Maggie’s Penny Runner, RMF pattern

As a self taught Artist, Susan experienced early on the creative rewards of working with your hands. Mother and Grandmother taught skills of knitting, crochet and hand sewing. During the 1960’s a make-do attitude was acquired through Girl Scouting and rural living in north-western New Jersey.

After college and degrees in Art and History, she owned the Church Door Gallery, in Califon, NJ, representing regional artists, and specializing in custom picture framing. Not until her early 40’s did the medium of rughooking awaken a visual interpretation for designing. Her works of art were solely created by “painting” with wool, hooking one strip at a time for fifteen years.  The journey continues to this day, connecting traditional craft with contemporary experiences by incorporating all the handwork skills she learned into art for the walls. Instructing, promoting, networking with fellow fiber artists adds to the growth of her work.

Observing as you travel through

Viewing examples of Susan’s art, may lead you to wonder how one person could be the creator of abstract scenes of nature and structured folk art patterns.  The beauty of West Virginia is her inspiration for shapes, values and textured pieces. “Maggie’s Runner” on the other hand is a balanced rughooking pattern made for Ruckman Mill Farm and works up easily using the meditative therapy of repetitive hooking.

An isolationist at heart, Feller reaches out to fellow fiber artists professionally, socially and as a mentor but needs to come back to the studio and farm to re-energize.  With her partner, Jim Lilly, “Bob” the cats and the flock of fowl to entertain them, a simple living has heightened their senses.  Color, shape, patterning and textures are becoming more important as the seasons change.

 “Working with fibers, connects me with generations of artisans’ spirits.  Due to the slow, repetitive process, there is time to dwell on the natural subjects in my art and the materials selected.  Now living in West Virginia, I have come full circle – back to the farm, and rural lifestyle of my youth.”       

In studio with Progress in the Mountains and McDonald Sisters display

Susan L. Feller
PO Box 409,
Augusta, WV 26704     

304-496-8073

email  rugs2wv@gmail.com   to select original artwork, contact for speaking or instruction and networking