workshops

Additional Information

With the COVID-19 Pandemic and the uncertainty of what it will look like this fall, we are continuing to plan the 2020 Festival. We had our vendors signed up before the quarantine and social distancing was mandated. We will continue to monitor the provincial and local recommendations and guidelines through the summer. At this time we are posting workshops for this year's festival. If we are not able to gather on October 17th, 2020 for the festival, all workshops will be refunded less the fees that the credit card and paypal e-comerence platforms keep for processing fees. If the festival is permitted to run, then workshop fees will be non-refundable. In the notes some of the teachers are willing to offer their workshop as a virtual workshop but not all. If you are interested in a virtual workshop, please add that in the comments section of your registration. The virtual workshops will ONLY be run if we not permitted to gather.

designing & making a wet-felted cowl

Instructor - Zoe Lianga

Zoë Lianga has spent the last 7 years working as a felt maker (wet felting) and instructor. She makes functional objects, accessories and clothing from custom designed and handmade felt. Her work showcases diverse local fibres and milling practices. Being a part of Ontario’s Upper Canada Fibreshed has allowed Zoë to source materials close to home and build relationships with the farmers raising these animals. Many of her pieces are made from fibres that she dyes in small batches; brewed from plants found in the forest, her gardens and compost bin. This year she is angling her focus towards bags, vests and vessels. Zoë is also a member of Felt/Feutre Canada, Fiber Art Now and the International Feltmakers Association. She carries out her passions in felting, farming and preserving traditional crafts in Perth, ON where she is also the owner and operator of the Cordwood Studio. Find her Fibre Art at www.instagram.com/zoe.emily.designs Find her Studio & Folk School at www.thecordwoodstudio.com

Designing & Making a Wet-Felted Cowl

In this full day workshop you will, step-by-step, learn the principles and techniques of wet felting. Over the

course of the day you will become familiar with the unique qualities of fibres that allow them to interlock into

felted fabric, and how these qualities differ from fibre to fibre and animal to animal. You will learn how to

effectively place fibres, bit-by-bit, into uniform layers to achieve a fine, but strong, fabric; how to physically

manipulate them into a felted fabric; and how to join the cowl to form a circle with a felted seem. This class

will pay homage to the beautiful fibres that come from our Ontario fibreshed - cashmere, Rambouillet (french)

merino and cria alpaca. There will also be available qiviut from the Northwest Territories. These fibres are

much softer than the common New Zealand merino that most felters use in similar projects. Supporting a

local, sustainable system within her craft is very important to Zoë. Participants will have the choice of using

local, hand-dyed fibres (dyed with foraged plants, cultivated plants and kitchen waste) or commercially dyed

fibres. There will also be a range of other natural fibres and materials for use in embellishing your cowl.

Wet felting is tactile, soapy, physical, and, yes, wet. Dating back as far as 4000 BC, it is one of the oldest forms

or fibre art and its underlying principles have remained unchanged. Come learn this ancient craft and feel the

satisfaction of building a beautifully soft and light cowl with your own unique flare.

Note: you will be on your feet for the duration of the class and physically working the fibres and felt.

Skill level: All Levels

If we are not permitted to gather in October, this workshop will be offered as a virtual workshop.

Time and Location

This workshop will be held on FRIDAY OCTOBER 16TH at the Fair Board Office at the Woodstock Fair Grounds, you must be able to navigate stairs as some of the workshops will be upstairs. This workshop starts at 10 am and goes to 4 pm, it is suggested that you bring a lunch with you.

Cost

This workshop is $115.00 canadian currency.

What you will need to bring

Just your self

Kit Fee

Kit Fee is $40 which is payable to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop in cash.

List of items in the kit:

● Fibres/rovings (cashmere, qiviut, alpaca, and merino)

● Embellishments (silks rovings, noil and hankies)

● Detailed handout describing the steps in designing and making a wet-felted

cowl

needle felt a winter scene 'painting'

Instructor - Cathy Disbrow

Cathy was a graphic designer for many years, and in 2013, she discovered needle felting on a studio tour. Cathy loved it so much that she started teaching in 2016. Cathy creates unique needle felt creations out of wool. She likes to experiment with all types of sheep and alpaca wool and for the past year has been working with fibres from local Ontario farms. Cathy also needle felts wool 'paintings' by stabbing wool into a pre-felted sheet and spending more time wet felting jewelry and art. Cathy enjoys spreading the love of needle felting through workshops and DIY kits.

Needle Felt a Winter Scene 'Painting'

In this workshop, Cathy will teach you how to needle felt a Winter scene onto a 4"x 6" wool felt sheet. You will learn various 2-D needle felting techniques to create a beautiful wool painting. This is a very relaxed project and great to do with friends. The 4" x 6" size is perfect for framing.

Skill level: Beginner

If we are not permitted to gather in October, this workshop will be offered as a virtual workshop.

Time and Location

Cost

The cost for this workshop is $45 per participant.

What you will need to bring

If you have a foam pad to work on, please bring it. If not one will be provided for use with the option to purchase

Kit Fee

The kit fee is $15 per participant payable to the instructor by cash at the beginning of the workshop.

List of items in the kit:

2 felting needles (38 star, 38 spiral)
felt sheet with scene drawn on it
wool used for painting
Print copy of project

**Foam pad is NOT included in the kit cost but will be available to use during the workshop.

oodles and boodles of beads

Instructor - Lyn Harris

Lyn Harris lives in Bemus Point, New York. Her fiber career is a second career

for her. She has been a NY licensed therapist for over 30 years and taught for 25

years at a small college in western NY. She is the owner of Lyn Harris Designs

and has had fiber pieces sold and exhibited in Chautauqua Institution, Rochester

NY, Pawleys Island, SC and several western NY galleries. She has taught

several years at the Woodstock Fiber Fair, the Maryland Sheep and Wool

Festival, Southeastern Animal and Fiber Fair, the Great Lakes Fiber Festival,

Finger Lakes Fiber Festival, the New England Fiber Festival and adult education

programs of various western New York galleries.

Oodles and Boodles of Beads

Wow! For two hours let's just have fun making bags full of one of a kind paper and fabric beads!

Using unique papers, fabrics, lace, tulle, yarns, beads and wire, you will have fun making

tubular, pandora, pillow, and saucer paper and fabric beads. There's more! We will also

embellish your creations with ribbons, wire, eyelets and decorative threads and beads.

Your beads can then be glazed and taken home where you can combine them with felted, metal and

ceramic beads to create truly unique pieces of wearable art. A no fail class!

Skill Level: All Levels

Time & Location

Cost

Cost for this workshop is $40 per participant payable in cash to the instructors at the beginning of the workshop.

What you will need to bring

Scissors and if you have any favourite embellishments you may with to incorporate with this workshop.

Materials Fee

Materials fee for this workshop is $15 per participant payable in cash at the beginning of the workshop

Supplies Include:

high quality papers and fabrics
bead roller
selection of beads, wires and threads
Glazes and adhesives

Students are encouraged to bring any particular embellishments they wish to use.

2d landscape painting trees and water

Instructor - Kelly McLeod

Kelly is a self-taught, life-long drawing and painting artist, in addition to being an avid third generation gardener. I was very pleased to have even a brief opportunity to learn from the renowned fibre artist from Scotland, Moy MacKay, at her October, 2018 tutorial held at Orangeville, Ontario.

Kelly mostly landscapes in a variety of pigment media. In 2015, I was introduced to wet and dry felting manipulations to create landscape "paintings" which exhibit depth and contrasting textures within a two-dimensional canvas.

2D Landscape Painting Trees and Water

This three hour workshop explores painting trees and water using a two dimensional wool technique created by Kelly. Participants will create their own unique landscape painting using dry and wet felting techniques. Whether you are experience or just want to "Give it a try", this fun relaxing workshop will not disappoint.

Skill Level: All Levels

Time & Location

Cost

Cost for this workshop is $80 per participant.

What you will need to bring

Just yourself

Kit Fee

Kit fee for this workshop is $20 payable in cash to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop.

Kit fee includes:

Canvas
Wool
Styrofoam sheet
Needles
Mats to wet felt

needle felted cuff