Beads, Bangles, and Bracelets

I've decided to use up some of the little things laying around here. These are the beads, bangles and bracelets that I've come up with. They are little things, things that are fun to play with. My granddaughter loves them. She is 17.

I am finding new ways to fill some voids while I am felting. I used to read a lot but now that felting has become the daily focus of my life, there is rarely time for that, and frankly, the energy. So I've made a trip to the local library to begin getting books on CD. Wonderful! I am currently listening to: THREE CUPS OF TEA. It's been a fascinating listen, and it soothes my "multi-tasking" heart. I often listen to music, jazz, classical, piano, flute, hymns, and praise music. It feels good to be adding some reading to the mix. Any good books you can suggest?

Do you work in silence or do you have music or TV or waterfall? Just wondering.
Shalom,
Suzanne

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!

Udder Panic!

It's been a busy time here and the house is in utter despair. I keep promising myself that I'll get it taken care of right after(blah, blah, blah)......and some of you know what I mean. I'm at the point where if I get the dishes done, toilets cleaned and the vacuum run, I'm doing good.

There have been many orders, which I am thankful for, but they do take time to fill and ship.

My baby sister had a baby boy this past week. She lives in Boston, so we are in the midst of planning a "Mail Baby Shower" for her. It's taking a lot of coordination and computer time I usually don't spend.

My beloved husband has been sick for several weeks with what started out as a really bad cold. He had about 4-5 days where he started feeling better, then he relapsed and has lost his voice. For most people that might be a small inconvenience, but we run a radio station. He is the voice of the morning, news, weather, live ads, updates and bulletins. This morning he announces that I am doing the news, weather and live commercials. Utter panic! I was able to get through it, but like most folks, I don't like to hear my own voice and especially on the radio! YIKES! I hope his voice comes back very soon....like NOW!

After the orders were packed, I did get to make some pre-felts for some upcoming ideas, and I made this hat yesterday. I have to re-felt the little 'stove pipes", they are firm, but I am planning on putting a dowel up inside of them and felting them to very firm. The locks coming off of the top of each of them is Teeswater. Love how they felt! I am hoping to do a series of these hats. They are just fun to wear! I wore this one of my daily walk a got a bunch of comments. One gal says it looks like udders on a cow, but she liked it. It makes people smile and that makes me smile too. Just a great way to greet the day!

Keep Smiling and make great felt!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Oddities and Some Great Finds!

Lost in space and time and a strong sense that I have no idea what is going on in the world, or in my own world. Being pulled in so many directions these days, so many who need my time and attention, and deserve all I can give to them. It is a different level of fatigue...it is mental fatigue, not so much physical.
I messed up a breakfast date by not calling back, made a hat that was horrific in color--(tried to put lime green and purple together--unsuccessfully, I might add!) though very good texture and had to over dye it to save it (shown here on this entry), went to Goodwill to look for silk scarves and found a bunch with great colors and designs for .99 each. I also found a plastic bracelet that just needed to come home to be felted. I wanted to try it for one of those classes that could be easily used when teaching children. It took little time to felt. Actually beading it took longer than felting it. However, I do think it would work well with kids. Would be a fun thing to teach for gift giving for Mother's Day.

It's been bitter cold for several weeks, but we've had a warming trend the past couple of days. After my morning walk I pulled into the drive way to find this huge 4 foot icicle hanging from the utility wire that runs from our house to the street, and it was right above where I step out of the car. It must have formed around the wire as it clung to our house, but then with the warming, it broke off from the house and slid down the wire, dangling right above my head! Decide to park on the street until it melted and dropped off. It finally did today. If it didn't kill me, it would have done damage to the car. It was just weird to see this huge icicle hanging from a wire.

I am having a small glass of wine and then heading off to bed. Tomorrow is another over-filled day of appointments, orders to fill, products to order, family and friends to love, prayers to offer for so many in Haiti, those who need help, those who are providing help. I watched the news on this tonight and the despair in Haiti is incredible. I cannot help but wonder about the children and how many are without family. It breaks my heart.

Just a Little Thing

Taught another class yesterday and had so much fun. Seriously, God sends wonderful students my way. The class ended a bit late so I don't have photos to share with you, but one would be of a really great hat with tons of texture and color and the other would be of a wonderful pair of boots. The gals worked really hard, and at the end of the session, I think they were happy with their results. I was really proud of them.

(PS: Allison just sent me a photo of her needle to wet felted boots. They are made with lincoln-teeswater cross that was hand-dyed. I think they are wonderful. She did 6 layers in the layout. This is her second felting project. I'm so impressed!)

After things settled down, after the work area got cleaned up, after dinner, just before jumping into PJ's, I decided I wanted to try this little thing, this little piece of beaded felt, this little necklace thing. I knew I wanted it simple. While I do not wear jewelry, not even my wedding ring, I thought I might be comfortable wearing something like this. You never know, it just might give me the chance to talk about one of my favorite subjects, simple, complex wool felt....it's just a little thing, but like a key, a simple, little thing can open doors.

It's In The Bag

In between life, I've been trying to make this bag. I started it last night, worked on it until 1 AM this morning. Started on it again this morning. It has three large pockets, two on the inside, and one on the outside, where the silk fabric is. It is nearly dry, and as it has dried, I'm thinking it needs to be felted further. I want a very thoroughly fulled bag. There is still a bit of give to the fabric, so it can be felted or fulled further. I'm too tired to do more tonight.

I wish the bag had shrunk further in length, and that is what I'll focus on when I work on it again. The pockets turned out great and I am especially pleased with the bark effect on the outside pocket. Silk is magical, isn't it?

I've been shoveling snow off and on today, trying to keep up with it. I just know the snow plow is going to go through and block off the driveway again. Shoveling that snowplow snow is really hard work!
****
1/8/10:
Did full the bag further. It started out as 14x21, ended up at 9x13. The felt is strong and study. I am much happier with the final fulling. Perhaps the wool and I both needed a rest so we could work better together.
Shalom and happy felting!
Suzanne

Before and After, Then and Now + Workshop Details

At Martha's suggestion, I am showing the silk scarf prior to applying the wool and afterward. I used one layer of super fine merino wool, deep violet purple on the back of the scarf. There was about 40% shrinkage on the piece. Love the silk scarf either way, the wool just adds a lovely texture to the item.

Also want to announce a workshop this Friday, Jan. 8th, 2010 at my home, from 10 am til 5 pm. Class size is limited to 5 people. Will cover basic felt making, then hat making with either foam or flat resist method, student choice. If you are interested, please contact me: info@hookedonfelt.com

I hope that this is all I do today. I am not able to focus, so it is best just to stop doing much at all. Might pick up the crochet hook and see what happens. Am making some hats for the homeless in our area. Sadly, that number keeps growing. Reminds me to be ever more thankful for the blessings of this very old, drafty home. It is here and so am I. I cannot imagine being homeless, especially in the winter. I cannot imagine what I would do with my mind to keep the utter despair away.

So much to be thankful for!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Know Your Body Shape!

Somewhere between "I'm so tired I can't sleep" and "My gallbladder is killing me" I decided to work on a pair of fingerless arm sheaths. I couldn't find my old resist, so I made a new one...only I forgot to make it right! I used a resist that did not account for the fact that arms get wider as they approach the elbow. (Really, should have just gone to bed anyway) and so I have a lovely pair of fingerless arm sheaths that will fit no one but me and my granddaughter. The resist needs to be larger as well in the width. I am a tiny person, and when I am working in size non- specific, I tend to go toward my size. Got to stop doing that! Anyway, Sweet Granddaughter will get these. They are snug even on me. So next resist will be two inches larger in width, with a gradual increase in width toward elbow. I made this pair out of a blue-faced Leicester and silk, with hand dyed silk fabric on the top. I used 4 very thin layers of wool. They are subtle, soft and very warm. I think Elizabeth will like them, and I have had to re-learn remembering the shapes of arms.
Off to make felt...maybe in a more normal size this time!
Shalom,
Suzanne

Package from Martha

I had the good sense to get all of my chores done around the house early today, including laundry and got to spend some long overdue time with my good friends Terri and Irene. It is rare that we get to see each other anymore, but it is so wonderful when we do. We always laugh so much, and that is just the best! As usual, we always promise that we are going to get together more often, and as usual, it just doesn't happen. Still, there is nothing like being with dear friends.

When I got home, there was a package from Martha! Oh, what a wonderful package it was! Filled with shawls, silk scarves, love. The scarf that is up on the blog is one that I just had to nuno/laminate felt right away. Ok, so it took a good many hours, but I just couldn't wait a moment to do it. I used a navy blue merino silk blend on the reverse side. It turned out lovely, I think.

Dear husband is quite sick with a bad cold. I think I'm buying dinner this evening.
Oh, I forgot. I wanted to tell you all that on Christmas Eve, I had to make a quick run to the store. While on the drive, there was something in the middle of the road, kind of fluttering around. I stopped the van, go out and walked up to a Screech Owl, who had a mouse in its claws. We just looked at each other. I could have reached out and touch it. I was with it for about 3-4 minutes, and when I turned to go back to my van, off she flew. What a great memory to have. I've always loved owls, and to be that close to one in the wild was just really special.


Shalom,
Suzanne

PS: Did the green one on Sunday, just had to do one more!

Wonderful Workshop!

Oh what a day we had! Everyone was supposed to make hats with the exception of Barb who I was going to help make a flat resist bag. As it turned out, folks changed their minds and the whole day turned into an open workshop. It was wonderful, everyone learning from everyone.

Barb knew that she wanted to do the flat resist bag and wanted to learn adding pockets. She put one large pocket on the inside with two smaller pockets on the out side of the bag. Since Barb is an accomplished felter, I wanted to push her a bit farther and had her use the synthetic organza over the flap and on the outside pocketed areas. The results were absolutely spectacular! The felt was strong, the organza puckered beautifully and I even had a beaded dangle that matched the colorways perfectly, which of course, I gifted her immediately. It just so worked! Nice Job Barb!

Allison and Susan were going to make hats, but at the last minute, changed their minds. (It's so good to be a girl!) Allison made the black bag with the pink surface design. She used 6 very thin layers, needle felted them, then did the wet felting. For a first timer, the results were amazing! She has a strong sense of herself, color choices and design were well executed. She plans on adding some beading and a snap closure. she also put a pocket on the inside.

Susan blended two different types of merino wool, one fine, one medium, and her results were slightly different. While the wools felted well together, it did not have the smoothness that I think we had both hoped for. She is going to add more texture and color to her blue and brown bag and do some sewing on it and then send me a photo of it completed. She has a very strong new knowledge of what she did well and what she can improve on. If her passion for felting is an indicator of things to come, she is going to be a very good felt maker!

Jen has made felt before using the needle felt forms, so we decided that using the new larger form for her would be a good choice. It would give her the opportunity the make folds, turns and curves, and a larger area for surface design. Her results were truly wonderful. Great smooth felt, lovely design, well planned and made her very happy, though very tired too, I'm afraid.

My wonderful husband made a tasty lunch for us, spinach and spring mix salad with mandarin oranges, cucumbers, walnuts, and chicken breast served with toasted sesame Asian dressing, served up with a large glass of apple juice. I think it was a hit. It was for me and I have so much respect for a man who treats his home guests so well. I am married to a PRINCE!

I hope everyone got some good and well deserved rest after their day of really hard work. Nice job gals. I'm proud of each of you!

Now off to clean up the remains of the dining room that I was too tired to do last night.

Happy New Year Everyone!
Shalom and Joy,
Suzanne

Felt Mama's

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!

Elfing ourselves!

It's been a time of great fun, family, friends and frivolity this Christmas time. I received the Susan Boyle CD that I so wanted. Happy Christmas to me! Our daughters and grandchildren also decided to "Elf" us. What a funny thing that is! We sent it out to many friends so we could share the laughter.

As I said, I've been doing a bit of crocheting and this is one of the hats that I made. It can be worn as a tam or as a cloche. I am making them for my friend in Wisconsin to sell in her shop. This one is made of alpaca yarn. It is so soft, warm. I'm working on several others for her as well. It is just to to sit quietly and enjoy the snow, my family and the fact that there is quiet in my day.

There will be a class at my house on Wednesday. I was not anticipating another teaching opportunity, but it has come together rather rapidly. Looks like the house will be full of fiber and new feltmakers! I think we're going to have a ball!

Closures

While watching the news the last few nights, I've been playing around with some very small, old pieces of felt, trying to look at them with new eyes. Since making bags is part of the classes I'll be teaching this next year, I wanted to look at these small pieces for decorative closures on the bags. With a ton of beads that I never seem to use, this might be the answer for the small pieces of felt and the much neglected glass beads. These small pieces of felt come from color experiments. If I am unsure about how a colorway with look in a completed state, I'll make up sample-felt. From the looks of my stash, I'm unsure about a lot. I think these pieces could also be made into small pins for simply wearing felt on a small scale, an accent on a hat, splash of color on a sweater, or maybe even a pendant of necklace. Gotta do more thinking on it.

Oh, Happy Winter Solstice! I never really think of it as the first day of winter, I think of it as the day we head back toward Spring! I love winter, love wearing big bulky sweaters, warm shawls, hand made wool socks, felt hats, mittens, the quiet beauty of big snow flakes, the striking beauty of white, the geese in huge flocks flying overhead, the gentle hibernation that happens in me. I love winter, but honestly, sometimes, does it have to be so cold!

Wanted to ask you, have you found a felting blog that should be added to my growing list? If so, please let me know. There are some fantastic artist out there and I'd dearly love to plug them here.

God's Peace to you,
Suzanne

DAZE of Rest and Recovery

Seriously, I am still a bit dazed over the whole 10 day show thing. While I am thinking felt, I am not making felt. I think it must be that time when the ideas store up and then will burst forth at some later date. The time now is spent looking for upcoming art shows in early spring, looking at the fiber art show schedule, getting some crocheting done for the pure pleasure of doing it and putting things away from the trip. There is still much of that to get done.

I'll be teaching a lot more this year than last year. The phone has been busy with offers to teach. Classes are filling before I can get them put up on the blog or posted locally. Have a class between Christmas and New Year. Who does that? What was I thinking????

I am putting some items up on ETSY. The one in the photo is one of my favorite hand dyed scarves with random acts of felting all over it. The color alone is great, adding the felt just makes the texture a bit more interesting to me. Listing things take so long for me. But it is a time of taking it easy, so I'll not berate myself for being a slow lister.

There is snow falling, it is quiet in the house, peaceful in my heart. I am so glad that felt happened to me. I love everything about it. I think my favorite moment is when the wool almost become liquid in my hands, just before it becomes felt. It is superb moment for me. Has anyone else experienced that? It is most noticeable when I am making felt beads. Love that feeling!

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