“Peace be with you (And also with you).” Since ancient times, the symbol of the dove has been associated with peace, goodwill and harmony of spirit. It is a common belief among religions and philosophies to associate the accord of spirit and enlightenment...
George Sundstrom says he’s living the American Dream and believe it, he is. George and Jeanette’s family run Sun Valley Fiber business has the hallmark of an American success story. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Wisconsin, their farm includes the usual...
About a month ago, I was looking for some Midwest scenes for a story I was working on and asked my Dad for a little assistance. He’s taken pictures as long as I can remember, employing family members to carry the extra lens and camera bag stocked with black and gold...
Carolfaye Meadows has a way with words—she’s gifted in her interesting dialogue and style of delivery. I’ve always enjoyed our conversations because she’s funny and sincere and to the point. Her felted art handbags reflect those same fresh qualities. Carolfaye does...
It was when the land flattened out and the sky opened up that Monika knew she was home. More than a decade after her departure she returned wanting to capture all the memories of the prairie, her prairie, and never lose them again. Monika Kinner-Whalen began this...
Anita Jain says the biggest challenge to devoting herself to create fiber art is lack of time. Common Strands International Fiber Art Exchange, an organization founded by Anita and whose mission is to promote cultural exchange of traditional and contemporary fiber...
“A shoebox of materials interests me more than an entire store.” –Nancy Miler Nancy Miller tinkers with all types of fiber arts. And she’s a button collector, too. Over her thirty year enjoyment of quilting, weaving, knitting, spinning and crochet (just to name the...
A long way from her Southern roots now, Kim Kaelin first learned about rug hooking from a DIY cable television show in 1993. Commenting about that era being pre-Google, she combed the Louisville phone book in search of rug hooking information, classes or a shop. Not...
This summer shawl was knit to experiment with lace stitches and how hand dyed colors play out when the stitches change direction in an open weave pattern. The ends of the shawl are stitched in stockinette and rippled on the last two rows rather than ruffled at the...
When I first met Nancy Mambi, who is the Textile Center Librarian, I had just signed up to volunteer. I didn’t know anyone in the library or in the extended fiber arts community which cradles the Textile Center like a hand knit blanket, so I simply called and spoke...
Hello All, Have you ever wanted to see a really special quilt exhibit but you just couldn’t get there? With our super busy schedules it’s hard to stuff everything in! I am very excited to share this fabulous idea of an Online Exhibit from the International...
Hello All, There are probably more than a few of us who were exposed to the happiness of blissful creativity by a teacher, parent or friend and because of all the necessary decisions for the work-a-day life, set it aside with a whispered, “someday!” A box of paints...
Willa Blanket A new style of baby blanket that uses vertical lines of texture in combination with beautiful hues of superwash wool from Dream in Color. Vibrant hand-dyed hues along with an elegant stitch pattern accentuate the texture. The color nuances of the fiber...
After I’d seen the techniques Tina Hughes uses and style she expresses making her quilts it was quite humorous to read the definition of quilt in the Oxford dictionary. “A warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines...
Last spring, when I met Wendi Seminari to photograph some of her work for the 2014 Almanac, I was most impressed with her superb garment construction. Recalling the axiom her home ec teacher drummed in ‘it should look as good on the inside as it does on the outside’...
Do you have any UFOs out there? I’m talking about the craft type of UFO, not the fly around in the space type of UFO. They are called Unfinished Objects. Just this morning a work plan solution popped into my inbox courtesy of Franki Kohler’s...
When, in casual conversation, I bring up the subject of macramé, those who are ‘of an age’ will smile, chuckle and recall candle wax dripping down the sides of a green wine bottle wrapped in hemp macramé or visualize an air fern hanging in a south facing window. So...
It’s the bright, vivid color with the barber pole ply that keeps me returning to this yarn. That little corner of my stash is a kaleidoscope that coaxes my brain into keeping it around, if for just another attempt at working the happy color into a sweater—the...
While Watching British Mysteries on Netflix, part 2 Ah, here’s episode two of the “While Watching British Mysteries on Netflix.” The woodland look of this scarf reminds me of the weather-worn Highlands (that I’ve only seen on the screen or...
While Watching British Mysteries on Netflix, part 1 This is the first in my series of small knitted scarf projects called “While Watching British Mysteries on Netflix.” My husband and I have a jolly good time following our favorite characters while they...
Her story is entwined with the University of Minnesota, Vesterheim Museum, the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM), and countless people Lila Nelson taught and mentored over the 60 plus years she was a weaver. I met Lila through the Weavers Guild. Linda Hansen introduced...
Today I was reading the Knitting Daily blog where Kathleen is talking about knitted handbags. Knitting Daily Blog–HandbagsAfter my felting craze where I made over a dozen felted bags and gave most of them away, I knit a couple of bags that didn’t require...
Personally, as a knitter, I’m a little late jumping on the lace knitting bandwagon. I’ve always admired the technique and skill from a distance but I wondered if I’d be able to maneuver my favorite style of knitting (thick woolly sweaters) into something that’s so...
This simple pattern has been downloaded from Ravelry hundreds of times. It’s a quick knit, very warm and looks fabulous in a hand dyed yarn. Click on the link for the pattern download. Big Cosy Cowl Happy winter knitting! Jenny
Sewing a fabric bowl It’s amazingly simple and satisfying to use a length of cord and some yardage of fabric; wrap and sew them together and have a 3 dimensional object when you’re finished! Fabric bowls are useful (maybe not for oatmeal in the morning) but offer up a...
