NEVER FELT BETTER: Karen Workman has been passionate about the art of felting for a decade.
Karen Workman was running a backpackers in Bluff when she was introduced to felting.
A busy woman, it took a couple of years to pick up the pastime properly, but it has captured her attention for more than a decade, now.
Next month she is in Whanganui to share her knowledge with
others.
Wairarapa born and Waverley living, Karen says she has been a bit of a gypsy over the years. And her love of felting is all about the "magic of wool".
"I like felting because you are fiddling with wool. Wool has this thing that allows you to manipulate it and you are only limited by your imagination."
Karen has completed an arts degree at the Southland Institute of Technology and has won many regional and national creative fibre and arts awards. She is a spinner, knitter, dyer and crochet worker. She says felting is the fastest of all the textile arts, another reason to like it.
She is not the only one who appreciates the work.
A piece called Land Skin she made with Australian textile and dye artist India Flint sold for $2000 at Martinborough.
"It's nice to have people who want it, appreciate it and love it."
The wrap was felted merino, stitched with lace and other fabrics and coloured using plant dyes.
The peripatetic Karen has another move up her sleeve. She is thinking of settling in Whanganui.
"I have three cousins who live there and they love it. My osteopath and masseur are in Whanganui so I gravitate towards it. I think it will be my next move."
Karen is holding three workshops in Whanganui at Creations Gallery and Gifts and bookings can be made at the store at 25A Drews Avenue, or phone 348 4229.
The workshops are on October 16 with a session on how to make a neck warmer in the morning. Participants will quickly learn how to make a "sumptuous piece from luxury merino and silk". In the afternoon students can learn about surface design embellishment. Karen says the workshop will cover creating pockets, flaps, texture, windows, holes, dreads, loops and inserts.
On October 17 she will teach 3-D felting and surface design, with hats, bags, mittens or cushions being among the items that can be made.
