Dawn Edwards workshop

Hello everyone! I am just wondering how I am going to condense all I want to say about this workshop, as there is so much to tell! Those of you who know Dawn will know what I am talking about, Dawn Edwards is a wonderful tutor and person. We had such fun learning from her, with such a lovely relaxed and calm atmosphere!

Before the workshop started I presented her with her prize for our photographic competition!

Of course it was a sheep!

After an informative demonstration, we were all dying to get started, so we selected our wool and prepared our resists!

 Laying out the fibres.

Dorothy was almost submerged under a pile of fibre at one point, but survived and produced a beautiful vessel!

Leah working hard!

As with every group, we have some colourful characters and this is reflected in their work! I wonder can our members work out who made this one??

Hard at work!

Of course a wee coffee break was important!

The completed pieces lined up!

Elaine Mc Combe made this fabulous swirl design on her vessel.

A very happy, creative and fun bunch of felt makers!

Happy Chairperson Ann McCullough at the end of an extremely successful workshop with Dawn Edwards.

Just a wee quick reminder about our AGM which is on Saturday 21st May, for all the members, we will get through the business asap then there will be a talk on Silk by Gail Cooke and Fiona Harvey. Lunch is included and we will also have our first bring and buy!! So you will be able to stock up on the must needs for felting !!

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Fiona Harvey

Bags and Bags!!

Some of the wool Elaine Mc Combe and I bagged up today for the summer workshop and sales table! In total 8 kilos, I don't think this photo does the size of the pile justice! I left the mug in to show the size better?

We have a choice of 29 different colours!!

I am really doing another post as I put the date of Agm down incorrectly in the last post, so THE AGM is 21st MAY for members only!

Hope all these lovely colours inspire you!

Fiona Harvey 

On a Roll!

Elaine McCombe took the felt in for us this month, she had brought along some of her machine knitted fabric or substrate. We had a very informative morning learning how to unravel the knitted fabric to create interesting shapes and textures within our felt!

The technique of unravelling was great to learn and made the process easier, we really caused the knitting to ladder! 

Elaine had brought along some exciting and inspiring pieces of work, which helped spark the creative juices!

                                          Elaine's vessels.

This was the knitted fabric once it had been unravelled, all ready to be incorporated into the felted sample.

Once Elaine had finished her demonstration everyone was keen to start work! The variety of work was tremendous with everyone inspiring everyone else!

Mandy (the prefelt queen) had used a few prefelts to give a structured effect!

Liz had brought some of her knitting wool, this gave a beautiful effect!

Some of the samples created during the morning!

In the show and tell Bronwen modelled her beautiful scarf that she had made with Gail on the nuno lattice scarf workshop!

Feltmakers North is definitely on a roll with yet another wonderful Felt in! There were a lot of happy felt makers leaving the village hall on Saturday!!

Now we have our Photographic competition results!!!!

Thank you to everyone who sent photos in we were delighted with the response, the committee voted on the ten finalist and the winner is....

Dawn Edwards

With this wonderful picture of Drenthe Heath sheep at Schaapskooi in Balloo Rolde.

Second place was awarded to Joanne Nordman for this lovely photo!

I will be posting some of the other entries over the next few posts!

The next event on our calendar is Dawn Edwards workshop at the beginning of May, then it is shortly followed by our AGM on 21st May, so busy times ahead.

Just before I go there is one space on the Dawn Edwards workshop on 7th and 8th May, also one space on Liz Clay workshop in July! 

Keep Felting.

Fiona Harvey

Another Great Morning with Dorothy!

It was a chilly but pleasant day last day of winter and 25 of us gathered at the village hall in Hillsborough for some felting fun! This month, our own Dorothy Dinsmore was showing us how to make ropes and spikes. The ever inspirational Dorothy brought in many beautiful samples to show us the techniques. But first the Show and Tell.

Many members of the group attended Gail's recent lattice scarf workshop so there were some lovely examples to show everyone.Those who did not attend the workshop were so impressed that there were several requests for Gail to do this workshop again! Other items for the show and tell included Sarah's lovely spun wool from Portland breed that is unsuitable for felting, but spins beautifully.

Barbara's scarf from Gail's workshop!

There was also a silk hanky scarf made by Dympna. Ann McCullough modelled a scarf made by Dorothy. Gail also showed us the pieces that she made at an eco dying workshop in Dublin recently.

                                   Lots of talent on display!

Dorothy gave us a demonstration of how to make cords and spikes and we all set to work using our favourite colours and wools. The end result was a variety of items from long cords that could be used as necklaces to spiky samples. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I am sure they were inspired to add spikes and cords to their future work.

Elaine spoke briefly about the session next month, which will involve a knitted substrate. We are all intrigued to find out more.
Jane Fox.

Thank you Jane for doing the write up on the Felt in I was very sorry to have missed it! 
The application forms are now out for the Liz Clay workshop in July, so if you didn't receive one and would like one email at feltmakersnorth@gmail.

Cute wee local sheep and lambs!

Although this Mum was a bit cross with me and was stamping her foot, I think she was camera shy!

Finally we got a mention on the famous nuno felting website Nuno felted designs by Nancy E Schwab, which was lovely I love her blog too, packed with information and great tips! 

See you all at April felt in and remember this is your last chance to enter our Sheep photographic competition, the finalist photographs will be used on the blog in the coming months. 

Happy Felting!
Fiona Harvey

Lattice Nuno Scarf!

This colourful workshop was taken by our very own Gail Cooke, and here are some of her beautiful samples!

Gail explaining the lattice scarf technique.

Explaining the importance of planning spacing of silk.

Gail explaining how to work out the width of lattice effect.

Laying of wool lattice enclosing silk.

                                 Concentration!!!!

Tina helping Leah with her layout.

Deirdre working on her design.

Helen and Dorothy hard at work.

Will I or won't I??? Decision time for Sharon.

Gail and Bronwen checking layout.

Happy girls- Dympna and Jayne.

Barbara happy with her choice of colours!

Sarah completing her lay.

Gail demonstrating the gentle rubbing needed to start the felting process.

Bronwen working on her scarf.

Sharon smiling as she works!

Working on tassel/fringes.

Example of tassels and use of silk to finish end of scarf.

Incorporation of silk into lattice.

Dympna with lovely scarf.

Dorothy looks pleased with her scarf.

Ann Mc Cullough 

I would like to thank Ann Mc Cullough for her pictures and comments on Gail's workshop, which looks as if it was great fun with fabulous results! I look forward to seeing some of these scarves at the next felt in. Talking of which the next felt in is Saturday 19th March starts with coffee at 10.15, Dorothy will be out tutor and its a surprise Felt in, so just bring your usual felting kit!

Mother's love,

Have a good week end. Fiona Harvey