Gail Maraman--Designer
Windy Crest Design is the feltmaking studio for Gail Maraman. Gail's interest in wool and feltmaking first started when she began caring for a small flock of sheep at Windy Crest Farm in Granville, Ohio. Using the wool from her own sheep, applying a little effort and lots of creativity, she began designing felt.
"While tending my sheep, I observe nature’s many colors, textures, and dimensions. I am inspired to transform these observations into works of art, via felt. Whether whimsical or practical in design, the felt that I create is derived from nature.
I employ a simple, hands-on approach to every step of the process for making felt: i.e., growing, shearing, washing, carding, dyeing, and felting the wool. I apply different techniques within each step for producing different types of felt—traditional felt, Nuno felt, watercolor felt, and needle felt. The creative opportunities that felt has to offer are infinite.
I test new ideas with small samples of felt. These samples guide the direction for larger, more detailed works. I design felt inside-out, or bottom-up, constructing it from increments of wool, combining it with other fibers, and felting it until the desired surface is achieved.
I am constantly challenged to explore the world of felt."
"While tending my sheep, I observe nature’s many colors, textures, and dimensions. I am inspired to transform these observations into works of art, via felt. Whether whimsical or practical in design, the felt that I create is derived from nature.
I employ a simple, hands-on approach to every step of the process for making felt: i.e., growing, shearing, washing, carding, dyeing, and felting the wool. I apply different techniques within each step for producing different types of felt—traditional felt, Nuno felt, watercolor felt, and needle felt. The creative opportunities that felt has to offer are infinite.
I test new ideas with small samples of felt. These samples guide the direction for larger, more detailed works. I design felt inside-out, or bottom-up, constructing it from increments of wool, combining it with other fibers, and felting it until the desired surface is achieved.
I am constantly challenged to explore the world of felt."
