Vicki Liske Answers Five Questions About Her Art

Alpaca farmer and fiber artist Vicki Liske is a weaver, felter, and  knitter. For more information on her family run farm and store visit: www.outstandingdreamsfarm2.com/

What is your first fiber memory?

My first memory of fiber goes back about 8 years when I first saw and touched an alpaca. I was not brought up in a family of ladies who knit or crochet. I was only taught how to sew.  When my husband Phil convinced  me to get into the alpaca business we started visiting farms and  I was totally blown away by the items people were making from the fiber of alpacas. Beautiful things such as scarves, sweaters, hats, gloves….and so much more. Everything made from them was so soft and warm…. But I never thought for one minute that I would ever learn to make anything from this beautiful fiber. Little did I know.

Who got you started in the fiber arts and what technique did you learn?

I guess I would have to say that it was my husband who got me started. The first year we sheared our five  alpacas was very exciting. Of course I realize we had nothing to do with how beautiful it was….that was just what nature gave them.  But when we sent the  fiber to a small mill and had it turned into yarn, this was the real beginning in fiber. When it came back, it was like Christmas when we were opening the box. That was when Phil looked at me and said,” I think you need to learn to do something with all this yarn.”  I just responded with… “Like What? ”

By then I had met a lot of people who knew how to knit . My dear friend Nancy, who had just retired, suggested  I go with her to take knitting lessons….so I did. My first project was a scarf that I ripped out twenty one times before it finally became a scarf. Thanks to Nancy Eash for not letting me give up on that project and kept talking me into going to knitting class. Since then I have learned to do things I never thought I could do! Knitting, needle felting, wet felting and weaving. I learned so much about the felting end of fiber art from another dear friend, Jackie Mathiason. She is a great teacher and really taught me a lot.

 What drew you to the techniques you have now mastered?

I guess it is my love for our alpacas and their beautiful fiber that drew me to learn more and more new techniques and new things to do with their fiber. I also wanted to learn to make different kinds of items to sell in our alpaca farm store.

What does fiber art mean to you?

This is a hard question to answer….. but  I know it means a lot to me. It can be a way to express yourself.  To be able to complete something that I have made with my hands and my knowledge. I am a hairstylist by trade and I always thought of it as a type of art. After forty years of doing hair I always say that my favorite thing to hear from a customer is, “ Looks Great, I LOVE IT”  And now when I complete a fiber arts project I find that It also means a lot to me to hear…”Wow that is so good, I really like that.” To me Fiber Arts means, something that can make you feel good about yourself.  So I  guess the answer to this question is;  Fiber Arts means a great deal to me!

Where do you want your fiber art to go in the future?

I want to continue to learn more about fiber arts.  And one day be able to have more free time in my life to do more with it. I enjoy our alpacas and their wonderful fiber,  and hopefully someday I can fill our Alpaca Farm Store with many more different Fiber Art items !