Workshop News

See the Workshop Overview ...
and see the new Calendar for 2002, which lists
upcoming sessions.

AUSTRALIAN WORKSHOPS:-

"Past Times", Cooma, New South Wales.

G A Y  A N D   M Y S E L F
Bowers for 2-leggeds and Unfettered Felt.
Both these needlefelting workshops ran as a result of the hard work of owner, Gay Epstein and her assistant, Linda. My sincere thanks go to them! Gay's beautiful location in Cooma provided an ideal environment for fun and learning with exceptional groups of women. Both the Pieces of the Month are from ladies who attended these workshops. Their work, and that of all participants was quite outstanding!

1. Bowers for 2-leggeds:
Read and see more...

2. Unfettered Felt:
Read and see more...
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Tahmoor, New South Wales.
Unfettered Felt:
Sandie O'Neill so kindly answered the call I put out on the internet when I knew I was visiting Australia. She arranged for an enthusiastic group of most talented people to be introduced to this exciting new form of felting, including her young daughter Shawna!
"Three participants take major honours at the Canberra Royal Show!"
read and see more...

Adventures.

As in life, my three-month adventure in New South Wales, Australia was full of highs and lows! My mother and I had some lovely excursions up and down the coast as we looked for places she might like to live; my two sisters looked after me exceptionally well and I was reacquainted with my nieces and nephew which was such a delight!

I managed to drive on the correct side of the road (most of the time!). The bush-fires, which came perilously close to my sister's home, were a stark reminder of the incredible power of the natural world (although many fires had been set) and nature's amazing ability to regenerate. Not three weeks after the fires were extinguished fresh, green grass had replaced acres of blackened earth. The images of total devastation, coupled with the eerie beauty of burnt orange leaves and a fallen tree with flames licking up inside the trunk will remain with me for a long time.

I had the great pleasure of taking part in Jeanette Appleton's Colour and Design workshop organized by the Canberra Felt Group in January 2002. Jeanette introduced us to a variety of techniques, which included felting sheer fabrics onto merino roving. The texture that resulted was very exciting! We also experimented with inlay techniques and hand stitching both at the prefelt stage and on to the final felt. This was new to me and I was delighted with the way the stitches warped after fulling (the stage of felting that hardens the felt). It was a wonderful two days with a most gifted and kind instructor and hospitable and talented felt makers!

I gave three needlefelting workshops during my stay and met some truly exceptional people, some of whom travelled hours to come and learn. Many very special friendships were made! I also had the great pleasure of meeting Christine Sloan from The Old Schoolhouse Wool Workshop in Gerringong. Her store is magnificent, with wonderful felted merino and voile shawls and vests. By chance Tasmanian feltmaker Denise Pilkington was visiting which was an additional treat for me.

Storytelling was not neglected! I gave a session at my sister Jackie's pre-school. What a delightful group of young people who were spellbound both by my Christmas stories and my accent!

I stopped off in Vancouver, B.C. on my way home to await the arrival of a new grandchild! Colton Raine came into the world right on cue, only a few days after my arrival! I also had the pleasure of enjoying my two other grandchildren, Riley and Mia, not to mention my son Rob and his wife Denise! Now I'm back home in Ontario, trying to adjust to a thirty-degree plus temperature change and resuming my work with The Creative Cocoon…

Upcoming Connections.

Information on events in which I'm taking part.

"Expressive Arts enhances our ability to more deeply understand ourselves and others and the world around us through the exploration of creative arts such as music, movement, visual and narrative arts. Through the power of the creative process, expressive arts promotes self awareness, growth and life enhancement."
I'm very excited about taking the eight courses that make up the syllabus. I believe they will fit perfectly into what I'm trying to accomplish through The Creative Cocoon by enriching the programs I develop. I look forward to
bringing what I learn into the work I do both professionally and personally!

'Open Studios In The Hills' -
as the guest of Kai Liis McInnes
May 18 - 20, 2002.


Storytelling: Developing a Personal Mythology:
Haliburton School for the Arts.
Haliburton, Ontario, Canada
July 1 - 5th, 2002.
Information and registration: phone 705 457 1680.
visit the website

Needlefelting Workshop:
In conjunction  with the exhibit from Afghanistan.
Textile Museum,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
July 16th, 2002.
More information coming soon.

Eastern Retreat:
Quilted Felterludes ®. An Introduction to Needle Felting.
This exciting retreat features a number of quilting and related arts.
Mount Alverno Retreat Centre,
near Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
August 23 - 25th, 2002.
http://www.thomascane.com/quilt

Visit the Calendar to read more...