Joyce and Gillian and me

About 7 weeks ago I got a phone call from dear friends, Tom and Joyce, asking me to stop by as soon as I could. I went immediately and learned that Joyce had stage 4, fully metastasized lung cancer that had spread to her brain, bone, bowel and liver.  They wanted me to be her nurse for the duration. I did and that is why the entries here have been few and far between.  Joyce's struggle ended April 13.  Helping Tom cope with this incredible loss is time consuming, heartbreaking, fatiguing and rewarding. I will miss Joyce very much for a very long time.

In the past week I was able to  put all of the finishing touches on the (purple) Gillian Hunt Hat, which is being shipped to Scotland today. This was an artist exchange between me and Gillian. The prints she sent me as so wonderfully beautiful. I've got to get them framed and hung. They are splendid and I think I may have gotten the better end of the deal. Gillian's work is outstanding!

I also made the White on White on White on White Hat...white 15.5 micron merino with white bombyx silk roving, white silk neps, white wool neps and white 5mm habotai silk. This 15.5 micron wool from Ashland Bay is also most like working in wet paper the minute it gets wet. It begs to felt. The habotai silk nearly disappeared into the wool. Now I am anxious to make a wrap using the fine micron merino.

There is much to do in the days ahead. I've been asked to write about felting for the Michigan Fiber Festival's e-magazine and I've got to work on that, classes are just around the corner at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and I need to prepare for them. Orders to ship, thoughts that need to be put down on paper and drawn out, dyeing silk fabrics, batts to get made for spinners, laundry, cleaning, life stuffs, all needs to be done.  Much of my life has been on hold these past few weeks with Joyce...now on to getting back on track.

Felt Happy!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Horse....Mule....Horse....Mule

"Usually, we live peaceably together, except there was the time when he sold him a horse, but delivered a mule." ...a line from one of my favorite stage plays, Fiddler on the Roof. I think that is how I would sum up the total experience of the 10 day show. We had 17-21 inches of snow, depending upon where you were in Wisconsin, followed by the ever lovely ice that follows a melt and re-freeze. Most of the crowd was there to experience the German themed Christmas atmosphere, to do some shopping and of course, eat the wonderful foods that were there. We were lead to believe that the show was juror ed , but when we were setting up, we knew differently. They were looking to fill booth spaces, that was the process. Suffice it to say, I am so glad to be home.

I met wonderful people, people who "got it" about the felt or wanted to know more about the wonderful textile. Several hats in particular got a lot of attention, ones with the hand dyed yearling mohair and the ones with unusual fabrics in the surface design, such as the velvet, silk, gauze, chunky yarns, or the ones with unusual lines. I think the total number of hats I sold was 24 by actual count. All in all, really not that bad and with the other felt items that were sold, the nuno/laminate felts, pincushions, scarves, etc, it was all ok. I was surprised at how many of the wool and silk scarves sold. I think for many, they are comfortable with silk, and they are intrigued by the combination, so they are comfortable making the purchase even if they are unfamiliar with felt. It was a great learning experience in many ways.

In the days ahead, there will be much family time, and I rejoice in that. There will be time to reflect on the great gift of Christ's birth, more joy in that as well. I believe the final days of this year will be full of family, friends, wonderful foods, quiet nights and simple joys all around us. But, I know I have a lot to think about as well... Felt ideas that keep going through my head, thinking about going back to the art shows for finished goods and blending my time between art shows and fiber art shows, wondering how much I can physically accomplish to build my inventory, and getting class schedules put together. It's going to be a busy 2010!

Looking back in thanksgiving, looking forward in hope, looking up, listening.
Blessed Christmastime and Shalom,
Suzanne