Wool and Willow Festival

Wool and Willow Festival 2012

2012-02-05T09:46:00.000Z

The list of Exhibitors for this years festival is growing and the deadline for booking a stall is 14th February so make sure you get your application in before then! The booking form can be found on the Home Page of the web site.

We are currently compiling the workshop details for this years show so please be patient, but if you would like to receive an email with the list when it comes out please email with your request and I will add you to the mailing list. Email address found on the web site.

We hope to see our regular visitors and participants and look forward to inspiring new visitors also.

If you have any enquiries then please do contact us for more information.

Wool and Willow Festival 2012

2011-10-23T14:15:00.000+01:00

Bookings are now being taken to Exhibit and our 2012 Exhibition which will open on Saturday 2nd June 2012 and end on Saturday 30th June 2012.
Please make an initial inquiry with photo's of your work via email.

Workshop bookings for wool and willow

2011-06-10T18:53:00.001+01:00

There is still time to book on some of our workshops; a few of you may be disappointed though because a number have been well and truly chokka block for quite some time! These 1 day workshops are incredibly good value in this day and age - in fact I'm not sure we'll be able to hold our prices for next year so.... time to make good on all those New Year resolutions and COME LEARN A NEW SKILL!!!

Excellent course - I enjoyed every minute. Joanna is friendly, patient and extremely generous with her knowledge. Wonderful introduction to Rigid Heddle weaving - I can't wait for more!

Sadly prospective wool spinners and willow sculpturers are out of luck for the Festival (though if you really would like to learn we'll happily pass your details to our tutors for their mailing lists.

There's hope however for potential willow platter weavers, needlefelters, rag ruggers and knitters. So get in touch. But do it quickly there's only 2 weeks left of this fabulous festival and time takes no prisoners! Altogether now: www.woolandwillowfestival.org/workshops.html

Meet our Makers: Olwen Veevers

2011-06-10T18:32:00.002+01:00

Olwen keeps a flock of coloured sheep on a small farm in South East Wales and sells fine fleeces to hand spinners and felt makers. She is currently Chairman of the British Coloured Sheep Breeders’ Association, actively promoting the use of naturally coloured wool and is a director of Wonderwool Wales.

As well as selling fleece, Olwen is an enthusiastic felt maker and needle felter. She enjoys producing models of various animals, especially her donkey Max, and is also developing a line of felt hangings and bags decorated with medieval style lettering.
To contact Olwen, visit her website

Max, Asleep

Meet our Makers: The Wool and Willow Shop of Hay-on-Wye

2011-06-03T18:24:00.000+01:00

When you see that we have 20 stalls there are actually quite a few more craftspeople at Wool and Willow than we let on. How so? Well thanks to the presence of The Wool and Willow Shop of Hay-on-Wye! And what a fabulous collection of makers and materials they have on show!

The Wool and Willow shop in Hay-on-Wye exhibits work by dyers, weavers, knitters, felters and a rag rug maker. Textile artists who live close to Hay are welcome to apply for a guest appearance. Click here to contact the shop via email.

A sister shop , Y Ddafad Ddu / The Black Sheep opens in Tregaron in June and will stock a range of fabrics from Welsh mills as well as original work by 20 local craftspeople.

Both shops supply information about residential and day courses and open studios in the area.

Roll up roll up - not many chances left now to book your place Feltmaking courses

2011-06-02T19:37:00.000+01:00

Learn to make a purse/wallet/phone holder by turning wool fleece into felt. No sewing! Using soap, water and elbow grease: find out about this most ancient of all constructed textiles. Once you've mastered this technique your imagination is your only barrier to making bags, garments and household products. Your tutor Lorraine has been making felt for 10 years. Tuesday 7th June from 10.30am to 4.30pm, £30 plus £3 materials.

Last minute chance to take the 2 day beginners baskets with Beryl Smith

2011-06-01T16:28:00.000+01:00

We've had a cancellation making a space available for Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th Beginner's Baskets course. Fantastic opportunity for someone to spend a weekend doing something (ultimately) useful. Total bargain at £60 plus materials for the whole course. Cost of materials depend how quickly you want to work (or should that be how carried away with enthusiasm for your new found skill?) - £8 per basket.
Go on.... you know you want to!

Space available: the Art of Recycling with Prue Thimbleby

2011-05-30T09:47:00.000+01:00

A fantastic opportunity to spend time with Prue Thimbleby to incorporate reclaimed objects into your willow weaving. Prue draws her inspiration from interaction with people, often creating exhibitions including the public. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in London, Oxford, Hertford, Swansea and outdoors at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden. A very experienced workshop presenter, Prue loves working with groups and is sure to host a very special day of learning. Friday 3rd June from 10.30am to 4.30pm, maximum number of students is 8.

At just £30 plus £3 for materials this course is incredible value. Suitable for both beginner and intermediate standard.

Part 3: neither wool nor willow or maybe both......

2011-05-29T11:32:00.001+01:00

Mixed media, supplies, recycled, sustainable textiles. With wool. With willow. With both. With neither. All join together to make the Festival the exciting and vibrant show that it is. Enjoy!

Melindwr Textiles

Jenny Barnett

Maria Lalić

Zalingai

Dyed in the Wool with Wild and Woody

Poppycock

Wood Cymru

Part 2: Festival Willow Exhibits

2011-05-29T11:12:00.000+01:00

Fabulous array this year. Combined with the Welsh Basketmakers bringing some beautiful pieces from both professional and amateur makers, the Festival is a great place for admirers of willow work to visit. Unfortunately one of our makers had several things conspire against her in travelling to the Festival, but we hope that Prue will be able to make it soon and we'll post images of her work when she does. Best wishes Prue!

Out to Learn Willow

Kibsey Crafts

Beryl Smith

Welsh Basketmakers Association

Great Oak Bookshop of Llanidloes

The Wool and Willow Shop of Hay-on-Wye

Part 1: Festival Wool Exhibits

2011-05-29T10:47:00.003+01:00

Olwen Veevers

These next 3 posts are broadly on wool-willow-recycled but being a creative bunch at the Festival needless to say that categorising us all is a bit of a challenge with lots of crossover between all 3 categories.
So, starting with the wool, we have a wonderful array of knitting, felt, weaving and crochet. Here are some images, and there will be more about the unblogged-to-date makers in the next few days.

The Rainbow Room

Esgair Fibres

Wool Gathering

Ruth Packham

Sasha Kagan with new book the Classic Collection

De Mont Studios

Cwmchwefru Farm

Greenweeds

Wool and Willow Festival 2011 Opens

2011-05-28T16:31:00.001+01:00

Today the Wool and Willow Festival has opened its doors for four weeks of sustainable craft. Time to seize the opportunity to Look-Learn-Shop at this unique Festival in Mid-Wales. This year we are really pleased to welcome the Welsh Basketmakers Association and The Brecon and Radnor Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers as our guest exhibitors.

Curated by Maggie Shaw, the WBA have provided a stunning exhibit for the window of The Minerva Centre with a beautiful coracle as its focal point, built by Maggie and her husband. The WBA shows a range of work from both professional and amateur basketmakers, and we are so pleased that they have chosen to exhibit their work with us this year. Thank you Maggie!

Meanwhile, this year's Festival is hosting the Brecon and Radnor Guild, and as we have come to expect they have provided a beautiful display of work. We are happy to say that they will be providing demonstrations to visitors each Friday for the duration of the Festival, giving visitors an opportunity to see craft in action and ask questions of the experts.
This is the first of 4 blogs celebrating our opening: information about wool, willow and sustainable crafts to follow soon. It's so exciting to see it all come together.

Workshop Bookings: Early Birds are catching the worms.....

2011-05-25T18:36:00.000+01:00

.... or, at least, they're catching the Willow!

The 2 day beginner's basketmaking with Beryl Smith is now fully booked. However, there is a new list building and if there is sufficient interest there will be another 2 day beginner's baskets workshop with Beryl on Monday 13th/Tuesday 14th June. Please get in touch if you would like to put your name down for the second course.

The rag rug workshop with Sue Clow on 20th June is also FULLY BOOKED. Again, however, please get in touch if you would like to go on the reserve list, and names will be passed to Sue in case she is running other workshops or is able to offer a second date.....

For any workshop enquiries please don't hesitate to get in touch: email info@woolandwillowfestival.org or see our workshops page for more info.

Meet our Makers: Mel Bastier, Clare Revera, Out to Learn Willow, Willow Frame Basket Workshop on 18th June

2011-05-23T19:53:00.000+01:00

Our 18th June Workshop is Willow Frame Baskets presented by Mel Bastier of Out to Learn Willow.

What could be more satisfying than making your own beautiful willow basket. On our workshop participants will be shown how to weave a frame basket with a selection of coloured willow using a variety of traditional weaving techniques.

Participants will have an already prepared frame and ribs to make their baskets but there will also be a practical demonstration on making willow frames for participants to use at a later date.

During the workshop you will be taught about the cultivation and uses of willow, preparation and selection of materials.

The workshop is suitable for complete beginners and all necessary tools are provided.

Out to Learn Willow provides both living willow and dried willow workshops for adults, children and young people within a variety of educational and community settings. The company was set up in 2006 by Clare Revera and Mel Bastier whose enthusiasm in working with the natural and entirely sustainable material of willow had quickly grown into an obsession. They are passionate about reviving the ancient tradition of willow weaving and passing on the traditional skills associated with the craft through quality instruction and empathetic support.

We foster creativity and care for the environment by encouraging a completely hands-on involvement in our workshops and we passionately believe in the holistic, artistic, creative and therapeutic benefits of working with such a forgiving and flexible material. Our craft workshops provide a fundamental connection with nature and our past.

For more information about living willow workshops or our willow courses visit www.outtolearnwillow.co.uk or contact either Clare or Mel on 01656 880514/881007.

Meet our Makers: Ruth Packham

2011-05-19T10:41:00.000+01:00

Another of our new exhibitors this year is Ruth Packham. Here are a few words from Ruth about her work.

I live in Borth on the West coast of Wales. My main love is fabric and have been screen printing my own designs for over 10 years......making clothes, soft furnishing, bags and art work.
I teach screen printing from my studio in Borth and do outreach workshops.

I started felt making 3 years ago and was instantly hooked. While my print making has become more monochrome, my felt making exudes colour. I try and use UK produced wool and create felt wall hangings, transferring my screen printing style into drawing with wool fibres. More recently I have discovered 3d felt making and am making felt vessels. It is early days for me and felt, I have so much to learn but I am loving the process.
Please contact me if you are interested in any aspects of my work.
Email Ruth
Visit Ruth's Etsy shop
See Ruth's Facebook Page

Meet our Makers: Wild and Woody with Dyed in the Wool

2011-05-13T20:17:00.000+01:00

This year we are very happy to be able to welcome a number of new makers to the Festival, helping to keep the event vibrant and relevant! Here are a few words about the first of these: more updates to follow in the next few days.

"Wild and Woody" and "Dyed in the Wool " are Llanfyllin based textile and willow workers.

Rosie Larmour and Sue Dolman make their creations from locally sourced wool and willow. They also use recycled materials to make individual items of clothing, soft toys and furnishings.

Both women love exploring new uses for their materials and are happy to design individual items. This will be their first time at Minerva, they are open to the connections and ideas this experience will bring them.

I hope you'll all welcome them to the Festival in 2011, and we wish them every luck for the event.

Meet our Makers: Sasha Kagan Knitwear Designer presenting two workshops

2011-05-01T17:12:00.001+01:00

Once again, our wonderful local knitting "celeb" Sasha Kagan will be joining the Wool and Willow Festival. Sasha will be taking time out from her touring exhibition "My Life in Textiles: 4 Decades of Hand Knit Design" to join us with an exhibition and sale of her exclusive knitwear and books, as well as presenting 2 of our workshops. Mounting this exhibit is part of Sasha's ongoing mission to 'elevate knitting to a much higher status and encourage the next generation', and her commitment to the Wool and Willow Festival is further evidence of this.
The first of her Wool and Willow workshops - aimed at beginner knitters - will introduce knitting with big needles and big wool, with participants being able to leave with a hat.

The second - for intermediate and advanced knitters - will be looking at Fairisle and domino knitting techniques with a nod to the skilled use of colour for which Sasha is renowned. Pattern, colour and texture are key to Sasha Kagan’s creative process and her exhibition ‘My Life in Textiles’ reflects the importance of these elements in her work over the last four decades. Although Sasha trained as a painter and printmaker, she was immersed in the needle arts from an early age as both her mother and grandmother were enthusiastic and proficient knitters and needlewomen.

With a maximum of 8 students in each workshop, you will be sure to get you fair share of attention and advice from Sasha as well as having an opportunity to meet other keen or keen-to-be knitters into the bargain!
Sasha's new book - The Classic Collection - will be publised in May and on sale at the Wool and Willow Festival. A GMC-published pattern book with garments reworked in today's "softer, more luxurious yarns" and essays by a number of Kagan's colleagues and industry professions, including Kate Buller from Rowan Yarns, Sandy Black of The London College of Fashion and Trisha Malcom from Vogue Knitting Magazine.

If you really (really?!) can't make it to Llanidloes in May/June this year, then don't forget that the Exhibition of Sasha's Life in Textiles will also be on view at these events:

Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire 14th May - 12th June - www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk
The Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London - 6th-9th October
The Knitting and Stitching Show, Dublin, Ireland - 10-13th November
The Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrowgate - 24th-27th November

See www.twistedthread.com for details of The Knitting and Stitching shows

For more information about Sasha Kagan, please visit her website www.sashakagan.co.uk

You find something new....

2011-04-11T12:20:00.001+01:00

While at the wonderful Wonderwool event in Builth Wells, I was introduced to the equally marvellous ravelry, an online community for knitters, crocheters and other yarn fiends.
Now, normally I'm quite fast at finding these things and I can only think it passed me by being a feltmaker (with our other contributer being a willow worker).
On the basis that lots of people reading this will be yarn fiends though I thought I'd share the ravelry revelation with you. If you haven't been there you have to go. Soon!
And if you already know all about it, love it and use it, please pity me in my ignorance! It's just I've been sooooo busy.....

Meet our Makers: Sue Clow, Zalingai Textiles, Rag Rug Making Workshop on 20th June

2011-03-20T15:52:00.006Z

On 20th June our workshop "Rag rug making" will be presented by Sue Clow. During this workshop you will learn the traditional rag rug making techniques of hooking and prodding using recycled materials. Sue will show you many exciting variations on the traditional rug and give you ideas for small pieces you can complete on the day. From rag rug flower badges to pictures and frames you will be able to take away a few finished peices and lots of ideas to inspire larger rugs and add to your repetoir of textile techniques.

Based in Ceredigion Sue started rag rug making in 1994 as the result of her patchwork and quilting. Rag rug making is a fantastic way of using left over fabric and of recycling old garments that really aren't good enough fabric to be used for anything else. Her hobby turned into the business Zalingai: The Art of Recycling in 1999 creating and selling recycled textiles in galleries and shops around Wales. She makes hats, bags, rag rugs and wallhangings, sells tools and kits and teaches workshops at many varied venues. Zalingai products can be bought at the Centre for Alterative Technology in Machynlleth and Sue teaches at the Welsh Quilt Museum in Lampeter.

The emphasis of Sue's work is recycling and rag rug making is such a brilliant technique for recycling rags that it has become the focus of Sues teaching. Zalingai sells rag rug kits, base fabrics and tools and Sue has experience of many different techniques which she is happy to discuss and share at the workshop.
Zalingai items for sale can be seen at www.zalingai.co.uk and you can email Sue or phone her on 01974 282530 for further information.

About our Makers: Maria Lalic, Textiles to Treasure Workshop: Making folk style cloth dolls

2011-03-15T13:12:00.005Z

Our workshop on June 10th is Making Cloth Style Folk Dolls, presented by Maria Lalić. During this class you will learn how to make one of Maria's Welsh Lady dolls, or a Mumma doll, using vintage and recycled textiles and Maria's exclusive patterns. A sewing machine will be available though you are welcome to bring your own.
This year’s Wool and Willow Festival will coincide with the launch of Maria's range of folk art inspired dolls, teddy bears and gifts which will be marketed and exhibited under the banner ‘Textiles to Treasure’.

Maria studied at The School of Home Economics, University College, Cardiff in the late 1970s and specialised in Textiles and Psychology. Her interest in both subjects continued and by 2000, she had gained qualifications in Counselling and completed courses in Creative Textiles with the Open College of Arts, specialising in making Worry Dolls which could be used as stress management aids and to prompt therapeutic disclosures during Counselling encounters. In 2004, Maria enrolled at The University of Glamorgan and in 2007 gained a first class Honours degree in Combined Studies (Creative Writing, Textiles and Welsh). By this time, two of her books had been published (A History of Llansantffraid and Paper Dolls and Coconut Mushrooms) as well as several articles in The Bevan Foundation Review.

Before 2006, Maria created wall hangings from her own naturally dyed, hand-mad felt which was then embroidered using a range of stitchery techniques and found objects. An accident (yes, it was her own fault – she was running too fast, downhill and on tarmac) resulted in injuries to both arms and meant that her career as a feltmaker was over.

A fervent believer in every cloud having a silver lining, Maria decided to start her own business in the Autumn of 2007 and became a freelance Writer, Tutor and Textile Artist. Having learnt how to Needlefelt, she is back to producing wall hangings and still makes the art dolls which combine a range of stitchery techniques with needlesculpture. Maria lives as simply and self-reliantly as possible on a croft with her family, dog (Miss Myfanwy Price), cat (Lily Smalls the Treasure), 2 goats and a varying number of chickens. She hopes this philosophy shows in both Textiles to Treasure (which uses reclaimed and natural fabrics) and in her work as a Textile Artist and Dollmaker (where she draws her inspiration from the landscape and legend of her native Glamorgan).

Lily's Wood

To reserve a place on Maria Lalić's workshop, or find out more about the workshops at Wool and Willow 2011, please follow this link: Wool and Willow Workshops.

About our Makers: Greenweeds Contemporary Feltwork, From Fleece to Felt workshop

2011-03-13T12:05:00.008Z

On 7th June, our workshop is "From Fleece to Felt", an introduction to wet felting presented by Lorraine Pocklington of Greenweeds Contemporary Feltwork.
During this workshop, and starting with professionally washed, combed and dyed British wool tops, you will be taught how to make a flat piece of felt using a wet felting technique (wool, soap, water and rubbing). Progressing from this first achievement, you proceed to making a 3-D object felting around a resist to create a pocket. Ultimately you'll be taking home a finished item - a purse, glasses case, mobile phone cover, passport holder - and lots of ideas of how to proceed.
Although you won't be working with raw fleece straight off the back of the sheep, if there is interest among the group Lorraine will explain how to go about selecting a fleece for felting, and how to go about preparing the fleece for this use. You will also learn something of the history of feltmaking, with felt being probably the first constructed textile known to (wo)mankind.

Based in Ceredigion, Lorraine started felting in 2001, under the guidance of Ama Bolton in Somerset, and moved to Wales in 2006. She has achieved a City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Constructed Textiles and Design for Craft, and is a member of the International Feltmakers Association.
Lorraine is involved in the Afghanistan Inspiration textiles project, developing the website and working with Meike Laurenson on the launch of the touring exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham. Lorraine's own work is included in this European touring exhibition. Each piece of work incorporates a 10cm square embroidered by a woman from Laghmani village in Afghanistan.
She runs Greenweeds Contemporary Feltwork with her husband, John, using wool from British farms. She also develops websites, and is currently working part-time for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David as the Web and Social Media Developer for the CIME Project (Creativity and Innovation in Micro Enterprise). Lorraine is the Chair of The Wool and Willow Festival for 2011.

To reserve a place on Lorraine's feltmaking workshop, or find out more about the workshops at Wool and Willow 2011, please follow this link: Wool and Willow Workshops.

2011 Programme for Wool and Willow

2011-03-13T10:30:00.005Z

The workshop programme is available at woolandwillowfestival.org/workshops.html, with bookings already being taken. It's a great programme at very competitive prices, so do have a good look at what's available and consider spending a few days in mid-Wales growing your crafting outlook!

Already we have new exhibitors for 2011, though we hope to find about 4 more new businesses to bring to Llanidloes. Welcome back to Lois Grindey (Willow) and a warm welcome to 2 new willow exhibitors: Prue Thimbleby and Out to Learn Willow. All three are presenting workshops this year as is our perennially popular presenter and exhibitor Beryl Smith. Alongside an exhibition by the Welsh Basketmakers Association, there is sure to be plenty to interest willow enthusiasts in 2011.
Not to be outshone, the wool and textiles exhibitors are sure to put on a strong show. Olwen Veevers is offering a new needlefelting class this year, and Maria Lalic will be presenting a class in doll making using vintage and upcycled fabrics. Of course, beginning and advanced knitters can look forward to tuition from Sasha Kagan, who will be taking time out from her retrospective exhibition tour to join us at her local festival in Llanidloes. More about feltmaking, rag rugs, spinning and weaving soon!

Wool and Willow Festival on Facebook and Twitter

2011-02-26T08:41:00.009Z

As well as updating this blog (ahem!) the Wool and Willow Festival is now on Facebook and Twitter. If you are a regular user of Facebook we'd really appreciate you becoming 'a fan' of the Wool and Willow Festival by pressing the like button. Our page can be found here: Wool and Willow on Facebook - we'd really appreciate it if you could visit and while you are there hit the 'like' button. Thank you!
Meanwhile, also battling with the 21st Century by setting up our account on Twitter and tweeting (should that really be twitting?) Again, if you would like to follow our pearls of wisdom, please click on "Follow Me".
Thanks!

Wool and Willow Workshops 2011

2011-01-15T09:19:00.006Z

We are busily working on our workshop programme for 2011. There will be a wide range of workshops available and the programme includes some exciting presentations from some of our new exhibitors. Workshop prices have been held for this year at £30 per day plus materials: that's excellent value and a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of Wales' most experienced fibre workers.
Subject areas for 2011 include basketry, felting, knitting, crochet, weaving, working with recycled materials and needlesculpture. So put a date in your diary to visit the Wool and Willow festival this year. Details about the courses will be put on to the website soon. If you want to be among the first to hear please email woolandwillow2011@woolandwillowfestival.org to receive a programme as soon as it's published.

A marvellously messy felting workshop 2010

THE WOOL AND WILLOW FESTIVAL 2011

2011-01-14T14:28:00.003Z

This years festival is moving forward a week to incorporate the May bank holiday. Please note that the dates for this years event will be 28th May to the 26th June inclusively, including Sundays.

We are currently working on the schedule for workshops to be held during the 2011 festival and hope to have these posted on the web site soon.

If you are interested in exhibiting at this years festival then please make contact to request information and a booking form.

Picture: some of last years Beginners Basket participants with their splendid baskets

Photos from Rush Taster Session

2010-07-01T19:45:00.005+01:00

LAST FEW DAYS OF WOOL AND WILLOW FESTIVAL

2010-07-01T19:33:00.003+01:00

Hi Everyone
Only two days left to go, This years fabulous show is about to finish this Saturday 3rd July at 4.30 so please make sure you do not miss it. Get along and find yourself a gem before its too late. There is some a selection of gorgeous wool and willow products for sale!
Thank you to everyone who supported the Festival this year.

PLACES LEFT ON WORKSHOPS STILL TO COME

2010-06-23T10:23:00.004+01:00

The following workshops still have a few places left on them:

'From Fleect ot Felt' on Friday 25th June run by Lorraine Pocklington
'An Introduction to Needlefelting' on Saturday 26th June run by Olwen Veevers.
'Dorset Buttons' has unfortunately been cancelled

Both Lorraine and Olwen are very experienced in their field being accomplished Wool Artists.

If you would like to enquire for either of these courses then please ring Olwen on 01873 821205 asap or download a booking form and send to Olwen.

BASKET MAKING WORKSHOP

2010-06-23T10:20:00.003+01:00

The two day beginners basket making workshop was a huge success with everyone achieving thier goals to go home with a lovely basket.

Here is a few of the participants with their lovely baskets including me in the middle!
Thanks to everyone who attended and made it such a productive two days.
Beryl

WOOL AND WILLOW FESTIVAL IN FULL SWING

2010-06-23T10:10:00.004+01:00

The Wool and Willow Festival is now into its third week and is going exceptionally well.

There is an exciting display of the very best of wool and willow products primarily made by local artists, most of which are for sale.

The Festival is on until 4 pm Saturday 3rd July so make sure you do not miss it!

FREE TASTER WORKSHOP SESSIONS

2010-05-23T19:34:00.006+01:00

We have colaborated with Gwanwyn www.gwanwyn.org.uk to offer four different taster sessions for people 50 years of age and older during the Gwanwyn Festival Month

We have:

NEEDLEFELTING: An exciting introdution to surface embellishment. Learn a quick way to add your own unique decoration to felt and other fabrics.
Monday 7th June.

HAVE FUN WITH WILLOW: Come and play with wilLow and make something to take away and use.
Tuesday 8th June

BIG EASY KNITINg: Learn the basic techniques using big needles and fat yarn. Suitable for beginners and those who skills are rusty.
Tuesday 22nd June.

PLAYING WITH RUSH: An introduction to working with Rush, make a table coaster from rush.
Thursday 24th June.

Each session is for two hours either in the morning or the afternoon.
No experience necessary and all materials and tools will be supplied.
Places are limited for each workshop so to secure your place booking is essential.
For more information or to book your place, please ring Beryl on 01686 430314 or email workshops@woolandwillowfestival.org

WOOL AND WILLOW FESTIVAL AT THE SMALLHOLDERS SHOW, BUILTH WELLS

2010-05-13T12:13:00.003+01:00

The Wool and Willow Festival will be at the Smallholders Show this weekend the 15th and 16th May 2010 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. We are in the Green Horizons building and our stand number is GH53, 54, 55 & 56.

We will be promoting the Festival and have a full display from last years show of some of the exhibitors work, also of the Workshops we held last year. We will be taking bookings for this years workshops also.

Please come along and have a browse or a chat.
Look forward to seeing you there.

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THIS YEARS SHOW

2010-05-05T11:08:00.006+01:00

Preparations are now well underway for this year show. We have some exiting talented new artists for this year show including the regular favourites too.

The extensive workshops list is now compiled and on the web site, please remember that places on the workshops are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Details of who to contact to either book a stall or workshop place are on the website.

THE WOOL AND WILLOW FESTIVAL 2010

2010-03-20T10:29:00.002Z

Hello to all our Wool and Willow Festival fans.

Plans are now in full swing for this years Wool and Willow Festival for 2010. Applications forms have gone out to prospective people who might like to exhibit. Remember this is a selling exhibition, so if you think you would like to join in then please contact Olwen by email: stallbookings@woolandwillowfestival.org

The Wool and Willow Festival team are also currently compiling the list of workshops that will be delivered during the festival. If you have a particular workshop that you would like us to try and put on then let us know and we will try to oblidge.
Details of this years workshops should be available on the website shortly.

LAST DAY SATURDAY 27TH JUNE 2009

2009-06-26T17:59:00.001+01:00

Saturday 27th June 2009 is the last day, so make sure you do not miss this years premier event for Llanidloes.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the Festival this year and helped make it a tremendous success.

PHOTOS OF CREATIVE WOOLCRAFT WORKSHOP

2009-06-26T17:41:00.008+01:00

Here are some images and inspiration from the Creative Woolcraft Workshop facilitated by Meg Dixon. Thanks for all who participated.

WRONG DATE FOR CLOSE OF FESTIVAL IN JULY ISSUE KNITTING MAGAZINE

2009-06-22T09:01:00.002+01:00

Anyone who has seen the details about the Festival in the July Issue of Knitting Magazine will note that it says the festival runs to 30th June 2009.

This is an ERROR and the festival actually finishes on Saturday June 27th. Appologies to anyone who does not see this message and turns up after the 27th.

PHOTOS FROM IINTRODUCTION TO NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP 20TH

2009-06-22T08:50:00.008+01:00

Here are some photos of the successful Needle Felting workshop run by Olwen Veevers at The Wool and Willow Festival at The Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes June 20th 2009

Thanks to everyone who participated and Well done!

PHOTOS FROM WET AND INLAY FELTING WORKSHOP

2009-06-22T08:42:00.005+01:00

Photos from the Wet Felting and Inlay workshopheld at The Wool and Willow Festival 21th June 2009

facilitated by Olwen Veevers

Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable day

The Wool and Willow Ball

2009-06-19T22:48:00.001+01:00

The Wool and Willow ball taking shape during the Festival by the visitors.

PHOTOS OF THE WILLOW BIRD SCULPTURE WORKSHOP TODAY 19TH June 2009

2009-06-19T21:56:00.006+01:00

The Willow Bird Sculpture workshop was a great success with some lovely exotic specimens at the end. Thanks to all who came and participated - Beryl Smith (Workshop Facilitator)

PHOTOS OF PLANT SUPPORT WORKSHOP

2009-06-17T13:12:00.006+01:00

Here are some photos of the very successful Plant Support Workshop that was on Tuesday 16th June hosted by The Wool and Willow Festival Llanidloes and run by Beryl Smith. Thanks to Gaele, Sarah, Joanna, Twink, Liz and Beryl who made the day so enjoyable and also made some lovely Plant Supports.

FUNDING AQUIRED

2009-06-10T10:44:00.007+01:00

This years Festival has been supported with a successful grant application from the above to help with Marketing and support workshops including working with Coleg Powys Arts Students and Llanidloes GCSE High School Art Students using willow to create sculpture, these were facilitated by Beryl Smith. Also to work with groups of children from Llanidloes Primary School running workshops at the Minerva Art Centre making Flower Garlands with Lois Grindy, working with Wool with Sasha Kagan and making felted catapillars with Olwen Veevers.

BEGINNERS BASKET WORKSHOP BY BERYL SMITH ON TUESDAY 9TH JUNE 2009

2009-06-10T10:04:00.001+01:00

Thanks to all who attended by Beginners Basket workshop yesterday. It was a fun and exiting day with everyone achieving a small basket to take home. Here are some images of the day.

SASHA KAGAN CROCHET WORKSHOP

2009-06-10T09:28:00.002+01:00

2009-06-10T09:20:00.006+01:00

Sunday 7th June hosted a very successful Crochet Workshop by Sasha Kagan our very own local renowned international knitwear designer.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Festival has opened

2009-06-08T12:45:00.001+01:00

The festival opened on Saturday 6th and was very busy.

This year we have a stunning display of exhibits of a very high quality, many of which are for sale.

Come along and have a browse, and if you fancy get involved by coming to one of the workshop, a list of which is on the learning curve tab on the home page of web site.

THIS YEARS WORKSHOP WITH COLEG POWYS

2009-05-26T10:04:00.006+01:00

The Wool and Willow Festival managed to get funding to host workshops in wool and willow workshops with the students of Llanidloes High School, Llanidloes Primary School and Coleg Powys.

The Willow sculpture workshop run by Beryl Smith with some of the Art students of Coleg Powys has already taken place on Wednesday 20th May and here are some photos of the day. More later when they are finished.

It was a very successful and fun day with lots of creativity and positive feedback, the students are going to finish their pieces and hopefully we will be able to display some of them during the festival, although this does clash with their end of year shows which some of the sculptures being included unfortunately. I will hopefully get photos of the finished items to show later.

Here are some photos of the day. More will be on the website under 'workshops' in a day or two.

This years Workshops now listed

2009-04-29T14:07:00.004+01:00

This years workshops are now listed in the

'The Learning Curve'

Check out the Learning Curve for a comprehensive list of all the workshops available during the 3 weeks of the festival.

Come and learn a new skill and have fun at the same time.

There is more information on our website.

Wool and Willow goes LIVE

2009-04-02T08:37:00.002+01:00

We are proud to announce that the Wool and Willow Festival web site is now live, all be it small for now, more will be added shortly.

Please bear with us and more will be updated in the next few weeks, including a comprehensive list of the workshops that will be available during the festival