Big Rock is a bit of a hike for some, but bear with me.
If you're into handicrafts, this one's for you. And, as it turns out, if you long for a simpler time, like so many of us greenies, this one's still for you.
Esther's Place in Big Rock specializes in wool felting. This is the hot new trend for folks who knit or folks, like me, who don't have the coordination or patience for knitting. Felting is idiot proof and fairly cheap. Best of all, you get cute results. (The Christmas figurines from Esther's were so cute.) Even kids can do this.
The green part is that Esther's uses localish wool from a co-op. It's not like the yarn you buy that might have been processed in Japan. And Esther's uses a lot of natural dyes.
But, they've expanded their offerings ... or I just didn't realize what a variety they offer.
The "from Me to Ewe classes" got me excited. Essentially, you join their Friends of Esther club ($35 a year or $50 for a family) and you can come to as many as you want. Think you should be able to do the things that seemed to come naturally to your mom, grandma or other generations past? This is the place to learn how from someone who actually does it.
You can learn to make bundt cake, create all-natural bath fizzies and can the summer harvest. And that's all by Aug. 11. Plus, other Friends of Esther members can teach their skills in classes. So if you have an old-school talent, this would be the place to spread teh word.
To quote Billy Mayes, "But wait, there's more."
From their scheduled classes, you can learn to:
- Spin wool into yarn (but not straw into gold, sorry)
- Knit, even if you have no knitting skills, and knit baby hats or a sweater
- Master wet felting, making beads, a bracelet, a dress, a needle case, a shawl or other items.
- Dye and paint fibers
- Weave scarves or a pilled on a rigid heddle loom.
- Hook a rug (and some compliments, I'd imagine)
- Needle felt portraits, dolls and more
For more on Esther's Place or its summer class schedule, visit www.esthersplacefibers.com; call 630-556-WOOL; or stop by the store at 201 Route 30 in Big Rock.
Julie Todd is the night editor at The Herald News in Joliet. She and her
husband are looking to cut the chemicals and get back to basics -- minus the
granola and hemp clothing. They live in a home they bought last year in
Plainfield, where they're making changes to create their own little patch of
utopia.
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