Community Member spotlight

Sue Zabel is the focus of our latest Community Member spotlight, she owns and operates The Jabber Shack and is heavily involved in her community. Sue and her husband are from Vancouver, Washington and moved to Cathlamet around nine years ago. They found our little slice of heaven through their fishing endeavors. For several years they were fishermen, renting a camping spot at the Marina and mooring their boat in the summers. After making their home in Cathlamet, Sue wanted to start a business. “Well, I’m a felter, and there were no felting supplies here.” Sue wanted to have a place where she and other felting artists could find the supplies they needed, without having to drive far or pay a higher price online and then wait for shipping. She quickly found that she could build a business around local creations. She started adding other items to sell such as wool and cotton yarn, which turned into a stock of several different types of yarn in every color.

The Jabber Shack was becoming a haven of local artisan products but Sue felt she needed to steer away from selling strictly Cathlamet-based products. “I didn’t want to be the same as everybody else.” he found a way to bring in products from artists all over Washington. When one takes a walk down the charming aisles of her shop they’ll find ceramic dishes, hand-dyed wool, hand-spun yarn, T-shirts and hats, knitted stuffed animals, locally made soaps and lotions, hand-made jewelry, U.S.-made greeting cards, wood art (hand-crafted by her husband, David), and so many more charming items. Even some small gourmet items can be found such as sipping vinegars from Toledo and sea salts from the San Juan Islands. Certain items, such as those on a specific jewelry rack or some tatting hats, can be purchased and 50-75% of the proceeds will go to the Wahkiakum Animal Advocacy Group, W.A.A.G. Sue is fully stocked with all the materials someone would need to get started on their yarn-spinning journey or follow in Sue’s passion: felt making. “You can literally make anything out of felt, a sculpture, a hat, a bowl, a scarf, a shirt, a coat,” says Sue, placing on the table some of the various items she’s made.

Sue’s work is not confined to only her shop, she’s also a very active member of the community. She is currently getting the local businesses involved in the third annual “Cup of Sunshine” food drive, trying to get as many donations as possible for the three food banks here in Wahkiakum County. “At one time in my heart, I said, well, if I ever get a chance I want to help make sure the food banks can always be [going],” Sue recalls, remembering a time in her life when her own family relied on the food banks. She is also an honorary trustee of the W.A.A.G. where she does all she can to help, including collecting donations and any items they need.

Some fun facts about Sue Zabel, “I love daisies, old rock n’ roll, and I never knew when I was little that I’d have a computer in my hand.” In the charming town of Cathlamet, Sue and her husband Dave were drawn in from the start and Sue explained what she loves the most about Wahkiakum County, “...the people. The people here are awesome… once your face starts getting known people know you by name. When you go down to the brewery people know you by name, go over to the pharmacy and they know me, you just feel at home here. This town is just awesome.” A few words of wisdom Sue leaves for the younger folks of Wahkiakum, “Remember, somebody else’s day may be worse than yours.” And “Never go to bed mad at your spouse, stay up and work it out.”