Featured Teacher of the Week–John C Campbell and Lessonface
“I’ve got exciting news for you!” T-Claw, director of online programming for John C Campbell Folk School relayed during a class scheduleing phone call. “Oh?” Well, might as well get ready for anything. Life can always throw surprises! “Lessonface wants to feature you as teacher of the week! That’s pretty special, since it’s almost always […]
Making Coziness
Brrr! Bundling up for the chilly kick-sled ride home involves wrapping up in a scarf, pulling on my trusty sheepskin headband (no wind gets through that leather!) and tucking a long hood on top. Then it’s zip up the hand-me-down goose-down coat from Grandma, pull on my boots and gloves, and head out into the […]
Creating a Touch of Happiness
Happy New Year! The words are on everyone’s lips this week. But the reality of finding and keeping a sense of happiness through the darkest time of the year in northern climates can be a real emotional challenge. Humans have faced the same struggle for ages. I’m certain this is why, the world over, people […]
Shepherding the Full Experience: The Story of Sheep to Kits on my Farm
Shepherding the Full Experience The Story of Sheep to Kits on my Farm Each week as I package and prep fiber arts kits to send to my students, I can’t help but feel a bit like Santa Claus, arranging and wrapping the adult version of stockings full of treasures for the learning adventures that will […]
In Memory: Fran Potter
People can come into your life at magical, meaningful times, and this was certainly true of my relationship with Fran Potter. I was just embarking on the transition from Montessori school to unschool homeschooling—a learning adventure for which my mom was the great champion. As a family physician, she was confident in teaching math and […]
Making Liberation
If you’ve noticed a quietness to my blog and social media lately, it’s because I’ve been nose-down in my studio, finishing a massive project. The scale of this project goes beyond just the physical finished piece, which received its last punch, stitch, and steam this week. When I signed up to take the Oxford punch […]
The Practice of Color
This month, I’ve been deep into the writing process of part 4 of my design course: Color Fluency. Here is a snippet of that work I wanted to share with you. The common focus on teaching color as theory can leave the creative mind feeling like they’ve been handed a whole bunch of rules they […]
Introducing: The Story in the Image
Excerpt from Writings for the Next Episode of my Design Course There’s a light post in a dense forest. It’s winter, and snowflakes are gently catching in your hair as you climb through the backside of a forgotten wardrobe… Grandmother is looking mighty peculiar with her long ears, large eyes, and sharp teeth as she […]
Wise and Foolish Virgins Tapestry Webinar
This past winter, I was asked by Vesterheim Folk Arts School to develop a tapestry course inspired by their Wise and Foolish Virgins-themed pieces in their collection. It was a delightful challenge that also made me curious to learn more about these iconic, historic Norwegian tapestries, the women that wove and used them, and the […]
Stitching with Wool
I learned embroidery as a kid the old-fashioned way, from my mother. She had learned from her mother as well, just as Grandma had learned from Great-Grandma. I loved the quiet, gentle rhythm of the stitches and the design coming to life as each new color and design element was added. Mom had a whole […]