a life of felt

Posts Tagged ‘past workshops’

Cushion workshop

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Just a quickie, but I thought you’d like to see the photos from the cushion workshop this month.


As Jill was a first time felter she chose to make just the front panel for the cushion and this landscape is wonderful. It was inspired by Andrea Hunter’s felt pictures of sheep and the curly wensleydale locks on the sheep really works.

Liz has produced a 3D cushion cover in an envelope style. This abstract use of colour and all the textures gives it a real feeling of movement and Liz felted it to size perfectly. Well done ladies!

New felters

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Last Friday saw the mixed media workshop taking place and everyone was a new felter, not that you can tell from how well they made felt. We did use some crochet, rag rugging and weaving in the workshop but quite a lot of texture too, pre-felts, silk, fabrics and even a little low relief work. A busy day.

Keep up the good work ladies,I’m sure you’ll be making more felt. It was a pleasure to meet you

Summer rug making workshop

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

It doesn’t seem a year since my last felt rug workshop, the time has flown by. The weather has been fantastic for us and we managed to do quite a lot of the work outside once the wool was wet. Each rug began with what most people think is the best part of rug making, laying out the design. For those who did double sided rugs this began and ended with a pattern. Each rug looked gorgeous and fluffy like the one below.

Then of course we had to begin working on them. After wetting the fibres, we rubbed to set the design then began the rolling. We rolled with hands, with feet and with ropes. After this we beat the rug with stones and my special tamper tool,which my husband had to repair after day one thanks to Demolition Debs, just kidding Debs. Not content with that we also walked on it to compress it.

So it was lots of work, lots of water, lots of good company and lot and lots of sunshine. Here’s how they all turned out.

They are fantastic and you wouldn’t believe that two of the creators are novice felt makers. We also wrote a communal toast to our rugs.

May it tickle my toes gently

May it bring sunshiney memories

May mother and daughter share it happily

May the cat love it not scratch it

May it fit by the side of the bed

May it last many years

Margaret has been kind enough to send me the following feedback and picture. ” My rug has been safely delivered to the Relax-U massage room. My friend Lynne was delighted, the colours were perfect and she loved the design. We are going to put a plaque on the wall to describe what wools it is made of, and we thought a felt rug was very appropriate for a massage room as both involve heat and movement. Lynne gave me a free massage as she was so pleased, and it did indeed tickle my toes gently – it is so soft. Haven’t had so much fun giving a present in ages – or been so exhausted producing it!”

Some of the pictures are courtesy of Jennifer who also had this to say “Thank you for a wonderful weekend. I learnt a lot as usual and also really enjoyed myself.” Our novice felt makers survived and were also happy, “Thank you for an absolutely brilliant weekend. I really enjoyed it (I know Debs did too), and we learnt an awful lot, both being absolute beginners. My hubby (and the neighbours) are very impressed with my rug which was hung outside in the garden to continue drying when I got home. I’m sure we’ll be back for more”

Thanks for a great weekend ladies

Felt for your home workshop

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

It was a exceptionally warm and sunny day last Thursday which meant we managed to get out and eat our lunch in the churchyard. A pleasant change indeed.

We had a variety of items being made all of which can be used in the home. These first two are table runners. the first inspired by the bark of a silver birch tree and the second by a black and white cat in the hope the hairs won’t be noticed on this one!

This second set comprise; a wallhanging, table mat and tea cosy. You can just imagine the smile the tea cosy would bring to your face at breakfast it’s so sunny.

These last ones are obviously vases, the first set hand modelled and the second modelled around a beaker giving them a crisper outline. Really lovely colours used on these.

Margaret was also kind enough to give the following feedback “thank you for a great workshop yesterday. I really enjoyed myself!! My runner will look really handsome on the dresser (once I declutter it of course!) ” Well done all.

Textile Art Pool workshop

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

This is the final one of my three workshops for Textile Art Pool a cheerful creative bunch of ladies dedicated to textiles. Their main activity is quilting but they like to broaden their work and incorporate new skills where they can. Our focus for the day was texture although some preferred to focus on pictoral work.

We used; net vegetable bags, throwsters silk waste, cotton wool, recycled plastic fibres, crystal organza, muslin, hessian and ropes from old blinds to create the textures. As usual, the ladies were enthusiastic, creative and supplied me with a fbaulous lunch. My thanks to you all.

Mixed media workshop

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

A great day with some fabulous work produced. We incorporated rag rugging, weaving, crochet and knitting into the felt for added texture and some low relief. The youngest participant was just thirteen but she was also one of the most productive participants!

A really interesting workshop producing some interesting work I think.