Workshops
NOTICE: Workshops are no longer taught at Florafauna. Please visit Robin at www.luckystonestudio.com for feltmaking workshops.
POLLY STIRLING & SACHIKO KOTAKA:
ORI-KIRI FELT & COMFORT BLANKETS
Florafauna Textile Studio presents an amazing four day felting (re)treat!
Monday-Thursday, June 7-10, 2010
COST: $725 includes workshop registration, 3 nights lodging & meals.
The first collaboration ever in the USA of the Australian creative team of Sachiko Kotaka and Polly Stirling, artists and feltmakers and the original developers of the nuno felt technique. This workshop is for the experienced feltmaker interested in expanding the boundaries of artistry and technique in their felt work.
***PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE SPECIAL EVENTS PAGE FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION & HOW TO REGISTER***
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. Names will be taken for wait list.**Sachiko Kotaka will also be presenting a two day workshop at Florafauna: Monday and Tuesday, June 14 & 15, see details below.**
A VERY SPECIAL TWO DAY WORKSHOP!
SACHIKO KOTAKA: UNIQUE FELTMAKING TECHNIQUES
Monday & Tuesday, June 14 & 15, 10-5 PM $250
Guest instructor, Japanese/Australian Feltmaker Sachiko Kotaka will be with us from Australia for a special two day workshop, to share her techniques at Florafauna Textile Studio. Sachiko is a multi-talented feltmaker and visual artist, with an introspective and individualistic approach to feltmaking. Her work honors the complexity of culture and landscape of her two homelands, reinterpreted in the highly original techniques she has developed. Sachiko is known for her technical skill as well as her creative ingenuity. A feature article about her work appears in the current issue, No. 2, of the Australian magazine, “Felt”, click here to view the article. Sachiko will be a presenting tutor at Fibers Geelong, 2010, in Victoria, Australia this fall; sponsored by The Australian Forum for Textile Arts (TAFTA).
Our workshop is an uncommon opportunity to learn from a truly inspiring artist. Participants should have some felting experience.
Limited to 12 students. $250 plus materials fee for the two day workshop ONE Opening left!
Click here to register.
Artfelt Techniques at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival!
October 16 & 17, 9 AM – 4:30 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson and Anna Poulos 
We will be teaching a two day workshop at the fabulous NYS Sheep and Wool Festival at Duchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY. This workshop is so much fun! On day one we will be making a small collaged flat felt with wool batt, roving, fabrics and exotic fibers. Day two will be focused on embellishing our pieces with any combination of embroidery, free form machine stitching, beading, or needle felting. It is an absorbing process that is relaxing and inspiring. The emphasis is on creating a non-functional piece, akin to the art quilt. For more information and to register, click here to visit the NYSSWF web site.
Felting 101
Thursday, May 6, 10 AM – 4 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson
Thursday, May 27 & Thursday, June 3, 6 PM – 8:30 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson
Experience the alchemy of wool, soap and water transforming fibers into a textile with your own hands! Felt making is a technique thousands of years old. Working with dyed wool and other natural fibers, we will cover choosing fiber appropriate to the felting project, layout techniques and the fulling process. Students will go away with a sample and felt work of their own design.
limited to 8 students. $75 plus small materials fee
Click here to register.
Nuno felt Scarves 
Thursday, May 20, 10 AM – 4 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson
Discover nuno felt, a contemporary wet felting technique that integrates wool into a base weave of fabric. In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of making nuno felt using fine wool and silk fibers, felting into silk fabric to create a lightweight, gossamer scarf.
Nuno is wonderful technique for garments, window treatments and any application your imagination leads.
limited to 8 students. $75 plus materials fee
Click here to register.
Natural Dyeing for Knitters and Felters
Saturday, May 8, 10 AM – 4 PM
with Anna Poulos
Wouldn’t it be fun to dye your own yarns or fabric for your nuno felt projects? If you have been curious about natural dyes, but intimidated by the process (or the mess), this workshop is for you! You will have a variety of natural dye baths to choose from, to dye your knitting yarns or silk fabric under the tutelage of our dye master, Anna. We will provide the materials, you get extra bragging rights when you show off the beauty of your hand dyed textiles.
Limited to 8 students $75 plus materials fee based upon fibers selected
Click here to register.
Wednesday, June 23, 6-8 PM
Join us for relaxed evening at the studio! Bring a friend, and felt a simple slip case for your cell phone, glasses, ipod or tarot deck.
Nuno Collage 
Saturday, May 22, 10 AM – 4 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson
Learn a variation on the technique of nuno felting- a contemporary wet felting method that integrates wool into a base weave of fabric. In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of making a nuno felt collage using fine wool, silk and novelty fibers, along with small pieces of fabrics, ribbons and yarns.
Students can choose to make a scarf or a piece of yardage in this workshop.
limited to 8 students. $75 plus materials fee
Click here to register.
Shibori Dyeing with Natural Dyes
Thursday May 27, 9-4 PM
with Anna Poulos
Anna will be teaching the ancient Japanese technique of Shibori, a resist dyeing technique. Students will experiment with folding, clamping, and pole wrapping with silk and other natural fibers.
Click here to register.
Calamari Scarves
Thursday, June 24, 9:30 AM – 5 PM
with Robin Blakney-Carlson 
This intriguing wet felting technique was developed by Japanese-Australian feltmaker Sachiko Kotaka. Students will explore variations of calamari to felt a scarf or wrap of fine merino wool. Possibilities for creative use of color expand the potential of the technique.
limited to 8 students. $85 plus materials fee
Click here to register.
AVAILABLE WORKSHOP TOPICS
Contact Florafauana to Form a Class
Free Felted Pet Mats
Funky Felted Pet Coats
Complex Collage
Independent Study Projects in Felting or Couture Sewing Techniques
Needle Felted & Machine Embellished Scarves
Funky Nuno Scarves
Shibori Indigo Dye Workshop
Fanciful Felted Slippers
