I'm growing more and more focused on creating some order in my life. There is so much going on that I need that somewhere, and for now , I am choosing my home. My beloved granddaughter Mollie is helping me with so many of the little things that need to be taken care of. There is too much to get done and only one of me. If I could only turn the ideas and the brain off. What a help that would be sometimes!
Often, when there is so much to do, I can only start a small thing that I know I can finish. These are the 'small things" that I've been able to do over the past few days. These are 50/50 merino silk, in 4 ounce bundles. I love to felt with these--it's what i do my felt flowers out of, and I love to spin this stuff! Anyway, I've posted them on Etsy if anyone is interested. I'll get back to felting soon, but for now, Mollie and I getting lots of things done. It feels so good!

No More Felt!

With the number of hats, scarves, and miscellaneous other stuff that I've completed over the past few months, it is good to say, "No more felt !" Now is the time to clean up, create order, pack the big van, make sure all of the labels and prices tags are in place, everything in order....well, most everything anyway. I'll be leaving Wednesday morning and will be away for two + weeks for a 10 day art show in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin. I'm packing a lot of warm clothing, as the show is in a large tent and I imagine I'll be near freezing for the entire 10 days. While I am passionate about winter, I prefer to look at it as opposed to be out in it.

Did I meet the goal of 200 hats? Sadly, no, I did not, but am going with 100, so the glass is half full!

The purple hat is the last of the one for the show. The other item shown here might be of some interest to those of you who felt using mohair with your wool. This is a dog grooming tool, by Wahl, battery operated so no messy cords to deal with. It is wonderful for "shaving" wool and mohair fibers. This one came from Tractor Supply Company and cost about $20.00 USD. Sometimes I do use mohair in the fiber blends for my hats and this little tool takes care of the "Fuzzies" very nicely. I've also used it on Icelandic wool which is a bit too fuzzy for my hats, but love it in bags. Simply yummy for bags. I've not tried the tool on sweaters, but for the felted hats, it's great.

I wanted to share some of the nuno/laminate scarves that I made, but just haven't the time.

Blessings to you all, stay warm and make great felt!
Shalom and Joy in your days, good rest in your nights,
Suzanne

New felting table!

For a long, long time I've wanted a much larger work area. I've fumbled between the dining room oval table, two 4x2 foot tables pushed together, or whatever other combination I could come up with to create a suitable area to felt on. This past Sunday, a 7x4 foot table was deliver to my home. I've put bed risers under the legs to give me the additional height that I need and it perfect! Not only is it perfect for felting, it will be perfect for our weekly dinner gatherings and the upcoming holidays. I am so thankful to have this table in my home. I've done some clothing items, but am looking to do more. This additional work space will greatly assist in that goal.

About these hats:
Green hat was made with flat resist and the shape was much like that of a socking cap with a very long tail on it. The silk on the surface is 5mm hand dyed cut into random shapes.. Shaping the hat after it was felted was a challenge all onto itself. Sometimes that additional fabric is hard to shape when it is wet. But ...I learned a few things in the process, so it was good. The 5mm silk takes a bit longer to settle into the wool, whereas silk gauze happily joins up.

The brown and white hat is a combination of blue faced Leicester and merino. The blue face felts a bit differently, but is wonderfully soft and firm.

The pink one is all merino. I was just doing some color play with the hot pinks and lime. I think it is kind of a sweet hat, very soft.

I leave in 8 more days so I've got to go make felt. Hope you get to do so as well.
God's Peace to you,
Suzanne

#4 and the counting continues

Merino wool, black velvet, white silk, gold metallic fabric were used to make this hat. Just showing the hat, not time to write.
Shalom,
Suzanne

This weeks work

I had hoped to complete more hats before the Michigan Fiber Festival....but it didn't happen. These did and I hope that they are well received.

Girly Scarf

I've been laid up sick with the flu. While I laid around feeling pretty worthless, I had the chance to work with the yarn I'd spun earlier. I really like it a lot. What do ya think?