THE ART OF FIBER ARTS & PAPER

Now that she is partially retired in Ideal Corners, she is finding the time to try all of the different art projects and some market gardening that she could only think about. She has branched out into many mediums.

Public and private mosaic work, alcohol ink, greeting cards, painted pvc garden posts, greeting signs, painted rocks, sewing, macrame, textile weaving and recently added “dirt shirts” are some of her current interests. Outdoor art is important to Taren and she researches and applies techniques that will hold up the best in Minnesota weather.  Taren also offers classes for mosaic and alcohol inks in her home studio.

Taren loves to use bright colors in her work and continues to create pieces that stand out and attract attention. She has been commissioned to create or build many things, from a woodtick costume for a 4-wheeler club to a fireplace hearth for a home in St Paul. Her creativity has no limit.

Bev Molberg

Kathy Soukup

Kathy has always enjoyed a variety of arts and craft projects and especially enjoys sewing projects, re-purposing old items and adding her own “twist” to the items she creates. 

Her home, inside and out, is decorated with handmade items, which at any time may include quilts on the beds, seasonal table runners or garden decor accenting the flower gardens.

Kathy and her son wrote a book which tells the story of their journey when he was diagnosed with cancer at age sixteen. She likes to share this story with anyone who has ever heard the word “cancer” in their lives or with anyone who needs an inspirational story to share with someone they know.

Carol Paurus

Carol has been knitting for 30+ years. Her creations include knit children’s sweaters sizes 2-10, double knit acrylic mittens for all ages, scarves, stocking caps, headbands, neck-warmers and slippers. 

Carol also uses reclaimed wool & wool blend recycled clothing to create one-of-a-kind mittens. In addition, she makes potholders, crocheted-on-towels with cotton cord, fire-starters from recycled candles and warm denim quilts that double as a bed or couch throws.

Sandy started embroidering flour sack towels for family members and she quickly grew to embroidering hats, bags, hoodies, T-shirts, hankies and more. She has also started embroidering on lace such as lace crosses, bookmarks, Christmas ornaments and baskets. She embroiders towels and frame them for a picture. All of Sandy’s embroidery is done by machine.

Linda McNamara

Linda’s offerings are gifts of her interests. She enjoys the outdoors and gardening and working with fibers, be it fabric or yarn. The results of her interests are jams and jellies made from the harvest of nature as well as grown naturally in her yard. 

Linda’s fiber offerings are bags, table toppers and runners. She taught herself to sew around the age of 12 and at 15 made Easter dresses for she and her mother. She continued by making clothes for her sisters including cheer-leading outfits and even a satin prom dress. When the grandchildren came along, she sewed numerous capes and ‘Harry Potter’ robes.

Her oldest grandson told his preschool teacher “My Grandma can sew anything!”

Because she has a large supply of thrift store sweaters leftover from mitten making, she recently began experimenting with up-scaling them into patchwork cardigans, a project for the cold and snowy winter months.

Linda’s soaps are made the old-fashioned way using animal fats and plant oils. She strives to use blends that offer rich lather and moisturizing properties, and uses no coloring’s except what she finds in nature. Even when those colors don’t come out true to plan, they are generally interesting. Fragrance is only from essential oils.

Nature also gives us the old, tried and true, established products that young people can begin to use instead of chemicals for bathing products. The Bath/Shower Bombs are great to use to relax the body with natural essential oil. The Lip Balms are soothing, using real cocoa and vanilla for a wonderful light tint for the lips and great aroma, too.

Ashley likes to recycle fabrics, zippers and buttons when she can, so the Back Seat Bags are a terrific project she creates. They can store toys, snack and books for kids, but are also great for adults for change, sunglasses or other items. It is a responsible way to organize in a fun way!

Melanie Shamp

After the pulp is blended, it goes through screens.  As much moisture as possible is taken out. A screw press is used to help squeeze moisture out.  Then it lays flat to dry.

After drying she cuts and tears into collages.  The paper colors are like paints in a pallet so she needs many different colors and textures. Barb tries to give the paper in the collages a three-dimensional look by folding it before gluing it down.

Prismacolor pencils are used to draw on the paper. Wire, shells, sand, ribbon, buttons, and various materials are used in collages.  Barb’s husband mats and frames the collages. All art is matted, some is framed. Ornaments and cards are also made from the papers.

Brenda Mason

Carol has recently retired and is excited about being creative every day! Her art quilts are what she enjoys making now because they celebrate nature and are happy creations. Flowers are a joyful celebration of color that we see each summer and are represented in many of Carol’s quilts. Her love of the north woods is also evident in quilts containing birch and pine trees. Sewing art quilt is similar to drawing but with needle, thread and material.

Each art quilt will celebrate nature and will evoke special memories for anyone viewing them. Enjoy!

Wendy Hightshoe – “Jazzy Junque”

Wendy’s fiber art is created from tiny pieces of fiber which she then uses a free motion technique that enhances the design of the piece. She draws the design idea first, then starts laying it out on the fabric. For over 40 years she has enjoyed creating her own patterns for quilts and wall hangings for family and friends. She has enjoyed making wall hangings that are unique to a person’s hobbies and life, and uses a play on words to make them personal and unique.

Wendy’s jewelry art is a new item this year which started when she created pictures from jewelry for Christmas gifts for her family. She loves the challenge of finding jewelry pieces to use for her creations and turning those pieces into pictures. Her biggest challenge was the picture she created for her nephew, of his dog “Riggz”.

She and her husband, Ross, collaborated on creating pull toys this past ‘covid’ year. She designed and painted and he did all the woodworking. Sue also likes to spin wool and creates felt hats and hand bags. Sue and Ross are new to selling their creations but have enjoyed attending the Art Crawl for many years. They have a seasonal cabin and spend their summers in Hackensack MN.

Christine Desmond

Sewing has been in Christine’s blood ever since she can remember. From sewing doll clothes from her mother’s scrap basket to sewing dresses for her young daughters to taking up quilting as she got older, Christine has spent many hours creating with fabric and thread. Most of her sewing was done using recycled fabrics and items on hand as money or access to supplies was often limited.

Pine River Mittens was created from her desire to use recycled, discarded clothing or fabrics that are sourced locally to make practical but gorgeous mittens that give a little bit of warmth and color to our long, northern winters. She has a particular love for wool, especially after raising sheep on her hobby farm. Though she still quilts and sews memory bears and other items, her passion is making mittens. Christine often use discarded jeans and leather/suede as well and has even made mittens out of damaged quilts. Keeping hands warm and hearts happy is something she has loved for the past 12 years.

Pat Parenteau

As a retired grandmother, Pat Parenteau says she has a lot of time on her hands.

Pat loves sewing and crocheting and claims it’s very fulfilling to create a pattern and then make the item to be useful or just for fun. She makes most of her items from yarn and flannel. These are the mediums she enjoys working with.  

The flannel blankets are sewn by machine and then completed with crocheted edges. The afghans are crocheted with patience and love while keeping her hands busy. The stuffed toys are made with a sewing machine and then stuffed and finished by hand.  For the dolls, the hair is sewn on by hand and then the clothes are made to fit the personality of each as Pat sees it. The doll faces are fabric paint and are uniquely created.

Nothing makes Pat happier than seeing others enjoy her work. Over the years she has donated and gifted many items and hope the Art Crawl will be a new outlet to share her talents.

The third picture Is Lori’s specialty bandannas with parachute clips for each on easy off. Bandannas are triangle in shape and with hand sewn parachute clips on two ends of the triangle.

The fourth picture are her bow ties which have been a hit the last couple of years. The bow ties slip right over the dog’s own collar. Lori applies fusible bond inside to give all fabric used for bow ties a crisp look. Bow ties are not just for as she has sold to cat lovers, too.

Two pictures are the dog warmers/jackets great for after bath time and going for brisk walks when it gets colder outside. Again, easy on and easy offer using Velcro to put on your dog and to easily take off your dog.

And finally, dog carriers for smaller dogs.