'Pine Needles' Nuno Felting

I spent an enjoyable (but hard work!) 2 days last week on a fantastic feltmaking course with Leiko Uchiyama as part of the International Feltmakers Association annual get-together at The Friars, Aylesbury. We used her 'pine needles' technique to make nuno-felted wraps and scarves.  It took about a day and a half to lay out the fleece (or 'pine needles' as Leiko calls it) in an intricate design, then half a day to do the wet-felting.  It was great to learn a new technique - it always amazes me how much variety there is in felting.  Here are a few photos of my work in progress and my finished scarf.

Feltmaking at Hever Castle, 13-15 September 2013

I'm back at Hever Castle in Kent this weekend at this year's Country Life at the Castle event, demonstrating feltmaking with a team of helpers (thank you everyone!).  There's lots else to see, including a quilt show, other craft demonstrations, local food to taste and things to buy.  I'll be demonstrating different types of feltmaking, including the 'bag on a ball' technique I learned last Sept (see Sept 2012 blog - and here's a photo of the ball I've part-prepared for this weekend), and I have a range of felting kits on offer.  Come and say hello if you can make it!  Also visit www.hevercastle.co.uk.

Feltmaking at Hever Castle

Had a busy weekend feltmaking on 15 and 16 September, when I was invited to demonstrate feltmaking at the Country Life at the Castle event at Hever Castle in Kent.  I managed to get a team of helpers together (thanks everyone!), and we had a very enjoyable (if exhausting!) time talking to visitors and demonstrating the different parts of the feltmaking process.  Here are a few photos of us in action!

Alpaca Open Day, Saturday 4 September 2010

If you were interested in my posting back in April (see below) about felting with alpaca fleece, then you may like to come along to an alpaca open day on Saturday 4 September. It's being hosted by Barbara at Lightfoot Alpacas based in Hawkhurst, Kent (click on the poster, left, for full details). It's an opportunity to see and even pet alpacas, as well as learn more about them and what can be done with their fleece. I'll be there all day demonstrating felting with alpaca fleece, so I very much look forward to chatting with everyone about the process. The farm is in a lovely setting, and this annual event is a really nice way to spend a couple of hours - so I do hope some of you are able to make it!