Nuno Felted Spiral Scarf

Susan Dixon, our dear friend and amazing felter from Southern California, will be teaching how to felt this LOVELY scarf during Felt Fest 2012!  Isn't it fabulous?  Susan tells us that it's a great beginner and intermediate project - so if you have never nuno felted before or you want a new look to your scarves, this would be a great project!

Let the madness begin.

It's that time of year when Mom and I (Hannah) start planning our Third Annual Handmade Summer Wardrobe Fashion Show and the Fashion Week that accompanies it. I go into psycho mode, which involves 3 months of  compulsively planning and tweaking every detail until the event feels just right. The poster and flyer colors and fonts have to be perfect, the theme of the whole week has to be unique, the runway has to be different than the previous years, the show's timing and pacing has to be exact, the invitations have to be color coordinated precisely and, most importantly, the clothes must look exquisite. Poor Emma, she has to put up with me and my perfectionism for three whole, exhausting, months. It's a good thing she loves me!

Anyway, without further adieu, here is the first piece I have completed for this years show! More details about this years event are available at the bottom of The Tin Thimble's lessons page, and more details will be released as we get closer. More of mom and my pieces will be posted throughout the next couple of months.

Feathers

Two weekends ago was the Wings and Wine event here at High Hand.  Our classroom acted as the staging area for the birds this year and it was so much fun getting to see them up close and personal.  Lance the Rooster was a sweet, calm bird, the owls were captivating and the Bald Eagle was an amazing thing to experience.  Our classroom floor has been christened by Bald Eagle poop - don't know very many people who say that!  :-)

During the evening I couldn't help but think about our friend, Lorra Lee Rose and her breathtaking Feather Fantasies!

When Lorra Lee stopped by the shop with these AMAZING pieces she was telling us that she has pieces that have feathers that she's been collecting for 15 years!  AND, while the whirlwind of the Bald Eagle was blowing through the classroom the bird's caretaker was telling us that when he drops feathers they have to collect them and mail them off to a specific Native American organization - wouldn't those be fun packages to open up!  I would love to see everything that they do with those feathers.  Feathers, Feathers, Feathers!

Wet Felted Flowers

I challenged mom to develop a simple but stunning wet felted flower that would be a quick and fun class and man did she provide!!  We had learned a fantastic technique from Nicola Brown but we practically never have the lovely short fiber merino that Nicola prefers for her flowers so mom came up with a great way to use our hand dyed merino/tussah/bamboo rovings to create these flowers.

Two classes are coming up:

Wet Felted Flowers- Friday, March 16 10:00-1:00

I worked hard to design a beautiful wet felted flower and I finally got it and I love them! Our first class was a great success with lots of happy smiles! Hope you can join us to create beautiful, delicate looking wool flowers. A materials list will be available upon registration.

Instructor: Sharon Mansfield 

Class Fee: $45

Wet Felted Flowers- Sunday, April 22 11:00-2:00

I worked hard to design a beautiful wet felted flower and I finally got it and I love them! Our first class was a great success with lots of happy smiles! Hope you can join us to create beautiful, delicate looking wool flowers. A materials list will be available upon registration.

Instructor: Sharon Mansfield 

Class Fee: $45

I never introduced you!

to the new creature in the shop....

Isn't she fantastical?

The Halls are Decked

Lindsay and I decorated the house today!  Tree from the Plumas National Forest - thank you family for cutting it for us!  Hand spun trim w/tinsel.  Made a garland: Juniper, Redwood, Toyon & Magnolia.  Handmade stockings.  Handmade village church from mom.  Banner from Moda Home and a Dala Horse.  It's going to be a good Christmas this year.  Now the four of us are basking in the glow of the Christmas tree drinking hot apple cider.  Joy.

Spinning out of Control

Hello T3 readers! It's Hannah writing to you today. I've missed you all so! I'll be returning to the Thimble here in a few short weeks for winter vacation and am quite excited to see you all. Come on in and say hi to me!
(Most of) the family and I spent our Thanksgiving at our Cabin in Downieville. It's so quiet and cold and peaceful, and it's a wonderful place to take some time and learn something new. Mom and Lisa brought the spinning wheel for me and taught me how to spin! I'm so excited! Most of you know that I love to sew, and I've been experimenting with some paper crafts and a little embroidery lately, but I felt like it was time to branch out and learn something new. And now, I'm hooked on spinning.

Attempt #1. White Corriedale plied with brown Corriedale...I think (remember, I'm new to this).

Bobbins, Blue Face Leichester, and I spun that blue/purple/green yarn as well!

An action shot!! Remember, the Thimble teaches spinning lessons occasionally. Visit the lessons page to see scheduled dates, or give us a call!