Woolly News - February 2018

Happy 2019!! I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday and spent lots of time needle felting…or better yet, got lots of needle felt goodies under the tree. I got a few new tools and 2 wet felting books by artist Moy Mackay. I was super busy with teaching and making right before and during Christmas, so I apologize for not sending an email out until now. But I spent January creating new workshop projects and have set some really awesome ones for February and March. Lots of good things on the go!!

This email is choke full of woolly goodness and fiberous fun. I have 3 new workshops planned over the next couple months (and maybe 1 or 2 more) and a special Barn Owl workshop at the Lickety Spit Fibre Farm. I’ll be teaching the same barn owl project BUT on the farm AND using wool from THEIR sheep! So please read through this email, enjoy the needle felt tip, and make sure to come out to the next Needle Felt Together on February 27!

February 17, 2019
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Teresa Seaton Studio, Burlington 

March 10, 2019
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Teresa Seaton Studio, Burlington

Easter is coming and bunny gets tired after delivering all those Easter baskets. Take your needle felting to the next level by creating a sweet bunny that will lay in your hand or in a cute basket.

More Info & Sign-up >>

March 23, 2019
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lickety Spit Fibre Farm, Binbrook

Spend 2 hours on a fibre farm where you’ll be using wool raised from the sheep on the farm to learn how to needle felt a cute 2.5” tall Barn Owl. Techniques you’ll learn include creating the core shape, add an outer color of wool, make and attach wings, and the face detailing.

More Info & Sign-up >>

 

Many of you have asked me about wire wrapping techniques which allow your critters to be poseable. Depending on the size of your project, I recommend pipe cleaner for smaller projects and 14 or 16 gauge wire (whether it be floral, armature or beading wire) wrapped with pipe cleaner for larger projects. 

If using just the pipe cleaner, this wire is very thin, and if you bend your piece too much, it will snap. Double up your pipe cleaner by twisting 2 pieces together as this will strengthen it. With the 14/16 gauge wire, wrap the pipe cleaner on by twisting it around the thicker wire making sure it is on a diagonal. This will allow the wool to stick to the wire; otherwise your wool will slide off and you'll get super frustrated. When wrapping your wool, just like wrapping on the skewer, you want to keep your wool in long 1" wide pieces and wrap on an angle making sure your wool is ribbon-like and not twisted like a corkscrew. Make sure you pull your wool tight but not too tight as to pull it apart.

I plan to offer workshops using this technique in the Fall or during next Winter. It's a skill that needs lots of practice.