Michigan Fiber Festival 2010

Our good friends, Karen and Manny from Illinois, come to MFF and usually bring guests who have not attended before. This is the group from this year, left to right:Abraham, Nissa, Stephanie, Karen, Jessie, Manny, Charles and Janet. We did have a good time even though it always seems rushed to get everything in.

Special Note: Enjoyed meeting the new bridegroom, Charles. You make such a happy couple, Belated Congratulations to you both.
A Second Special Note: Glad we don't have to wait till MFF 2011 to see Karen and Manny again.

Needle Felt Sock Monkeys

Sharon Elzinga from Michigan came to the shop after her tour of Michigan Fiber Festival to get more Lambswool Roving. She showed me the family of Sock Monkeys she has started from the Lambswool Roving and I had to take a picture, they are so cute.

I promised to mention that the female doesn't have all her stripes on her feet or mittens on her hands so she isn't quite finished, the 'baby' one hasn't begun yet. Each one is made individually and very firmly needle felted so they can be handled easily.

She also showed me a recycled wool vest that she has embellished with needle felted flowers and vines, wish I had taken a picture of that. What really impressed me is Sharon's statement that she tells her students, "We change recipes in a cookbook all the time so we should change patterns or designs in our creative work like needle felting to make it our own."

I wholeheartedly agree and think it is important that a beginner learns that from the start. Sharon would be willing to come here to teach a class, if you are interested, let me know.

Make Your Swatch Useful

You may already do this but I have to admit, I hadn't thought of this great idea.

Lisa of North Dakota is going to knit the Allegan Sweater in Clara Parkes book, The Knitter's Book of Wool. She found a hat pattern on Ravelry that uses the same Farrow Rib as does the sweater and used that pattern for her swatch.

Cute hat design and now a useful swatch. It is knit in our Lilac Heather. Thanks Lisa for the great idea.

Cool Dinner in two ways.

Like so much of the US, the heat and humidity has been almost unbearable this summer. Last night, neither of us even felt like eating but I knew we needed some fuel for our bodies so made up the dinner plates for us. My dear husband thought that was such a good idea, he took a picture - I am flattered.

The 2nd cool part of the dinner is all but the cottage cheese and sesame crackers came from our garden. The garden is loving this tropical weather so I should be tolerant.

Allegan's ready for Fiber Festival

Just installed a window display in the Starry Night Gallery with finished felt items made by Suzanne Higgs and myself. The Gallery is one of the 8 Specialty Shops of Allegan who are keeping their shops open late for Festival attendees.

Six of the shops are downtown; Antiques Etc-3-D Beads (and new ice cream shop), Water Street Place Antiques, B & C Emporium, Baker Allegan Studio, Sharon's Quilts and Starry Night.

The 7th Shop is Beneath the Trees Gallery & Studio, located at the corner of M-40 and 108 Ave, the corner you where you turn to come to Marr Haven. Links to all the shops are listed on our web link page.