Yuli Somme

Thursday

A simple yet transforming experience of preparing Blue-faced Leicester wool, applying it to your feet and taking a walk. The result is beautiful moulds of your feet.

This project was devised as part of Yuli's MA at Bath Spa University.

The idea was inspired by the legend of the origins of felt making; in an ancient land and time someone walking a long way stuffed their shoes with sheeps wool and the friction and moisture from the feet caused the wool to become felt.

This is NOT a slipper making workshop; it is about connecting with the transformative properties of wool on a deeper level.  It is fun, sociable and can be transcendent!

Heather Belcher

Friday evening

In 2009 Heather was invited to take part in ‘Pairings’, a research project at Manchester Metropolitan University. She will talk about the project and the journey towards delivery of an exhibition outcome with her collaborative partner, ceramic artist, Duncan Ayscough.

She concludes by explaining the ways in which the project has had a strong and lasting affect on her own work and her fascination with the medium of felt.

Julia Desch

Thursday evening

Introducing new and traditional fine fibres for felting.

Debbie Hillyerd, woolcake

Thursday evening

Slow business means that you can have luxury items, without harm to the environment, or its inhabitants. woolcake demonstrates a dialogue with its investors, from shepherd to knitted garment. The business represents sustainability in its completeness; a political, cultural and social message is spoken through it’s refashioning of tradition in agriculture and craft.

Carole Waller

Friday

How to use dyes to paint and screenprint transparent, fine silk fabrics for use in nuno felt applications.

Ann Ross

Saturday and Sunday

Follow the long tradition of using native plants for dyeing. Many recipes were a closely guarded secret and have been lost. Come and experiment and keep this ancient knowledge alive.

Melanie Bermingham

Saturday and Sunday

Following in the footsteps of nomadic peoples across Central Asia, the workshop will give students a flavour of centuries-old communal feltmaking techniques. Traditional hand-rolling techniques, equipment and natural wool fibres will be used. Inspiration for design will come from traditional patterns.

Sheila Smith

Saturday and Sunday

Explore layering wool and fabric to create a range of textured fabrics. An experimental approach will aim to produce a range of fabric samples as a basis for further development.

Alison Harper

Friday

This is a very 'hands-on' workshop exploring the qualities and properties of (mostly found) papers and their relationship to cloth. Participants will experiment with manipulating, stitching and re-thinking ideas towards these materials and to re-access their similarities with cloth.

Mandy Nash

Saturday and Sunday

Using wools other than merino, such as Norwegian, Icelandic, Gotland and Bergschaf, learn how to make simple and sturdy vessel forms.

Harriet Hill

Friday

The view from a window; the texture of brickwork; a trail across the grass; felting a shadow. Using their own felting skills, delegates will be encouraged to respond creatively to the physical space and rich environment of Kingswood School.

Susie Ralph

Friday

During the workshop you will construct, from felt, your own miniature 18th century dress bodice including a decorated stomacher

Participants will learn about the cut and construction of court dress at this time and the role played by the fashion doll in disseminating the latest French fashions.

The day will include a private visit to the Fashion Museum's Study Facilities.

Sarah Cant

Friday

Introducing a range of millinery techniques for shaping, blocking and transforming felt fabric.

Jenny Barnett

Sunday

With felting needles discover how to model wool fleece in fine detail and create a miniature masterpiece.

Jenny Barnett

Saturday

Using felting needles, wire and dry wool fleece, make an attractive, stylised miniature hen of your very own.

Cathy Unwin

Saturday and Sunday

Taking inspiration from natural plant forms, this workshop will explore ways to produce extraordinary 3 dimensional beads. These can then be assembled in various ways to create unique accessories.

Chris Lines

Saturday and Sunday

Explore the potential of multi-coloured pre-felts, with the addition of fabrics and fibres to design and build complex sample ‘collages’ through processes of cutting, layering and felting.

Ellie Langley

Saturday and Sunday

An introductory exploration into the huge variety of British wool types – finewools, longwools, downwools, primitives, and hill breeds.  The workshop will offer participants an opportunity to discover the potential of felting with these wonderful wools and will also look at different processing methods.

Sue Bradley

Friday

Creative collage techniques using dry felting techniques with the needle punch machine and embellisher. Techniques using a digital printer and heat transfer press will be taught.