workshops in February

February is a busy felting month for me. I have a couple of classes scheduled at the Franklin Arts Center, two at the Northland Arboretum, and a hangout scheduled for the very end of the month. Busy, but fun!

Feb. 5th is full, but there are still openings for the sheep class on Monday, Feb 9th from 5:00 to 9:00pm at the Franklin. Class fee is $20, or $15 for those bringing their own needles and mats. Register by emailing me at lilfishstudios(at)gmail.com

I'll be teaching a felted mushroom class on Monday, Feb. 16th from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd. Class fee is $25 for Arb members, $30 for non-members.

Register by calling the Arb at 218-829-8770

We'll also be doing some wet-felting at the Arb and making felted stones on Feb. 27th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Class fee is $15 for Arb members, $20 for non-members.

Register by calling the Arb at 218-829-8770

On Saturday, Feb. 28th from noon to 4:00pm I'll be hosting a felting hangout. This is free of charge and a great way to mingle with other felters, try out some new tools, share tips and advice, and just hang out with other fiber enthusiasts. Join us in room 127, the Teaching Space, at the Franklin Arts Center. No need to pre-register, just stop on by.

To be notified of upcoming classes via email, register on the 'workshops' page of my blog, HERE.

flat sheeps

My youngest and I did a little wet-felting together this past weekend. It's fun for her and she gets clean hands so it's really a win for both of us. Plus, how cute are these guys?

The roundish sheep is perfect for a coaster. See?

I've been wanting to teach a wet-felting class and I think it may be a riff on these flat little guys.

What do you think?

a friend on your hat

I started this little gnome back in December while teaching some friends how to make Santas. I had completely forgotten about him until my youngest, the finder of everything, brought him to me yesterday. I had wanted to make a wee owl to perch on his leafy hat, so I did just that this morning.

I'm looking forward to playing a little more this weekend and finishing up some of those UFOs. (unfinished objects)

Hope your weekend is great.

what emerges

When I'm teaching a class of 10 or more it's common for the students to each work at a slightly different pace. When I'm asked to demonstrate a technique, like how to blend color, or how to make an eye, I'll end up doing so a couple of times. When class is over, I end up with something like this wonder from my latest bird class.

A 3-eyed, 1-legged, purple whatsit. Who, I'll admit, I find kind of endearing.

The "owl" from my recent owl class ended up with one eye and three beaks. I'd show you, but the cat thought he was irresistible.  I have a sheep class coming up on Feb. 5th. We'll see what emerges from that one.

Happy Tuesday, all.

mounded with color

All dyed, now to get it organized.

mounded with fiber

If you dare walk past my wool fort I will throw wool balls at you.

I'm dyeing wool today and that's not an optical illusion, my kitchen table is mounded with fiber.

My version of heaven.

Happy Sunday, all.

a wandery path

I like days like yesterday.

Though I feel lucky to have a great day job, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my working from home days. I miss being able to flit from project to project, idea to idea, pollinating my soul, so to speak. I always got a lot done, but admittedly not in an organized, straight path kind of way.

More...wandery.

Though I didn't wander and experiment yesterday with soul-filling tasks, I did get to do a little of this and a little of that. Mostly practical things that I hadn't until now made time for like cutting the beads off that shirt that was headed to the rag bag, prepping that wool in the corner for dyeing, and putting my new greeting cards in their cello sleeves. Nothing terribly exciting, but satisfying nonetheless. There's a lot of merit in being a straight path kind of person, but it's not a natural state for me. I have to work at it whereas the wandery state feels so innately comfortable.

How about you?
Are you a straight-as-an-arrow, organized sort of person?
Are you a wandery, I'll-get-it-all-done-eventually kind of person?
Are you something else all together?

Do you feel you balance productivity and enjoyment well?
That's something I want to work on.
Balance.