Two felt workshops this week after a fabulous May Fair on Saturday

Yesterday I enjoyed a fabulous and vibrant atmosphere at Galgael's May Fair in Glasgow-Ibrox. I had a stall with felted goodies and many visitors enjoyed the colourful display and took one or the other item home. There were many great craft people, delicious food, yummy cakes warming soup and so much more to experience. Lovely to meet old friends and make new ones on a happy day like this! 

This week I have planned two needle felt workshops, one at GalGael and another one in Bishopbriggs.

Needle felt workshop on Thursday, 12th May 4.00-5.30pm
It's the time of Spring and we will use felt making, using colourful fluffy wool fibers and a specific felting needle to create flowers, a butterfly, a fairy or any other Spring related item.

The aim of this workshop is:
● to learn needle felting, or improve your needle felt skills.
● to experiment with colours and design
● to take home a unique piece of handmade felt.
At the end of the workshop you will have your own felted item and have learned or improved a new skill. No previous experience needed.
Costs: £5 for one felt item
Please book asap, as places are limited! Contact me or the
GalGael office: 0141/ 427 30 70. 
Venue: GalGael, 15 Fairley Street, Glasgow G51 2SN

Little fairy

Connect to nature and create with wool fibres- half day workshop on Saturday, 14th May
In this afternoon workshop you can create your individual needle felted ornament related to the natural realm. To connect with the natural realm we’ll start with a guided inner journey.
You will use colourful sheep’s wool fibres and a special felt needle to create a nature related ornament e.g. a fairy, a mushroom, a gnome, an elf, a mermaid etc.

Spring flower fairy

It’s fun to get creative in this way and you can easily get hooked!
Craft experience is very welcome and needle felt experience too, but not necessary. Weather permitted we might felt in the garden.
Please, feel free to invite friends.
A complementary cup of tea will be served.
Booking in advance is essential! Places are limited to 4 participants.
Cost: £18/£15 concession.
Please pay at the start of the workshop.  .
Venue: 63 Crowhill Road, G64 1QY, Glasgow-Bishopbriggs

Little gnome

Enjoy a video with my needle felted creations in nature

Tree Dressing Day in Cuningar Loop on Friday 25th March 12-3pm

The Forestry Commission Scotland invites you to a free event: 
Come and join us at Cuningar Loop to celebrate the role that trees play in our lives. Lots of fun activities including: Willow Weaving, Story Telling, Felt Craft, Green Wood working and walk the woodland trail to meet some of the lesser known inhabitants of Cuningar Loop.

Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, Downiebrae Road, Rutherglen, G73 1PW
Free Event
More information available on this website: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/visit/cuningar-loop

Scottish Lowlands Forest District
Tel: 0300 067 6700
E-mail: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Last Saturday's felt workshop with four talented participants

Various colourful wool tops

It was great spending an afternoon teaching wet felting to four talented beginners. Everybody started with felting a bead to experience the process of felting and the transformation from fluffy wool fibres into a well felted object. 

Then templates were chosen or cut to create a seamless pouch, vessel or wrist cuffs. Now the question, which colours to choose from a vast variety of colour shades.

Merino wool tops

Then everybody was ready to start laying out the fibres in scales, covering the first layer with a net and sprinkling hot water on the surface, adding glycerine soap and eventually gently padding down the fibres which were absorbing the water. Trust in the process and my reassurance that all was going well was needed. Some little mistakes helped to demonstrate how to improve for a better outcome.

One layer of wool fibres

Two or three criss-cross layers on each side of the template were felted into beautiful felted objects. Embellishments were made with creativity and accuracy and well designed colour combinations. Then the rubbing started to connect and interlock the fibres into a felted fabric. Eventually the pinch test showed that the fibres were matting together and the rolling and waulking could start which helpsed to shrink and firm the felted items. "Yeah, it has shrunk!", was the happy and amazed expression I've heard a couple of times.

The fibres have bonded

-I still find it magical when the fibres bind and a firm fabric develops under my hands. The following photos show the finished items from this wet felt workshop. Four happy participants left with a new experience and their beautiful felted items. The little bags still need a cord and a lining for the finishing  touch.  
The next dates for wet felt workshops will be on Saturday, 19th March and 16. April 2016, 2.00-5.30pm. Costs: £22. Please book your place asap.

Wrist cuffs from Shetland wool

Felted vessel

Little merino wool bag

Little felted bag

Connect to Nature and create with wool fibres- Imbolc needle felt workshop on Saturday, 6. February 2016, 14.00-17.00 related to Imbolc

In this afternoon workshop you can create your personal needle felted ornament or flat felt. We will relate to the natural realm and the season with the festival of Imbolc as the time of the first signs of Spring. To connect with the natural realm we’ll start with a guided inner journey.
You will then use colourful sheep’s wool fibres and a special felt needle to create a nature related ornament, relief or flat felt e.g. a fairy, a gnome, an elf, a couple of Spring flowers, e.g. snowdrops etc. It’s fun to get creative in this way and you can easily get hooked!
Craft experience is very welcome and needle felt experience too, but not necessary. A complementary cup of tea will be served.
Places are limited to 4 participants. Cost: £18 Please book and pay in advance to secure your place. For booking please contact me. 
My website and blog: http://www.laryna.com/felt-workshops-and-fiber-craft/fortnightly-wednesday-needle-felt-workshop/