Beginning Felting Class!!!

I am teaching a beginning wet felting class on March 14, 2009. I am thrilled! I've wanted to teach a class to willing students for awhile now and its finally happening! The class will be held at The Dome Center in Roscoe, IL, from 8:30 to 12:30. The project is a book or journal cover and my goal is to help everybody complete their cover within that time frame. I am having fun gathering together all the wool and embellishments required for the class as well as all the felting tools needed.

Alpaca Wool

I'm always interested in new sources of wool for felting and last year I picked up some alpaca roving which is very light weight and very warm. So, I was very pleased when I found an advertisement for suri alpaca on Craig's List here in Rockford. Sue Reilly in Rockton (just north of here) raises her own alpaca herd. She started with just a couple of animals and has multiplied them and now has 5 or so. She processed their wool and has some very nice spun alpaca in both natural browns (dark and medium) as well as cream and this beautiful steel blue that I just couldn't resist. I bought a couple of skeins (very reasonable price) and am looking forward to knitting it up into something. Maybe I'll see if I have enough for a shrug. I also bought 21 ounces of roving - white with silk noil in it. While I was there Sue was so gracious and stood by while I felted a small piece to see how it was. It will felt nicely, so soft and it will drape really beautifully. Can't wait to make a wrap with it. Maybe over some handdyed or painted silk. If you want some great alpaca wool e-mail Sue at dreamingtreealpacas@msn.com.

Creating a Garment

Last week I took 2 and one-half days out of my schedule to create a garment. I had never made one and thought I would try. I created what I thought was a decent pattern and then began placing wool in a pleasing pattern on both side of the garment. Just as I learned last year at the Midwest Felting Symposium I enclosed the pattern in the wool. In this way the edges remain nice and straight as the wool is felted. I think it turned out pretty well for a first try. I would make some changes for the next one and have marked these changes in my paper journal for future reference. Today I wore my vest over a black turtleneck sweater and black pants. The orange colors are very festive and in this cold Illinois winter brought a bit of sunshine into my day. It is very warm.

Fiber Fairs I want to Attend

I love going to fiber fairs here in the midwest. One of the benefits is visiting with all the vendors. I also like to look at all the different wools and colors and then imagine what can be created. Here are some fiber fairs that I want to attend for 2009:

April 18 -- Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair, Cedarville, Illinois. 9 am to 5 pm

July 17 to 19 -- Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Festival, Crystal Lake, Illinois. Fri and Sat 10 to 6, Sun 10 to 4.

Sept. 11 to 13 -- Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival