Alpaca birds workshop p-Lush 2015

My first creations with alpaca wool - I was thrilled to be asked to host a workshop at the p-Lush Alpaca Show on March 27th. So I chose to make little birds, which are ideal for beginners.

Rather different to my normal merino - bizarrely, the fibres seemed finer and yet at the same time, more 'hairy'.

So although I strived for my usual smooth finish, they did come out looking a little fuzzy. But I rather liked the natural effect. There are only 12 places on this workshop and they are booking already - details and registration can be found on the p-Lush booking page here. Join in, it'll be fun!

Little Easter Goose

One small grey goose waddled off to a new home.

Walter.

 He really is very small indeed...

There are still some spaces left on my May 10 chicken brooch workshop at the Fibreworks Oxford. If you'd like to keep me company, please contact the shop via the website.

Creatures

Whistle stop blog post, as I am up to my neck in *stuff*. My polar bear pattern in 'Mollie Makes Weddings' - on Amazon UK here and Amazon USA here.

My kitten pattern in the latest issue (37)  of 'Mollie Makes'. Available as a 'real' magazine here or as a digital download here.

Off  to Cinderhill Farm soon to do the first workshop of the year on March 8th - there are two places left, if anyone fancies it, details are here . I can count on one hand the amount of times I've been anywhere since November last year, so I am very much looking forward to my adventure. Not to mention seeing my dear friends, meeting my workshop students and cooing over the newborn lambs. 

I'll also be launching my first kits, 'Slinky Fox' at the workshops. It's been a long process, but I will soon be bringing out kits on a regular basis. I will return with photos of lambs. And chickens. and more pigs. And goats.

That's been a rather busy November - four workshops, two patterns and lots of work related stuff in-between. Back to dear Oxford again, where I attended a concert at the beautiful Victorian church of St John the Evangelist on the Iffley Road. I once had a student bedsit up there, when I was a hungry art student.  Odd to go back again, but the concert was very enjoyable, performed by the talented and energetic members of the Magdalen College School orchestras.

The church was packed with proud parents snapping away, so I wasn't able to get many photos myself, but I did love the painted ceiling.

 

The next day there was another workshop at the lovely Fibreworks Oxford.

So pleased that someone returned for more and brought some 'homework' she had done since the last session.

 It was a Christmas theme and everyone made trees.

Well, nearly everyone - there was a robin, a Christmas cottage and a sweet toadstool house as well.

My final workshop of the year was my first Shropshire one. Held in such a nice venue, at Rustic and White in Wyle Cop, filled with vintage treasures and with parts of the shop dating back to Tudor times.

Pleasantly surprised to find that we'd filled all twelve spots and were actually oversubscribed. 

This was an all day session and also Christmas themed. There were one or two people there who read this blog, so if they are reading this, it was great to meet you. 

As well as bringing two suitcases of wools, as usual I did my best to supply as many beads, findings and decorative bits as possible, which does result in a  bit of a crafty mess at the end of the day!

 

After several hours of industry, fuelled by hot drinks and cake, there was a simply gorgeous batch of trees. I started everyone off with the same measurement guidelines, showed them the basic method and let them loose. Despite starting with more or less the same amount of wool, a wide variety of trees appeared, each bearing the maker's personality.

 

So that's it for the year and I am already booked to do more next year. I'll be posting some dates soon.

Needle felt news

 

 

I've never done a tea cup before, but when the 'Mollie Makes' team asks, I do my very best for them. If you have an iPad or iPhone, this pattern can be found in issue 55 of 'Gathered' the digital sister magazine at only £1.49 for the whole magazine. (All content to 'Gathered' is different to the paper version of 'Mollie Makes').

These snow geese are a new design too, and were bought before I could offer them here.

As have three of these owl decorations - I have just one brown owl left to sell.

And after missing a year, due to life chaos, I've managed to get a limited number of 2014 desk calendars out. Nothing fancy or expensive, but with twelve months of my latest designs throughout.

 2014 'Needle Felt Friends Calender on sale here

This has also been a  month for workshops and my final one of the year, on November 30th, is my first Shropshire one at the lovely vintage chic shop 'Rustic and White'. There are only two places left as I write - and it even made it into the Shrewsbury Chronicle. Fame at last. More details on my website.

Fibreworks Oxford - workshop

My first workshop this month was held at the lovely new Fibreworks Oxford yarn shop on Cowley Road, Oxford, an old stamping ground of mine. Inside, it is simply gorgeous, elegantly stuffed with lovely wools, kits, books and sundry sundries.

Here's the manager, Natasha, knitting away during a brief lull - it's a busy little shop and people are coming and going all the time. It was great to see all kinds of everyone browsing and shopping - young people, older people, men, students, families - not the traditional notion of a wool shop's clientèle.

I was a bit late arriving, but after a while everyone was working away, with coffee and biscuits of course.

A good time was had by all, from the kind feedback and I was so pleased with what everyone made - most of my pupils had never tried needle felting before.

 One acorn necklace, worn with justifiable pride!

  

The Fibreworks is also the first supplier of my new venture, supplying spiral felting needles. I've recently discovered these and like them so much I am now selling them myself. But if you aren't in the Oxford area, you can buy them directly from my Etsy shop. Have to admit, I did enjoy designing the packaging.

Latest needle felting news

Off to do two workshops in Oxfordshire -  one at The Fibreworks Oxford and another all day session at the dear old Queen's Head in Eynsham. Just managed to get a pattern finished for 'Crafty' magazine (coming out soon) and finish a couple of custom orders.

The elephant is very big (for needle felting) - 8 x 5½ inches. This sweetie is only a couple of inches tall, by comparison.

Not only that - I have some foxes and new style hares to sell, when I return - here's a little preview of one.