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|  Sharon
Costello is an accomplished fiber artist who has worked in hand-spinning,
weaving, and knitting as well as having raised her own flock of naturally
colored sheep. Once she discovered feltmaking, however, it quickly came to
dominate her fiber fixation. These days, Sharon's work focuses on soft-sculpture
dolls and one of a kind and limited-edition wearable art... hats, jackets, bags, boots, etc. She sells her work at
her own gallery, Mill Cottage, and at juried crafts shows throughout the region. She has also completed special works for clients such as Celestial Seasonings Teas (a tea cozy inspired by their line of teas).Sharon is an accomplished feltmaking teacher. She offers classes for adults and children through private arrangement, fiber arts guilds and regularly scheduled workshops. She has studied modern and ancient feltmaking techniques both in the US and in Turkey. Feltmaking is the most ancient form of fiber art dating as far back as 6,300 BC. In the 19th century, there was a thriving feltmaking industry in Rensselaerville. One can still find the remains of the Huyck Felt Mill just over the footbridge within the Huyck Nature Preserve. It is quite fitting that a new breed of feltmaker (one focusing on the artistic rather than the industrial uses of felt) would make her home in this historic village. |