UK felting weekend

[Teri Berry]

Inspired by Ann's post last week I was wondering if anyone else would like to get together for a felting weekend?

I am very much open to suggestions of what others would like to do (I just think it will be fun to spend a couple of days surrounded by fibre and like-minded people ) but some initial thoughts:

 - we could rent a cottage with a large living space to play in that is central to where we all live (depending on who is interested this will most probably be the Midlands)
 - alternatively, I have space for 2 guests (or more if you don't mind sharing a room) and there is a hall about 2 miles from me that I think rents for about £50 per day and would be a great felt-making space. I live near Guildford in Surrey.
 - we could work to a topic such as 3D shapes, bags, hats, clothing etc. or make it a creative free-for-all (if we rent a hall, there should be plenty of space for larger items such as vest tops, shawls or jackets)

Sorry if you live further afield but if you are prepared to travel you would be made very welcome

Are there any takers?

[MTRuth]

I wish!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Teri, what a nice idea! If we can't go the the UK (and wouldn't we love that!), how about having our own felting weekend in the States? With Canada added in? Maybe somewhere in the Midwest? or…?

[Pandagirl]

Great ideas Teri and Cathy! A felting weekend would definitely be fun! I'd love to come to the UK. I've never been there. It will be interesting to see how many takers you get!

[Shepherdess]

You Chicago ladies need to fins more felters in the city. You can't be the only ones felting in Chicago.

[felicity]

Brilliant idea Teri! I've just got a residential workshop - 8 local felters and a Japanese tutor and it was fatnastic! Felting weekend
Very inspiring! Have you got a felters group closer to your place? I join the group of local felters and we are thinking of having felting weekend away from home, just as you said. And we meet every month as well.

[Pandagirl]

There are plenty of felters in the area. But many are attached to art leagues and go to paid workshops where all the equipment and supplies are made available. I'm sure we could muster up some locals through the Midwest Art Fair or a couple of the leagues. Cathy, any ideas?

I spoke to the owner of The Fold and I think she'd be open to posting a flyer for all the felters who come into her shop for roving to invite them to visit our forum. If we did organize a felting weekend, I'd ask her to do the same for that.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

I have not been successful in linking up with any local fellers groups, and like Marilyn said, most seem to be linked to paid workshops or stores (such as The Fine Line in St. Charles, IL or TLD workshop in Westmont, IL.) Sometimes I get the feeling that there are very few serious fellers in Chicago, since google searches only seem to reveal the above listed shops or out-of-date Blogs.

Before I found this Forum, I found an art league in the Northern Chicago Suburbs, but to my dismay, they are "invitation only." And oh yes, there is a WAIT LIST to get in to their league. Sheesh!

So, Marilyn, we could try at the Midwest Art Fair, but with such large masses of attendants, unsure how we would go about targeting felters. Maybe we just need to start our own "invitation not needed" art league.

[Pandagirl]

Cathy, they have local DIP meetings. It's Do It Public and they usually meet at a Barnes and Noble. It's mostly knitters and crochet but it might be a way to let people know there are felters out there who'd like to connect. I'll forward the next email I get from them to you. I talked to one woman who teaches at the FL. I met her at the Naperville Art League show. She seemed very open. Maybe I'll try contacting her as well. I was thinking of asking her to do a guest blog anyways. She does some unusual mixed media with felt work. 

Yes, we could start our own someplace in thE middle or switch locations. Something to think about.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

That would be great, Marilyn. As with other felters here on the Forum, it's so much fun to have a local group you can connect with in person. Sure if we put our heads together we'll figure something out.

[MTRuth]

I have found that if you just start asking people to join a group, many people are interested. Once you find one person, they know another etc. You just need to start a group and go for it. You'll need a "leader" to keep things going in the right direction but I would just start a monthly group and if it was only the two of you to start, that would work. My group is only 5 people so we can meet at each other's houses. You shouldn't disregard people from other fiber art disciplines. You can learn a lot from them.

[MTRuth]

Sorry - we've gotten off the original subject Teri

[halay]

Why do I live so far from you all :-( ?

[Shepherdess]

I don't really have anyone near me that I felt with. we tried to start a group but everyone seemed to have an excuse not to come. It got started as a group to chat about felting but no actual felting and it just didn't go. that was one of the founding members fault she didn't want to be giving free lessons. She had some grand ideas. and to her credit she has pushed herself to the front of the felting world. I go to the weaving and spinning guild. there are a few felters there and we chat at meetings. No I have felting listed on the website I hope a few more will find us.

Marilyn and Luvswool, you know there is a midwest felting symposium.
Sorry terri we are not helping

[Shepherdess]

Terry are there any big fiber or felting events you? might be a place to meet people close to you.