Kentwell Hall Wool Weekend 5/6th June 2010

We had a fab two days at the Kentwell Hall Wool Weekend. It was perhaps a little too hot on Saturday so we worked in the shade, the temperature was perfect on Sunday and we managed to avoid the one major downpour. Lunch was cooked to perfection by Chrystoff the chef and we were able to make hot drinks whenever we wanted one.
It was great to meet up with the Lavenham Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers who also enjoyed working alongside us. They hope to return the invitation by including us in their marquee at the Hadleigh Show.
We also mixed in with the Tudor wool workers who were there.
Work on our group Medieval Tile Project gathered pace and we have a volunteer to assemble the hanging. We were able to teach two or three people the rudiments of feltmaking and to encourage children to make a ball! One person came all the way from Hertforshire just to see us!!!!
Some of us were taught how to use wool combs. A far superior way of preparing wool which is quite different from carding. Apparantly this technique it was used to prepare fine wool for spinning into knitting yarn for the complex, waterproof, knitted fishermans jumpers and to weave worsted cloth.
Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it such a lovely weekend.
I'll post some photos soon.
Deborah

felted installation

WOW - just look at this wonderful installation by Elis Vermeulen, visual artist from Holland
www.elisvermeulen.wordpress.com
if only I had made it!

Miss Fitt

I like the way this web site has been presented and the felt work is good too!
www.missfitt.com

Wool Weekend Kentwell Hall 5/6th June 2010

I've just realised that June is fast approaching and I haven't mentioned anything about this weekend on our blog.
We already have 7 or 8 felters each day and a similar group of spinners, weavers and dyers from the local Lavenham Guild.
Hopefully the weather forecast will be right and we will have another sunny time, relaxing, doing the things we love in like minded company.
If you want to come either or both days let me know by 28th May so I can arrange entry and lunch (use the feltmakers email address above)
hope to see you there
Deborah

Marietta Alker - 4th September 2010

We are now taking members bookings for a workshop using 3D resists to make interesting seamless shapes and to add unusual textures

with Marietta Alker

in Bury St Edmunds

on 4th September 2010

members £31

non-members £36

non-members will be invited to reserve places next week (22nd May 2010)

Mongolian Felt Maker

At the IFA AGM a couple of years ago I met a lovely Mongolian woman who was here to teach and to learn. She now has her own web site. You may like to have a look www.feltmongolia.mn

show and tell - we had a great time!

Last Saturday we thoroughly enjoyed and learnt a lot from the wide variety of felted work that we brought to show and discuss with each other.

A BIG thank you to Jean and her husband who travelled a long way to bring us a variety of fleece which she had washed and offerred to us for a small donation to Essex Wildlife Trust. Jean had planned to spend the whole day with us but unexpectedly had to rush off. Hopfully, now she has met us, we will see her at future felting events.

"We were all completely blown away by Isobels wrap and Doreens Green Man.

Inspired by the colours and textures of an oyster shell
you can see how Isobels experience in design has impacted on this piece.

The green man will soon be part of a large wall hanging being assembled for Cressing Temple Barns by her weavers, spinners and dyers guild."

We marvelled at each others work, swapped ideas and gave encouragement. Not suprisingly it was the problems which gave rise to the most discussion!

"This hat and scarf were brought along for advice. The makers were not acheiving their desired results. Funny how we are our own worst critics. Hopefully we were helpful!"

Needle felting and samples of felt made from different fleece. Gosh cashmere is soft!

"Hat, napkin rings, fascinating flowers and a scarf used to develop previously learnt skills."

We heard about the challenges of the city and guilds courses;

Inspired by brickwork Diana brought a 'small' selection of samples

she has been making for her City and Guilds Part II.

She has been unbelievably prolific and creative.

I'll never look at a brick in the same light again!

We discussed the way forward for our group;

• Deborah and Heidi are happy to continue as joint regional coordinators.
• workshops already planned, wishes and requests (just a few details still to be resolved - see future post)
• we will keep Bury St Edmunds as our main venue but if other venues and someone willing to organise it can be identified they will be considered. Home groups to be encouraged.
• a small group has agreed to explore and take forward the much discussed idea of exhibiting
• members are keen to be able to promote the group to potential members and at outside events. To ask IFA for more leaflets, to loan the IFA banner and to purchase our own business cards with contact information.
• Deborah and Heidi are willing and able to be a conduit for any information which individual members would like to be distributed to the rest of the group.
• we have a healthy bank balance. We are no longer required to donate regional money to HQ.
  

With Gill's guidance, we finished off the day felting a flower over our thumbs.

thanks to Anne for the photo's,

we are sorry we could not include everyone

thank you all for sharing your skills; knowledge and experience.