FAST Member Interview- Linda of Engelfelt Designs
If you’re a member of FAST and would like to be featured in the weekly interview, visit this thread in the yahoo group to get the questions, then send your answers (and a picture or two if you’d like) to me at merigreenleaf[at]yahoo.com (or a convo to merigreenleaf). These will be posted in the order I receive them.
What is your name?
Hi! I’m Linda
What is your Etsy shop? Does your shop name have a meaning?
Engelfelt Designs is my shop. The first part was my Danish grandmother’s name, which also happens to mean “Angel”. The second part is one of my new passions, as you can see in my listings.
Besides your Etsy shop, do you sell anywhere else? Do you have a website or blog?
I sell locally within the state, at craft fairs and through word of mouth. No blog, yet. I’m Engelfelt on ravelry.
How long have you been making art/crafting? What was the first thing you remember making?
Since I was about 5 or 6. My first big project was a woven pillow in blue and gray (flying geese design) at age 8, followed by a pair of knitted yellow soakers for my baby sister.
What kind of fiber arts do you do? If different from the previous question, what was the first fiber art thing you made?
In the last year and a half, I have discovered the joys of felting and creating items using recycled sweaters. I make dozens of felted soaps each week, which have become a big hit in the shops where I sell them, as well as my recycled cashmere fingerless gloves, stuffed bunnies, tea cozies and pin cushions.
What’s your favorite thing to make?
I love surveying my stash of handspun yarns, and dreaming up a new design for a scarf or cowl. I rarely make the same thing twice. What drives me is to create something new, that I have never made before.
(Click the below link to read the rest of the interview and see more pictures)
What do you think is the strangest or most unusual fiber arts item you have made or been asked to make?
So many years, so many items, but I think today I will choose a Christmas present I made for the same baby sister, when she was about 5. I collected tiny figurines and toys and wound them into a huge yarn ball, so when she unwound it, the toys were slowly revealed. I planned it for months and months. She loved it.
Where is the craziest or most interesting place you’ve ever crocheted, knitted, felted, spun yarn, etc?
I have crocheted and knitted all over the world in every possible place. Planes, trains, automobiles, in castles, on beaches, at bus stops, railway stations, in school, on safari…….
What is your favorite place to work?
Where I am right now, in my chair in the corner of my studio, looking out at my summer garden.
What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from?
My mother is my main inspiration. She sewed, knitted and crocheted most of the clothes for her five children while we were growing up, and countless Barbie outfits as well. At age 84, she is still sewing quilts, making lavender wands, knitting college hats for her grandchildren. She is amazing.
I lived in an African colony as a child, and a large part of our schooling involved learning how to do all of the handwork and crafts that young ladies in British colonies were required to learn. Sometimes it was a painful process–our teachers were very…..ummm…. particular about our handwork!
What is your favorite color? Do you tend to work with that color, or do you find yourself working with other colors?
I love shades of blues, greens and purples, because it goes with my skin tones. However, the fun of creating for other people is that you can step outside of that and use colors you wouldn’t wear yourself. I have a brilliant skein of handspun staring at me right now in neon greens and pinks–can’t wait to use it!
Do you prefer a specific type of fiber?
I love merino and baby alpaca. Bamboo is nice, too.
Is there any other kind of art (fiber-related or not) that you’d like to learn?
Yes!! Spinning my own yarn! And I will learn it, when the time is right.
Tell us a bit about yourself- where do you live, what’s your job, do you have a spouse/children/pets, any other hobbies, that kind of thing.
I live in beautiful southern Oregon with my husband. We have two incredible boys who are grown up and living great lives of their own. I love to garden, travel, read, cook, bake. I am a language teacher by profession, so summer is my main time to do my Engelfelt thing.
Tell us one quirky thing about you (or one thing no one knows about you).
I can’t stand open cupboards or closet doors. I spend a lot of my day closing them. I don’t think my husband even knows this.
Do you have any advice for other fiber artists? Have any craft room, storage, or other tips?
For years I did not have much time to pursue my fiber passions, because I was too busy with my children and my career. I am enjoying a great phase of my life now where I have time again to follow my fiber dreams. So for you young mothers, take heart! There will be a time in your lives again where you can sit and create in peace and quiet. But then, you will miss your children, too. 
Organizing things neatly is not my forté. But I did recently recommission a green wooden shoe organizer into a yarn organizer. It works great for my overflowing stash!
Tags: etsyfast, member interview
September 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Your comments about your Mother are wonderful – reminds me so much of my Mom and Grandmother. The reason so many of these arts are being lost is because there’s not so much emphasis on teaching them to new generations now. My daughter was never interested, but rest assured my grand-daughter will learn. What a wonderful tribute your are to your Mom and to your own children for taking the time to learn and share. Great interview.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
“Engel” as we know her on Etsy is a fantastic person. A sneaky sneaker, encourager and team player. And know that I know more about her and her passions, I have an even greater admiration. Thanks for this great article. What an inspiration you are Linda.
September 19th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Linda, your obsession is exactly like my mother. She can not stand an open kitchen cabinet! She can’t watch tv or got to bed or anything, knowing that one is open. She MUST shut it. My husband pulled a prank on her once, he opened all of the kitchen cabinets while she was chatting with me. She found them open and was about to ring my little sister’s neck! Too funny! I wish that I had learned from my grandma, she was an amazing woman.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I just loved getting to know you better, Linda. What an amazing life. I feel very lucky to have you as a Sneak Teammate, and I feel very lucky you’re fast becoming a friend. I could spend hours perusing your lovely shop too- I highly recommend it, even for a quick sense of cozy-and-warm!! I might just go there now.