Tricia Rasku is a fibre artist, soap maker and photographer. She is married with a very supportive husband, 3 grown children, and a samoyedX dog who provides oodles of fur.
Weaving began after a trip to Finland when she discovered that items could be handwoven on fairly accessible looms by most people. She was particularly attracted by the rugs and wall hangings and has made many rugs of her own since. She also was intrigued by the idea of making items of clothing. She bought a loom, took lessons and has been weaving ever since. She makes rugs, blankets, towels, scarves and clothing.
Several years later, a guild weaver friend offered a spinning wheel. Tricia had thought she would learn to spin at some time, but not yet. The price for the wheel was attractive so she began spinning, taking the Master Spinner programme through Olds College, Alberta. Six wheels later, she continues to spin frequently.
Felting began indirectly as a part of the spinning programme because she had a project to apply wool to a piece of jute. Not really wanting to embroider a design, she learned to make felt flowers which she attached to the jute. She also discovered that felting used up fleece at a much faster rate than spinning. She continues to felt often, making hats, scarves, landscapes. She does both traditional felting and some needle felting.
Dyeing has been a major part of the spinning, weaving and felting since the beginning and she particularly enjoys using weak acid dyes although she has done a research paper on Lichen Dyeing and occasionally uses other natural dyes, especially cochineal and local weeds.
Tricia has been interested in photography since she received a Brownie Box camera at the age of 12. She has progressed through 35mm, Single Lens Reflex and now to Digital Photography. She is still learning and finds that all activities mean there is still more to learn.
Soap making came along as a result of her husband shooting a bear about 30 years ago. Tricia did not want to throw out the fat so she went to the library and borrowed a book, rendered the fat and made some wonderful soap. She has not bought soap since and offers classes in soap making. Now the fats used are vegetable oils.