Lee Charlton is the artist/owner at Felting Farmer Lady where she creates sculptures with wool, spins, and knits. She also sells hand-dyed fibers, roving, and handspun yarns for other fiber enthusiasts.
She lives on a small homestead farm in Central Texas with her husband and a host of critters.
1. Why did you move to Elgin?
We moved to Bastrop County in 1985 along with a group of friends when we found a most beautiful spot of land in the western part of the county. It just happened to be in the Elgin ISD. We raised 3 children here, all of whom attended the Elgin public schools. In 2005 we bought a sweet little farm just south of Elgin which we share with 2 sheep, a pig, 3 donkeys, an old bull, 4 dogs and a cat. The farm welcomes all sorts of visitors and especially the grandchildren.
2. What compels you to spend time creating?
I am not one that holds still well and love when my hands are busy. Taking wool and creating beauty just fills my heart, it’s plain and simple.
3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.
I have always done crafty things but until I retired in 2011, had never attempted an art form that needed to be developed over time. In the last five years I have learned to keep at it over and over and over again until what is in my mind communicates with what my hands create and the result pleases me. I have learned how to run a small business, all sorts of social media promotional stuff that is a pain but necessary and tackled creating a website which I am quite proud of.
4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?
Hmmm, I have to divide my time between creating product for my on-line business (I sell wool to others who do needle felting and spinning so process a lot of raw wool by washing and dyeing) and my own creating. Needle felting is creating sculptures with wool. I also spin yarn, knit and most recently, have dived into botanical printing. Botanical printing is a process that draws out the tannins from leaves onto wool/silk and cotton fabrics. I use natural dyes to modify these prints as well.
This time of year I am busy planning upcoming workshops, doing taxes and all the fiddly stuff one has to do. I have several large projects swirling in my head that I want to tackle this year. Spring will be a lovely time to get started.
5. Cake or Pie?
Pie! A good apple pie is the essence of life.
Bean & Noodle 