A $20 garage sale bargain sent Tracey Kuffner spinning into a life of crafts.
When Kuffner returned home with a loom 15 years ago, her mother thought it was $20 wasted.
Determined to prove her wrong, Kuffner mastered the art of spinning and weaving. When she took a weekend felt-making course a few years later, Kuffner knew she had found her niche.
Felting projects are quick, colourful and versatile. Instead of spending hours threading a loom or spinning wool into yarn for knitting or weaving, felt projects are quick and easy, she said.
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In less than an hour Kuffner can make a dozen colourful felted scarves. Drizzle coloured silk on top of the wool just before felting and the piece comes alive with colour. Pull apart the ends and tassels are created. Mould the wool on a round form and a hat is made.
“I really like the versatility of felt,” Kuffner said during a felting workshop at the Llama Canada conference in Camrose.
By offering felt-making courses, Kuffner hopes to inspire others with the versatility of felt making.
Deborah Snow travelled from Smith Falls, Ont., for the conference to learn more about llamas and their wool.
“I love fibre. I wanted to learn as much different things as we can with the fibre,” Snow said while laying down wool for a felting project.
“I just find this fascinating. It’s always good to know what you can do with llamas without eating them.”
Felt is made by laying down layers of wool, adding soap and water and agitating the fibres until they’re compressed into a mat.
While Kuffner has made hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, vests and jackets, her latest project has been to write and illustrate children’s books with pictures made from felt.
The idea for her first book began while watching her son Max bottle feed a lamb on the family’s farm near Duchess, Alta.
For Kuffner, it was logical to use pictures made from felt as the medium for the art accompanying the story.
When Max Became a Mom is a story about the relationship between a boy and a lamb.
A second book, Isabelle’s Sheepdog, is about a girl and her sheep, which was raised as a dog.
“I loved writing the books,” said Kuffner.
More than 5,000 copies have been sold, mostly to schools. She conducts workshops for teachers and students about fibre, felting and how books are written and created.
Kuffner said the books have been key to the success of her farm business and farm gallery, the Wool Mine.
“I did quite well with the clothing, but the books have opened up an entire new line,” she said.
As a published author, she finds herself in demand by teachers interested in her workshop programs.
“It’s a full-time job. It’s the equivalent of being a teacher,” she said.
“Without it we would notice it. It’s not a hobby. It makes a living. I could be on my own and support myself.”
