I’ve had a big chunk of well deserved ‘me time’ today. Thanks to an email from the tutor whose felt workshops I attended last year at the wonderful Sussex Prairie Garden, I have spent the day wet and dry felting at Evolution Arts in Brighton (www.evolutionarts.org.uk).
Mo Jackson is an inspiring tutor who genuinely loves what she does and this rubs off on those she teaches. We began with making a piece of felt by the wet method (fluff and soap suds again) and I chose pinks, purples and white. My ideas began to change as I laid out the wool and, as with my previous nuno felting, I ended up with some straight lines and pattern to my finished article. I think it will make a good wall hanging or I might frame it. 
It measures about 10″ x 10″ so would make an impact on a plain wall.
It’s amazing to see what others create from the same raw materials and my fellow felters all produced lovely finished products but all so different. Here’s a photo of a few of them.
After lunch we were offered a choice of what we wanted to make; flower brooches, a bowl, needle felted balls or small animals. I chose to needle felt on to a polystyrene egg shape and, if I’m honest, I wasn’t best pleased with the result and wished I’d made a flower instead! But at least I’ve tried this now and know I can do better. Photos below show the egg shape with some wool attached and the finished fully felted shape.
I was definitely in a pink and purple mood today!
One of the very helpful tips that I picked up from Mo today was that I could do my needle felting much quicker if I used a coarser wool so I will be shopping around for some of this online later.
I finished off the afternoon making some small needle felted balls to turn into a necklace in a mixture of greens and yellows although after someone said they looked like sprouts, I’ve been put off the idea of wearing them!!
I ended my trip with a cappuccino and a toasted teacake in Costa – perfect end to a lovely day!
Pip's Place 