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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 2, 2014 22:58:57 GMT
Yes, Ann. Their next big event is in Madison Wisconsin about a five or six hour drive. I understand they are having trouble finding vendors. I just don't know if the timing is right for me now. As I mentioned to Cathy in a post above, they have Do It in Public events in different locations every few weeks. Maybe we'll crash a couple of them!
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 2, 2014 23:29:55 GMT
that's the problem of living in a big country. the mid west is a big place. felting in public is good. You could do a felt united day at a library or at one of the fiber stores. It was october 5th last year. They have a theme every year. it hasn't been announced yet this year. her is the site www.feltunited.com/ they have a face book page people put there work on. I just asked about the webpage. they used to make a slideshow of all the events and pieces but it doesn't look like they did it last year. it is to new people running it.
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Post by felicity on Apr 3, 2014 6:54:48 GMT
Teri, I remember! There is a such organization as IFA (international feltmakers association) www.feltmakers.comThey have branches throughout UK (ours is North East). I am not a member but you can ask contacts of your branch on the website I think. Or I could ask for you if you wish? I know the lady who is a secretary of our area branch...
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Post by zed on Apr 3, 2014 9:23:43 GMT
I live in one of the busiest cities in the world, there's more people here than the whole of Montana, yet art guilds, weavers and spinners clubs, felter's clubs, etc are all a foreign concept. Unless you're in some cliquey set who thinks it's alright to go through juried selection for a craft fair (seriously, they do that crap).
Teri, it sounds like a great idea, if I was healthy, I'd be up for it.
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 3, 2014 10:58:13 GMT
Zed don't snub the jury prosess for shows. I don't know about there but here it is quality they are jurying for. And to maintain a good variety of products. It's not a snob thing. If you pay a lot to be in a show you do not want crappy work sold cheap in the next booth. You also do not want half the vendors to be selling beaded jewelry. Having been on the jury at the farmers market I could have filled the market 2 times over with people making beaded necklaces. With the guild it's quality factor and is a constructive proses explaining what needs to be fixed so you will be able to pass. Some people weave really well and then sew very badly. I am the jury for felt.
Hope that helps. Maybe find out what the jury requirements are for a few to see how they are run. The international felters association is mostly a UK organisation. We have a rep for Canada and she doesn't answer emails and there are no events or contacts available. It's just for her CV.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 3, 2014 11:29:21 GMT
If I lived closer to any of you wonderful felters I'd be there, but after much searching I have found 2 busy felters here in Bulgaria, and one is only an hour away and we plan to meet up - and they both speak English, which is a huge bonus for me :-)
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 3, 2014 12:45:54 GMT
Ann, I attended the Midwest Felting Symposium in the Summer of 2012, and there I took my first class in wet-felting from Anna Gunnarsdottir of Iceland. Although it was a great class and a terrific experience, I spent about $1000 for the class and 3 nights lodging, as it's 6 hours round trip to Madison WI from Chicago, IL. So this year I decided to take a pass. I thought my time and money might be better spent on Fiona Duthie's on-line Surface Design Class, which begins April 5th.
Of course, that doesn't solve the problem of finding local felters, but Marilyn and I plan to do some investigation, as we think it absolutely would be wonderful to find a few local folks to felt with from time to time.
Carole, terrific you were able to find a few folks in Bulgaria, and yes, it is nice they speak your language. Incidentally, what is the local sheep's wool they use there? I've been reading the Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, and Bulgaria is one of the areas they don't mention.
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Post by Teri Berry on Apr 3, 2014 18:40:40 GMT
I am a bit like you Ann, I know a couple of felters through my local weavers spinners and dyers guild and when I see them next I will sound them out for a making weekend or even just an afternoon. I keep an eye out for other textile groups but they seem to be few and far between down south, there appear to be plenty up t'north. I recently joined the IFA but again, my local group don't appear to be active at all, I might have to attach myself to another region...
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Post by felicity on Apr 3, 2014 18:52:51 GMT
I I recently joined the IFA but again, my local group don't appear to be active at all, I might have to attach myself to another region... Sorry to hear that, Teri!
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 4, 2014 6:19:51 GMT
how about a virtual felting weekend? we could have a theme and post our progress and give each other ideas and support? Luvswool, I'm not sure, it seems to me that it's all sheep fleece
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 4, 2014 11:00:59 GMT
Luvswool that's the reason I don't go, it is so expensive. same with the felters fling. I would be nice to live close to snow farm. I think it might be in North Carolina. It is a craft school. they do craft camps for adults.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 4, 2014 12:46:45 GMT
Snow Farm is in Williamsburg, Mass., and there are quite a few other "craft schools" in the States, including Arrowmont and John Campbell in the South. Closer to you would be a couple of places in the Hudson Valley of New York. I investigated all of them, and there seem to be some wonderful classes offered mostly in the summer. But again, if you are on a budget, none of them will suit. I love learning new skills, and hands-on experiences work best for me. It comes down to how you want to spend your disposable income.
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Post by Shepherdess on Apr 4, 2014 13:34:51 GMT
well there you go I was way off. Going away is always expensive. I went to one in Chautauqua NY. It was really affordable. It was put on by one of the finger lakes guilds. They take turns every 2 years. It is where I took my felt hat and resist dye class with Chad Alice Hagen.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 4, 2014 13:39:52 GMT
Yes, I've seen info about the workshops held in the Finger Lakes area…they sound low-key and fairly reasonable. Again, you have to weigh how far you need to travel, lodging costs, food and workshop costs--which can be quite high! I recently saw one advertised for $890 for 5 days--WOW! It must have been wonderful taking a class with Chad Alice Hagen.
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Post by anarchy53 on Aug 11, 2014 18:14:44 GMT
Winghams wools have 2 cottages they rent out - with lots of space for felting and near their shop! Anyone fancy a few days playing - its in west yorkshire if anyone interested.
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