In this two day workshop, Cáit will guide you through each step to design & create your own felt wall hanging. From initial design ideas, through to a final piece, Cáit will share her techniques & approach to help you transform your ideas into something you can take away with you and hang on your wall. It will be a fun & relaxed workshop, with a large emphasis on play & getting lost in the process.
The workshop welcomes & is suitable for all levels. No prior knowledge of hand-stitching is necessary, although may help you to get further along on your project.
The workshop runs from 11am-4pm on Saturday & Sunday & attendance on both days is required.
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Day 1
Cáit will start by introducing herself and her work & sharing how & why she began incorporating textiles into her practice after finishing her degree in illustration. She will also talk a little about the history of story-telling through textiles, as well as some of her inspirations & influences.
The first day will be spent generating images & ideas which can be translated into your final wall hanging on day two. Cáit will guide you through her approach to image making & illustration, with a focus on play, experimenting & loosening up. Together you will do short paper cuttings & drawing tasks designed to get you thinking about images in terms of shape & simplification - perfect for ‘drawing with scissors’ to translate into cut felt!
It will be a fun day of pressure-free making as we draw inspiration from our environment & memories to create a design that we want to have hanging on our wall! Cáit will bring along examples of her own work as well as reference books & materials she uses to inform her work.
Day 2
On Sunday you will begin creating your felt wall hangings. Following on from your image making & design work on the Saturday, Cáit will show you how to go from a paper design into felt. Cáit will explain how she utilises stencils in her process, as well as the large emphasis this craft has on working with your intuition. There will be plenty of colours to choose from of 100% wool felt & you will be given time to explore your colour combinations before getting fully immersed in the sewing process.
You will spend the day hand-stitching your wall hangings, making for a relaxed & immersive eperience, allowing you to slow down & take your time. Cáit will also demonstrate how you can use a sewing machine on your pieces, so that by the end of the weekend you are equipped with plenty of ideas, knowledge & techniques to continue at home!
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All materials, refreshments & a simple vegetarian lunch will be provided on each day over the weekend. if you would prefer to use your own sketchbooks, fabric, scissors or sewing materials then please feel free to bring those along.
Please note: The workshop weekend is limited to 8 places to ensure a more intimate experience. If dates need to change, you’ll be able to swap to the new date or obtain a refund if you’re unable to make the new date. Should you need to cancel your booking, we will try our best to fill your spot, otherwise tickets are non-refundable.
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Stay with us:
During this retreat weekend, participents are invited to stay & book into an all-inclusive weekend package that includes a two-night B&B stay at Kindred House (Fri 25th & Sat 26th October), along with full access to the weekend workshops.
Kindred House is offered not only as a space to retreat to, but also to connect within as we invite our guests to be active participants in cultivating our community. Our workshops & various events play a key role in the spirit of Kindred House, in crafting an environment that actively inspires & encourages connection, creativity & learning.
Our retreat weekends make a wonderful gift to oneself or a thoughtful offering to a loved one. They provide an ideal opportunity for a weekend getaway in our sanctuary beside the sea, whilst having the opportunity to get creative, learn a new skill & make new friends along the way.
Rooms are limited & tend to get booked quickly so get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
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About your teacher: Cáit McEniff
Cáit McEniff is an illustrator & textile artist from Warrington, based in Leeds. In the last year of her illustration degree, she started experimenting with how textiles can be used to tell stories. Working with fabric unlocked a new way of making pictures for her, prioritising shape, colour & intuition. After graduating, textiles became a large part of her practice, experimenting with how to translate her illustrations into large scale wall hangings. Her work focuses on analogue ways of making pictures, celebrating craft, ideas & slowness. She is inspired by storytelling, curiosity & the natural world.