Felt Making workshop

Another in the series of summer school workshops this week at the Bristol Folk House, this time felt making. Most of the group were completely new to felt making and came away with some amazing results. 

No more classes planned this year at the moment, however I will be running an 8 week course in the new year at Backwell School. It's Monday evening 7 -9 pm and starts on 23rd Jan 2012 (half term break 13/2/12)

We began with a basic square of felt and then tried of variety of techniques including creating straight edges, pockets, nuno felt, cobweb, felt balls and tubes (for making buttons)

A selection of the finished work from the day:

Workshops at the Studio May/June

Studio Workshops – May - July 2011 - Evenings

Julie Roberts is offering the opportunity to take part in workshops at her studio in Easton, Bristol. For booking or more information please contact Julie on 07890 443705, or email julie@julieroberts.co.uk

Evening Classes

Monday 16^th May        Get to Grips with your Sewing Machine   6.30 -9.30pm               £25

Inherited a machine? Recently got a new one? Not quite sure where to start? Bring your machine along and Julie will guide you through the different functions and teach you the basics of machine sewing, including threading the machine, winding the bobbin, sewing straight lines and making button holes. You will even go home with your very own cushion cover.

Thursday19^th May      Print making  - press print              6.30 -9.30pm               £30

Learn the essentials of press printing; make your own print block and building the image up in layers. You will go home with a variety of prints and the ability to carry on at home. No experience necessary. Materials included in course fee.

Monday 6^th June         Knockout Knickers        6.30 -9.30pm               £25

            Bring along your machine and try something different.  Use some of the fancier stitches on your machine and try stitching elastic. Come away with a fantastic pair of fancy pants, and the knowledge and skills to produce many more. Suitable for those who have a minimum of basic machine skills and those who want to try something different.

Thursday 9^th June      Textile Jewellery    6.30 -9.30pm               £25

Ever wondered what to do with those scraps of fabrics or worn out clothes? Bring them along and turn them into stunning accessories. You will learn various textile techniques including fabric bonding, manipulation, and hand-stitch. The techniques can be applied to other fabrics to provide decorative elements to clothing as well. By the end of the day you will have lots of ideas and a selection of wonderful accessories to show off.

Monday 27^th June       Sewing Surgery              6.30 -9.30pm               £25

Bring along your sewing problems and your machine and Julie will help you get on your way. Suitable for those who need a bit of help with their projects or alterations.

Thursday 30^th June    Paper Making                      6.30 -9.30pm               £25

Learn the art of recycling paper to create wonderful new pieces. Create textured, plain, layered and scented papers. Include flowers, sparkly bits, threads, wire and create impressions in it. Use your papers to enjoy as they are, for cards, collage, textiles, or note paper. The session will equip you with the skills to carry on at home.

Weekend Workshops

Saturdays 14^th & 21^st May      Dressmaking          10am-4pm                   £60

Come and make your own clothes in this 2 part class. You will learn to cut, read and make a garment from a pattern of your choosing. Bring along your machine and get the best from it. A basic knowledge of sewing is required for this course. Julie will advise you about buying a pattern and fabric for these classes. Please only book if you can attend both sessions.

Saturday 28^th May                  Felt making           10am-4pm                   £35

Explore the basics of felt making using a variety of wet felt techniques. You will make a selection of beautiful pieces to take home. No experience necessary. Most materials included in course fee.

Saturday 4^th June                   Clutch Bag in a Day               10am-4pm                   £35

Build up your basic sewing skills in this day workshop. Learn to follow a basic pattern and construct and personalize a clutch bag. Use the basic pattern and shape and adapt the design to your taste. Please bring along your machine to the session.

Saturday 25^th June                 Lino printing            10am-4pm                   £35

During this class we will explore the wonderful world of lino printing! We will look at building layers and colour work and you will design and print your own blocks. You will go home with a good knowledge of lino cutting and the skills to carry on at home.

NB. Some of the above workshops require you to bring some materials and sewing machine; a list will be sent with confirmation of your booking. If you do not have access to a machine but are interested in attending, please contact Julie anyway, as a limited amount of machines may be available for your use.

New classes at Bristol folk House - Summer Term

Coming soon to Bristol Folk House... Booking opens on Tuesday 22nd March, please do not try to book before then, contact them on  0117 926 2987, or visit www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk (from that date) for more information (Or ask me for further details). If you are a Bristol Folk house Co-op member booking opens on Monday.

Day Workshops:

Print Making: 30th April 10.00 - 4.00 

Skirt in a Day: 7th May 10.00 - 4.00 

Felt Making: Friday 20th May 10.00 - 4.00

Sewing for Beginners: 18th June 10.00 - 1.00 

Sewing for Improvers: 18th June 1.30 - 4.30 

Lino Printing: 2nd July 10.00 - 4.00 

Recycling Fabric Accessories: 9th July 10.00 - 4.00 

Weekly classes:

Felt Making: Tues 10.30 - 12.30 start 26 April - 5 weeks *New*

Felt Making: Tues 4.00 - 6.00 start 7 June - 5 weeks *New*

Free Machine Embroidery: Tues 4.00 - 6.00 start 26 April - 5 weeks *New*

Free Machine Embroidery: Tues 10.30 - 12.30 start 7 June - 5 weeks *New*

Print Making: Tues 1.30 - 3.30 start 26 April - 10 weeks *New*

Recycling Fabrics: Wed 7.45 - 9.45 start 27 April - 10 weeks

Retro Sewing: Wed 5.30 - 7.30 start 27 April - 5 weeks

Fabric Manipulation: Wed 5.30 - 7.30 start 8 June - 5 weeks

Felt making - Learn the basics of felt making, or improve your skills, we will be begin in 2D and work upto 3D shapes and objects.

Free machine embroidery - learn to use a sewing machine to draw, combine this with applique and create wonderful designs for your own projects

Printmaking - learn a variety of print techniques including lino, press, mono and collagraph prints, build up the techniques over weeks and learn to combine whilst working on your own projects.

Felt ball pebble rug- finished at last!

The Rug is at last finished... well other than a few strengthening stitches, I'll reserve these for the Christmas break I think. This photo doesn't flatter it, but trust me on a nice wooden floor, I think it will look grand... which is where it is destined for (in the new house). I'll try and remember to post a pic once it makes it there. just to give you a sense of scale... I can lay out on it and just about fit... but I am quite short... maybe one day I'll make it bigger, but other things to make first!

Felt Family

Finger puppets made from felt, a present for a friend recently, I like the cat, but it is a bit out of scale from the rest! Happened a bit by accident, which was even better.

Felt Ball Rug - Update

Still going with the rug project although it has slowed down a bit lately, due to having too many other things to do. It's about big enough to sit on now, but of course isn't stitched together, that delightful job will come at the very end!

In order to stop cat destruction, I keep all the balls in this box high up on the top of the book shelf. But, the cat has mastered scaling smooth walls to reach the box for her new favourite game of throwing them out of the box onto your head when you least expect it (or confusing house guests).

Here is the cat to give you a sense of scale, though it was a challenge to get her to stay still long enough to take a photo.

Ongoing felt rug project

This is something I have been working on for a while. Whenever I get a minute (or have to teach felt making), another class on Wednesday so hopefully I'll be able to add a bit then. It will be a rug, at the moment I have about enough to stand on, but not really move about. The horrible bit will be sewing it together!