Feltmaking Residential Mars 2010

I, Nikkie, have just spent  2 days feltmaking with Olwyn and Véro. Exhausting but fun. Day one was making 3D pieces. 


Olwyn made a lovely bag and an exquisite large pot, quite a feat. Véro made a wonderful pair of boots for her son Stéphan and a beret for Morgane’s doll.

Then we moved on to ‘Nuno’ felting on day 2, which was very different as ther isn’t the same physical effort involved as with 3D felt. We experimented with various open weave fabrics to felt onto and also with the idea of dyeing the fabrics prior to the felting. Laying, (in threads), and stitching loosely into the pieces before felting; it lead to some interesting developments.

So nice to work with others and to bounce ideas back and forth.

Brilliant fun.

Plus de infos - nos stages

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March 2010 newsletter

March 2010 newsletter

Cushion Covers on Etsy

New Indigo and Shibori cushion covers for sale Texatelier by Texatelier on Etsy

Felting Seances - remaining places (47110 Dolmayrac)

There are still a couple of places left on the felt days at Texatelier (47 - Lot-et-Garonne, near Ste. Livrade), next week 24th/25th March
call 09 50 62 24 95 / 06 01 89 78 34 or contact us Also accomodation available.

Marmalade@Texatelier

'Texatelier' is our overall 'container' we, as you've gathered, make and produce a variety of things. As our arts workshops are situated  on our small organic fruit farm we also produce some food products as well as operate as a holiday gîte in the summer. Sean was formerly a professional chef - however ...this week I, Nikkie, made 35 jars of traditional english marmalade. Hard work but worth it. My friend Emilie sourced 4 kilos of organic oranges for me, we're not clever enough to grow our own!

Should keep us going, and  we have lots left over to 'sell' in our new 'Farm shop/exchange' (More news to come on that later.)

Salomé's new booties

Salomé has just been given a new pair of slippers, very easy to do. Nikkie will be demonstrating  how to make these alongside other 3D techniques next week in her felt making workshops  (24th 25th March.) Participants will go home with all sorts of felted goodies that they have made.
There will be other opportunities to make felted slippers keep an eye open on the Events Page at Texatelier.com

Nikola Orpen - Contemporary art featuring established and emerging artists

Nikola Orpen - Contemporary art featuring established and emerging artists

Felt Making 2 Day Course - Aquitaine

24/25 March 2010

Day one - flat felting for the felt virgins amongst us, but with an emphasis on 3D felt making, ie: objects and vessels throughout the day. Day 2 'Nuno felting', a Japanese technique that incorporates woven fabrics such as muslin, chiffon and silk into the felt to create beautiful fabrics for scarves and throws.
Each day can be attended as a single workshop, or both days can be attended as a consecutive 2 day course.
Each day - 10.30am to 4 pm, (includes a light lunch)
2 day non-residential - 130€ or 75€ one day only
Residential charges are : 30€ B+B / 15€ Dinner / 130€ for 2 days feltmaking - Total 175€

More information and booking details

Felt Making Workshops - Southampton Feb. 2010

I  have just spent  a few days at Southampton City Art Gallery teaching feltmaking workshops, they went really well.
The first day was an intro to feltmaking for the uninitiated leading to more sophisticated techniques such as nunofelting.
The second day was spent making felt jewellery where participants made brooches from some of the felt samples made the previous day, and necklaces and bracelets out of felted  beads  and balls. The third day was for making felted objects, such as vessels objects and booties.
One person even made a full size version of felted boots. I love using felt it is so versatile and fluid, all is done use basic materials and equipment  and can be continued and developed on a kitchen surface if necessary. So satisfying, especially (in my case) making functional 3D objects.

 The initial form for the Booties/Slippers

The start of Beret type hat

Baby Booties

Small Felt Vessel














I am running another 2 days of feltmaking at Tex'Atelier at the end of March on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th see :  EVENTS AT TEXATELIER