
The May meeting tonight was felt to be a very interesting meeting.... OK enough of the felt puns already! Nicola Stewart of Feltipedia came to talk to us about her crafting goodness.
Nicola does wet and dry felting, and makes pictures, bags, slippers and more from various fibres, from silky soft merino to rather rough and tough Norwegian fibres. Starting with a short explanation of the stages before a fleece is ready to felt (carding and roving being just two!) Nicola showed how a long roll of wooltops could be pulled apart and layered before being dampened and treated to a good roll to make strong and durable felt. It took her only ten minutes to make a flower picture from wooltop and prefelt (fibres that have been partly but not fully felted) and even less time to convince those watching that felting (with the pulling out of fibres and rolling this way and that) was a good exercise for the upper arms!
Nicola does wet and dry felting, and makes pictures, bags, slippers and more from various fibres, from silky soft merino to rather rough and tough Norwegian fibres. Starting with a short explanation of the stages before a fleece is ready to felt (carding and roving being just two!) Nicola showed how a long roll of wooltops could be pulled apart and layered before being dampened and treated to a good roll to make strong and durable felt. It took her only ten minutes to make a flower picture from wooltop and prefelt (fibres that have been partly but not fully felted) and even less time to convince those watching that felting (with the pulling out of fibres and rolling this way and that) was a good exercise for the upper arms!

Of course, it's the touchy feely quality of felt that makes it special, and the objects that Nicola had brought to show were crying out to be..... felt (sorry). See the people gathered around the display table. I was glad I'd left my money at home, there were some lovely cases and bags that had I been able to splash the dosh would have been coming home with me. Luckily, Nicola does workshops so a trip to one of her days may be in order....
Check out Nicola on the web at www.feltipedia.co.uk and on facebook as Feltipedia.uk or try her etsy shop as well.
Check out Nicola on the web at www.feltipedia.co.uk and on facebook as Feltipedia.uk or try her etsy shop as well.

In other news, several future events were planned. The first meeting of the quiz group will be Friday 17th May at 7pm at the Woolton Village Club. Get more info from Barbara or email us at wooltonwi@gmail.com.
Two walks have been arranged;
17th May at 11am meeting at Hall Road Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line. The walk is approximately 2.5 miles. Lunch afterwards will cost £1.01 at the Hightown Hotel, Formby.
24th May at 11am meeting at the Childe of Hale pub and walking 2.5 miles around Hale Park with lunch at the Childe of Hale afterwards. Hale is a fascinating village, and so local, the walk is well worth doing.
Walks will take place whatever the weather so check the forecast and dress appropriately. More details can be obtained by emailing us (address above) or contacting Sonja if you have her details.
Two walks have been arranged;
17th May at 11am meeting at Hall Road Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line. The walk is approximately 2.5 miles. Lunch afterwards will cost £1.01 at the Hightown Hotel, Formby.
24th May at 11am meeting at the Childe of Hale pub and walking 2.5 miles around Hale Park with lunch at the Childe of Hale afterwards. Hale is a fascinating village, and so local, the walk is well worth doing.
Walks will take place whatever the weather so check the forecast and dress appropriately. More details can be obtained by emailing us (address above) or contacting Sonja if you have her details.