Playful Elegance: The Felt of Ruth Spencer

I first saw the Ruth Spencer’s feltwork at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco back when I was just getting into the business.

Her exceptional sense of playful color, modern shape and refined elegance was a source of awe, leaving an indelible impression on me as a new feltmaker.

Last week, I received an email from Ruth with the sad news that she was putting her bubble wrap away and was retiring from felting.

Her creative voice will be dearly missed from the dialogue of felt fashion and design, but I know that this is the opening of a new chapter for her work.

I’ve wanted to write a post about Ruth and her work for many years now and could never find images of her neckpieces online anywhere.

I hope you will enjoy these images that she sent me and share my feelings of  admiration and respect for her contribution to the art of felting.