Before I put my UK adventure to rest, I just have to share a few shots of the work that was turned out during the 4 days of hand felting jewelry and beads. Isn't it amazing how Louise's brandy new, still damp, felt bracelet matches the dress she wore?
Lustrous silk "balls" float weightlessly from Lynn's fine felt necklace.

Becs joined us for just one day, stealing herself away from Inkberrow Design Center. She made these wonderful sherbet-colored complex cane beads. She brought Di with her, who made a stunning felt bangle bracelet, carved to reveal its colorful core and adorned with vintage lucite flowers.
A day into the workshop, a few questions arose about the materials list. "Why aluminum foil?", they asked. This of course led to conjecture about why we (americans) say the name of this element wrong. (a-lu-mi-num vs. a-lu-min-i-um) Inspired by the way Pier Voulkos sculpts armatures for her polymer clay beads, I demonstrated how I use it for some of my felted sculptures and beads. Seasoned Welsh feltmaker, Sian, explored this technique, producing several pieces. Included in her stash of materials were some tubular-knitted wire ribbons and a similar item made of nylon. I'll have to get my hands on these items.

We started our 4 days with the skewer technique and some felters, like Linda, made beads from felted complex canes.

Maria (left) came from Spain for the 4 day workshop. Louise (right) teaches millinery at the Ink Berrow Design Centre. The dress on display behind them is dyed with rust and features several textiles including felt.

The lizard on the wall behind Ela looks like those that Judit Pocs teaches. Judit taught felt hats in the studio next to mine when I taught Felted Jewelry and Beads in Australia last year.

Maggie (left) is also a teacher at IDC. Sylvie (right) was able to attend all 4 days and also worked after hours.

Each day was a different population. Some folks came for all 4 days, others for 2 or 3. The infusion of fresh felters each day made it interesting. I was pleased with the amount of material I was able to cover in our 4 days together. It was a productive and hugely creative time. The group dynamics were good. We spoke about the possibility of returning to share some more techniques.

My first time to Europe began last Wednesday when I landed in Birmingham. Brenda Killigrew, Director of the Ink Berrow Design Centre and owner of Moral Fibre Feltmaking Studio, picked me up at the airport and we headed for Feckenham.
She took me to the IDC campus to meet the teachers in the fashion program. Then we stopped by Moral Fibre so I could set up the classroom for the workshop.
The streets are narrow, the homes are mostly brick and everything has been here a real long time.

Here on High Street is The Steps Guest House, my home sweet home for 4 nights. The bad news was that the commute to Ludlow is about an hour each way. The good news is that I can take in alot of the countryside this way.

The houses that aren't brick look like this one.

In addition to the college and studio, Brenda (right) also owns a retreat center in Spain, where she hosts workshops in a restful and rejuvenating environment. Janet (left) helped her get it going. I look forward to being asked to teach there. Wednesday evening the 3 of us had grilled pub fare right around the corner from my B&B. Janet explained that the taste left on the tongue by the Darwin's Original local ale is elderflower. Another first for me.