Description
A mix of Scandi simplicity, natural materials and handcrafted individuality which has a subtle sophistication all of its own makes these little fellas more than appealing. They’ll bring some hygge when you make them as well as whilst they're displayed in your home. (They make great gifts too) The perfect family/friends group activity! In the video Heather will take you step by step through a combination of simple needle and wet felting techniques. There are lots of close ups and explanations as to why she uses the techniques she does. How tall your finished Tomte is depends very much on the length of hat you create but a reasonable estimate is between 15 and 20cm tall. The kit uses Perendale wool batt, merino wool pre-felt and Gotland locks together with some other woolly bits. The Tomte story: This engaging little character comes from Scandinavian folklore, which has it that the gnomes (known as Tomte or Nisse) live under the floor boards in houses and farm buildings and are protective and helpful to both humans and animals. Despite this caring side to their nature, the Tomte are also prone to play tricks and pranks and generally get up to all kind of mischief. Leaving little gifts for the gnomes was traditional, particularly on Christmas eve, and many Scandinavians still put out a bowl of hot porridge on the doorstep for the gnomes to enjoy, to curb their mischievous spirit in the year to come!
What's included in the price?
The kit provides sufficient materials for two tree decorations. Choose between red, dark red or grey hats and pale grey or mid grey beards. Please let me know which when ordering. It includes equipment for one maker.
What you will need
A few bits and pieces from your kitchen: * teacup full of warm water with a dash of washing up liquid. * metal skewer *kitchen sponge scourer approx 6.5x9cm - not necessary if you have a needle felting pad *piece of bubble wrap, say A4 size (Let me know if you want me to supply this but some is bound to pop through your front door) *a piece of sponge - I use half a kitchen scourer
Duration
2¾ hours
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
- Wheelchair users
- Hearing impaired
- Corporate days out & team building
- School holiday workshops & activities
- Public transport
- Suitable for beginners
- Tutor can travel
- Christmas
- Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
- UK Holiday
FAQs
Pre-felt is, as it's name suggests is not a fully formed/finished product. It needs further "work" to become felt. So it's the between stage of having laid out say 3 layers of fibres, wetted and then fulled just enough for the fibres to hook together but not turned into a solid piece of felt.
Industrially made pre-felt can also be purchased. It is made on a needle punching machine which has a bed of thousands of needles moving up and down entangling the fibres into felt without the need for water. With pre-felt the process is halted before the felt is completely formed. Because of the process it is sometimes known as needle punch.
Why work with pre-felt? Well, because it's already sufficiently formed to be a sheet you can cut it into clean sharp edged shapes which on their own give a collaged effect to your making. Because it's part felted it tends to hold it's shape better, but this depends a little on how evenly you full what you're making. Once you've learnt the fundamentals of wet felting it is also great to use as a base to create on top of.
Please note pre-felt is not the same as craft felt. Often that is made of polyester, if you're lucky wool/viscose or quality 100% wool.
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.
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.
