Felting Happy!

I have finally returned home from a long, tiring, but extremely fun weekend!
This weekend I have started a Foundation Course in felt, which leads to a City and Guilds Level 1 qualification in Textiles, with Artybrid up in Carnforth.  I first learnt about Artybird in 2011 when I attended my first Woolfest.  Me and my Mum oohed and ahhed over the beautiful sketchbooks and samples of the felting the students had made and I decided then that I wanted to be a felter - I even bought a kit to make a felt flower (which I never did make) in my enthusiasm to learn this art.  At that time, my weekends were rather hectic and I was unable to commit but, when I met them again at Woolfest, I knew that I had to do it!

So, after a few months of waiting for September to come around, trailing around shops to buy felting equipment (cane blinds, bubble wrap, dog brushes etc) and reading through the assignments for the first weekend, the day eventually came around and I was off up the M6 to learn how to felt.

The weekend has been amazing!  I have made some new crafty friends, taken a completley new perspective on colour, made paper collages, dyed fabric and made my first ever piece of felt (which apparently was really good!!).  My sketch book has started and I can't wait to spend more time on it next weekend, reflecting on what I have learnt and created so far. 

If I write this post without giving credit to Mr Bunny, he may refuse to help in the future!  He made me the perfect sprinkler for felting and sorted out some old towels for me.  He is now tasked with creating me a washing line in the bathroom to dry all my dyed fabric (there just aren't enough radiators in the house!) and shortening my rather large broom handle into 2 smaller ones for felting).  Thank you Mr Bunny.

I have enjoyed it all so much that I want to do it again tomorrow - I can't wait for the next weekend!
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On a completley different, but not completley unrelated, note, The Gingerbread Bunny stall was out and about in Liverpool today at a belly dance event.  My assistant Bunnies (Mum and Janice), kindly looked after the stall and did a brilliant job!  I may hire them again!  Thank you x