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In-between other things, I have been working on new designs for next year's workshops and the first is this baby hare.
I am also holding my first local workshop, in Shrewsbury, at a fabulous venue, the Victorian home of Sarah, who runs Fern Dell bed and breakfast near Shrewsbury Abbey. We were hooked up by BBC radio Shropshire on the Jim Hawkins show, after he interviewed me one morning and I mentioned that I was looking for a suitable workshop place. Seconds later, Sarah had contacted me on Twitter and within 24 hours we had things pretty much sorted.
So baby hare will be tried for the first time next year on March 2nd, a Thursday. It's an all day workshop and Sarah will be providing a home cooked lunch and refreshments, all of which is included in the price. However, it has booked up pretty quickly and there are only three places left. If you'd like to see more details, you can find them on my workshop page - booking is directly through myself. And if you'd like to see the beautiful Fern Dell, the website is here and more lovely photos here in Sarah's Instagram feed.
For this weekend only I am having a mini Black Friday sale on these three large, hanging winter swans, reduced to £40 each plus postage. Each one took two days to needle felt and hangs on silver wire with suspended glass tear drop beads and a twist of silver gauze ribbon. They are the top featured items in my Etsy shop, or direct links are underneath each picture.
Another early start for last Sunday's workshop at Guthrie and Ghani, in Birmingham. Thankfully fairly 'local' and only a train ride away. The Christmas tree workshop is one that I always pack copious amounts of wool for, as you never know what colours people are going to choose, though it is often green and red. I also bring a large amount of 'treasure', as trees are usually decorated.
The workshop space at Guthrie and Ghani is simply gorgeous; lots of room, oodles of light and plenty of tables. Oh, and copious bunting with a beautiful chandelier.
I had the pleasure not only of meeting new people and a fabulous returning work-shopper, but also of finally hooking up with lovely Heather Ellis, who is an illustrator I have known since the late 1990s, when we were both members of an illustration forum. Before the days of Facebook, IG and all the other social sites. After all these years, we got to say hello face to face and hug and it was one of the highlights of the day for me.
It was another great session, and the 'treasure' was eagerly rummaged through.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day I had to rush off for a scheduled train, so I didn't have time to take my usual photos of the end results, which were lovely and varied. Many thanks to the kind 'elves' who packed my wool bag, with all the colours neatly sorted - a huge help and very much appreciated. And big thanks to my friend Heather, who picked me up when I almost fell down the stairs in a rush, paid my bus fare to town (as the bus only took exact change) and then walked with me to point me in the right direction of the train station. A guardian angel indeed, as I was so tired by then I could barely walk straight.
My final workshop of the year is back at the Village Haberdashery in West Kensington, London, making Christmas trees again. You can expect a lot of wool and beads. Booking can be done via their website here. This is a much smaller workshop, with limited places but I hope it will be as much fun as this one. I also have a venue and rough date for a local Shrewsbury workshop, at the start of March 2017. if you'd like a little more information about this before I make it more public, do drop me an email.
Somehow I inadvertently managed to book myself for two workshops in the space of a week, which has been a bit of a whirlwind. My first port of call was to Stourbridge, where I had a lovely large crafting group working in a converted canal-side warehouse. As usual there was a lot of wool...
...and plenty of homemade cake.
It was a really lovely day, very chatty and very friendly. Nearly everyone was new to needle felting, but being a talented bunch of crafters, they soon got the hang of things and were busy creating their own delightful creatures.
Including a thread jointed teddy bear, not a mean feat in one afternoon.What I liked best was how people quickly found their own style - I don't lay down ground rules in my workshops (apart from trying not to stab yourself with the needle) and the variety of styles was fabulous.
Then just six days later I was up at 5am, to catch an early train down to London, to visit the Village Haberdashery.
I rather enjoy the London Underground and snapped a few arty shots.
There were only three people for the workshop, but it made for a nice, intimate day and so nice to meet people who already 'knew' me, one way or another. Foxes were made. And I finally got home at 9.30pm, a long old day.
I have also made my first sale from my own new website, Lost Arcadia, and sent this little rabbit to her new home. It's starting to feel like a proper website at last. Finally, we were so happy to be visited by 'Granny Sue' and her lovely husband Larry, all the way from America. They popped in for lunch and we had such a fabulous time that three hours zipped by without us noticing. Brian-next-door lent us their drive for parking as ours is a bit steep. Susannah has written lovely accounts of their trip to England and Wales, and a sweet account of their visit to us, on her blog here.
Such an occasion demanded a photographic souvenir, so here is a snap of Susannah and myself...I am thinking i need to start doing some sit-ups! Or suck my tummy in. Or eat less cake.
Last weekend saw me back in Oxfordshire again, at the Witney Sewing and Knitting Centre. Witney is a bit of a 'home town' for me; I've known it most of my life, since I first moved to the area when I was 19. I haven't been back there since Andy and I upped sticks and moved to Shropshire, so I was ambivalent about seeing it again. However, I did the stiff upper lip thing and didn't have a meltdown, but concentrated on my workshop instead.
It is a lovely space to work in with great all round lighting and people quickly started doing the pattern of the day, which was my old 'Doglets' pattern from 'Mollie Makes' (issue 13 2012). Another odd thing as I was moving away from the area when it was published and so much has happened in the ensuing four years.
However, lovely doglets were made, and amended in some cases. I'm not a stickler for people sticking to my patterns and if people want to go off piste, I actively encourage it. My next workshop is down in Hampstead, London on Saturday October the 1st at the Village Haberdashery. It's limited to six spaces and there are a a couple of places left, so if anyone fancies it, the booking link is here.
I was away for a couple of days and stayed with friends. There was decent beer.
And fish.
And a vintage 'Magic Roundabout' playground which was dragged out of the attic and played with. And photographed.
Back in Shropshire, I have been spending most of my time working on my new independent website, 'Lost Arcadia' where I am now selling my paintings and needle felt work. My latest small painting 'Country Church' is a nod to my old home of the Cotswolds and the myriad small, sweet churches buried within it's rolling landscape.
Last month I was back in Oxford at at Hill End, returning after my earlier bear making workshop two weeks previously. 'The Willows' waited quietly in the already hot morning sun.
This workshop was a little different in that it was for a hen party - bunting was obligatory. I quickly set the workshop up. I like this peaceful part of the day, when I can settle myself and calm my nerves.
I had some samples ready for inspiration.
I'd also set up a display of work and a collection of photos of my first pieces of work. The photos are useful as I can show people that I myself started somewhere and my early work was far from perfect.
While I was waiting for everyone to arrive, I sat on a big stone outside and watched baby bunnies creep out of the bramble patch to nibble grass.
Of course there was also an obligatory robin. But then I cast my eyes to the left and was amazed to see a young fox slinking out of the undergrowth. He clearly hadn't seen me. I slowly got my camera ready and held my breath as he came towards me.
I have never, ever been so close to a fox before. He got to just a few feet away and then clocked me.
He made a stealthy but quick get away, heading towards the baby bunnies who made an even speedier escape!
Then the hen party arrived (all ten of them) and it was business as usual. Only one person there, the bride-to-be had needle felted before or even knew what it was. But I gave them a pep talk and got them working. Pink fluffy deely-boppers and all.
And in the end, they all did fantastically. One or two designs became other things - which is why there is a parrot in the flock.
Back home, I have been busy with getting my life back on track - more tidying and unpacking. I did make this little Staffordshire style cat last week, and posted a picture of it being made in progress on my Instagram account, where he was bought at once. That has sorted the electric bill out. I don't have a lot of time to sit down and blog properly, so my IG account is a way of keeping in the loop, as they say.
At last, I've finalised the project for my Oxford workshop at Hill End Nature Centre which I visited recently. As it's an all day workshop, I decided to go for something a little larger than normal, so the project is to be stumpy bears. It's not a difficult pattern, but it will need the whole day and there is a choice of making a brown bear or a polar bear. As with all my workshops, the price per person is all inclusive of materials and use of tools. Details can be found on my workshops page. As I'm organising this all on my own (which feels a bit scary) I'm the contact for everything. My new running hare design from my line of 'Flights of Fancy' range went to a new home last month.
And now I've finished another - a white hare with violet grey Siamese points.
This one is adorned with twisted silver wire, natural pearls and smoky quartz teardrop beads and is on sale in my Etsy shop. My Manchester Spring Bunnies workshop is at the end of the month, and we are almost full - just two places left! If you'd like to come to this one, please book directly through the Make It shop site here. They may look small and simple, but each one takes me about four - five hours to make. All that smoothing. Now I've got to crack on with my April newsletter - if you'd like to see any of my previous newsletters, without subscribing, they can be found archived here.
While I was down in Oxfordshire holding my last workshop, I visited a potential new workshop space. This is in an area just three miles outside of Oxford itself and somewhere I been past countless times over the years I was living here. But never ventured inside.
This is the little lane which leads to Hill End nature reserve and activity centre. It's been here for decades, educating and encouraging children (and adults) to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors.
I was met by my contact, dosed with coffee and then shown my potential workshop spaces. First was this nice fat barn.
It was very spacious and light, and I did consider using the cosier overhead gallery. But decided that it was just a tad too big for my needs.
Next was another nice conversion, again with lots of light flooding in and it was almost right...but not quite.
We walked a little further, past some Hill End sheep. Hill End is situated on the edge of Wytham Woods, which has been shown many a time on the Inspector Morse and Lewis series.
Did you spot the giant wire toadstool in the background? No? Look -
It was here that I found my new workshop space, a little cottage which has been converted into a study and classroom area. As there was a group already inside, I could only take a photo of the outside, but I have been assured that it is quite light and comfortable. And it does look delightful.
So I took a deep breath and booked it. This is the first workshop I've organised entirely on my own and it's a bit of a gamble. I am not sure yet what we'll be making. However, it is going to be an all day workshop, costing £55. There is no cafe on site, so it will be a 'bring your own' lunch affair, which if the weather is fine, can be eaten al fresco. I will endeavour to supply cake and there are drink making facilities.
As I'm yet to decide on the subject matter, it isn't up on my website yet, but please contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to book early. One space is taken already! Oh and the date of course - July 9th 10.00 am until 4.30pm. So you get plenty of teaching and making time.
If you're too far northwards to consider Oxford, there are still a couple of spaces left on my Spring Bunnies course, on April 30th - click here for more details.
Oh where did February go? It ended with my first workshop of the year, a return to Folly Fabrics in Bampton, to hold a 'Little Houses' workshop. I was lodged for the night with the lovely shop owners and I took a jar of Joe's delicious blackcurrant jam as a little thank-you gift. So breakfast on the day was homemade bread and jam. And enough coffee to shake the cobwebs from my brain.
Then off to the shop, to set up. This is the calm before the storm.
It's always a full house at Folly Fabrics and I had a lovely mix of returners, some ladies who had seen my latest 'Mollie Makes' cover last year (and traveled a long way from 'down south' to attend) and a blog friend, from 'Tales from the Weekday Home' - it was really fabulous to meet her in person at last.
While I was staying with Joe, I knocked up this little prototype, so that people had the option of making that or creating their own. Everyone got to work.
And that was it for four hours. Towards the end, the customary cake came out. Don't be deceived by it's innocent simplicity; this view hides the one inch thick filling of chocolate buttercream.
I can't remember a workshop where there wasn't a cosy mix of wool, cake and mugs of hot drinks.
Meanwhile, my friend the shop owner, had been quietly making her own delightful little Scottish croft in the background. It's finished off beautifully. I have bit of a 'proud teacher' feeling about this, but it's mostly down to her own patience and persistence.
So, that was it for February. My next workshop is in Manchester, on the 30th April, with limited spaces, which are filling up; we have just four places left and bunnies to make. If you'd like to come, the booking form is here on the 'Make It website.
Ah, the slight awkwardness of work getting in the way of life and blogging. Work continues and not much else. Several days spent developing a new teaching, pattern and with that in mind, I have organised a new workshop for them, which is to be held on the 30th April at 'Make It' in Manchester which is already booking up after two days and only a few spaces left. You can book directly through the site here. The bunnies and I will be pleased to see you.
What else? Oh, putting together my first basic needle felt kit, which I should have done ages ago, considering how many times I've been asked for them. I looked at similar starter kits and in some cases was appalled at how little wool was offered, for the price charged. So I have tried to include as much as was physically and economically possible in mine, as well as a sponge mat, pack of decent needles and a wooden holder.
And at last, my February newsletter is out, with a free and simple pattern for making sweet little strawberries - these only take a small amount of wool, and a few hours (in my case) to make, depending on how wild you go with the decoration. There's also an article about a very odd and as yet unfinished piece of work...you can get the newsletter and pattern here - without even signing up. Apart from that, I appear to be surrounded by many small, unfinished things. Such is life.
Sometimes I am asked to do private workshops and it is always a huge pleasure. Apart from the fun of going away visiting, I am always treated like a visiting princess and thoroughly spoiled. This month I stayed at the home of Ian Mackay, maker of exquisite automata and Fleur Hitchcock, the children's writer. Here is Ian, making a needle felt version of one of the chickens on his amazing pecking chicken machine. Needless to say, as a skilled craftsman, he picked it up at once.
It was a fairly informal workshop, and people pretty much free ranged their designs, which was interesting for everyone and made me think on my feet.
There are wonderful examples of Ian's work all over the house, with intriguing handles which beg you to turn them. And when you do, magical things happen.
Driftwood houses are so much the in thing now, with so many people making them, but Ian was one of the early originators and I loved this little wooden street.Lunch was pretty darned splendid.
Amazingly, after all that, people carried on working. This was a particularly splendid guinea pig.
I am always thrilled to bits when someone who has never needle felted or indeed crafted much, produces something lovely. Often they start out with a little trepidation, but at the end of the day, they have made something beautiful, and in this case, entirely their own design.
Naturally, mid-afternoon, there was cake.
The next day, I myself tried my hand at creating something outside of my own comfort zone, in Ian's workshop, but that's another story for a later date. Thanks so much to Ian and Fleur, for making my weekend really special and reviving my own creative batteries, which have been a little flat for the last few years.
One small grey goose waddled off to a new home.Walter. He really is very small indeed...
There are still some spaces left on my May 10 chicken brooch workshop at the Fibreworks Oxford. If you'd like to keep me company, please contact the shop via the website.
Whistle stop blog post, as I am up to my neck in *stuff*. My polar bear pattern in 'Mollie Makes Weddings' - on Amazon UK here and Amazon USA here. My kitten pattern in the latest issue (37) of 'Mollie Makes'. Available as a 'real' magazine here or as a digital download here from iTunes only.
Off to Cinderhill Farm soon to do the first workshop of the year on March 8th - there are two places left, if anyone fancies it, details are here . I can count on one hand the amount of times I've been anywhere since November last year, so I am very much looking forward to my adventure. Not to mention seeing my dear friends, meeting my workshop students and cooing over the newborn lambs.
I'll also be launching my first kits, 'Slinky Fox' at the workshops. It's been a long process, but I will soon be bringing out kits on a regular basis. I will return with photos of lambs. And chickens. and more pigs. And goats.
Off to do two workshops in Oxfordshire - one at The Fibreworks Oxford and another all day session at the dear old Queen's Head in Eynsham. Just managed to get a pattern finished for 'Crafty' magazine (coming out soon) and finish a couple of custom orders.
The elephant is very big (for needle felting) - 8 x 5½ inches. This sweetie is only a couple of inches tall, by comparison.
Not only that - I have some foxes and new style hares to sell, when I return - here's a little preview of one.
My first workshop of the year, held at Cinderhill Farm at the beginning of March. Fully booked and raring to go. We started off by making chickens.
Outside, the farm chickens clucked indignantly. No punk hairstyles on these ladies.
The morning session was sustained with copious tea, homemade shortbread and flapjacks.
After lunch (home farmed pork casserole with herby rice) people worked on their own designs - or in this case, followed my 'bunny brooch' pattern from issue 24 of 'Mollie Makes'.
Then another break for a special farmhouse high tea - all freshly baked in the farmhouse kitchen by Debs, our hostess. Two types of cake, jam tarts, rich scones with butter, cream and jam.
It is always so rewarding to see finished designs as the day draws to a close.
The traditional Grand Parade - the lovely results of a very creative day - didn't they do well?
I believe the next workshop (scheduled for early summer) is already fully booked, but if you would like to be informed of spare places or book in advance for a late summer workshop, please contact Debs via the Cinderhill Farm website or message her through the official Facebook page.
Despite all the various shenanigans which we are putting ourselves through, work still goes on. The first thing I finished in Shropshire was a commission from one of my regular collectors who wanted a copy of 'Kitty Blue' from my book,
'Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes'.
She is not 100% the same as the original but as near as I could get her. I know which is which.
I'm doing a lot of repeat designs at the moment and sometimes I need to try a new design. I have wanted to make a red squirrel for ages.
Betsy sold at once and made her way to America where she is making my friend
Janet very happy, I believe.
I've also just finished several doglet orders - Claudette, who is a copy of one of the first doglets from my
Mollie Makes pattern. (as the originals are all sold now).
Also, a larger clown version of the Mollie Makes doglets, who has gone over the border to nearby Wales.
Henri, one of the original magazine doglets was snapped up by a
French lady who runs an online boutique shop. So he has gone to his spiritual home, accompanied by a specially commissioned girl-friend, Henriette.
She composed this sweet montage of the two 'H's' on her copy of the Mollie Makes issue, many thanks for letting me use this, Savine!
Although I can't really arrange full workshops at the moment, I had a special all day one-to-one session with a lovely needle felter,
Jackelien from Holland. No, she didn't come all that way just to see me, but I am flattered that she wanted to spend the day learning techniques from me in the middle of her family holiday. She bought Dutch treats in a pretty tin - I am now addicted to the liquorice chalk sweets. I've had to hide the bag from myself. The kilner jar is not full of sweets, but little wax shapes - it's an outdoor candle which I am hoping to light in our new back garden.
Apart from working on finishing off techniques and fine shaping, we made funny little houses. It was a really lovely day, we talked our heads off and by the end of it, I felt sure that I had made a new friend. (Her version of the day can be found on her blog
here - lots of pictures if you don't speak Dutch, including one of me which makes me realise I have to start running again!)
Talking of little houses, we are now hopeful that we may be properly settled soon - in the precarious world of house buying nothing is ever certain, but we are quietly hopeful.
This is my lastest workshop, held at the
Winds of Change Gallery in Winchcombe. The challenge was to make a sheep from British wool - as it was part of the wool festival celebrating our native sheep. I brought in a selection of dyed Blue-Faced Leicester and natural Welsh tops, and a
lot of Cotswold Lion fleece. Far more than we needed in the end.
I'd already made my own sheep from this, with much mild cursing as it is really too long and rough to make a satisfactory model. Some brave people used it, but the Blue Faced Leicester was by far the favourite, being softer and more manageable.
As well as a picnic lunch, there were scones, cream and jam halfway through the afternoon; note the plaster and first aid kit, for the unfortunates who stabbed themselves. It was all good fun though, and I think every one had a lovely time.
My lovely workshop ladies, including a beaming Jane, the gallery owner and lovely Lady Jane, of nearby
Each one is a little treasure - you have such amazing talent Gretel. x Jo
I like the elephant's knees....and his (her?) smile. You have a great talent for capturing those little silly details that give it personality.
oh that hare is just adorable. All your creations look so sturdy too. When i had a go at it i made a nice pony but it bends a lot and im sure its falling apart.
More needling needed i guess
Gill x
Jeepers Gretel...you are a busy lady!
Congrats on the new magazine piece and on every one of these delightful new animals. Each of them has got that special GP look.
The larger elephant must have taken ages to make?
Best wishes on your travels. xo
Oh that little hare is sooo adorable. I am moving at the beginning of the year so think I'm going to invest in one of them :). I love your prints so much.
Beautiful pieces Gretel.
Love that elephant! The hare is lovely too - your work is really exquisite.
Thank you so much, Gretel! We all love our elephant who is now keeping Tom company in his office.
I love that hare, so lovely
Oh these are all so lovely!