We are so please to be welcoming Fi Oberon back again this year. Last year Fi Joined us for the first time, which was a great success. We spent the first half of the week learning about fleeces, sorting, washing and carding them. We went foraging in the woods for dye plants, including, Bracken fronds, Lichen and Gorse flowers. The next two days were spent creating a rainbow of colours from the plants we had gathered, as well as ancient imported dye material and kitchen waste. We dyed outside over fires the traditional Highland way. While our beautifully hand dyed fleece was drying, we went in search of inspiration for the final few days. We visited local crofts and went walking in glen Affric, enjoying some of our stunning landscapes, studying Highland cows, red squirrels, sheep (of course) and local birds including the elusive Golden Eagle.
Needle Felting
The last two days were spent creating beautiful animal and bird sculptures with Fi. Fi has been teaching needle felting for many years and is one of the UK’s most renowned needle felting teachers. Last year Fi released her much awaited book on needle felting and like her it is bright, colourful and cheery, with excellent photos of her work through-out.
Here is review of the week from Jenni one of last year’s guests…
“From the first communication, Rosie was on the ball. Nonetheless, I arrived a little uncertain as to what the week would all be about, but from accommodation to the craft programme to the company and the ‘crack’ it’s been a quite fabulous week.
We have been staying in a gorgeous converted barn and Rosie herself has catered every meal – the food has been great!
Our course was ‘fleece to felt’. We started watching as Alex sheared one of Rosie’s sheep, but from that point on it was hands on, learning how to wash the fleece, forage to make dyes, dye fleece using various traditional methods. All of this took place at Rosie’s homestead in the woods with open fires and the delight of a tame lamb. We used their great barn to practice wet felting and to sort out some 20+ colours of wool which we created.
A day’s rest involved trips to Plodda Falls and Glen Affric, then we were in the hands of Fi Oberon, accomplished felter. What a lot we covered in two days and we left with projects and materials and completed items of which we can be justifiably proud.
The group seemed to relate with ease and I rather think this might be typical wherever Rosie is involved.
Will I return? I sincerely hope so!”
If you feel like Escaping this year our Fleece to Needle Felt week is running from May 19th-29th 2018. Just get in touch with Rosie on info@wildrose-escapes.co.uk or find more details on our website:
www.wildrose-escapes.co.uk
