JCCFS: What inspired you to become a felt maker?

JS: My first felting class was 20 years ago when I was a work study here at the Folk School. I remember teaching myself additional techniques, including making a felted scarf that ran the length of the small hallway on the third floor of Keith house. We had a really excited, supportive group with projects going on all over. Since then I have taken, assisted, and taught many felting classes at the Folk School and assisted a 2 month intensive at Penland School of Craft with Lisa Klakulak. I have taught in many places, from studios equipped with all the fine things to teaching on the ground, heating my water over a fire. I have been teaching for nearly 30 years now and just love it. I get so excited to teach about the things I am passionate about and improving my classes over the years. I try to be versed in multiple ways to teach the same thing to help with folks who have different styles of learning. With felting, I really enjoy helping my students understand how to change the weight of their felt to better create a garment for their particular climate or to make a vessel stronger. Those “aha” moments in my students, where the knowledge really starts to make sense are the real gems of teaching.

JCCFS: Tell us more about what techniques you’ll be teaching in “Felt Makers’ Sampler.”

JS: In a sampler class, students get to move through a variety of the aspects of felting. We will primarily wet felt, creating pieces that are made flat or with a resist, so that you can create hats or bags with no seams. We will also do a bit of needle felting and nuno felting. We will cover many techniques so students can choose to incorporate them into their class project, or to even save for a later date to revisit at home. We will really focus on how to make quality felt and how to work the wool so students can best understand how to get the results they desire.

JCCFS: What can students expect to leave your class with?

JS: Folks can expect to gain a greater understanding of creating felted objects made flat, or dimensional with a resist, as well as some nuno felting. They will leave with enough knowledge and experience to make the same things at home, but also to design some patterns or ideas to create new felted works. This is strong foundational course which gives a deep dive into many aspects of felting. Depending on what students choose to make, they could be leaving with a light flowy scarf, hat, slippers or gloves, a potholder and a bag, wallet or purse. I am also teaching a weekend felting class directly after this where we will make a pair of slippers or booties.

JCCFS: What is your favorite aspect of the John C. Campbell Folk School?

JS: So much of my younger artistic exploration happened at the Folk School, so it always brings me back to an easier time filled with creativity and new endeavors. Each building has so many memories for me. I love the campus and its stunning beauty, and I love the wholesome feeling I get here, which is often so different from the rest of the world. I also just love seeing all ages learning and sharing together. My heart fills with gratitude when I am here to take a class or teach a class.

JCCFS: Where do you draw inspiration from for your work?

JS: Nature is a big inspiration for me. It has always been nature or art, so mostly I try to bring the two together. If I am not walking in the woods or laying in the grass, how can I create things that remind me of this beautiful natural world I get to live in?

JCCFS: What are you working on now in your own practice?

JS: I am presently working on a felted backpack, as an example for a 2025 class, “Felted Backpacks, Satchels and Handbags, Oh My!“ I am really looking forward to weaving the straps, ecoprinting the wool, and seeing what other fun I can bring into it.

JCCFS: What advice would you give an aspiring craftsperson?

JS: Always create. Never stop, whether its for work, play or mental health. Always keep creativity in your life.

JCCFS: Anything else you want to add?

JS: I am also teaching “Slipper Weekend: Wet Felt” the weekend after this class, November 22-24, and since I will not be teaching either of these classes at the Folk School for 2025, this is a great time to do a deep dive with me into felting.