Calm, Change, Chaos....and life goes on

We are three weeks into Dad's living with us and it has been enlightening, to say the least. He has masked just how much he needs to be with someone who can supply the nursing/physical care he needs and how profound his loneliness has been. We've had a trip to the hospital, Dr. visits, managing the care of his wife who is in an assisted living facility, bills to pay, medication runs, assembling of a bedside commode and a bunch of other stuff I'd rather not talk about here. Let's just say that I am happy to have him here where I know the care he is getting is very good.

I was able to sneak away briefly to work out some of the things that Emy and I are working on together. The bag has the leather trim that I wanted on it and the skirt is completed. The top for the skirt is still "in the works" but will be coming soon. It seems that everything has to be done the way one eats an elephant....one bite at a time.
After weeks of moving, carrying, cleaning, arranging, re-arranging, moving, throwing out, selling, transporting, boxing and un-boxing two households, I had a down day. During my 'down", the phone rings to tell me that two students had cancelled due to illness, and would I still teach? I said of course I'd still teach if there were only two....and by the way, when is the class. I don't have it on my calendar? TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What! End of down time and started packing the car. I had so much fun with these gals. They dyed their scarves, laid out their wool, rolled them and then after the fibers had started to migrate, we headed off to the local laundry mat, where they saw their project transform into highly textured nuno works. They were a delight and I needed to be around folks making felt more than I knew. It was a very good day.

Personally, I've no idea when I'll be back making felt. I'll be teaching a good bit and am always open to workshops within the mid-west. I'll be teaching at the Nature Center in Kalamazoo, Midwest Felting Symposium, Michigan Fiber Festival, Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, and Colorado, Ohio and a few other places this year. A lot depends upon the road we are traveling now. My family comes first.

I will make felt again...I will make felt again....I will make felt again.

Shalom and Happy Feltmaking~

Suzanne

Little Girl with a Ball

We're settling into the cold weather here in southwest Michigan. We keep our heat at 60 degrees (15.5 Celsius), wear warm wool sweaters, turtleneck shirts, and several layers under that, oh yea, and long underwear or leggings. I think it is so funny that 60 degrees in the winter is cold, but in the early Spring, we'd open the windows to let in the fresh air and warmth. We also "spot heat" where we are with our Eden Pure infrared heating unit. Works out pretty well.

It's been a busy time with family and most likely will be until the years end . I've not had much time to make felt, but did make this small bag for my sister who has a birthday late December. I still have to get the handles on it, write her a note and send it off to her.

And speaking of birthdays, I had another one this year. I am delighted to have made it thus far. This is an ancient photo of me when I was a year old. Love the dress...it has Disney characters on it. How fun is that?












QUESTION, BIG QUESTION:
Several of my friends and I are planning on bringing the delightful and very talented feltmaker, Andrea Graham ( see my sidebar) to the greater northern Ohio/southern Michigan area in the near future. We will need to have 12 students to bring her in. Are you interested in attending? Do you want to tentatively sign up? Do let me know.

I'll be back as soon as I make some felt!

I wish you all deep Peace and Joy in this Christmas, because:
Luke 2: 8-14
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Shalom,
Suzanne