Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) reviews

Pauline Upsall reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"With Emma's patience and expertise, I came away with a rather fabulous lampshade that has pride of place in the bedroom. Her knowledge of natural breeds is vast so can advise on which wool would be most suitable depending on how much light and the pattern you require. Would definitely recommend this course for all felting abilities."

Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) responded:

"Thank you for your feedback Pauline, so pleased you enjoy the workshop and are so happy with your lampshade, it is beautiful."

Sue reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"Really enjoyed the course on Saturday, thank you for an excellent introduction to a new hobby! I attached a photo of the final 'Northern Light' picture, I was amazed at how the various embellishments 'popped out' when the fleece was finally fully dry. I may well see you on a course in the future!"

Mollie reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"Thanks for another excellent workshop! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot more about wet felting."

Grace reviewed: Fissures II - Nuno Felted Mosaic Scarves

"The workshop was as good as I had hoped, and given the number of postponements because of covid restrictions, my hopes were very high! Communication about the course and details of the day were clear and reassuring. The venue is excellent and levels of comfort and hospitality were very good, making a long day pass very quickly. But the content of the workshop was the most important element and was absolutely excellent, from the preparation before the day, the explanation , demonstration and general guidance during the workshop, and the clear notes and photos provided to help me with my own attempts in future. Emma was very good company, all the materials were to hand and I learned a great deal, as well as coming home with a scarf I am proud to have made, ( with help! ).Thank you."

Chris reviewed: Fissures II - Nuno Felted Mosaic Scarves

"A really good workshop where I was able to become totally absorbed in the process and emerged with an artistic, beautifully coloured Nuno felted scarf I was really pleased and proud of. I think it would help to have a little experience of felt making so that you can progress quicker than a total beginner, but I also think it's possible to be a beginner and get a lot from it. Emma was a calm, warm and responsive tutor, moving us from one stage to the next without rush but keeping the time boundaries effectively. Emma was generous in sharing her skills and knowledge; not only did we learn how to create beautiful scarves using a mosaic technique, we also learnt how to work up a design from an image of our choice, measure out the correct amount of wools, dye a piece of silk with acid dyes, make prefelt, and how to make a sheet of viscose fibre then incorporate some of that into our design. The day was packed with useful tips that only a well experienced creative felter would know. The setting was a lovely studio at the end of a long garden. We had the door open most of the time and Emma provided, masks, visors, gloves and hand sanitizer, although you don't really need the latter as you are working with soap and water a lot! You could choose how cautious you wanted to be. I felt perfectly safe from any potential Covid infection."

Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) responded:

"Glad you had an enjoyable and fruitful day, your scarf looks stunning. It’s great to hear you had a great learning experience and felt safe throughout."

Jan reviewed: Fissures II - Nuno Felted Mosaic Scarves

"This course couldnt have been better. Lovely venue, conducive to the task, lots of laughs, a really skilled, passionate tutor with answers to all felting queries, and support at all stages of constructing the scarf. So many lovely things, gorgeous colours, and a real generosity in sharing all of these, plus her skills and time. Best of all, I now have a unique beautiful scarf. Can't recommend the day more, do it, you wont be disappointed!"

Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) responded:

"I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the course, I throughly enjoyed the day too. Thank you, Emma"

Edith Fotheringham reviewed: Fissures I - Cracked Mud Vessels / Panel

"This was such a good workshop! Step by step notes and hands on support from Emma in a lovely friendly group. I'm inspired!"

Louisa Bain reviewed: Fissures I - Cracked Mud Vessels / Panel

"I have been to several of Emma's workshops before and would highly recommend them. She is a talented artist who also has the ability and patience to pass on her knowledge. Her workshops are fun, informative and enjoyable. The classroom is fully equipped with adequate space, light and heating. The atmosphere is welcoming with a plentiful supply of tea, coffee and delicious biscuits! More importantly though, I have been on three courses now and, each time, have come away with a piece of work that I feel proud of and would use. I would definitely recommend Emma's courses to anyone whether beginner or more confident felt maker."

Rosemary Radford reviewed: Fissures I - Cracked Mud Vessels / Panel

"Emma is excellent at teaching the process for felting and is very patient. Emma explained the different stages of the felting and was very willing to help the students. Full of inspiration and ideas how to improve your work. A lovely atmosphere in the studio - everyone willing to share their work and ideas."

Mollie G reviewed: Felt Pod Vessels

"Yet another excellent and engaging workshop from Emma. Emma is a very knowledgeable and talented tutor, and I'm very much looking forward to her next one. Thank you!"

Sarah Yeomans reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"The felted lampshade workshop was just great. I think Emma is a very good teacher....patient, attentive, helpful and gives clear instructions. The photos she took as we worked will be a useful reminder of the techniques involved. Her enthusiasm for all things felting is infectious and I look forward to attending another felting day in the future. Thanks Emma!"

Louisa Bain reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"I only attended the second half of the lampshade course but I have been to one of Emma's felting courses before and am booked onto another later this month. She is a very talented felt maker and presents the courses clearly and with a great atmosphere. We were given handouts and photos to remind us of the process. I think the price is very reasonable and the atmosphere is great."

Caroline reviewed: Felt Pod Vessels

"Emma's pod workshop was a really enjoyable morning. The instructions and demonstrations are clear and thanks to the detailed handouts I feel confident that I will be able to make another felt pod at home. Emma is incredibly knowledgeable and has an amazing selection of wools and colours available to use. I am really pleased with the pod that I made. Thank you Emma."

Rachel Faulkner reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"I enjoyed making lampshades with Emma. Though I have done wet felting before (via Emma’s felted vessel workshop) I thought this would be interesting to try out as I enjoyed the other workshops I’ve had with Emma and I was in need of a lampshade for my house. She sent emails on what to bring to workshop, e.g. photos or drawings for inspiration. Emma is very thorough with her explanations and shows you all the steps you need to take at a good pace. She often has some great tips on what works and what doesn’t and showed different lampshade examples and felted samples. It’s always a friendly and supportive atmosphere at her studio. There was another lady at the workshop and Emma split her time equally between us. I received worksheets explaining all the stages we’ve been through and was sent some images she took during the workshop. I was very happy with my finished lampshade and with all the support I was given I feel confident to have a go again. I would encourage anyone to attend Emma’s workshops with a great teacher and lovely company. Thank you Emma I always have such a good time learning new techniques with you"

Emma Jackson (Silversoles - Felted Textiles) responded:

"Thank you for your generous review Rachel - so glad you enjoyed the course and enjoyed the workshop expereince."

Mollie reviewed: Felt Pod Vessels

"Dear Emma I had a wonderful morning with you, thank you, and look forward to more workshops in your excellent work space. I've just returned from a wet and windy week in Wales and am preparing my work room for a go at making another felted pod, while your instructions are in my head! Thanks for sending me the images - I downloaded them just in time! I took my creation with me and gave it some attention - hopefully I'll manage to send some pictures! The silk looked good, but I think I needed to add more! I learned so much from your knowledge and generous teaching style and very much look forward to joining you again. Many thanks, Mol"

Rachel reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"I have loved doing this short course and was amazed with my finished felt lampshade - my friends don't believe I made it! Emma gives you just the right amount of support and step by step instructions throughout - she is a wonderful teacher. There are lots of beautiful coloured and un-dyed wools to choose from and a mouthwatering selection of fancy fibres and yarns to use too. Working over two days helped me to digest everything, from felt making to making the lampshade, I've learnt so much. The detailed handout instructions given back up anything I forget and will help me have another go. I left so inspired, thank you."

Esme Kettle reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"What an excellent experience. I am thrilled with my lampshade. Emma made us feel so welcome and her garden studio is beautiful. She gave us plenty of advice and guided us through each stage of making the felt and constructing the lampshade with patience and skills. I have a limited amount of felt making experience, but this didn't matter as Emma's support, advice and encouragement helped me bring my ideas to life. Thank you Emma - brilliant workshop!"

Anya reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"This was a wonderful morning learning how to turn wool into a new fabric. Emma is an approachable and friendly teacher who made us feel very welcome and helped guide me through the process with patience and care. I left with a new skill, confident of my knowledge and wanting to do more. Thoroughly recommend this course and tutor."

Yvonne Taylor reviewed: Felt Lampshades

"Another fabulous course with Emma! I thoroughly enjoyed the two Saturday mornings and was delighted with my lampshade when it was finished. Emma is always so warm and welcoming, and her studio is a lovely place to work. In addition, by keeping groups, she is able to give each person individual attention when they require it. Emma is such an inspirational tutor. She guides you through the process step by step with clear instructions and at the right pace. There is just the right amount of support, with a good balance between teaching new skills and helping students develop their own ideas. Clear written instructions, photographs taken during the process and a list of suppliers are all provided by Emma. More importantly, she gives you the confidence to 'have a go' at trying different techniques. I can't wait to make my next lampshade and try some of them out! A great course for beginners and those with some experience of felting. I can highly recommend this and other courses by Emma. Thank you so much! I look forward to seeing you again soon."

Sarah Yeomans reviewed: Landscapes in Wool - Painting with Fibres

"I found the Landscapes in Wool workshop thoroughly enjoyable. Emma was very welcoming and has a lovely studio/workspace in her garden. From a photograph, I learnt about how to create perspective when felting and how to mix colours by carding. There was a wonderful range of colours to choose from. I found Emma an extremely good teacher. She gave clear instructions and provided help when required. I am a novice felt maker and realised how much there is to learn and discover in the world of felt making. I hope to go to another workshop sometime in the future."

Amanda & Philippa reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"We had a lovely day with Emma, learning about shibori techniques and producing samples to show the results. Emma took photos of the process as we were going along throughout the day, which was really helpful to look back on after the day when trying the techniques on your own. She also provided some great information at the end of the day as a reference source, which was also really helpful. Emma guided us through the process without doing it all for us, and as there were only 2 of us in the end (there should have been 4), we each got plenty of advice and attention. A relaxed and enjoyable day learning about an interesting process which we hope to use in future projects."

Valerie reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"A wonderful workshop with the opportunity to create two pieces of felt. Emma gave a really useful introduction to felting and then demonstrated the processes really clearly. Not only did we have a lovely choice of wool tops to create the felt base but also lots of threads and bits to embellish the pieces. Great studio, brilliant tutor and a lovely creative way to spend a few hours."

EMMA COTTRILL reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"A thoroughly enjoyable workshop. Emma was a fantastic, engaging teacher and her passion for the craft was infectious. I'm so glad I went and would highly recommend."

Bev lewis reviewed: Learn to Felt - An Introduction to Felt Making in Birmingham

"Fantastic course - Emma was friendly, and encouraging . She took her time to explain the processes and as an absolute beginner, I left with the confidence and excitement to continue with this subject. We made two pieces to take home and I am looking forward to signing up for other courses. A really enjoyable lesson, thankyou x"

Carolyn Bettis reviewed: Felt Flowers - Mothers Day Special with Lunch!

"I thoroughly enjoyed the flower making course which I attended as a complete beginner. Despite my inexperience, I was very pleased to see at the end of the morning, that I had quite a credible piece of work in progress! I left feeling that we had been given a very good introduction to the craft and I shall undoubtedly look to carry on."