Thanks so much for joining me in these Felt Explorations!
Click on the image for each workshop for full information.
Fibre + Paper runs from October 25 – November 17, 2024.
Paper felted with wool fibres creates a wonderful new surface and structure in the felt. This is a beautiful and unusual combination of materials that combines traditional Korean Joomchi papermaking techniques, with traditional felting. The new, integrated surfaces are full of texture and have a sculptural quality and hand in the textile. Read More HERE!
Creative Sparks runs from July 1 – July 22, 2024.
At this time in feltmaking, we have so many bright, exciting techniques to choose from, but that choice can also be paralyzing, keeping us from engaging with making. This project looks at working with simple techniques and familiar materials, but in a playful and exploratory way. Perfect for uplifting us out of a creative slump, or as a simple reminder to play with design and enjoy the process! Appropriate for both new and experienced feltmakers. We explore 16 creative prompts while looking lightly at the colour wheel and colour work, forms, and repetition, adding small touches with common materials that in the end create a beautiful, harmonious set of felt tiles. Each prompt can be taken beyond this project and used to add creative sparks to any felt project. This is a guided, mentored workshop. Click on the image above for full details! Read more HERE!
Raised Surfaces Online runs from September 1 – September 21, 2024.
Read More HERE!
Raised Surfaces create great textural dimension through the construction of felt forms that rise up and over the surface of our felt. By repeating these forms, we establish a strong sense of movement, creating felt canopies of leaves or waves, a floating garden of felt or silk blossoms, or dancing, twisting bone-like structures. Click on the image for full details!
PaperFelt Illuminated coming in January 2025!
Wool and paper layered together produce a unique and inspiring textile that illuminates more beautifully than other combinations. Paper adds structure to the felt while allowing for a light wool layout, creating a warm translucency. The paper enhances the textural and sculptural qualities of the felt. When illuminated the light has a honey coloured glow. When unlit, the surface is matte and white, like porcelain. Read More HERE!
Previously Offered Online Workshops:
There are so many exciting surfaces we can create by manipulating prefelt.
I’m really excited to share these easy-to-create textures in this Zoom based workshop. These surface textures require no resists and no sewing, only knots and folds, some very sharp and crisp and others more fluid and organic. They work together beautifully with a great range of dimensions and unity created through the simple palette. This palette emphasizes the textures and shadows they create. Read More HERE!
Mark making and printing on textiles are excellent ways to personalize your work. Any style can be used, from abstract bold lines, to drawings, to text. Click on the image for full details! Read More HERE!
Join me in a short but enriching study in blending colour using fibres and fabrics! When you chose to go beyond working in single colours, it can be hard to know or decide what colours to use in combination, especially when looking at silk fabrics and wools, and trying to imagine what would be best for your project. This short study works through a wide range of these possibilities, giving you a wonderful and beautiful set of references to help you make those colour decisions in your future projects. Read More HERE!
Feltmaking is a fibre art form that allows for the greatest exploration of surface design within a single medium. This workshop is a study in many combinations of felting and surface design, each implemented at different times through the felting process. Layering different wool breeds for effect, nuno quilting in silks and cottons, protrusions, spikes, shibori shaping, slashes and holes, carving, pencil rovings, prefelts, pockets, resists, inclusions, stitching during and after……This is a very dynamic, explorative class- full of energy, ideas and inspiration. Read More HERE!
Creative Colour- An Introduction to Dyeing
Have you always wanted to learn how to dye your own silk fabrics and wool fibres? In this class, you will learn the basics of acid dyeing on protein fibres, to get gorgeous colours in hand-dyed materials that are unique to you! I’ve designed this class to introduce you to this beautiful world of colour, with the smallest possible investment in tools and materials. We cover all the basics. Read More HERE!
As the foundation for all of our other composition decisions, having a strong relationship with colour is very important. It is usually the first thing we see when we look at an artwork, and one of the first choices we make as we start on a project. In this class, we explore colour comprehensively, passionately and personally! Read More HERE!
Felt Garment 1- The Versatile Vest
This vest is a unique and flattering wardrobe staple for all seasons. Our project is a simple, but always flattering vest, made flat, and reversible. It can be worn in a multitude of ways creating different draping and collars to suit every body type. Perfect for layering, and customized to your own sizing and colour preferences. We will cover aspects of colourwork, design, and nuno felting while creating these fabulous pieces of wearable art. This project introduces simple measurements to ensure good fit. Read More HERE!
The capelet is a very elegant but simple layering garment. Perfect for 3 seasons and great on its own or over a sweater or coat. We’ll work with more body measurements to create a capelet sized for you. In this project, we also discuss more directional felting to shape a garment for perfect fit. This capelet style is simple, but works on almost all body types, and is a great canvas to take your surface design, embellishing and composition further! Read More HERE!
Felt Garment: Custom Fit Construction
Design and Construct a custom fit felt garment! Project suggestions include making a vest, tunic or dress. You will learn how to use measurements to draft a resist to any size, plus layout and felting for shaping. This piece can be fully fitted or flared for a flattering, comfortable fit by using one of the three variations- resist extensions, godets or box pleats. You can choose what type of garment you make. Suggested projects include fitted vests, long or short, vests with drape and flow, skirts, tunics and dresses. Read More HERE!
Dimensional felting involves using resists to create seamless hollow forms, in any shape you desire. This technique is commonly used to make vessels, slippers, hats, clothing, sculptural works as well as one of our favourites – bags! Beautiful, unique, and durable. A bag can be created in any size or shape and is a great canvas for experimenting with new surface techniques. We will cover resist making, measuring, shaping, shaping and finishing, all while making your own personalized, functional art. Read More HERE!
In feltmaking we give much attention to our wool layouts, our forms and shapes, and our surface design and embellishment. Very little attention is given to the edges of our felt. This workshop explores a multitude of techniques to add excitement, visual interest and movement to the edges of your felt. These can be applied to scarves and wraps, garments on collars, cuffs and hems, bag flaps, wall hangings and vessels. We explore 18 ideas from the classical, to the bold, to the whimsical. Read More HERE!