Stitches West - This Year It Was Playtime

I've been a vendor at the Stitches West Show for the last 2 years, but this year I decided I wasn't going to do that show.  Instead, I took a class at the show on Friday.  I've been felting for a couple of years now, but I had never taken a class.  I decided it was about time that I learn what I've been doing wrong as well as lots of new tips and tricks.  What a wonderful class it was!  Nuno felting with Sharon Costello... if you ever have an opportunity to learn from her, I highly recommend that you do so!

Here she is, assisting someone with the rolling process.

Here some of the students are looking at the result.

Rolling... rolling... rolling... holy smokes, I was so tired and sore Friday night that I could hardly get out of the chair after I plunked down in front of the TV.  This old back really let me know about it.  But I've been wearing my new scarf ever since I unrolled it and took it out of the towel at the end of the class.  I just love it!  I've had several requests to get pix of the scarf, so when I have a few minutes I'll give it a try.

The number of vendors at this show is overwhelming.  On Friday during lunch break, I went to see Carin Engen, who was doing some spinning and felting demos for Yarndogs.  Carin is the wonderful woman who got me involved in this whole felting journey.  Back in 2008, her booth was across the aisle from mine and I just couldn't stay out of it.  Carin is a felter, a teacher, and she dyes her own fibers.  So of course, I had to bring home some of her roving - back in 2008 AND on Friday.  Here are some of her dyed silk fibers.

And the wool, oh the wool...

I went back to the Stitches Marketplace today, and I was amazed at how many vendors were selling roving.  That wasn't the case last year and the year before.  I guess spinning and felting are becoming a lot more popular.  Well, I now have enough fiber to make a yurt!  I really splurged this year, but I figured hey - that show comes only once a year.  Now I must get busy in both the wet lab and the glass lab.  The Bead & Button Show is going to be here before you know it and I have to have some inventory!

I'll show you more pix of my new fiber stash over the coming week.  Hopefully I'll be able to spend time in the labs.  I got a jury duty notice a few weeks ago and I have to report on Thursday.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get excused.

Now I'm going to head out to do some beading on my BJP vessel, so I'll leave you with a few pix that I took last week.  Here's the base of a tree trunk - I guess it decided to "take time to smell the roses"...

Later that day, I was up in San Francisco for a bit.  This is such a fun town!

And on that note, I wish you a happy and creative day!