New DIY Book: Needle Felted Plants

NEW DIY BOOK!!!
If you've ever wanted to learn to needle felt, now's your chance - my new DIY book, Needle Felted Plants, is ready to ship! The workbook includes step-by-step instructions for 21 different needle felted plant projects starting with 8 beginner-level projects, then building on those skills for 7 intermediate-level projects, and finally, when you're ready for the advanced chapters, 6 more projects will keep you busy with your new favorite hobby. 

ABOUT THE BOOK
I've taught over 250 people how to needle felt over the last several years and I can fully appreciate that people learn through different methods. I've personally witnessed the "aha moments" many times when I show or explain a technique in multiple ways, and it suddenly makes sense.

This book features instructions for multiple learning styles. You'll see written instructions for each project with detailed descriptions of each action or technique alongside photos of every part of the process. Plus, there's a QR code at the start of every chapter that will take you to a time-lapse video of that particular plant being created.

Needle Felted Plants is available on my website, along with kits and supplies.

Studio Graffiti: Raspberry Tart

Inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year “Viva Magenta” I added a brand new color way to the Studio Graffiti Jewelry Collection: Raspberry Tart. Using bold berry tones, pinks, red, plum and of course a vibrant magenta, this new color way is a great pop of color during these cold & dark days of winter. Plus, it’s an easy way to participate in color trends without committing to redecorating your entire house or buying a whole new wardrobe!

As with everything in the Studio Graffiti line, each pendant and earring is completely unique, featuring brushstrokes and splatters, so no two will ever be identical, even if the pieces were adjacent to each other on the sheet when I cut them out. It’s your own original piece of art that you can wear every day.

Enjoy this process video that shares how this hand painted collection comes to life, from the very first brush stroke, to the layers and layers of paint, laser cutting the modern shapes, and final assembly. These are a lot of fun to create and I’m already planning my next color way for the spring! I’m thinking something turquoise …

The new series is available on the website, retailing for $24-32, and please feel free to use coupon code RASPBERRY20 to get 20% off your order now through February 14th at www.onceagainsam.com

Needle Felting Workshops

Have you ever wanted to learn to needle felt? Now’s your chance! If you’re local to the Greenville SC area, I’ve got 3 upcoming in-person workshops scheduled for February 11, March 11, and May 20th. If you’re not local or those dates don’t work for you, I also have 2 virtual workshops through my website that are self-paced so you can do them whenever you like, and I also have kits available if you need supplies. Lastly, I offer private workshops and would be happy to host you (or a small group up to 8 people) in my home studio, or I can come to you. Contact me to discuss!

The first in-person class will be a 2D workshop on February 11th at Greenville Center for Creative Arts from 9-1pm. We’ll be creating hoop art that will feature a design of your choice (botanical, insect, animal, landscape, etc.) from dyed wool fiber. Working flat is a lot of fun and I look forward to showing you the ins and outs of working in 2D. The $75 fee includes all supplies needed for this workshop. No prior felting experience needed. Enroll here: Needle Felting in 2D | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

Needle Felting in 2D | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

Learn to needle felt a big, fancy very complicated-looking cactus garden. Once I break it down and show you the steps, it’s really not that complicated! No prior needle felting experience needed for this class either. Bring your own planter or pot and the rest of the supplies are covered in the $75 workshop fee. Workshop is at GCCA from 9-1 on March 11th. Enroll here: Needle Felted Cactus Garden | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

Needle Felted Cactus Garden | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

My last in-person public workshop is May 20th from 9-1pm, also at GCCA and you’ll learn to needle felt butterfly specimens that can be displayed in a frame. Bring your own shadow box display and the rest of the materials are covered in the $75 workshop fee. Enroll here: Needle Felted Butterfly Box | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

Needle Felted Butterfly Box | Greenville Center for Creative Arts (artcentergreenville.org)

Virtual workshops and supplies are available in the DIY section of my website.

The two pre-recorded virtual workshops are on my website and you can choose the 2D hoop art workshop or the cactus class. You’ll receive a link to the video content, plus a PDF packet with info about supplies. If you already have your own supplies, great! If not, yon can purchase through my website or from the shops listed in the resource section of the packet you’ll receive.

Once Again Sam Turns 14!

My small business turns 14 years old this weekend. 

I was having a hard time wanting to celebrate because last year was a really tough one. I know each year can’t be the “best ever” but 2022 was the first time in 14 years it was noticeably quiet and things seemed to fall short or fall through altogether. My best guess for the cause was recession-related and algorithm changes, but who knows. Then I started thinking about recessions - this business was actually born DURING a recession, when I was was dealing with a pay cut, just like everyone else I worked with, if we were lucky to keep our jobs at all. It was a tough time economically for all of us, but with a $25 a month crafting budget, and a table (not a room, not a studio, just a table!) I started Once Again Sam in January of 2009 as a creative outlet and to see if I could make some extra money to buy shoes & yarn. That’s all I was after. Big dreams, right? 

Within a year, it became a profitable side hobby. In 3-4 years, I earned as much making things as I did working full time, and at year 5, I flip flopped my hobby with my career and went full time with Once Again Sam and part time with interior design and have been doing that ever since. Between the two “jobs” I work a lot of hours each week, but I truly enjoy what I do and feel blessed to be in this situation where I can pursue both dream jobs. 

So 2022 was a tough year, but if I look back at how far this little business has come, I can’t be too down about it. I’m extremely lucky to be able to do this for a living, I enjoy every minute of it (that’s not 100% true - I really hate load-in / load-out for craft shows) and I’m thankful for each and every one of you for being here and for your support over the years, however many years, months, weeks, or days you’ve been following along here. I appreciate you more than you know. THANK YOU! 

Please treat yourself to 20% off anything on my website this weekend with coupon code OAS14.

Artist-In-Residence: Dreher Island State Park

My 5th Artist-in-Residence opportunity with South Carolina State Parks brought me to Dreher Island State Park this October, just outside of Columbia, SC. I spent the week hiking, exploring, observing, and creating art. The spacious lake-side villa gave me an opportunity to watch the sunset every single day of my stay and also a peaceful place to create fiber art & paintings surrounded by nature.

I only left the park for a few hours one day to hike the Firebreak Trail in Harbison State Forrest, but other than that, all of my hikes and explorations were inside the park. There’s enough trails and flat walkable roads that you can see almost all of the park on foot, if you like. It’s a large park but most of it is lake, so although I didn’t have a boat, I can see why so many people visit just for the fishing. The park is on a series of islands in Lake Murray and so there’s an enormous amount of shoreline, countless coves and plenty of peninsulas.

During my time at Dreher Island I created eleven needle felted landscapes, one mixed media fiber art landscape, two small paintings, and two series of painted pendants, all inspired by the natural beauty around the lake and forest. I loved the way the color of the lake depended on the sky, and one of my favorite color observations was the shock of orange at the shore where the water meets the red clay.

A huge thank you to South Carolina State Parks for selecting me for this program - it’s an honor! And thank you to Dreher Island State Park for hosting me for the week - I really enjoyed it! South Carolina really is a beautiful state and we are lucky to have so many parks to visit. I can easily find inspiration in all of them!

I hope you enjoy this short recap video of my week and all pieces are now available at www.onceagainsam.com