Meet Kathleen Gerdes Artist in Residence August 23 – 29

Becoming a fiber artist was one of the best things that I’ve ever done in my life!  My circle of friends has grown to include people from across the state of Maine and beyond.  I never dreamed that life could be so good!  When I began walking down this path, I was imbedded in a corporate life, where I knew that if I continued, all I’d ever make in life would be money.  My hands (and heart) were itching to create!  I’d dabbled in alot of art forms, such as stained glass, pottery and the softer handcrafts like embroidery and sewing.  But when I discovered fiber at a great little shop called Portfiber, my world exploded like the Fourth of July fireworks.  Being a discontented city dweller, the road to my country life lead me to brilliant colors (that I had never seen before!) and shapes and designs that I never knew existed.

Today I live deliberately and spend my days immersed in my feltwork.  Felting is a magical process that leads to all kinds of wonderful results.  When people ask what I do, the best explanation that can give them is “I paint with wool”.  And one of the most magical things about it is…….anyone can do it!   When I am teaching, my students begin the class doubting that they can create a “wool painting” or a cute whimsical 3D figure, but by the time we finish our project, they are amazed with the results.

On August 23rd, I will be at the “Shores” for a wonderful fiber filled week of felting fun.  For those families who will be camping that week, we will be making dragons and wizards, frogs, turtles, owls, sheep, hedgehogs and we’ll even make ducks in ponds, just to name a few of the projects that you can choose from!  And all from wool!!  I will teach you the very easy and satisfying art of needle felting or wet felting, whichever appeals more to you. Or perhaps you’d like to learn both. The choice is yours.  Kids will love creating animals that can made in under an hour.  For the adults, you may choose to make a wall hanging to bring home with you.  Or perhaps you’d like to make felted beads to create a necklace or earrings.  Wearable art is unique and can be made by anyone, even children!   It will be a wonderful opportunity for families to spend quality time together while creating fun projects that everyone will enjoy.

One of the best things about felting for me is knowing that the possibilities are simply ENDLESS.  It’s like a mountain with no top!   My list of possible projects grows longer and longer each day and for the first time in my life, that’s a wonderful feeling!  I hope it never ends……….

I can’t wait to meet you at the “Shores”.  I will be there beginning August 23rd, for a week.

In fibery goodness,

Kathleen Gerdes