Camp KIP only a week away.

Camp KIP is a first time knitting retreat that seems destined to succeed. Hopefully, for those of us who didn't get registered in time, it will become an annual event. The organizer is an energetic woman with a full time job, family and more than a full time love of knitting. She is known on Ravelry as PinkTiburon.

If you are near St. Louis, Missouri you may know of the location, Cedar Creek Conference Center. If you want to learn more about it and wait to see the photos Jackie will post after the Retreat, click on the Camp KIP website. I am certainly envious of those attending and will vicariously enjoy the fun via the photos.

New Nuno Felt Artists

I just love showing what others have created.



I had another great afternoon with Barb Bare and Sue Hale as they learned a different wet felting technique called Nuno Felt or Laminated Felt. Fine fibers are wet felted into, or through, an open weave fabric.

Barb used solid color dyed merino fiber while Sue used a multi colored merino as her main fiber with solid color merino accents. The base fabric for both is 3mm silk gauze. Their individual designs make each scarf totally unique. Barb used a silver grey random pattern for her dying of the silk which complimented her overall design while Sue used a periwinkle dye and centered her design to give a ruffle effect on each side. The photos are small portions of the finished scarves, just enough to show the well fulled, pebbled appearance desired.

Needle Felt Dragon by Kris Allred

Kris Allred has been needle felting for less than a year. Her very first pieces were so well done it was as if this fiber art was made for her. She began making miniature teddy bears, some as small as 2 inches high, but this fellow is a grande size.

The dragon is 19" long, 9" tall at the back, and 14" tall at the top of the tail. The color work on his body is the Mystery Roving , a fine grade wool blend that may have Alpaca, Llama or Mohair in it. She will be doing a demonstration soon for the South Haven, Michigan schools furthering the education of this fiber art. Thank you Kris for letting me share your work.

New Merino and Silk Fibers for the Shop

The past few days I had the enjoyable and exciting task of preparing new fibers for felters and spinners. Enjoyable because who doesn't like putting their hands into a big ball of soft, fluffy merino wool. Exciting because even though I know what is coming, it is sometimes hard to determine from a picture or even the little tuft of actual fiber, exactly what the color will be. Several of the names of these new colors shout Spring and Summer; how about Hyacinth.

This color turned out to be a deeper sky blue shade, one you can really use alone or highlight. It will replace the current fiber called Sky Blue.


Then there is Garden Ivy. A soft shade of green that will compliment so many floral designs or stand alone easily.

Two other very exciting solid color merinos are Magenta, sure to spice up any fiber art. Also Purple, this is going to be my 'go to' color in that series. These are shown on the webpage with all the solid color merino.

Sandal wood is the new multi colored merino with shades of nature to blend with nearly all the solids and certainly will be a standout for later season designs. It is on the webpage with the other multicolored merinos.

This is one of the two new merino silk blends; called Rose as there is a rosy overtone to the many blended earthtones The other new merino silk is Concord, think juicy grapes. They are both shown on this page.

The standards and successful trial colors are all back in stock and ready for busy fiber work.

WOUNDED WARRIOR VETERANS ART SHOW

Allegan will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with an event packed weekend April 15th through the 17th. One event hosted by Starry Night Studio & Gallery is the first West Michigan showing of artists associated with the Wounded Artists Project (WAP) Friday & Saturday, April 15th & 16th 10:00am-6:00pm with a reception on Saturday 6:00pm-8:00pm.

The Wounded Artist Project (WAP) is an affiliate of the Wounded Warriors Project (WWP), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and empowering wounded men and women of the United Stated Armed Forces. The WWP provides direct programs and services to meet the unique physical and mental health needs of wounded warriors as they proceed on their road to healing. The signature program delivers backpacks that include artist’s supplies to the bedsides of the wounded.

Terry Shipps, a Michigan artist associated with WAP, was deployed in March 2003 with the 101st Airborne Air Assault unit to Iraq. Upon his return in 2004 while seeking help for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Terry turned to art and worked with other veterans to create a memorial honoring Michigan soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Wounded Warrior Veterans Art Show will feature Terry's art as well as other local and regional artists. All veterans and currently serving military individuals or groups are encouraged to be a part of this exciting opportunity. If you would like to be a part or this exciting opportunity to exhibit with and meet other amazing local and regional artists or have questions, please contact Sally Goins at the Starry Night Studio & Gallery, via email starrynightgallery@gmail.com , phone 269-650-2415; or stop by the studio at 132 Hubbard Street, Allegan Michigan.

We hope many of you will attend the showing to recognize and support our military men and women.