For those of you who want to keep busy and creative during lock down, Crafts in the Valley is now selling Home Felting Kits, Beeswax Wrap Packs and Gift Vouchers through my online shop.
Click this link to SHOP
I love this joyful, rainbow piece of felt created by Sian on Saturday’s Felting Workshop. Colour is so magical!
Check out her Facebook page for the Art and Craft work she does in Leeds – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1343678672396664/?fref=nf
This weekend has been the first weekend of workshops after a summer of boaty maintenance and time out. The wonderful Linda Lewis is running a guest Spinning and Weaving workshop, so I get to be the student not the teacher!
It’s a weekend of wool with a Felting Workshop too.
Over the weekend we will be carding wool, spinning wool, weaving wool, wet felting wool, needle felting wool and free motion machine embroidering into wool! It’ll be a very wonderful, woolly weekend!
Linda makes spinning look like magic and so easy! It is actually really quite difficult, you often feel like you need an extra set of hands and fingers. I very excited about having Linda come and teach this workshop, she is a very talented women, who knows an awful lot about wool. We have plans to do a Weekend of Wool Course together in March 2018. If you’re interested in booking, keep an eye out on Facebook and the website, more details in the new year.
Crafts Afloat has recently introduced Guest Workshops on the craft boat. This has been a great opportunity for our regular guests to come back and spend more time being creative aboard the boat, and for me to beable to take part in the workshops too!
Pat Akerman from Big Hugz Handmade has led two workshops in Needle Felting. Needle felting uses special barbed needles and a selection of carded wool to create 3D pieces of artwork.
During the first workshop we made Felted Faces, most of the workshop participants made a version of a Green Man.
The second time she visited we created animals, I made a moon gazing hare, whilst other people made miniature replicas of their own dogs. The process of making these animals, building them up, limb by limb is fascinating. Sculpting the wool with the needle is such a fabulous process. The wool is so malleable, it magically transforms before your eyes just by being repeatedly stabbed with a small needle. Beware though, it is a very addictive process!
Pat is a brilliant teacher who patiently supports the group through the various stages, allowing everyone to have their own input in the creative outcomes.
Check out her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bighugzhandmade/
Upcoming Guest Workshops
Precious Mental Clay with Alison Zwaard from Handmade in Netheredge Saturday 3rd June (Fully Booked) – http://www.handmadeinnetheredge.co.uk/
3D Paper Cut Art with Heidi Vilkman Saturday 15th July (Places available) – www.heidivilkman.com
A felt landscape, almost finished, ready for Hebden Bridge Open Studios.
This piece is inspired by Scottish sunsets and the fabulous felting artist Moy Mackay. http://www.moymackaygallery.com/.
It’s also an example of what you can learn to do during my full day felting workshops. This piece is created using wet felting and more detail is added using free motion machine embroidery and needle felting. I’ve recently invested in a new sewing machine and it’s amazing! I love using the free motion embroidery foot to add detail and texture to the fabric.
I’ll be doing demonstrations during Open Studios so pop down to the Floating Pop Up Gallery! xx
Today’s Felting Workshop.
A lovely day with great women, creative time-out, laughter, a yummy lunch at The Olive Branch restaurant, Prosseco and cake!
Creative escapism with Crafts Afloat!
Glass Fusing workshop tomorrow.
www.craftsafloat.com
A lovely day in Hebden Bridge aboard the narrowboat art studio. Today we were making felted landscapes with a fabulous bunch of women, spending QT together. Jill Pickles has visited the craft boat three times. Her latest visit was with a group of her close friends who she has known for many years. They came prepared with two bottles of Prosecco!
Lots of groups book the boat to spend the day with friends and family. It really is a lovely, creative day out with a healthy serving of crafts and yummy treats. The Olive Branch restaurant in Hebden Bridge never fails to provide my guests with a delicious Turkish lunch and a generous glass of wine. This is finished off with cake and coffee on the boat!
www.theolivebranchrestaurant.co.uk
Crafts Afloat full day Felting Workshops in Hebden Bridge aboard the narrowboat art studio.
Learn how to create beautiful watercolours in wool! Experiment with a variety of techniques including wet felting, needle felting and free motion machine embroidery.
Next available dates Sunday 12th June and Saturday 9th July.
All materials, refreshments and a delicious lunch at the Olive Branch restaurant included in the workshop price. £70 – concessions available.
Nuno Felting workshop with Crafts Afloat, Friday 10th June.
Two places available! £70, concessions available.
Make a beautiful silk and Merino wool scarf with machine embroidery.
Full day workshop with a delicious lunch included at the Olive Branch restaurant in Hebden Bridge.
Message me to book a place.
Nuno Felting.
Just spent the morning creating some beautiful Nuno felting samples and a finished scarf! Made out of gorgeous silk and wool fibres. Thanks to my lovely Mum and Tess for all their hard work. Keep an eye out for upcoming Nuno felting workshops! Message me if your interested.