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For the Love of. . .
Susan Shildmyer falls
in love easily and often. Her husband doesn’t mind. Susan sees a fiber, a color, or maybe even a button and her heart beats faster. Her mind joins the rhythm of her heart and creation begins. “On
occasion,” Susan says, “ it’s not love at first sight; then I must become acquainted, pet it, listen to
its voice before we bond and join forces in creation.” As a designer, Susan
often makes one-of-a-kind items and has created for such well known names as Bobby Jones, Talbots, The Gap, J. Crew, and more. She’s well known in knitting circles across the country through her contributions
to Vogue Knitting on the Go, Knit ‘n’ Style, and Creative Knitting. Susan
Shildmyer knows her way around fiber!
Design isn’t the only love of Susan’s life. She is deeply
committed to keeping the fiber arts alive to current and future generations. “Knitting
satisfies two of life’s deepest needs: functionality and adornment. As with all crafts, knitting originated from a functional need—to produce warm
garments from readily available materials.” Functionality satisfied, a
human’s natural need to express oneself artistically rises to the forefront. Susan
believes “the human spirit requires expression of creativity to preserve its essence and to maintain harmony and balance.”
This balance made itself known in Susan’s life. As her demanding
corporate job required more of her energy and time, knitting became her saving grace.
Here she could let go of pragmatic demands and let her imagination soar. The
steady click and clack of her needles became the balm at the end of her day. Today,
in her “retirement”, Susan tilts the scale decidedly to the creative side.
Susan takes her organizational and creative talents to the Board of the Heritage Craft Center
in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. “Unfortunately, in today’s fast paced, throw away society, people do not have the time nor
need to ‘make it yourself.’ We purchase. Thus, functionality is satisfied with little personal investment.”
Susan wonders what will happen to these age old production techniques that fuel the spirit as well if we don’t
find a way to pass them on to new generations. Heritage Craft Center
strives to teach youngsters and oldsters how to create functional items; and how to find joy in completion of a project. The soul shall be fed.
You
can take advantage of Susan Shildmyer’s many talents by attending one or two of her classes at the Shenandoah Valley
Fiber Festival, October 25th and 26th, in Berryville, VA. She
offers a way to use up your old swatches: Making a Sampler Tote. Or, for newer knitters, you can learn basic
stranded knitting by joining Susan in her Stranded Knitting class. More information is available on these opportunities at www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfest.com
Susan has her own studio in Gerrardstown, WV,
where she takes an occasional private student. Her goal is to become a national
teacher so seize these local opportunities while she still has time to spare. For
more information on her creations, visit her website www.esysknits.com .
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From Russia With Love. . .
Until three and a half years
ago, Tatyana Chambers lived in the old city of Astrakhan in Russia. In this home along the beautiful Volga River, Tatyana
studied art and became a graphic designer. A firm believer in technology, Tatyana explored the internet. In so doing,
she met a wonderful man. They became cyber pals with the results of two visits to Russia to meet her family and a marriage
proposal.
Tatyana now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. She
found a great deal of competition in her professional field and was unable to find a job. She put her design skills to
knitting and hand felting. She began to make fiber gifts for friends and family with the same result each time: “You’ve
got to find a way to sell these beautiful works of art!”
Tatyana began marketing at art shows
and festivals where the visitors were as delighted as her friends at the quality and style of her work. Today she has
been accepted into the prestigious Gilmore Classics (art craft guild) and has her work displayed in Show of Hands, an Alexandria
gallery.
Tatyana’s work combines whimsy
with classic style for both elegance and a confident sense of chic. Her pieces range from wearable art to utilitarian
vessels. She works in all fibers and color palettes; in both needle and wet felting. One of her most striking examples
is a nunofelted stole. This technique fuses wool fiber into silk. While she works mostly with hand felting she does
an occasional piece by knitting and fulling.
Fiber art is deep in Tatyana’s
being. She notes that felting is the oldest form of producing fabric known to humankind being noted in Turkey prior to
6500 BC. “Felt is the only natural fiber fabric that can be cut without fraying,” Tatyana quickly shares. She
would like to teach others from her knowledge and experience, hoping to open her own studio in the near future. In the
meantime, you can partake of her talent by visiting her website www.woolthumb.com .
Need a tactile fix? Come visit
her booth at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, October 25th and 26th in Berryville, Virginia.
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From an Historic Farm in Back Creek Valley. . .
Tucked into pristine Back Creek Valley sits a lovely old, yellow, farm house filled with fiber art from the hands of
Evelyne Fischer. Born in Switzerland
and raised in France, Evelyne brings a
European charm to her extensive talents.
A language teacher in the US for
much of her adult life, Evelyne has used her art talents to enhance students’ learning experiences. Teaching AP French she looked for a creative way to build in relaxed, comfortable conversation. Evelyne initiated the monthly quilting bee. Students gathered
around cutting, placing, stitching a beautiful quilt all the while speaking only French.
Her technique produced dual results—improved vocabulary and an appreciation for the fiber arts.
In “retirement”,
Evelyne and her husband, Michael fish in Back Creek that defines the eastern edge of their farm. Their gardens seem fresh out of southern France
and her table boasts of lush, local produce. The Fischers support both safe environmental
practices and community involvement. This is truly a “twosome” family. Evelyne does not drive so Michael plays chauffeur.
This provides him a certain proprietary knowledge of the fiber arts as Evelyne interacts with other artisans.
Evelyne’s vivacious
enthusiasm for all things beautiful comes through in her teaching. She will be
leading two classes at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival in Berryville,
Virginia, October 25th and 26th. Her class, aptly entitled Felted Flowers for Embellishment, will be held both Saturday and Sunday afternoons
from 2 until 5 o’clock. Cost of these classes is $20 including all supplies. Students go home with at least one finished felted flower.

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© 2008
Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, P.O. Box 441, Boyce, VA 22620. Contents copyrighted and may not be
reproduced in any form without written permission.
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