Little me with my first cat

Theresa Furrer Nine Lives Twine

My cat family: Lupe(21) Poppy & Fergus(10)

Theresa Furrer
​Nine Lives Twine
​Yup - that's my real name;)
 I am a professional fiber and textile artist — but above all, I am a creator. I love coloring outside the lines and pushing the boundaries of every piece I make.
Animals have been at the center of my heart for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, I was captivated by every creature I met — collecting feathers, honoring fallen birds with backyard burials, and instinctively sensing that all animals deserve dignity, remembrance, and love. That deep respect for life has shaped everything I do.
Today, I’ve blended that lifelong love with my creativity to build a thriving practice as an artisan spinner. I specialize in transforming pet hair into beautiful yarn, keepsakes, and memorial art. Over decades of experimenting with countless fibers and breeds, I’ve developed unique techniques in hand spinning, felting, and needle sculpting. My work has reached pet lovers all over the world, united by a shared language of love and devotion to animals. Incorporating a pet’s hair into a custom piece creates something profoundly personal — a way to honor their life and keep their presence close in a tangible, meaningful way.
I’ve worked with yarn for more than 40 years and have presented, demonstrated, and connected with pet parents at events across the United States. My clients have included some well-known animal personalities — but to me, every beloved pet is a star. A visit to Myanmar’s famed Lotus Weavers on Inle Lake, where artisans create rare lotus thread, deeply inspired me and reaffirmed my mission: to honor animals through the art I create with my hands and heart.

Much of my work centers on pet loss and memorial projects — pieces created to help heal hearts. Meeting people through Nine Lives Twine and hearing their stories of love and companionship is the greatest honor of my craft. These connections inspire me every day.
Outside the studio, I stay deeply involved in animal welfare. I care for and work to humanely manage a colony of feral cats, ensuring they are safe, loved, and no longer caught in the cycle of reproduction. I also volunteer with rescue goats and donkeys who help restore green spaces in our city by clearing invasive plants.
I share my home with my endlessly patient and supportive husband and more cats than I can count (though, as any cat lover knows, cat math always works out perfectly).