☘️ 17th March Felt-in ☘️

A brisk morning with snow flurries for some & blizzards for others preventing travel. Thankfully the hall was warm & hot tea provided (thank you). 

Our chairperson Gail, opened the session with a few updates & notices as follows:-

• AGM - 19/05/18 commencing at our usual time of 10am with a cuppa. This is for members only and is usually well attended. This is an important meeting for our Guild and we ask that you make every effort to attend not only to support the Guild committee but also because we review events and update members as to ongoing issues, felt-ins, seek ideas for next year which help to formulate the itinerary and of course make changes to the committee membership.

• Any member interest in joining the committee please inform Gail and if you are unable to    commit fully to committee attendance we really apppreciate it if you are able to help in other ways i.e. helping at workshops, exhibitions, tea rota etc. Remember we are only able to continue our successes when everyone shares not just the fun but also the responsibilities. 

• Following the AGM the Guild shall be providing lunch after which we have a wonderful session  with a renowned felter planned for our members. A Lampshade!  This will be very exciting. To accommodate those attending & some of the expense to be incurred we have requested that members complete an application & contribute just £5. Jayne handed out applications today & if you missed this please contact her via email.

• "Felt Alive" Exhibition. 9-27/07/18, at the Loft Gallery, Portaferry. Karen kicked of the exhibit submissions with her wonderful aquarium complete with octopus, fish, anemone, starfish, urchins. You name it, it was there with a felted backdrop and all displayed in a glass case (photograph below). Please bring along your submissions even if you are unsure as the group are a great support in providing a positive critique of work with ideas on how to overcome any difficulties you may be experiencing & even just giving that reassurance in displaying your work. In addition, you can also submit pieces completed at the upcoming workshops.

• In order to give members time to work on individual pieces extended felt-ins have been arranged following our felting Saturdays. Lots of opportunities to get working on a piece to submit - actually really no excuse not to submit :). 

• A date for your diary is the June workshop with Mandy Nash. 23/06/18. Again another successful felter who will be helping us with a sea creatures theme. (Most apt for the Felt Alive exhibition in July!). Some of you may have already attended one of her workshops already if not check out her website mandynash.co.uk . 

& Finally, Show & Tell.

Some inspirational work by members........

Hazel completing the February woven heart & getting ideas from the group on how to display. The colours are really set of by a navy or black backdrop. Please bring back when mounted. Lovely weaving.

Sharon using previously taught techniques using a zip  to outline a design then needle felting within. This technique is great for brooches, keyring & to embellish other projects.

Deirdre's beautiful bag with leather embellishment & hidden pouch. 

Bee brave & try printing onto felt.

Mandy's Bee-yootiful felt with Bee-yootiful felted flowers incorporating prefects & silk.

Beerilliant!!!!!!

& finally, Karen's aquarium. This is for the Felt Alive Exhibition in June. Apologies this photo does not do it justice & I will retake. But the detail in this is great & Karen introduced so many techniques to make this really fun piece. Great.