Thank you to everyone for coming to this session of workshops! It's time for a summer break! I'll be developing several new classes over the coming months, and look forward to a new workshop season in September!

Workshop information:

In each workshop we explore the craft gesture, learn the craft skill, while deepening our understanding of the impact these crafts can have in our personal and family lives.

  If we create consciously, we can go beyond just creating more “stuff” and transform the whole craft experience into an act of meditation, healing and appreciation.  As we learn new crafts, we deepen our awareness of the world around us. We make craftworks that enhance our family lives through play and tradition. And while making these crafts, we engage in craft rhythms that influence our own well being and life forces.

Storytelling Carpet or Apron- Traditional Wet Felting

Create a magical storytelling carpet or apron using wet felting techniques. This workshop incorporates an introduction to the basic elements of storytelling and puppetry, with guidance to create your own stories from within. We will use wet felting techniques to create a storytelling scene, with magical pouches to hold all the characters and props. The Carpet sits flat on the floor and can be used by both adults and children. The Apron is best used by adults for children. It is worn just like an apron, with a smaller scene, with a silk panel, ideal for hiding characters or creating scenery.  Storytelling with this moveable stage delights children, while providing them with a nurturing experience- the warmth of a story created and told by a parent or loved one, and the sense of security and protection that come from knowing each story character has a safe home. This is a great tool for parents, teachers and librarians, enriching the storytelling process with your own creations.

Workshop length: 6 hours

Introduction to Wet Felting- Playmat

Felt making is an ancient craft-one that is physical, beautiful and satisfying! During this workshop we will discuss felting with different fibres, including wools, silks, mohair and yarn embellishments; we will cover traditional felting techniques using soap, and water, and different tools and accessories; we will explore the elements of design, projects and ideas that are all possible with wet felting! Workshop projects can include a children’s farm yard playmat with fields, rivers and caves, wall hanging of your own design, or a small carpet. Wool batting, wool roving, tools, and embellishments included.

Workshop length: 4 hours

Gnome or Fairy house- felting three dimensional vessels

These are homes for the little people like no others!  For both the beginner and the experienced felt maker, we will use wet felting techniques to create an amazing 3 dimensional home for wee folk, with a roof and windows! Embellished with wool yarn, mohair locks and simple embroidery stitches, this is sure to become an heirloom toy!  Wool batting, wool roving, tools, and embellishments included.

Workshop length: 6 hours total

2 sessions- first session-3hrs-wetfelting,

                 second session 3hrs-finishing and embellishing

Sculptured Figures- Needlefelting

An excellent needle felting course for both beginners and those with experience in needlefelting.  These figures can be used as dolls for play, for a nature corner, or Nativity Scene. We will cover the basics of 3- dimensional wool sculpture, doll making skills, using wire frames and a range of needlefelting techniques, while creating beautiful figures! Wool roving, wire and felting needle included.

workshop length- 4hours

felt paintings in progress during a workshop at wabi-sabi in Ottawa

Wool Felt Painting- Traditional Wet Felting

Feltmaking is one of the most forgiving art forms!

Come with an image in mind- a magical fairy picture, a nursery rhyme, a favourite story image or nature scene, and we will create a beautiful wet felted tapestry to warm the walls of your home or classroom. In the first session we will wet felt a background canvas, covering all the basics of wetfelting. Then in the second session we will use needlefelting to add dimensional details.  Everyone will leave with a beautiful artwork- ready to be displayed. 

Painting with wool creates soft, light, ethereal images- similar to watercolor painting but with the warmth of wool. These images are easy to create, and can be changed at any time- the wool can be lifted and manipulated to change the picture, with the seasons, or on a whim! Because of this flexibility it is a good project for those intimidated by the creative process-each stroke of wool can be impermanent- changed or added to. Working with wool is therapeutic and calming- ideal fo

r children and adults of all ages!  Come with an image in mind or be inspired by our natural setting, and we will create two 5'x7' framed paintings to warm your walls. 

Workshop length: 3 hours

Inspired by Nature

Natural Dyeing with Plants: 

Exploring locally available wild plants, plants from the garden and exotic plants from around the world, we will experiment with dyeing natural fibres in a rainbow of colours. All mordants and dyes, and materials will be provided. We will be dyeing with 4-5 colours, including purple, orange/red, yellow, green and blue and all combinations possible using overdyeing, if desired. Playsilks are one the best playthings a child can have. They encourage all sorts of imaginative play that evolves with the child. Our playsilks have been used everyday right through to the teenage years, for dressup, storytelling, playscapes, puppetry, and the nature corner.

  This is a fun workshop and encourages looking at colours, plants and seasonal cycles in a very different way!

Workshop length: 6 hours

also available as a Parent and Child class

Needlefelting a Tapestry

Come with an image in mind- a nursery rhyme, a favourite story image or nature scene, and we will create a beautiful tapestry to warm the walls of your home or classroom. Painting with wool using needlefelting techniques creates soft, light, ethereal images- similar to watercolour painting but with the warmth of wool. Basic needlefelting techniques will be covered, as well as general information in painting with wool fibres.

Workshop length: 4 hours

Fairy Tale Needlefelted Tapestry

In the fairy tales we tell our children, people are often given a craft as a means of personal transformation.  In this workshop, we will look at a fairytale or myth, discuss the personal transformation within the story, and then create an open structure, needlefelted wool painting based on the story, for your home or classroom.  Basic wool working and needlefelting techniques will be covered, as well as general information about painting with wool fibres.

Workshop length: 4 hours

Watercolour Wet Felted Slippers:

This highly creative class is so much fun! We will cover basic wet feltmaking techniques and acid dyeing.  These slippers are made together, in one piece over a form- you create the style of slipper you prefer. After felting the slippers, we will paint them with acid dyes, as simple or detailed as you like. With this felting technique, you can be used to create hats, mittens or boots, and the painting with dyes opens up all sorts of possibilities for surface design in your feltmaking projects.

 Wet felted Market Bag:

Create an amazing wetfelted bag- strong, durable and absolutely unique!  We will be wet felting the wool around a form to create a seamless bag all in one piece, with beautiful colour, textures, and surface deisgn. This workshop teaches the skills of wet felting, and felting with a resist- everything you need to know about traditional felt work, while making a bag that is the perfect carry all size for shopping, the library, or craft supplies.

Workshop length: 4 hours

Nuno Wrap: Description: This is a gossamer light, wool felt wrap- ideal for spring days and summer evenings. Dressed up for formal events such as weddings and the theatre, or worn fun and funky with jeans and a tee. This wrap makes a statement- you decide what it is! Using silk chiffon laminated through felting with merino wool and silk fibres, on the first day we will explore nuno felting, creating the felted wrap base, plus our embellishment nuno yardage. In the second class we will cut, hand sew and bead with our accent fabrics to create this luscious wrap.                                  

Workshop length: 6 hours

Felt Marionettes

Marionettes are wonderful for storytelling, and can also play an integral part in your family’s day. Having a puppet that helps a child with the transitions of morning risings, and evening settlings, can enrich and ease our home rhythms.

We’ll discuss aspects of marionette puppetry, and create our own individual character with needlefelted head and hands, and hand dyed silk body.

Workshop length: 5 hours

Nuno Scarf Bundle-

These are gorgeous scarves to wear and give! We'll explore nuno felting mosaic techniques- combining silk and merino wool to create a beautiful light felt yardage that you can cut into as many scarves as you like (need!).

Workshop length: 3 hours

Felt Illumination- Wool Felt Candle Lights Bundle

Warm, Soft, Comforting- everything we think of in wool- but with an edge when used in lighting design.

Wool is naturally non-flammable, and therefore a perfect medium in combination with light. These wool lights are traditionally felted on a form, creating a single seamless unified piece, then cut to shift the visible layers.  The individual wool fibres and fibre patterns are highlighted, and accentuated through shading, unique to this combination of fibre and illumination. The light emitted and is soft and warm, ideal for accent lighting, or used in combination to brighten a living space.
Made from natural white wool, these lights are entirely sustainable in their production, from source to product, and make great gifts for anyone and everyone!

Workshop length: 3 hours

 Wool Felt Jewelry Bundle

Soft, light and contemporary. Wool felt jewellery is immensely popular in Europe but not often seen here- let’s change that!  We’ll make wool felt beads and combine them with wood, metal, shells and glass to create earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Basic feltmaking and jewellery design will be covered, and the only design boundary is your own imagination! Samples will be provided for inspiration, as well as an assortment of beads and findings.

These make great gifts, and you’ll want to keep one for yourself!

Workshop length: 3 hours