Evocative Arts Workshops
Moira Simpson
Felt Making for Beginners' - 1 day Workshops
Wet felting is a lovely technique in which wool fibres are bound together through application of soapy water and friction, to make a non-woven fabric. This can be used to make garments, wall-hangings, accessories, boots, bags, bowls, hats, and more. Wool fibres felted onto silk fabric make nuno felt, with beautiful textures and patterns, ideal for eye-catching scarves and garments.
Would you like to learn wet felting and nuno felting, or improve your existing skills? I am offering classes to introduce hand-felting techniques to beginners or extend the existing skills of those with limited experience. Please see the list below for the workshops that I currently offer.
Fees stated are for tuition. Complimentary lunches and/or refreshments are provided. For most workshops, all the materials are provided; for others there may be an extra charge eg for silk scarves. Participants must be sixteen years of age or older, but teens aged 12-15 may enrol with an adult who is also attending.
Classes for up to 8 people will be available in my art studio in Clare, in the mid north.
Would you like to learn wet felting and nuno felting, or improve your existing skills? I am offering classes to introduce hand-felting techniques to beginners or extend the existing skills of those with limited experience. Please see the list below for the workshops that I currently offer.
Fees stated are for tuition. Complimentary lunches and/or refreshments are provided. For most workshops, all the materials are provided; for others there may be an extra charge eg for silk scarves. Participants must be sixteen years of age or older, but teens aged 12-15 may enrol with an adult who is also attending.
Classes for up to 8 people will be available in my art studio in Clare, in the mid north.
About the tutor - Moira Simpson. I completed a BA (Honours) degree in Art at Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, then a Post-Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education (Art), and later a Master’s degree in Museum Studies, specialising in museum and gallery education. I have been teaching art and design throughout my career, in schools, universities and public programs in art galleries. I love working with colour, texture and form and merging my expertise in sculpture with fibre arts, such as felting and stitching. I enjoy sharing my passions for visual arts with others and provide a range of workshop topics. I also organise workshops taught by interstate and international artists. Details of forthcoming workshops can be found at www.evocativearts.com.au and these can be booked online using the links provided. For further inquiries or to organise a bespoke workshop, email me at moira@evocativearts.com.au
Felt Workshops
Workshop 1: Creating with Wool: an introduction to wet felting (1 day)
Workshop 2: Fibres from Nature workshop – combining wool, silk, cotton and viscose through nuno felting (1 day)
Workshop 3: Textures and Textiles – Nuno felting with inclusions for texture on scarves, garments and accessories. (1 day)
Workshop 4:
Fabulous Felting - Painting with fibres (1 Day)
See below for detailed descriptions of each workshop For each workshop booked, please complete a registration form to provide contact details Workshops will begin a new purpose designed art studio in Clare
Workshop 1: Creating with Wool: an introduction to wet felting (1 day)
Find out how to layout merino wool fibres, apply decorative elements, and use wet felting techniques to turn them into a piece of beautiful and unique fabric.
Through discussion and examination of samples, you will first learn about:
• The history and cultural traditions of felting,
• Characteristics of wool and how and why it felts
• Characteristics of wools from different sheep breeds - examine and feel samples made with wools from about 16 different breeds – and consider the uses of the for different felting projects
• Stages in the processes of felting and fulling.
• Layout methods, fibre quantities, thickness, weight, shrinkage rates
• The differences between a pre-felt and a fully felted piece
• Consideration of physical aspects to avoid strain on backs and shoulders (tools and posture).
The emphasis is on learning through experimentation and sampling to explore a variety of methods. Through hands-on activities you will make samples and learn how to: • Pull and layout fibres evenly. • Apply pre-felting decorative effects and pattern-making methods using wool and plant fibres: colour mixing; colour blends and gradations; drawing and painting’ with wool fibres; creating lines and spirals; adding dots and speckles; etc. • Use several felting methods including rubbing, rolling, and sanding. • Full your felt using several techniques, and learn when and why to use each. • Recognise and create a good quality piece of felt and when it is ‘finished’. • Consider ways of adding embellishments to completed felt. $140 per day for tuition and materials (merino wool tops, various threads and fibres for embellishments). Complimentary lunch and refreshments are provided. Please complete registration form
The emphasis is on learning through experimentation and sampling to explore a variety of methods. Through hands-on activities you will make samples and learn how to: • Pull and layout fibres evenly. • Apply pre-felting decorative effects and pattern-making methods using wool and plant fibres: colour mixing; colour blends and gradations; drawing and painting’ with wool fibres; creating lines and spirals; adding dots and speckles; etc. • Use several felting methods including rubbing, rolling, and sanding. • Full your felt using several techniques, and learn when and why to use each. • Recognise and create a good quality piece of felt and when it is ‘finished’. • Consider ways of adding embellishments to completed felt. $140 per day for tuition and materials (merino wool tops, various threads and fibres for embellishments). Complimentary lunch and refreshments are provided. Please complete registration form
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Workshop 2:
Fibres from Nature workshop – combining wool, silk, cotton and viscose through nuno felting (1 day)
Find out how two beautiful materials – soft merino wool and fine, gauzy fabrics - can be used to make gorgeous, unique fabrics suitable for scarves, garments or accessories. You will be able to explore the use of a variety of different materials and weights of fabrics and note the effects these achieve.
Through discussion and hands-on activities, you will learn
• The history of nuno felting and its development.
• How to select natural and synthetic fabrics for nuno felting: qualities, compositions, weights to achieve desired textural effects.
• Colour mixing with wool fibres and gauzy fabrics.
• The effects of applying fabrics on the shrinkage of wool, and vice versa
• What sort of embellishments can be added prior to felting.
• Ways of adding further embellishments to the finished felt.
You will make samples and learn how to
• Apply and secure fabrics of different types.
• Apply fabrics to achieve textural a painterly effect.
• Apply fabrics to achieve textural effects.
• How to uses yarns, silk hankies and other fibres as surface decoration prior to felting.
• How to make fringes and edgings for scarves (optional).
You can devote the day to making samples exploring the effects of using different fabrics in nuno felting, or start with sampling in the morning and then in the afternoon, make a gorgeous, soft and light nuno felt scarf, perfect for accessorising an outfit.
$140 per day for tuition plus $40 for materials for samples and a nuno scarf (merino wool tops, one silk scarf with rolled edges or fine silk fabrics equivalent to 1.8-2.5 metres, various wool, silk and plant fabrics and fibres for embellishing). Complimentary lunch and refreshments are provided.
Please complete registration form
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Workshop 3:
Textures and Textiles – Nuno felting with inclusions for texture on scarves, garments and accessories (1 day)
Add texture and dimensions to nuno felt – great for creating eye-catching dimensional elements on scarves, bags or wall hangings.
Through discussion and hands-on activities, you will learn:What materials can be used to create texture in nuno feltingColour mixing and ‘painting with fibres and fabrics’Use a variety of fabrics and techniques to create applied texture, such as crumpled, ruffled. Use different materials and insertions methods to create texture and dimension.How to make and use nuno prefelts for surface decoration.How to create a mosaic effect with nuno felt.Consider ways of adding further texture or embellishments to completed felt.
You can devote the day to making samples, or start with sampling in the morning and then make a scarf in the afternoon.
You can explore the effects of using different fabrics in nuno felting and make a gorgeous, soft and light nuno felt scarf, perfect for accessorising an outfit or use nuno prefelts to make a beautiful mosaic-effect scarf.
$140 for tuition plus $40 for materials. Compimentary lunch and refreshments are provided.
Please complete registration form
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Workshop 4: FABULOUS FELTING: Painting with Fibres
This will be a day of exploring mark-making with wools, fibres, yarns and fabrics to emulate the effects of brushes, pastels and pencils and other more traditional art materials, but for creating textile artworks inspired by Impressionism.
Learn a variety of methods of using wool fibres and other materials to apply colour, pattern and mark-making to create hand-made felt compositions. These can be geometric shapes, soft 'brush marks', puffy clouds, trees, and so on.
You can apply these techniques to suit your own style of work: pattern, abstraction, landscape, flowers, even portraits. Use it to make unique pictures and wall-hangings or to decorate garments or bags.
$140 for tuition plus $40 for materials. Compimentary lunch and refreshments are provided.
Learn a variety of methods of using wool fibres and other materials to apply colour, pattern and mark-making to create hand-made felt compositions. These can be geometric shapes, soft 'brush marks', puffy clouds, trees, and so on.
You can apply these techniques to suit your own style of work: pattern, abstraction, landscape, flowers, even portraits. Use it to make unique pictures and wall-hangings or to decorate garments or bags.
$140 for tuition plus $40 for materials. Compimentary lunch and refreshments are provided.
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