Business name: Jennie Loader Studio
Online courses now available -follow full video instructions, work at your own pace, at a time that suits you.
I was born into a family who loved working with textiles – fibre is in my blood. My early passion was a fascination with traditional quilting: the use of recycled fabric in scrap quilts, geometric lines that create structure, and layers providing texture. I have always enjoyed playing with fabric - layering up, cutting or burning back and manipulating it into interesting forms, embellishing with stitch, paint, beads, or whatever seems appropriate.
In 2007 I was introduced to the wonders of feltmaking. I attended a felt bag making workshop with some friends and became hooked. I immediately ordered some wool, started experimenting and very soon realised that I had found my textile home.
Having spent some time exploring techniques, attending more workshops and increasing my skills I started teaching feltmaking myself. I love delivering workshops, supporting individuals to learn techniques, understand the properties and capabilities of the material and make something unique and beautiful. In 2021 I launched my first Online Courses!
I prefer to work with British wool for my own practice, enjoying the wonderful natural colours and textures these wools offer. However, I also love working with colour, so I taught myself to dye fibres to give myself a colour palette with which to work.
I have developed a range of wet feltmaking kits and these are on sale, along with my felted designs in Somerset galleries. Kits and felted items are also available from my Etsy shop: JennieLoaderStudio.
I originally trained in photography and, as well as enjoying my own creative practice, am employed as Executive Manager of an arts educational charity in the West County.
