Retreat Workshops

In this class, lead by Zetta an award winning Melbourne based fibre artist, students get to experience many kinds of raw fleeces, wool, silk and alpaca to create woven and felted landscape. This is an introductory workshop of Zetta’s weaving and felting techniques. Explore Eco Art for the home, how to make it and why should we have it.

• This is a very exciting workshop for the retreat.
• Spend time with Zetta, an award winning fibre artist who has travelled from Melbourne to share her love of natural Australian fibre with us.
• This is a workshop not to miss!

At the end of the workshop you will have created your own landscape wall hanging.

Barbara Wheeler, a Canberra based innovative designer, maker and natural dyer, from Every Thread Counts – clothing from nature, will explore the beautiful art of botanical print and natural texile dyeing. This workshop is an introduction to botanical printing and dyeing. Learn how to:

• Identify plants that will give colour to cloth.
• Dye fibres using onion skins, walnut husks and eucalypt leaves.
• Understand the use of mordants to fix and modify colour.

At the end of the workshop you will have dyed 3 skeins of yarn (50grams). Yours to keep and use to create a knitted or crocheted master piece.

Jennifer Goodwin, a local Canberra based indie dyer from Jen’s Goodies, will take you step by step through the acid dyeing techniques on protein fibres. Learn about colour theory, as you apply colours to alpaca yarn and fibre, creating mini works of yarn art! This workshop will give the skills to dye yarn at home, creating masterpieces. You will learn:

• Mordents and how they work.
• Blending colours and when they work (and when they don’t).
• Dye techniques to create speckles, solids and semi solids (to name a few).

At the end of the workshop you will have dyed 3 skeins of yarn (50grams). Yours to keep and use to create a knitted or crocheted master piece.

Dominique Mumberson, a local Murrumbateman artist, will teach you the techniques to master your own watercolour art work! Learn the techniques of using watercolour paint to create a wonderful masterpiece of your own. This workshop is for beginners or for those wishing to learn new watercolour techniques.

• Learn about subject placement.
• Understand and apply colour blending.
• Learn about the joys of white spaces and why they are important.

At the end of the workshop you will have painted 2 master pieces to keep or give as gifts.

Julianne Ehlert-Conner, a fibre and weaving textile artist based in Sydney, creates woven pieces that are influenced by colours and contrasts of the Australian landscape. Australian merino and alpaca, fibre hand dyed, by Julianne are used in her art pieces.

• In this class you will learn the weaving techniques to create a wall hanging.
• Use hand dyed and natural alpaca fibre to create you own little woven masterpiece.
• Create your masterpiece as bright or as calm as you like. Lots of colours to choose from.

At the end of the workshop you will have created your own special wall hanging. Choose your colours, from the kits selected for the workshop – be ‘as bright as can be’ or select softer colours.

Crochet Brioche, or ‘Briochet’ is a fun technique that is perfect for contrasting your favourite colours. Just like its knitted cousin, crochet brioche creates a double layer fabric that is both practical and beautiful.

• In this class you will learn how to work the crochet brioche stitch and create a fabulous and fun cowl for the colder months.
• Join Deanne, from Addydae Designs, in this workshop where you will learn the brioche stitch to create your own cowl masterpiece!

All yarn will be supplied – just bring your favourite crochet hook!

Julianne, a Sydney based handmade designer for over 16 years, is the creator and designer behind Giggle Spot Designs and Retro Nanna where she creates handmade gifts for children like soft toys and patchwork quilts. Retro Nanna is where retro and vintage styles meet beautiful crocheted handmade delights with a modern twist which are off the hook!

• In this class you will learn the techniques to make your own little critter.
• Use hand dyed alpaca to create a little special critter to keep or give as a gift.
• Class will include pattern – so you can make more at home!

Yarn, stuffing and all other accessories (e.g. eyes) will be supplied, from the colours selected for this workshop – enough yarn to make a critter or two! Bring your favourite crochet hooks from home. At the end of the workshop you will have created a mini critter.

Ever wanted to knit socks? Well this workshop is for you! In this workshop, Jacqui will teach you how to knit socks from the toe up. This method allows you to try the socks on as you go and also to utilise all of your yarn. An added benefit is that there are no fiddly grafts on toes at the end! You will learn the skills by completing a baby sock (or perhaps a pair of them). Once you have the skills to make socks for a baby, the rest is just a matter of adding stitches and rows to expand them to fit you or your brood. You will learn how to:

• Knit in the round (either using one circular needle and the magic loop method, or by using a set of double pointed needles)
• Cast on a closed toe
• Shape a toe
• Shape a gusset
• Create a heel flap
• Use increases to shape the calf of a sock

One skein of Grevilla sock yarn will be supplied, from the colours selected for this workshop – enough yarn to make a pair of socks! Bring your favourite knitting needles from home. At the end of the workshop you will have created a mini sock and learnt the techniques to master the art of toes up socks. Create your ideal size at home!

In this class, lead by Zetta, a Melbourne based fibre artist, students will get to create a wet felted jewellery shell.

• An introductory workshop of Zetta’s wet felting techniques.
• This is a very exciting workshop for the retreat, with Zetta travelling from Melbourne for the weekend. This is a workshop not to miss!

At the end of this workshop you will have created a beautiful welt felted shell to hold your jewellery or a lovely creative organic vessel to admire – an art work in its self! All fibre required for this workshop will be supplied.

In this class, lead by Zetta, a Melbourne based fibre artist, students will get to create their own special critter. An introductory workshop of Zetta’s dry needle felting techniques.

• Learn needle felting techniques to create your own organic critter (photo showing previous students creations).
• This is a very exciting workshop with Zetta travelling from Melbourne just for the weekend.This is a workshop not to miss!

At the end of this workshop you will have created your own little critter – straight from your own imagination! All fibre required for this workshop will be supplied. Needle felting tools will be supplied to be used for the workshop – these can be purchased after the workshop if you would like to create more critters at home!