Vessels & Votives Workshop at Grand Canyon :: Fall 2018 Recap

The first week of October brought a dozen creative people from around the country to the Grand Canyon. Their goal was to learn how to felt — and that's what they did! This year's Vessels & Votives workshop was hosted by Grand Canyon Association's Field Institute (thank you GCAFI for this and for all you do to preserve and protect Grand Canyon National Park). Over the weekend, Mary Rooney generously shared her dyeing expertise with the class, offering participants the opportunity to dye wool (using acid dyes) for the next day's project. We also had the pleasure of having two guest speakers join us this year: NPS Park Ranger Ahsa Jensen gave a fascinating talk about historic uses of natural fibers in the region — and GCAFI instructor Slim Woodruff shared her extensive knowledge of Grand Canyon with those early birds who attended the sunrise rim talk. Ahsa also made available dried yucca fibers that we harvested last Spring in anticipation of the class (note: one must have an NPS collection permit to do this). Overall, it was a big success with participants creating a small felted vessel or luminaria (using an 8.5" resist) on Day 1... and then really stretching themselves to create a large felted vessel (using a 21" resist) on Day 2. I am so impressed with this group! If you're interested in felting at the Grand Canyon, be sure to sign up for the felting workshop in 2019... we'd love to have you!

Felted Botanical Vessel

I just wet-felted and finished another round, botanical-themed bowl in preparation for the 2-day Vessels & Votives Workshop which I'll be conducting here at the Grand Canyon in October. With a finished size of 10.5" (h) x 14.5" (diam.), this smaller format seems more manageable for a beginner-intemerdiate level class. Working with pre-felts can be challenging for those who've never felted before, but with so many other surface design options available, I know class participants will have no problem decorating their vessels. If you are interested in a weekend immersion class where you'll explore felting both small- and large-sized vessels using resists, as well as learn to dye wool roving with acid dyes, then sign up now! Class size is limited to just 12 participants. Come learn in one of the world's most beautiful wild classrooms!

2017 Nuno-Felting Workshop at the Grand Canyon

 

We just wrapped up an incredible weekend of nuno-felting and dyeing at the Grand Canyon! Workshop participants really pushed themselves, outlining challenging design projects on day two with fabulous results. Special guest Mary Rooney showed everyone how to use acid dyes to color their wool and silk fiber in preparation for the class's second project. If you're interested in coming to the canyon next year, please join us for a Felting Vessels course. Details on Grand Canyon Association Field Institute's website.

Nuno-felted Striped Scarves using Tape Resist

This weekend I'll be teaching a nuno-felted workshop at Grand Canyon National Park (hosted by Grand Canyon Association Field Institute). We'll be making airy silk and wool scarves and durable purses/tech cases during this two-day course. In preparation, I experimented with using masking tape as a resist. It was just one of those wild-hair ideas and I truly wasn't expecting the tape to stay in place during the wet felting stage, but it did (!) and I was so tickled about that. This striped scarf design requires very little fiber and, by exposing the silk in between, showcases the lovely silk chiffon while creating a beautiful sculptural fabric. Both samples were made using creamy white Merino wool roving and silk. Once felted and dried, I dyed one sample scarf using Lansaset dyes from Dharma Trading. I'm looking forward to sharing this new technique with my students in a few days. And, btw, if you're in the area, call (866) 471-4435 to see if there's still space available... we'd love to have you join us!

Nuno-Felting Demo & Workshop :: 2017

Dear Fiber Friends, I want to announce two upcoming nuno-felting events as follows:
1. FREE nuno-felting demo at Flag Wool & Fiber Festival in Flagstaff, AZ (Sat., June 3, 2017; 10 a.m.). Details here.
2. Weekend nuno-felting workshop at the Grand Canyon this fall (Oct. 7-8 , 2017). More info and sign-up here.

Nuno-Felting Workshop at the Grand Canyon

This past weekend the Grand Canyon Association's Field Institute (GCAFI) hosted our nuno-felting workshop once again. Rachel, Libby and I are so grateful to GCAFI's team for all the hard work they do in making this annual event possible. Also, thanks to our talented class participants for challenging themselves creatively and making some incredible nuno-felted scarves, tech cases, shawls, and purses! Anyone interested in signing up for our workshop at the Grand Canyon in October of 2017, please contact GCAFI… we'd love to have you join us!