Esther is the fiber artist that masterminds Jazzturtle Creations and Woven Heart SAORI Studio. She is known for her creative art yarns, unique fiber preparations and her mindful designs of intentional artyarns that tell a story. She is a SAORI weaver and finds joy in merging these expressive and textural elements into her woven cloth. Finding inspiration in her everyday experience, she loves to push her own boundaries, creating new textures and styles to work into her designs.
Esther is an enthusiastic and patient teacher; possessing virtual, national and international
teaching experience. She believes every spinner is creative and encourages students to reach out side their box to look for their own expressive style. She loves to challenge her students to embrace design elements rather than “mistakes” and to learn from each new spin.
Some of the events she has taught at include Maryland Sheep and Wool, Iceland spinners, MAFA, John C Campbell Folk School, Interweave YarnFest, PlyAway, New York Sheep and
Wool (Rhinebeck), Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival (SAFF), Stitches South and Stitches
Midwest and for both Ashford Wheels and Looms and Majacraft Camp in New Zealand. In
2019 and 2020 she added virtual workshops to her roster, and now offers virtual lectures and
workshops with groups all over the world.
Classes
Sculptural Corespinning
3 hours $45 materials fee
In this class, students will explore corespinning on top of “unusual” and somewhat challenging cores- Wire and Elastic! We’ll talk about design concept and how to prepare your fibers for specific textures and techniques. We’ll explore techniques reapplied to these structural wire and elastic cores- creating instant neckwear, as well as discuss other uses for these architectural yarns. Students will even learn techniques to spin over LED lights! Level of Spinning: Should be able to spin a single, ply comfortably and be familiar with corespinning. Students should bring:
A spinning wheel in good working condition
Extra bobbins
fiber/yarn/add-ins you'd like to use and anything you'd like to share with classmates
Encouraged to bring beads, feathers, sparkly stuff, and other things you've collected to use in addition to their kits
Notebook
Lazy Kate
Niddy Noddy
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 4oz carded fiber, as well as extra embellishments, wire, LED lights and elastic for the students to use.
Twisted Together - Crepe, Cables and the Endless Possibilities of Layered Plying
3 hours $35 materials fee
This is a great class for all sorts of spinners- from ultra textured art yarn spinners, to the most traditional laceweight spinners!! Play with texture by layering your plies! In this class students will explore the structure layered plying by spinning crepes and cables. Then we will play with texture by mixing and matching non traditional plies to make the same layered structures.
Level of Spinning: Should be able to spin a single of different weights, and ply comfortably.
Students should bring:
A spinning wheel in good working condition
Bobbin with fresh high twist singles in a solid color (as even as possible)
Extra bobbins
Notebook
Lazy Kate
Niddy Noddy
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 6 oz hand dyed top
Tailspinning - The Long and Short of it! And How to Use Tailspun Yarns!
3 hours $45 materials fee
Tailspun yarns are both intriguing and inspiring, but can be intimidating to attempt spinning. In this class we'll learn the entire process of the making of tailspun yarn: We’ll discuss how to choose a fleece and wash it to protect the lock structure, and dyeing methods to showcase the texture of the fiber. Then we’ll move onto spinning the locks with more than 5 tail spinning techniques. As a bonus, we will talk about how these tailspun yarns are used in projects. Knit and woven samples will be shown.
Level of Spinning: Must be able to spin on a wheel and familiar with corespinning.
Students should bring:
A spinning wheel in good working condition
Extra bobbins
Notebook
Lazy Kate
Niddy Noddy
Assorted locks to spin
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 8+ oz assortment of tailspinning locks, Cotton core and mohair core
Wildplying - Beehives, Bobbles, Crescents, and Coils and How to Use Them!
3 hours $35 materials fee
Ever wonder how to how to spin those funky plied yarns with bobbles and coils? In this class we’ll cover the entire process by combining the function with the funky with the essentials of artplying. We’ll spin the singles needed, then we’ll “wild” ply into, coils, crescents, beehives, stacks and spirals! As a bonus knitted and woven samples will be available for examination and discussion.
Level of Spinning: Must be able to spin a single and ply on a wheel
Students should bring:
A spinning wheel in good working condition
Bobbin with fresh high twist singles (as even as possible)
Extra bobbins
Notebook
Lazy Kate
Niddy Noddy
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 4oz hand dyed combed top, 1oz solid top, cotton plying yarn, add ins
Find Esther at:
Facebook If you'd like to learn more about the Daedalus Fly-In Retreat for 2024 check out the official website. Sign ups are open!
Stay tuned for our next teacher spotlight!
- Evanita
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