Native Wool Workshop

On Saturday 22nd March 12 lucky felters were on a workshop with Gail Cooke as the tutor,the topic was a bag using native wool! Above is the pack that the felters received. The pack contained: jacob wool fibres, Shetland wool fibres, Linen/cotton scrim, Habotai light silk, Blue faced Leicester scoured and Kid mohair scoured, an interesting bag of materials!!

Gail had produced four fabulous bags as inspiration for everyone. The range was great and gave everyone a good choice, suiting all levels of felting abilities! As some were more advanced incorporating the silk and linen to the outside flap.

The textures of the wool although not obvious in these photos was amazing.

Some comments received

"Gail was very helpful explaining each stage" 

"Excellent workshop taught members a great deal about different types of wool and fabric. outstanding course so glad I decided to do it!!"

"Learned an abundance of techniques with new materials!"

I hope the girls will bring their bags on the 5th April so we can see the finished results!

Remember the felt in is on the 5th April and please bring along an item in a sea theme for display on our stand at the Creative Craft Show, in Belfast!

Look forward to seeing you all on the 5th April at 10.15 in Hillsborough Village Hall!

Wonderful Yarns

We had a great morning with Sarah, introducing us to the technique of adding wool into our felt. Sarah is a spinner and weaver, and brought along some of her beautiful yarns. The above picture is wool she had dyed using Kool-aid drink, the colours were amazing but I dread to think what it would do to your insides if drunk!!

Above some of Sarah fabulous yarns all hand spun. you can find her on the internet under Spiderling Creations!

Sarah is showing us here a window in the felt that just contains wool yarn and makes very interesting textured piece!

After a quick demonstration we were all keen to being experimenting!

The top photo is a beautiful scarf with felbi and wool yarn in the lace part which creates an area of interest.

Some of the finished samples, all different and everyone

 had great fun under the relaxed tuition of Sarah! A great morning was 

enjoyed by all!

Please remember that next months felt in is on Saturday 5th April (because of Easter) and we will be making a bracelet with Deirdre. The closing date for jeanette Sendler is 31st March so there is still time check out workshop/felt in section of Blog! 

Look forward to seeing you all soon and those of you on Gails bag workshop have fun I know you will, Im only sorry I cant do it!!

Fiona Harvey

Wooley Wonders

There are two treats in store for us this month! On Saturday 15th March Sarah will be showing us how to introduce wool yarn into our felting! So bring along your usual felting kit and some wool yarn to add in! 

The following Saturday, (22nd) twelve lucky people are spending the day with Gail making a bag using native wool with a few wee extra interesting things in their packs, which are included in the price of the workshop!

April is a very busy month for Feltmakers North!
The April meeting is early and is being held on the 5th April, which is being taken by Deirdre, when we will be making a bracelet! 
Feltmakers North is taking a stand at The Creative Craft Show in Belfast, where we will be exhibiting our work, and also taking workshops each day!!
To complete the hat trick of activities for April, we have the lovely Jeannette from Scotland, taking two one day workshops (check out the workshop felt in section for details) Applications for Jeannettes workshop have to be in by the end of March so dont miss out! 
Look forward to seeing you on Saturday at 10.15 am !! 
Fiona Harvey

February Flowers!

                                    Elaine Mc Combe took our felt in showing us how to make flowers. 

                         Elaine showing us how to needle felt petals on to a circle backing of the flower!

                                               Elaine cutting out petal piece from felted squares.

                     Work in progress and the new layout of tables worked well, encouraging the chat!

                                    Finished articles-plenty of different shaped and coloured flowers!

Barbara Finlay

In the afternoon we had free felting, where you can just use the room and felt what you fancy! This was well attended and a successful venture which we will have again. everyone seemed to enjoy felting in the room which is open and well let with like minded people! Next month Sarah will be taking the felt in using spun wool in felt, Sarah is an enthusiastic spinner, weaver and felt making, she is tremendous fun, so we are looking forward to another fun morning!

Applications are available for the next three workshops, watch you dont miss the closing dates!

Workshop News!

Application forms are now available for our next three exciting workshops, the first being for members only with our very own Gail Cooke on March 22nd!

For the second and third workshops we are bringing Jeanette Sendler over from Scotland for two one day workshops on Monday 14th April and Tuesday 15th April, check out workshop section for more details. 

If you would like to apply for any of these workshops apply to Ann at 
amccullough1949@gmail.com 

Bumpy start to January!

Dorothy Dinsmore got us off to a bumpy start in January, by adding bumps to our felt, using marbles, glass pebbles or buttons! She had a great range of samples to inspire and illustrate the technique!

Dorothy's amazing samples, in which she had used various aids to make a range of shapes.

The turnout was terrific so much so we had to change the layout of the room, however we Felt it was taking us back to our school days, so we have a better plan for next month!

A very handsome visitor who popped in to see us and ended up joining in!

Work in progress, the plaiting bands are still in place!

This is the technique where the beads are enclosed between lays of wool, which gives great texture.

January was an extended felt in , which meant that people could apply to stay for the afternoon session, During the afternoon Dorothy gave her gentle instruction on how to use this technique on a scarf!

Here are some photos of the afternoon session and comments from the evaluation sheets!

"Enjoyed the workshop, plenty of samples and ideas to inspire members"

"Teacher supportive while also suggesting areas to improve"

"Excellent value for money"

"Excellent course standard and teacher support"

"love to learn new techniques, enjoyed everything"

"Have attended several workshops and each one gets better!"

"More advanced classes please"

We have some very exciting workshops coming up in March and April! Firstly our very own Gail Cooke will be taking a workshop using native wool to make a bag. This workshop is being sponsored by Feltmakers North and will be for members only! Applications forms will be available from Ann soon, keep an eye on the workshop felt in page.

On 14th and 15th of April we are having the lovely Jeannette Sendler from Scotland, she is taking two one day workshops, so at least if you cannot manage two days you could apply for one of the workshops! We have been successful in our request for funding from The Lisburn Arts Advisory Committee, which is a tremendous help as it enables us to offer workshops at a reasonable price!

I will keep you posted about application forms and prices as soon as I can! So keep checking the blog!

Finally we look forward to seeing you all in February, when Elaine will making felt flowers with us in the morning then there is free felting in the afternoon when you can use the room to felt, there will be no tutor just fun felting! this is free for members and £3 for non members! Dont forget to bring along any felt items that you have made recently for the show and tell!

See you on the 15th February at 10.15 am

fiona harvey. 

Many Thanks to Gail for the photos of the afternoon session! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I have added to the workshop/felt in page all the dates for 2014, so you can pop them in your diary! There are some exciting workshops and felt ins planned although not all are confirmed yet, however as soon as they are I will let you know!

For January extended Felt in, Dorothy will be teaching us how to add bumps to our felt, in the morning. Then in the afternoon the lucky people who have applied for a place and been successful, will put this new knowledge in to practice and make a scarf, with bumps! 

If you are attending either the felt in or coming for the day you will need to bring, some flower pebbles, or marbles or flat buttons, we will provide elastic bands to secure these. Also bring your usual felting kit and for those in the afternoon session bring extra wool to make the scarf. 

We are looking forward to seeing you and having more fun felting together!

Thanks to Dan Corbett for the photo above of a former workshop.

Felt in Saturday 18th January Hillsborough Village Centre, starting at 10.15 am!

Fiona Harvey