It's Good To Be The Queen!

This is a small next wrap, dyed in fuchsia, reds, and purples. It is very similar to the small neck scarf shown on a previous posting. The wool side is a blue red and an orange red. I think it is kind of fun to have things that are designed to keep you warm also "look warm". I hope that the color combinations here will accomplish that.

We are trying not to turn our furnace on and as the temps drop out of doors, it gets more and more difficult to find ways to keep warm without the furnace. We have three "hot spots" in the house, the bathroom and my studio/dining room/office and Jim's office. We have little space heaters in these rooms to chase away the chill, and I, of course, keep a felt hat on to stay warm. Our little "QUEEN" Frankie, the chihuahua, has found the perfect solution to keeping her skinny self warm...a full fleece of Icelandic wool. Oh yes, it is good to be the QUEEN!

My brother, Jason, remains in the hospital, is having trouble with speech, balance, has passed out or possibly another stroke. Had a rough night. Please continue your prayers on his behalf. We appreciate them and pray that God honors them all.

Shalom,

Suzanne


ps: Nice article on felting...enjoy!

http://lubbockonline.com/life/2011-11-06/felting-transforms-raw-material-art#.TsZ9qmC0xT4

The First Rule of FELT CLUB....

For several years I've been talking about forming a feltmakers group, FELT CLUB, that would meet periodically throughout the year to share, encourage, teach, and help each one become better skilled at the art/skill of feltmaking. At the class that I taught in Otsego a few weeks ago, it was brought up again and this time, Dear Karin was there to really push me and help me in the process. Since I am not by nature a terribly organized person, I need help in that area. Karin is innately organized and well connected in the community, while I tend to stay mostly to myself. It looks like FELT CLUB will start in January 2012 on a Saturday. Further details will follow as Karin and I get them worked out, but for now, we need to know if you are interested in becoming a part of FELT CLUB. This is not a commitment, just need to know if you are interested. Karin and I are also looking to keep the cost very reasonable so that many can join. I'm asking that you respond to this blog post or contact me through my email: info@hookedonfelt.com

When we meet it will be from 9AM-5PM with a pot luck lunch. We will be able to work on felt projects, build community, enjoy each other. We are looking for ideas and hope that you will freely share ideas for FELT CLUB. For example, a study of differing types of wool/fibers, so that we could each make a book of felted fiber samples. What would you like to do at FELT CLUB? Don't be shy, we need all the ideas you very talented, creative women have to make this a great experience for all of us.

I hope to get the skirt done this week. I cannot stop dreaming about it. At least in my dreams, it looks wonderful. Now to bring it to fruition.

Shalom and Happy Felting!
Suzanne

Monday's List...

So many things were written on my "to do" list today, and only got a few of them done. Top on the list was to make a nuno felt on one of the silk scarves I dyed a couple of weeks ago. The scarf was dyed in golds, oranges, a smidge of purple, cherry and red. I used fine merino on the opposite side. The colors of the wool are burgundy, hot fuchsia, hot orange and gold. I love how the wool migrated through this habotia silk. It is ultra light, super soft. I am almost wondering if I see it as something else...not just a wrap/shawl. Hmmmmmmm....something to think about.
What's on your mind today? Did you get your Monday List completed?

Shalom and Blessings,
Suzanne
Dream from your heart. Share what you have.
Live simply. Love deeply. Work with joy. Pray with love.

Thank God always.

Busy time around the Shanty

Finally got around to making a hat! I love this pattern. About 5 years ago, while I was at the Midwest Felting Symposium taking a classes from Judit Pocs, I developed a severe migraine. Ruth Walker went into the class in my place. She designed the pattern and over the next two days, we made this style hat. Truth be told, Ruth did most of the work. One day I was not even there, and the second day I was mostly "post-migraine". I think I've shared this pattern with most of my felting friends in Michigan. It is fun to make and most folks wear it well. It's been sooooo long since I've made a hat. Just felt good to make one again.


In a few hours I leave for a 4 day work shop in Wisc. where I'll be teaching nuno felt, bird pods, rug stomp, and vessels. I've been packing most of the day and trying to get some last minute dyeing done. Sometimes, great work can come out of time pressures. These silk scarves turned out so interesting. I think the participants in the workshops will have great fun with them. There were many color splits that occurred and that adds another element of interest to the silk.

There is still a good bit of packing to get done plus a load or two of laundry before I head out. I hope I can sleep tonight. I'm so looking forward to seeing my friends in Wisc. I hope that when I get home, there will be wonderful photos to share with you.

The bouquet is packed and ready to go. I am sharing one last photo, mostly because I am going to miss having her around the house. I'll probably never do another.

Happy felting and Shalom
Suzanne

GRRRRRRR and success as well

Pathetically, I am down to one hat! ONE HAT! Yikes. Of course, that means that sales have been good, but one hat, come on! I usually have about 40 on hand and am just simply out of them. So I did make one and here is the front and the top of it. It is double hooded and very warm. I love the color and texture play. I may have to keep this hat for myself....maybe.














A few months ago I received a pre-dyed silk scarf from a dear friend of mine. I decided to use it in a nuno felt. I worked and worked and still in the end, I am disappointed. I think that it is a tighter mm than I thought and the fibers did not migrate the way I had hoped. It is just about make it as a soft nuno but not one that I would sell. It just isn't up to my expectations of myself. Too bad too, because I really like the colors.













But that is part of the process, don't you think? Finding out what works and what doesn't work.
I hope that the efforts of today will be more successful.
I wish the same for you.
Shalom,
Suzanne

Can you come to the Winter Retreat in Ashville, NC ?

http://friendsandfiberworks.com/
Lisa Mackey is holding a Winter Retreat in Ashville, NC the 14th, 15th and 16th of this month in Ashville, NC. The details are on the link that I've posted. Will you be able to come? Would you like to? There are some great teachers there, Chad Alice Hagen to start with. We will be in a mall! How neat is that? I think it should be a very interesting venue.

Jone Rakoski and I will be traveling together to be at the show. We've already made plans to have dinner with Chad. I am looking forward to that, just wish some of her genius would rub off on me. I wonder if she'll mind if I sit really close to her so our shoulders are touching? (You're right , that would be inappropriate. I'll try to behave myself!) Anyway, if you are in the area, or looking for a fiber road trip, please think about coming to this event. I think it is going to be wonderful! For spinners, I'll have my "Bling Batts" Jone will have wonderfully dyed prefelts, her incredible felts, and I'll be bring a few hats. ( I only have a few and didn't know about this show until two weeks ago..Yikes, no time to get much done!)

These are three of the nuno felts that I'll have at the show. I put the photo up on Facebook and got a bunch of questions off and on the thread. I've been asked about the type of silk I am using and how I get the intense crinkle effect. For the purpose of brevity, I am going to re-post here what I wrote there. Hope you don't mind.

Here it is:

These three were done on silk gauze. I roll them a lot, maybe more than most. I roll in each direction, on both sides 500 times, by actual count. Then I may roll again another 200 hundred times if I want it a bit tighter. It also gets "slapped" on the table top about 200 times. Then I will toss it in the dryer on AIR ONLY until I get the texture that I'm looking for. I also do this with the habotai silk, except the initial rolling gets bumped to 1000 times each way on both sides. Added note, I use cold water through the entire process.

Well, I've got lots to get done before we leave and am starting to get excited about the trip. What's not too exciting, is that we are to get 17 inches of snow over the next few days, right when I'm packing the trailer! Snow is so beautiful...shoveling it is not.

I'm wishing you all wonderful felty moments.
Shalom,
Suzanne