Felt Bag Workshop

Just wanted to share some photos from a felt bag-making session yesterday with Vickie, a local lady who was keen to learn felt-making.  She was a great student and made a fantastic shoulder bag - here are some before and after pics!

Christmas Felting

Well it's been all about Xmas since November, so I thought I'd share what I've been up.  I ran a Xmas workshop for the ladies of the Tandridge Handicraft Society in November, making sparkly felt and hanging decorations.  One of the talented ladies then made a lovely hanging decoration and a bag from her felt, which she showed me at the Oxted Craft Fair on 30 November (so obviously I took photos of her creations!).  It was great to see everyone who popped in to visit the fair above Oxted Library, and I think we all enjoyed a busy day.  Then as well as submitting my latest project article for Sewing World magazine in December, I've been making Xmas bunting for friends.  As usual I had more grand plans for things to make, but lack of time meant that was all I managed.  Anyway, hope you all have a relaxing Christmas!

 

South East Open Studios 2013

June has arrived so it must be time for Open Studios!  This year I'm sharing my textile studio with ceramicist and painter Sheila Parish, who specialises in Japanese and Chinese art.  The event started well with 24 visitors over the first weekend, so if you haven't yet been but fancy learning a bit more about our respective work, then you'd be very welcome to join us for a cup of tea whilst we demonstrate and chat about what we do!

Remaining open dates are:

Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16, Monday 17, Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June, all 1100-1700.

If you’d like to make a day of it and are particularly interested in textiles, there are several other studios close by who are also open on the above days showing textile art, jewellery and silk painting amongst other things.  Visit the South East Open Studios website: www.seos-art.org for more details.  Also look at the article in this week's Oxted County Border News (page 10).

I’ll be demonstrating feltmaking throughout Open Studios, so if this whets your appetite to have a go yourself, I offer a range of 1-day felting courses where you can get creative and make finished items like bags, jewellery, journal notebooks and scarves.   If you’d like to learn more or book a place (£55 per person), just email me for a leaflet. I’m also running taster workshops during Open Studios, to make either a bead bracelet or a brooch.  So if you would like to learn more or book a place on Sunday 16 or Sunday 23 June 2012 (0930-1100, £15 per person), please get in touch.

Tandridge Handicraft Society Exhibition - Update

Well despite the snow on Saturday, the 3 days of the Tandridge Handicraft Society exhibition were well attended.  I went along to the preview evening and was amazed by the variety and expertise of craft on show by the 60 society members, from a modern take on lacemaking to intricate beading, patchwork and quilting, jewellery, knitted cupcakes...and there was even some felt!  Here are a couple of photos, including the society's group wallhanging of embroidered fruit, along with my felt dress and other items.  I'm running a workshop for the society in November, so will be meeting up with them again soon.

Exhibiting with Tandridge Handicraft Society, March 2013

Well it's already March, and apart from the odd commission and some presents for friends, I've been gearing up for an exhibition this week in Oxted organised by the Tandridge Handicraft Society.  They hold an exhibition every 2 years, and I was invited to join them, having given a felting demonstration to the group a couple of years ago, plus I'm organising a Christmas felting workshops for them this November.  I didn't have time to make all new items, but decided to exhibit a felt dress I made for my college course and a couple of other items.  I still wanted to make something new though, so made a bejewelled necklace to go with the dress.  Of course, it took me much longer to finish than I anticipated, what with making 63 felt beads of different sizes and then stitching them all together with crystal beads...you can just imagine!  Anyway, I enjoyed making it and it makes quite a statement piece.  So if you're interested in coming along to see it, along with all the other work on display, the exhibition is taking place at the United Reformed Church, Bluehouse Lane in Oxted, Surrey, from Thursday 21-Saturday 23 March, 1000-1600, with free entry.  Hope to see you there!

Oxted Christmas Art & Craft Fair - 24 November 2012

I and 8 other local artists who are involved in the annual Open Studios event each June held a Christmas Art & Craft Fair on Saturday, in a room above Oxted library.  It was an awful day weather-wise, and we weren't quite sure what turn-out we'd get, but in the end the event was really well attended.  Plenty of interest from visitors, and the endless tea and home-made cakes kept us all going!  Thanks to everyone who came to see what we were up to, I think we're inspired to give it another go next year so watch this space!  Photos here of my stall loaded up with goodies, plus a great panoramic photo of the whole room by photographer Sarah, one of the artists involved (see her website in my links).

All about the bags...

After not making a felt bag for ages, in the last month I've ended up making nothing but bags!  In September I attended a feltmaking workshop with US artist and tutor Ruth Walker, who has developed an interesting way of making felt bags using a large ball and Norwegian fleece.  So I spent two days making two different bags, which was hard work but very enjoyable - here are some during and after photos of the brown bag I made.  I then ran two bag workshops last week to make felt bags - shoulder bags one day and clutch bags the next, using a flat plastic template rather than a ball.  Here are the participants and their very successful finished bags!  So now I'm all fired up to have another go with the ball when I next get a spare day!  

Felting Workshops - New Dates

Here are the latest dates for forthcoming workshops, and some photos to give you an idea of the type of thing you can make at a workshop (but have a look at my flickr site for more ideas!).  All courses are £55 per person, for a full day (c0930-1630).  If you'd like further details or to book a place (or explore dates for different courses), just email me at: natashasmartdesign@yahoo.co.uk.

 

Felt Bag Workshop - Sunday 21 October 2012 - 2 places left!

Felt Bead Jewellery Workshop – Sunday 18 November 2012 – 3 places

Christmas Sparkle Felt Workshop – Sunday 9 December 2012 – 3 places