Tablet Weaving
The ancient art of tablet weaving, also known as card weaving, provides a very portable, economical
introduction to weaving. Students will learn the fundamentals of 4 harness weaving while creating a woven
band that can be used as a belt, sash, guitar strap or other fashion accessory. We will wind a warp, dress
our “loom” and begin the weaving process. While working we will discuss pattern design and ways to
expand this technique. Students should bring 25 sturdy playing cards, a round holed paper punch (or tablet
weaving cards if you have them), a permanent marker and scissors. Experience level: Beginner Material
Fee: $12.00 Maximum number of students: 15 Half Day class
Wool Bowls
Why make a bowl out of wool? Because we can! Make an art piece, a bowl to hold holiday candy or
decorations or even a very useful and attractive thermal warmer for serving a casserole. Bring a round,
mixing type bowl of your choice, up to 9 inches diameter, to work with. It can be of any material, metal,
glass ceramic, or plastic. We will use it as a form to make the bowl in the traditional wet felt method. Then
we will transform it from plain to outstanding by needle felting design on to and into it. Finally we will
complete it with a base. Experience level: Beginner Materials Fee: $15.00 includes wool, felting mat and
all other supplies. Maximum number of students 15 Students should bring a towel Half day class
Tropical Splendor
Create a bouquet of stunningly realistic tropical flowers, so true to life you will have people looking twice or
touching to see if they are real. We will use both wet and dry felting techniques to produce our brightly
colored floral bonanza. We will make at least a half dozen stemmed flowers. Materials fee $12.00
Maximum 15 students. Experience level Beginner. Half day class
Woven Wire Bracelet
Use a jig to weave 8 strands of sterling silver wire into a round, herringbone pattern bracelet. Finish with a
sterling silver clasp. My father taught me this technique which he learned from an old merchant marine
who used it to while away the hours on the open sea. Materials fee $15.00 or less depending on the
current price of silver. Maximum 15 students. Experience Beginner. Half day class
Treasure Box
Wet felt a small hinged box in either a square or spherical shape. Add design to both the inside and
outside. We will create a small closure to keep your treasures safe. A fun, useful project, perfect for
learning the basics of traditional wet felting. Materials fee: $11.00. Maximum 15 students. Experience-
Beginner Half day class. Please bring a hand towel.
Glorious Gossamer Scarf
Create a luscious, soft scarf with exceptional drape and sheen from a beautiful space dyed merino/tencel
blend roving. The gentle color shifts of the roving will be maintained in the finished scarf. This wet felting
technique creates a strong stable fabric, using only the combed fiber. Approximate finished size 55”x 8”.
Materials fee: $15.00 covers 2 oz. of gorgeous space dyed merino/ tencel blend roving, felting mat and
other supplies. Max 12 students. Experience level – Beginner. Half day class. Please bring a hand towel and
dress to work in a warm building if the day is hot.
KELLY BRANDT & HEIDI BUKOSKI MICHIGAN FIBER FESTIVAL CLASS OFFERINGS
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Felted Toys
Build three delightful toys for children using wet felting and needle felting techniques: a small mobile
for infants, a ball with a bell inside, and a royal crown for make believe. These three projects will show
you three different wet felting techniques. Half day class. Materials fee: $15.00. Experience-
Beginner-- Instructor willing to accept focused young students 12 yrs old and older. Maximum 20
students.
Participants should bring with them: An old towel for soaking up soapy water, a large cellulose sponge,
a matchstick blind at least 24"x 24". (24”x 30” Blinds available from the instructor for additional $10
by pre-order.) Optional: dishwashing gloves if you do not like having your hands in soapy water; any
fibers or yarns of your own that you might want to incorporate in your project. Water to drink.
The Exuberant Felted Flapped Hat
Add soap and water to loose wool fibers to make a wet felted hat with flaps, dreadlocks, or flying
wings. This hands-on class will cover the Scandinavian style of wet felting a form starting flat, and then
creating a three dimensional hollow hat. We will explore techniques for adding three dimensional
decorations that are felted right into the base fabric. Half day class. Materials Fee $15.00 Experience
level: Advanced Beginner- Some experience wet felting with loose fibers required. Maximum 20
students.
Participants should bring with them: An old towel for soaking up soapy water, a large cellulose
sponge, a matchstick blind at least 24"x30". Blinds available from the instructor for additional $10 by
pre-order) dishwashing gloves if you do not like having your hands in soapy water, any fibers of your
own that you might want to incorporate in your project, disposable shower cap to keep your hair dry
when you try on your hat in class.
Creating a Caped Hat
Learn how to create a three dimensional brimmed hat with style and pizzazz! This “double cape”
technique creates torsion lines within the hat body to give your brimmed hat a liveliness hard to
achieve with other methods. This technique is pretty strenuous so be prepared for hard work! We will
roll the loose fibers quite hard to create the firm felt needed for the basic cape/hood, and then we will
heat and pull on the hot hood with our hands to make it into the crown and brim shape. Material fee
$30.00 Experience Level: Intermediate- must have experience creating felt from loose fibers with soap
and water. Maximum 15 students
Participants should bring with them: Long matchstick blind-at least 30” by 72”. Blinds available from
the instructor by preorder for $25.) An old towel for soaking up soapy water, a large cellulose sponge,
a pair of slip-joint pliers. Optional: shower cap to protect your hair for hat trying-on, dishwashing
gloves if you do not like having your hands in soapy water; any fibers or yarns of your own that you
might want to incorporate in your project. Water to drink.
Kelly's Classes:
Heidi's Classes:
All of the class offering at MIchigan Fiber Festival require a minimum pf 5 people. YOU can insure a class is held by recruiting your friends to sign up with you!
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Click HERE to go directly to Michigan Fiber Festival to sign up for any of these classes
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Click HERE to go directly to Michigan Fiber Festival to sign up for any of these classes
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Questions for Kelly about her classes? Just email her!
Questions for Heidi about her classes? Just email her!