international feltmakers association

Textile artist Alison Harper is a PhD student and visiting lecturer at Bath Spa University. Her practice-based research investigates ways in which textile art and textile craft processes can contribute to an ethical dialogue between materialism, materiality and how we spend our time.

Ann has been dabbling in plant dyes for over 20 years. Influenced by the physicality of her surroundings and the ever-changing colour of the seasons, she enjoys exploring, collecting, identifying and experimenting with her finds and is constantly surprised and delighted by the amazing range of colours which can be obtained from native plants. Ann is coordinator for IFA Region 13.

Carole Waller is an internationally known artist who works as a painter in textile media. Her work can be found at the V&A Museum and at galleries in London and New York. Carole is a visiting lecturer at Bath Spa University

Since qualifying in City & Guilds felt making, Cathy has concentrated on making wearable accessories, including a lot of beads. She enjoys teaching in a variety of situations including youth groups; schools; Landmark Arts Trust; textile groups; and IFA workshops as well as ‘Learning Curve’ workshops at Olympia and Alexandra Palace. Cathy is joint Coordinator for IFA Region 4,  a member of the Eastern Region Textile Forum and E17 Designers.

Chris Lines is an artist who specializes in using felt as her medium. Her personal practice focuses on the production of one-off art pieces in 2 or 3 dimensions through which she explores and develops her themes. Chris originally trained in Fine Art and has taught Art and Design in schools, community groups and adult workshops. She has exhibited internationally with the IFA and has work in the current exhibition The Climate is Changing! Chris is coordinator for IFA Region 2.

Debbie is associate lecturer at Bath Spa University and University of West of England, Bristol where she lectures in visual culture. She runs woolcake at successful partnership selling sustainable wool products.

The current IFA Secretary and Felt Matters columnist Ellie Langley is a historian and environmental artist. She is a smallholder, running England’s only off-grid B&B and is a member of many and various arts, heritage and community groups. Ellie is a felt making tutor, demonstrator and speaker and has exhibited extensively in the north of England.

Since finishing a Fine Art: Sculpture degree in 1987, Harriet's felt making practice began in 1995. This was followed by an MFA in Textiles at Goldsmiths College, London in 2006. Since then her practice has focused on sculpture and spatial installation. She has taught felt making at the V&A Museum, The City Lit, London and at West Dean College.

Heather studied textiles at Goldsmiths College, London, graduating with a BA in 1983 and an MA in 1995. She is currently Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Embroidery and Textiles in Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Jenny Barnett makes ceramic and handmade felt figures.

Following fifteen years experience of sculpting clay as a freelance modeller for Coalport and Wedgwood, Jenny now creates her own range of unique figures and gifts.

She uses techniques developed from many years working with clay. Jenny models with wool fleece and felting needles and can show you how to build, mould and use gesture in creating your own unique piece of felt sculpture.
Jenny's work was selected for the IFA exhibition "Four Fingers and a Thumb" in 2006.

Trained as a jewellery designer at the Royal College of Art, Mandy discovered felt making ten years ago and has been developing her skills since then.  She has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally and runs regular workshops. She was invited to teach at
Feltrosa in 2010. Mandy is IFA Exhibition Officer and coordinator for Region12.

Melanie runs regular workshops in her studio and undertakes projects in schools and for community groups. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Her particular passion is for historical and ethnic felts. She is IFA Education Officer and coordinator for Region 9.

Sarah creates millinery and mixed-media textilesthat combine traditional techniques with innovative shapes and unusual materials such as paper, metal and wood. She is the Course Director of the HNC in Millinery at Kensington and Chelsea College, and teaches short courses at West Dean College.

Sheila’s fascination with the process of felt making began in the early 1980s and has grown steadily ever since. She is particularly interested in creating different effects within the felt by employing a variety of techniques. Having trained as a teacher of textiles teaching in schools and colleges to students of all ages, Sheila currently teaches workshops on all aspects of felt making all over the UK and abroad. Sheila is the author of a number of books on felt including two for Batsford Books UK. A third one is due to be completed in 2012. Sheila is coordinator for IFA Region 10.

Sue's main interest is in creating decorative, image based textiles that are used as garments, artwork or fabrics for fashion and interiors. She sells mostly through private commissions. Since 2002 Sue has been course leader for Mixed Media Textiles in Creative Arts at Bath Spa University.

Susie Ralph is an associate lecturer in textile history and theory at Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, London, and visiting lecturer at Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University. She specialises in fashion design, pattern-cutting, garment construction and machine embroidery.

Felt making became a natural progression from Yuli’s earlier career as a handloom weaver because of her fascination with regional wools.  She has exhibited widely and is well known for her successful collaboration with Anne Belgrave to develop a felt coffin/shroud called the Leafcocoon.