFarland and staff did an outstanding job for the instructors, the students, and vendors. This was a wonderful, felt-filled event. The gallery was so well done, elegant contributions from so mamny and many far away. Great blessing and inspiration to see them all. Each year, the organization gets better and better. There are a lot of balls to juggle, not all of them felt! Susan manages to keep them all in rotation without missing a beat! How does she do that?????
I love going to the events that she plans, they are so much fun! MFS is no exception. It really is my favorite though. Being in the air conditioning helps so much. Working on felt making in sweltering heat is no fun. The venue was great!!!
If you've not made plans to be there for 2009, let me encourage you to start saving 10-15.00 a week toward the event. It is worth every single penny, and then some.
Oh, my photos of Ewa will be up soon.
Shalom,
Suzanne
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fiber Mamas
There are three outstanding fiber Mamas' in my life, Barb Marr of www.marrhaven.com, Ruth Walker of www.feltmaker.com and Susan McFarland of www.susansfibershop.com. Each of these incredible women gave me more than I could ever have asked.
Barb gave encouragement in the early days of Hooked On Felt designs and the opening of the website. She pushed my business for my sake. Blessing after blessings this woman has been to me. She knows the fiber business and she is so willing to help me. She was there at the start of the whole needle felt hat form inception. She is so "my Fiber Mama!"
Ruth Walker and I met on a phone call. I was needle felting hats but I wanted to learn how to wet felt them. I wanted beautiful felts, soft felts, strong felts. Ruth, in a phone conversation alone, gave me all of the information that I needed. It all worked! How cool is that!!!! It really, really worked. That one conversation put the whole of my fiber life in a different direction from the one I had been on. It was amazing to me how that chance phone call to an on-line felter whose work I loved, could have so much impact on me. What a gift she gave a total stranger! Ruth became a Fiber Mama to me, but I don't think she really knows how much I appreciate her. Shame on me! (Ruth and I had opportunity to meet in person several years later. She has become a delightful friend, source of much inspiration, and wonderful creative genius! One of the things on my "do before I die" list is to own one of Ruth Walkers hats. While I too am a hat maker, there are none like hers. Check'em out at www.feltmaker.com )
Susan McFarland is in a Fiber Mama class all her own. This gal is DYNAMITE and FIREWORKS in continual motion, all at the same time. She knows fiber, she knows people, she knows whatz hot and whatz not, she knows machinery, spinning wheels, knitting, crocheting, weaving, felting, dyeing, bead making...and a whole bunch of other stuff she hasn't even had the time to share with me, .....yet. Susan is one fast woman! She talks fast, moves fast, thinks even faster and sells faster still . I stand in awe of this woman in so many ways. I cannot keep up with her, so I just stand back and watch her keep her whirlwind in motion. Susan has come along side and befriended me. In the world of fiberarts, there is great pleasantness and an underlying friendly competitiveness as well. Between Susan and me, it does not exist. I count it a great blessing. I think Susan and I suffer with the same malady...too many ideas, not enough self to get them all done. Once you meet her, you'll know that every word I've written is true.
These are the women who have lead me, pushed me, inspired me, corrected me, shown me the way, been and continue to be forerunners in imaginative fiberarts. They are more than mentors, they have also mentored my heart, my spirit, and my mind. They are my Fabulous Fiber Mamas. I am grateful for them and to them for all they have done for me. I could have been very happy with just one, but God figured I needed more help. He sent me these three! I hope you get good ones too!
Barb gave encouragement in the early days of Hooked On Felt designs and the opening of the website. She pushed my business for my sake. Blessing after blessings this woman has been to me. She knows the fiber business and she is so willing to help me. She was there at the start of the whole needle felt hat form inception. She is so "my Fiber Mama!"
Ruth Walker and I met on a phone call. I was needle felting hats but I wanted to learn how to wet felt them. I wanted beautiful felts, soft felts, strong felts. Ruth, in a phone conversation alone, gave me all of the information that I needed. It all worked! How cool is that!!!! It really, really worked. That one conversation put the whole of my fiber life in a different direction from the one I had been on. It was amazing to me how that chance phone call to an on-line felter whose work I loved, could have so much impact on me. What a gift she gave a total stranger! Ruth became a Fiber Mama to me, but I don't think she really knows how much I appreciate her. Shame on me! (Ruth and I had opportunity to meet in person several years later. She has become a delightful friend, source of much inspiration, and wonderful creative genius! One of the things on my "do before I die" list is to own one of Ruth Walkers hats. While I too am a hat maker, there are none like hers. Check'em out at www.feltmaker.com )
Susan McFarland is in a Fiber Mama class all her own. This gal is DYNAMITE and FIREWORKS in continual motion, all at the same time. She knows fiber, she knows people, she knows whatz hot and whatz not, she knows machinery, spinning wheels, knitting, crocheting, weaving, felting, dyeing, bead making...and a whole bunch of other stuff she hasn't even had the time to share with me, .....yet. Susan is one fast woman! She talks fast, moves fast, thinks even faster and sells faster still . I stand in awe of this woman in so many ways. I cannot keep up with her, so I just stand back and watch her keep her whirlwind in motion. Susan has come along side and befriended me. In the world of fiberarts, there is great pleasantness and an underlying friendly competitiveness as well. Between Susan and me, it does not exist. I count it a great blessing. I think Susan and I suffer with the same malady...too many ideas, not enough self to get them all done. Once you meet her, you'll know that every word I've written is true.
These are the women who have lead me, pushed me, inspired me, corrected me, shown me the way, been and continue to be forerunners in imaginative fiberarts. They are more than mentors, they have also mentored my heart, my spirit, and my mind. They are my Fabulous Fiber Mamas. I am grateful for them and to them for all they have done for me. I could have been very happy with just one, but God figured I needed more help. He sent me these three! I hope you get good ones too!
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