FELTING FUN AT THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT at ISLAND ARTS CENTRE!!

LOTS OF HAPPY FACES

 There were lots of happy smiling faces last week as representatives from different community groups across the Lisburn and Castlereagh Council area took part in a week long community arts project facilitated by ourselves at Feltmakers North.

Deidre led the team of Deborah, Helen, Mandy and Sarah alongside lots of our members who had volunteered their services throughout the week. 

 Everyone learned how to do some simple shapes in felt and many created gorgeous flax flowers which will be incorporated into the final hangings.

Throughout the week there was a great sense of fun but with a serious side to ensuring that the work on the hangings was core to the whole project.

 Some gorgeous flowers being created on the very first day!

Images of people to be incorporated into the hangings

 Many of the pieces which had been made by members of Feltmakers North were sewn into the final hangings.

These sumptuous flowers were created by participants who were able to take them home and enjoy them as part of the project.

 These pieces were all designed by the group and will appear in the final hangings.

As you know the images represent various things within the LCCC area which people felt were important aspects of life in the Borough.

Sarah brought along some of her own homegrown flax and gave a great input on how its grown and made into linen thread.  Again we're so lucky as we will be using some of Sarah's own linen in the hangings.

A huge thank you to the Island Arts Centre for sponsoring Feltmakers North to take on this great project as the kick off to our 10th year celebrations and of course to all the very hard working community groups and finally to our great team of tutors Deirdre, Deborah, Helen, Sarah and Mandy and to all our volunteers - we couldn't have done it without you!!

A VERY BIG INVITATION TO YOU ALL TO COME AND JOIN US AS WE BEGIN OUR 10TH YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT THE ISLAND ARTS CENTRE ON 4 DECEMBER AT 7 -8PM WITH THE OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROJECT HANGINGS AND THE EXHIBITION OF MEMBERS' WORK IN THE COMMUNITY ARTS WALKWAY

Dympna Does Christmas!!

Christmas came early for us on Saturday when our very own talented Dympna showed everyone how to create the perfect little Christmas tree pendant or, even better, a little necklet.

 Everyone was intrigued as she needled away giving constant advice about how to hold the needle, how to shape the pendant, how to stay comfortable and how to avoid the dreaded pricking!

Before we got the show started Ann, who visits us from Ballymoney showed us just some of the lovely little creatures that she has created using needlefelting.

Not sure who my favourite is!

 It wasn't long before everyone was beavering away and a very unusual quiet descended as the concentration on the task in hand took over.  It didn't last long though!!

Throughout the morning there was  constant coming and going as the pieces for the Community Arts Project were gathered in and last minute notes for the start of the Project were issued.  Everything kicks off at the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn on Monday 18th November and everyone is very excited to be involved in such a major project.

 The Project will work with various community groups throughout Lisburn and Castlereagh and will focus on aspects of life in the Borough.  Linen played a major role in shaping our local community and it was very special for us all when Sarah brought some of her own flax which she had grown this summer, to share.  Deirdre and she will be using the flax as part of the Project next week. 

A buzzy little bee for the CAP

The Community Arts Project is part of the Festival of Felting being hosted by the Island Arts Centre and will be the focus for our Guild's launch of the 10th Year Celebration of Feltmaking.  The launch will take place on Wednesday 4 December at 7pm in the Island Arts Centre, so make a note in your diary to come and catch up with felting friends, view some felted art pieces and be a part of the unveiling of the Community Arts Project wall hangings.

These beautiful pieces have been made by our members and form part of our contribution to the final hanging. 

The pics below show members behind some of the preparatory work.
 
Why not drop in and lend your support to everyone next week at the Island Centre.

 Well back to Saturday!!  What a super little collection of pendants all created in a short time on Saturday under the watchful eye of Dympna who was at hand to help when needed.

And what about this from Veronica, her first time at Feltmakers North! 

I think Dympna was very pleased!

 





 Our next Felt-in is a week early this year to accommodate last minute Christmas stuff!  We will meet in Hillsborough Village Centre on Saturday 14th December when we'll have our annual Christmas feed and before that we'll be looking at spikes and craters and all things strange as we reflect on the learning at Jenny Pepper's recent super workshop.  Members will be sharing what they learnt and hopefully everyone will be inspired to try something for themselves.  Our  Christmas Felt-in will also feature a bring n buy sale so start thinking about packaging up some of the stuff you haven't used in a while or bringing one of those felting books that you're finished with.  Everyone's always looking for prog!

I'll sign off now with a few more of the Community Arts Project photos.  Such lovely work. . . . .

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 4 December 7pm in the Island Arts Centre and on Saturday 14 December for our Christmas Felt-in. G