Bear Paw Retreat of Fiber Guilds

Last Saturday a friend and I took a little trip to Newport, Washington in search of Bear Paw Camp. It was easy enough to find. It is out in the woods and along the Ponderay River, a very wonderus setting - the river breath taking.

After parking and exiting the car we were met by a distinct buzzing sound. It wasn't insects of the woods though, but the excited buzz of lots of women (and a few men) who were happily playing with fiber. I wish I had taken a picture of the piles of loose fiber as tall as me and easily six feet in diameter at the base! And such lovely hues of blue, purple, silver and white. But on with my story...we were there to see Sue Tye.

Sue provides ever-so-soft hand dyed fiber to weavers, spinners and felters and she was at Bear Paw attending a retreat of all the local fiber groups in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington. I bought a lot of great stuff that day, but my all time favorite item was this felted corsage of mohair locks made by Sue.

Welcome to my Fantastic Fiber Blog! I am a felter, but I dabble in all sorts of arts.

I just love those moments in some days when things come together and everything in the universe feels right. You know what I mean, right?  You're feeling so right with the world that you find yourself walking around with a smile plastered on your face. Well for me, today was one of those days.

It was a beautiful fall day with the sun out, yet a crispness in the air. People were busily putting summer things away and putting up fall decorations. Mother nature already started for us at our house...the big maple in back is already turning beautiful shades of reds. But onward - today was a super day for a road trip and that is exactly what hubby and I did.

We gased up and pointed the car north to Sandpoint to check out Blue Flag Handweaving Studio. A lovely shop full of wonderful hand made items. And soon mine will be found among them. Kristie will be receiving some of my felted handbags and felt scarves in a variety of styles by the end of this month.

Then I will begin on some new projects for her beautiful shop: nuno felt handbags, nuno felt pillows, wet felted drapes, and my very special Felptures: A metal sculpture covered with fine, sheer felts illuminated from within!  Look for them in November!

You can check it out yourself at http://www.blueflagweaving.com/