After removing the divider wall I had put in previously, and rearranging my supplies, I was ready for the first felting workshop in my new studio. With a heater, electricity, hot and cold running water and a microwave, we had all the conveniences of being in the house.
It was a pleasure meeting Diane and she worked on a beautiful merino wool and silk scarf using the soft felting technique. The little locks of wool she added along the edges were from a different type of sheep I dyed last season..
I hosted a one on one workshop with a great artistic lady named Elly from Corvallis. She made one very fluffy colorful scarf plus a smaller neck warmer scarf. Here are photos of the large scarf as it is drying on the rack. I taught Elly my method of felting which is much faster than the rolling on the noodle method. MUCH faster!
We had fun and she says she will probably come to another workshop and make more felted items.
If my readers are interested in learning to felt, or just want a place to felt where there is instruction and lots of supplies (merino wool in all colors, silk fiber, wool locks, and more) for your project, please call me at 407-766-2588 or email me at micheleballantynedesigns@gmail.com and we will schedule a workshop for you. I can have up to four participants at my workshops. Workshops are 6 hours for $100, or 3 hours for $50. In a 6 hour workshop a more complicated item can be made, like the scarf in the photo Elly made using locks of wool as a fringe and decoration, and possibly a second simpler item like a smaller neck warmer scarf. In a 3 hour workshop a less complicated scarf or other item can be made. You may notice that each side of the larger scarf Elly made is different. The scarves you make at my workshops can be made to be reversible.
The flip side of the scarf.After the wet felting, Elly applies a little needle felting on some stubborn fibers!
Jennifer, the owner of the Alpaca Ranch, suggested a flyer with more color; and my daughter Melanie suggested more photos of workshops on the flyer, so I came up with this. I like this flyer better with the white background because the lettering is easier to read. The flyer may not be as “pretty”, but it works.
Jennifer suggested I work on felting a scarf on Feb. 11th, while I am at her store at the ranch during her pre Valentines sale. She had already invited me to sell my scarves there on that day. She thought I might like to use my time to make a scarf while also demonstrating to customers what we will be doing at the workshop. I love the idea! If anyone wants to stop by to see the store and get in on some Valentine sales, and see my felting process at the same time, come on over to the ranch!
Today (written on Wed. Jan. 25th) I’m organizing my garage! Or I should say I’m supervising the organization of my garage! Ha ha I’m sitting in a rocking chair, in a big fluffy down jacket, telling my son and my niece what to do.
My niece is a real go-getter. She has worked for me many times before. She helped me build my spiral house up on the mountain. I pay her well because she is a very hard worker. She doesn’t let the cold or the wet stop her.
I have two workshops coming up this weekend and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. I need to get some furniture out of my house, which is too full, and do some cleaning, but my garage where I want to store some of the overflow is full already.
I called Rachel and asked if she had some time to come help me get organized. I was so happy when she said she did. She came right over.
Then my daughter Melanie called and asked if I wanted the minions over today. LOL, the minions are my grandkids. I call them my minions because they are my little helpers who earn video game playing time by working for me! I told her I was intensely focused on cleaning but I could use the older two today if she wanted to bring them over.
She brought them over and the deal was that they were to help me until it got dark then they could play video games. They helped for a good 2 1/2 hours before playtime. By then I was exhausted and we all took a break and they played games. Later I had them do another little job, then they played some more.
By the end of the day, Rachel had worked for about 7 1/2 hours. The garage was clean, the house was rearranged, I was out $108 to an excellent worker, I was exhausted, the kids had worked, and I was happy that I had accomplished everything I was hoping to. It was a great day!
Here is the new scarf I crafted. With each side different, and each edge different, this scarf can be worn in many different ways, to achieve many different looks. My inspiration for the color combination was the flower pictured below.
On Dec. 8, we had a workshop with Eileen and MaryJo. MaryJo chose red merino and silk 50/50 blend, which, when dry, will be super soft and have gorgeous texture. I wish I could have taken a photo when the red wrap was dry, but that usually takes overnight, and my workshops don’t last that long! Unless we did a sleepover . . . Hmm, that would be fun too!
Eileen created a long narrow scarf for herself, using the woodland colors merino and silk blend along with mocha and cyan merino wool accents. You can see the gorgeous colors and shine even when wet, but again, I wish I could show photos of this scarf when dry, the fibers fluff up into beautiful textures and brighter colors!
The workshop lasted less time that I expected. We didn’t get started on time due to the weather and being not sure if the workshop would even be held, but they made it to my house at about noon or so, and we worked until a little after four. They were fast putting their fibers down in the shape they chose, and the fiber felted easily. They left before dark, which was good considering the weather was still icy.
My sister Cheryl jumped in an hour or so after class started, and created something as well. She was so funny because she has felted before and she just went to town doing her own thing.
I had been working on a pattern for a certain look I wanted to achieve in a future wrap/scarf I want to make, and when I finished the pattern late last night, I saw that she used the shape of my pattern without even seeing it! Ha ha! As she worked, she appeared to be just throwing her fibers on willy nilly, but in the end everyone could see she knew exactly what she was doing. You can see by the outcome . . . Beautiful.
I was able to take a photo of her project today, with the shawl she created all dry and arranged on the mannequin. The colors and textures pop more when dry than when wet so the finished product is easier to appreciate.
I’m having a difficult time posting the photo of her scarf so I will post it later, below.
Jessica modeling one of the wool and silk scarves.
Jessica laying out her scarf
This is the snowflake scarf I made in 2016
I love felting and I love teaching others to felt! It is very relaxing and fun! I am offering several workshops as the holidays approach.
Each participant will make a personally designed super soft merino and silk scarf or wrap. I provide all the materials as part of the workshop fee.
Who can register:
Participants must be 16 years or older, unless special permission is given. A parent and younger child, (12 or older) could work together on one scarf as a single participant.
Cost:
Cost is $75 per participant at least 24 hours ahead of class start time. I must have at least one participant registered 24 hours in advance to run the class.
Due to space constraints, each workshop is limited to four participants. Preregistration is encouraged to secure your place. There are no refunds, but I can get you into a different class if, for a good reason, you cannot make the one you registered for.
What to bring:
Participants must bring their own meals and snacks.
Class dates and times are:
Monday Nov. 28, 2016 11 am – 6 pm or until finished.
Monday Dec. 5, 2016 11 am – 6 pm or until finished.
Thursday Dec. 8, 2016 11am – 6pm or until finished.
Saturday Dec. 10, 2016 11 am – 6 pm or until finished.
Place:
Workshops will be held in my home 1717 Sonya Dr. SE Salem, OR 97317. You may call or text to register at 407-766-2588, or email me at micheleballantynedesigns@gmail.com Please give me your name, and the name of any other participants, and the date of the workshop you would like to attend. After registering and I have let you know there is an opening for you in the workshop, you may drop your registration fees off at my home. Call to make sure I am home. I take cash and checks only at this time.
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Friction Fire Workshop — Passed
Fire in my earth oven in my spiral cabin in the Cascades.
Fire is a blessing and a wonderful friend. Learning to make friction fire really gets you in touch with fire and creates a relationship between you and fire you may never have felt before. I love to teach others to make fire in this ancient way.
I will provide the materials for you to make your own friction fire kit of cedar wood. I have knives I can loan you to use or you can bring your own non folding sheath knife good for carving. To carve a kit and make fire takes humility, skill and coordination, and seldom comes easily. I allow many hours for a workshop because people’s abilities vary widely. I cannot guarantee that YOU will make fire at this workshop, but I can let you come to future workshops until you make fire yourself. We will discuss knife safety and take every precaution to keep everyone safe.
Once you know fire in this way, what a great gift to pass on to your family and friends.
Who can register:
Participants must be 16 years or older unless accompanied by a parent to assist them. Participants must use knife safety rules at all times. Participants (and their parents if a minor) must realize that though all precautions are taken to keep people safe, injuries can occur and by attending this class you will not hold me or my family liable for your injury. Each participant or parent of participant must sign a release of liability and take responsibility for their own safety.
Cost:
Cost for this 7 hour workshop is $75 per participant at least 24 hours in advance. I must have at least one participant registered 24 hours in advance to run the workshop.
What to bring:
Participants must bring their own meals and snacks.
Participants must dress for the temperature outside as we will be working under cover outdoors.
Class Dates and Times:
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 11am-6pm
Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 11am-6pm
Place:
Workshops will be held at my home 1717 Sonya Dr. SE Salem, OR 97317. You may call or text to register at 407-766-2588, or email me at micheleballantynedesigns@gmail.com Please give me your name, and the name of any other participants, and the date of the workshop you would like to attend. After registering and I have let you know there is an opening for you in the workshop, you may drop your registration fees off at my home. Call to make sure I am home. I take cash and checks only at this time.
