In-person-workshops 2025 at international textile studios

June 12 – 15, 2025   at Atelier Fiberfusing, Nes aan de Amstel/NL

DIVERSITY – DISCOVERING NEW SPECIES IN FELT

level: basic knowledge of felting required, some experience with using resists will be helpful

With many felting projects, we choose a specific procedure that leads us more or less directly to our goal. This leaves many paths unconsidered, we could have gone from the same or a similar starting point and come to different, often surprising results.
Experimenting and playing is a very important part of the creative process and implies an incredible potential for new discoveries and creative solutions. It is a rich source for learning more about our soft sculptural material, wool, and techniques we can use to transform it into a piece of art.
In this workshop we will take off for an exiting expedition: use only one type of resists, assemble them into a series of hollow chambers and explore different possibilities to develop felt objects from this starting point. How far can we go with them? With changing positions of resists, different ways of cutting, shrinking and transforming we can create an amazing variety of forms. Of course, we will take care to prepare a durable fibre combination in our layout that is made to survive all these experiments in good shape!
Cutting into the felted structure in particular, opens up new insights and perspectives. It often exposes inner parts of the object and/or layers in the cuts and allows interesting 3-dimensional shapes to unfold. They may resemble seedpods, leaves or insects, can become a surface structure, sculptural wall piece, a light object or even a wearable piece of felt art!
Let’s dive into the amazing creative potential of felting and enjoy a playful, experimental workshop!

FOR ENROLMENT, PLEASE CONTACT Rianne Vermeulen at Atelier Fiberfusing

October 05-11, 2025   Fibres West Textile Festival, Narrogin near Perth/AU, fibreswest.com.au

SCULPTURAL FELT – WALLHANGINGS

A well-planned layout will predetermine how your felt develop. We’ll have a look at the characteristics of batts, prefelt, tops and their interaction, experiment with fibre direction and see, how the initial setting would influence final consistency and shape.
Adding 3d elements to the surface, we’d take care of durable connections and a functional placement of resists, to define how the structure will unfold later.
Please bring ideas, photo(s) or sketches that can be a starting point for your creations.
Together we will discuss concepts, technical details, options and find solutions for tricky situations. This way, all participants can learn from each other, understand parallels and differences of several ways of working and find more confidence in their personal dialogue between the felt and the maker.
Medium level of felting experience required.

FOR ENROLMENT, PLEASE CONTACT  fibreswest.com.au

MORE WORKSHOPS IN AUSTRALIA DURING OCTOBER / EARLY NOVEMBER 2025 ARE BEING PLANNED.
At present we’ve agreed on workshops with FIGS in Albany, with Moira Simpson in (or near) Adelaide. Further courses are still in the process of planning with (potentially) Victorian Feltmakers/Melbourne, Canberra region, Illawarra and Blue Mountains Feltmakers. If interested, you may get in touch with the regional felting groups and make sure you get informed about upcoming events.
Alternatively, you may send an email to me and I’d include you in my mailing list.
AS SOON AS THERE IS MORE INFORMATION YOU WILL ALSO FIND IT LISTED HERE.

November 23-29, 2025   at La Couech, Montbrun-Bocage/FR, feutreformationfrance.com

SCULPTURAL WALL HANGINGS – NATURE AS INSPIRATION AND TEACHER

In nature we can find a variety of beautiful forms and structures that can serve as an inspiration and starting point for felt art. In addition, we can observe interesting and efficient architectural solutions that nature has found to create stability. These basic principles of statics play an important role in the planning and creation of a 3-dimensional felt object, too!
In this workshop we will go together trough the entire process of creating a sculptural wallhanging: from the idea (or inspiration) to the finished object. The challenge will be, to find a practicable way to transform your natural model into a textile object. Step by step, you will develop your general design, choose suitable materials, plan the initial layout, position of components and shape and arrangement of resists and find technical solutions for specific details.
During an experimental phase, day 1 – 3, we will explore various possibilities of creating 3-dimensional felted forms, in order to draw your attention to the important aspects of the techniques, expand your knowledge and provide you with a pool of technical possibilties.
Day 4 you will have a day off for relaxing, collecting ideas, planning your individual project and/or continue experimenting individually. For inspiration, you may want to dive into Krystel’s wonderful textile library! Day 5-7 is dedicated to the realization of your individual projects. Based on many years of experience and skills in sculptural felting I will give advice and support with choosing suitable techniques and guide you through the felting process.
Together we will discuss how to proceed with the different steps of layout and felting process and which details need special attention. As each student would work on a personal project, the group can learn from a variety of versions and different technical aspects that might be implied.
(students should be familiar with the foundations of felting, some experience of felting with resists can be helpful)

FOR ENROLMENT, PLEASE CONTACT Krystel & Jean Francois Chavigny at Atelier La Couech

FOR MORE DETAILS AND BOOKING, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZERS.