English Robin & Chickadee Course

A five-week course in Faerie making & needle felting

In this five-week class, we will be exploring small felted birds and hand-sewing faeries. Alternatively, you may join the last three weeks only to make a robin, chickadee and nature elements without the figures. The class is suitable for beginners.

Week One & Two -In the first two weeks of class we will sew a pair of 3-6” faeries from natural fibres, learn how to dye wool locks for hair with a variety of natural dyes, embroider faces, make tattered wings, and create clothing using salvaged antique fabrics and wet felting.

Week Three - will introduce basic needle felting and wet felting techniques and how to felt over a wire armature. You will felt a mossy base and large amanita toadstool, ferns, blackberries, and autumn leaves.

Week Four - In week four, you will learn how to make a wire armature for a small song bird, basic needle felting techniques for building form, and how to felt feathers.

Week Five - In the final week you will create another armature and felt a bird form following the lessons from week three, and more wet felting and needle felting techniques for creating feathers.

Materials are not included in the cost of the course. A full resource list for materials will be emailed out upon registration. Kits will be available to purchase from The Olive Sparrow in Toronto.

New lessons will be available every Friday, with about 3-6 hours of student time recommended each week. You can work through the modules at your own pace as you have permanent access to the class. I am available throughout the duration of the class and beyond to answer any questions. We will meet weekly on Zoom to discuss progress and share work.

What’s included:

• 3-5 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 *this only applies to full classes

Prices are in USD

**The felting technique for the birds and nature elements 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.