Red-tailed hawk
A four - six-week course in Faerie making & needle felting
Full Class | Faerie, Felted Ravens, Felted branch & stone
June 6th - July 18th, 2025
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Felting Only | Felted hawks, felted stone & branch
June 20th - July 18TH, 2025
The Red-tailed Hawk class is a six-week course that combines faerie-making with intermediate to advanced felting techniques. There is an option to join for the hawk only. In the first two weeks, you’ll hand sew faeries using natural fibers, learn to dye wool locks for hair, embroider faces, create tattered wings, and make clothing from antique fabrics. In the second portion of the class, you will create a lifelike red-tailed hawk or a leucistic (white) hawk. You'll learn how to build a wire armature for a large bird, shape the body with core wool, felt detailed bird feathers with feather markings using a combination of wet and needle felting, and felt a realistic face and eyes.
Materials are not included. A resource list will be emailed upon registration, detailing where to find materials in Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Unfortunately, EU registrations are not currently accepted due to GSPR regulations, but I am working hard to resolve this!
Kits will be available to purchase from The Olive Sparrow in Canada.
This is an intermediate level class.
Course Structure
New lessons will be sent out every Friday for 4-6 weeks (depending on whether you are taking the full class), with about 3-6 hours of work time recommended each week. You can work through the lessons at your own pace, as you have permanent access to the lessons. I am available throughout the five weeks and after to answer any questions via email and FB. The class will meet over Zoom every Saturday to discuss progress and share work.
Please read through the FAQ if you have any questions, or contact me directly.
Week 1 - Crafting a Faerie
Creating and wrapping a wire armature
How to shape and embroider an expressive face
Hand stitching a movable body
Week 2 - Creating clothing, hair, and wings
Playing with different fibers and patterns to dress your faerie.
Sewing on hair (we’ll talk about how to hand-dye mohair locks using natural plant dyes)
Antlers
Creating realistic wings
Week 3 - Felting foundations
Creating a wire armature for your hawk
Building up the form & sculpting your hawk with wool batt
Week 4 - Felting details
Needle felting your hawk’s face
Felting talons
Creating a felted stone and moss for your hawk to perch on.
Week 5 - Finishing your piece
Felting Feathers
Making wings
Week 6 - Finishing your piece
Finishing your hawk
Needle felting reins and a head piece
Seating your faerie rider
Tiny toadstools
What’s Included:
4-6 weeks of modules: comprising of video tutorials & photo/text (depending on whether you are doing the full class with doll making and felting or the felting only).
Weekly Zoom meetings: Zooms are held every other Sunday throughout the course. They are an excellent opportunity to share work and ask questions.
In-course support with me for the duration of the course: you can ask questions whenever you need via email or Facebook. I will also be available after the class if you are revisiting lessons and have any questions.
Access to our private class Facebook group: This is a wonderful way of connecting with other students during the course, sharing photos of work, and getting/giving feedback.
Permanent access to the course content (for as long as my site is online).
40% discount on most future classes: Applies to full classes - faerie & felting
Prices are in USD
**Not eligible for the past student discount as all material is new. You can register below at full price or apply the discount to the above class :)
**The felting technique for the hawk may be used to make and sell your own felting commercially. The Faeries may not be sold commercially; they can be made for personal use and as gifts. Doll making is a wonderful art form and this workshop is intended to help you build skills and learn techniques that are versatile and can be applied in all sorts of ways in your own doll making.