A day of felt making: 2D and 3D Wet Felting with Purr & Wag It, Tabletop Workshops
Description
Fixed dates don’t suit? Looking for a private workshop? For this one my home studio will accommodate 6 max. If your group is larger I can travel to you but please message me as such workshops are priced differently. Make a day of it! Magic an amorphous mass of loose fibres into a small 2D felt image and then make a seam-free 3D vessel. Where a workshop is full or fixed dates don't suit - gather together a group of 3-4 and get in touch for a flexible date and time just for you. If you are a school or community group please contact me as workshops and inset days are priced separately. Taking place at Heather's home in Camberwell on one day* (six hour workshop plus an hour break). As ever you will be fuelled by teas and/or coffee and biscuits. But if it's a special occasion do let me know and I'll bake a special cake! In the morning you will be guided through how to make an up to A3 flat piece of felt, blend colours, create a simple pictorial or abstract image and chose and prepare your fibres for your 3D vessel. lf there’s time we’ll also go over how to make beads. In the afternoon you will be guided through how to use a resist** to make a small seam free 3D vessel. By the end of the day you should have completed a 2D and 3D wet felted work as well as understand the first principals of wet felting. Wet felt making is a simple process (once you know how) made up of a series of repetitive actions. Many people find it relaxing and some a stress buster. But, elements of felt making are quite vigorous and very hands on. If you have arthritis in your hands you may find parts of the process challenging. That being said it’s not stopped anybody before and Heather is very happy to help you with vigorous parts of the process. * We'll take an hour's break half way through for a light lunch when you can either pop to one of Camberwell's local cafes or if you prefer bring a pack up. **A "resist" is a piece of cloth or other material that stops the wool fibres from one set of layers felting to those below. Want to know when new dates and courses are being added? Or, if you're looking for something a little different, contact me via the 'message the tutor' button to discuss a bespoke package/the perfect date for you. How to get here: The workshops run from Heather's home which is on an unmade road a little under ten minutes walk from Denmark Hill station with trains running into Victoria Station, Kings Cross (Thames Link line) and London Overground. Or East Dulwich station running into London Bridge is ten minutes walk (up hill) away too. A 176, 185 and 40 bus all pass within metres of the house. Free parking can be found on Grove Park and on Camberwell Grove after 6.30pm during the week and all day at the weekend. Allergies to cats or indeed wool? Please note Heather has three cats (they’ll be elsewhere in the house during the workshops). Antihistamines are available but her workshops may not be for you.
What's included in the price?
Please bring your creativity and an open mind. Absolutely everything else is included. If possible please arrive no more than 10 minutes early to settle in with refreshments for a prompt workshop start. A comprehensive How-To PDF will be emailed to you at the end of the course but I can give you paper and a pencil if you like making notes on the day. Please note this workshop needs 2 participants to run. In the event you are unable to attend at short notice I will do my best to find somebody to take your place and then move you forward to a future workshop.
Duration
7½ hours
Cancellation policy
Non-refundable - Refunds are not available
Maker
Heather Fiona Martin is a graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is an experienced felt maker who for over a decade has worked in educational and community settings. In addition to her community work she runs Purr & Wag It, fine art felted portraits. Heather holds an enhanced DBS certificate for children and vulnerable adults.
Suitable for
- Adults
- Seniors
- Teenagers
- Hearing impaired
- Limited mobility
- Learning difficulties (SEN)
- Easter
- Hen dos
- Spooky
- Corporate days out & team building
- Public transport
- Mother's Day
- School holiday workshops & activities
- Romantic
- Tutor can travel
- Pet lovers
- Suitable for beginners
- Christmas
- Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
- Intermediate level
FAQs
Merino wool tops and pre-felt come in many colours and qualities. I like to think I provide some of the best and I will share my sources with you after you've attended a workshop. At in person workshops a very wide selection of different colours and shades are available.
I buy all my wool tops from suppliers who certify it is Non-Mulesed. Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike (myiasis). It is illegal in the UK.
It has also been dyed to Oeko-Tex Standard 100: meaning the finished dyed wool has been tested for harmful substances and found harmless for human health.
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It's the felting business of Heather Fiona Martin and was borne out of a wet felted pet portrait painting of a beloved Bearded Collie. Tabletop Workshops is simply the teaching arm of the business.
Heather is a graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is an experienced felt maker who for over two decades has worked in educational and community settings. Heather holds an enhanced DBS certificate for children and vulnerable adults.
Heather has been making felt with people of all ages with many differing abilities for many years now. It’s a simple process (once you know how) but elements of felt making are quite vigorous and very hands on. If you have arthritis or a similar condition in your hands you may find parts of the process challenging. That being said it’s not stopped anybody before and Heather is very happy to help you with vigorous parts of the process.
Heather's home studio is on an unmade road a little under ten minutes walk from Denmark Hill station with trains running into Victoria Station, Kings Cross (Thames Link line) and London Overground. Or East Dulwich station running into London Bridge is ten to fifteen minutes walk (up hill) away too. A 176, 185, 40 and 484 bus all pass within metres of the house. Alight at Champion Grove.
Once you have booked I will send you a link to "How to Find Us" showing the best route on foot from Denmark Hill.
I recommend loose layered clothing. Working the fibres into felt takes a bit of elbow grease so you may find you want to take your top layer off!
An apron is not necessary but if you prefer to wear one when making then please do bring it along.
There is no parking on Stories Mews itself.
However parking is free on the surrounding roads (eg Grove Lane, Grove Park and Camberwell Grove) after 6.30pm during the week and all day at the weekend.
If you’re cycling let me know the Friday before the workshop so I can make room for your bike in the garage.
This varies a little depending on the type of workshop for:
Public 2D and 3D wet felting: I like to keep the groups small, so a maximum of 4. This provides you with plenty of time for one on one tuition.
Private 2D and 3D wet felting: Still small but I'm happy to accommodate up to 6 if everybody knows each other.
Prefelt collage, up to 6, because participants need less one on one tuition and use less room.
Christmas: Usually up to 10, because these workshops make use of crib sheets and everybody is making pretty much the same thing.
With all my workshops because of last minute cancellations you may end up with a private one on one workshop for the apublic group price.
If you're looking for something for larger numbers of participants I'm usually a) able to come to you and b) tailor something to fit in with your timetable and themes.
