Felt Matters – Details, episodes & analysis

Hosted by Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten, the Felt Matters podcast is a new and exciting addition to the felting world. The podcast aims to provide a platform for conversations about all things felting. Both avid felt makers themselves, our hosts share their experiences, tips, and inspiration, while also featuring conversations with other feltmakers. Listeners can expect to explore the art of felting from different perspectives, learn new techniques, and find resources and inspiration to fuel their own felting journey. Whether you're a seasoned feltmaker or just starting out, Felt Matters is a must-listen podcast for any felting enthusiast.

Heather Potten and Vivienne Morpeth take listeners on a journey through the vibrant world of feltmaking. They talk about their inspiration for starting the podcast and how their love for felting drives their creative processes. Heather shares her experiences from attending the felt school in Wales and the joy of interacting with other feltmakers. The episode also delves into practical tips for feltmakers, such as Heather’s technique for upcycling old felting projects into beautiful new creations, ensuring a blend of practical advice and personal anecdotes.

In this engaging podcast episode, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten of the International Feltmakers Association share their passion for felt making. They discuss the significance of their felting tables as Vivienne recounts her serendipitous acquisition of a perfect felting table, adding a personal touch to her crafting space. The discussion moves onto sourcing and dyeing silk and the joy of felting with raw fleece.

Vivienne introduces her Felt on the Shelf section before looking more closely at the British Wool for Feltmaking book published by Crowood Press. This book provides listeners with a wealth of inspiration and practical tips. And finally, Vivienne shares her Top Tip for dyeing wool fibres.

Join Heather Potten as she dips into the archives of the journal of the International Feltmakers Association. From the journal's origins in 1986 as 'Echoes' to its current form, 'Felt Matters,' the archive features a rich history of global feltmaking innovation. Heather shares inspiring stories, including the revival of feltmaking in Armenia and international collaborations. The episode also covers the creation of the association's first online feltmaking courses and the ongoing influence of the journal, offering a treasure trove of resources and inspiration for felt enthusiasts.

In another feature of the podcast, Vivienne Morpeth continues to explore The British Wool for Feltmaking book published by Crowood Press. It highlights the different wool structures, from fine to coarse, and the practical applications for feltmakers. The book includes both wet and needle felting techniques, emphasizing local and natural fleeces. Listeners are invited to visit this fascinating world of wool types, their uses, and creative projects, ensuring a comprehensive resource for both new and seasoned feltmakers.

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten welcome Louise Curnin, a key figure behind the International Feltmakers Association's Discovering Feltmaking courses. Louise explains the rationale behind focusing on foundational skills instead of solely project-based learning. She highlights the critical aspects of fibre variability, shrinkage rates, and the importance of sampling. This episode offers valuable advice for both novice and experienced felt makers, emphasizing how structured sampling and warm-up exercises can significantly improve one's felting technique and overall artistic output.

For more information on our online courses, Discovering Feltmaking, go to https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

Heather and Vivienne return to the studio, sharing their reflections on the completion of the first season of their podcast, 'Felt Matters.' The episode centres around Vivienne's honest and heartfelt account of her health journey, giving listeners a glimpse into the emotional and physical challenges she faces. Their conversation navigates the complexities of living with cancer while remaining passionate about creative pursuits. As they look forward to Season Two, both hosts are inspired by the feedback and support from their listeners. The episode underscores the duo's dedication to creating authentic content and fostering community connections through their shared love of feltmaking.

In this 3-part episode of Felt Matters, Vivienne chats to feltmaker, Olga Exley, about her top tips for making the perfect slipper. Louise Curnin and fellow feltmaker, Jackie Stringer, discuss their impressions of the West Hungary Felt Tour run by Flóra Carlile-Kovács. And finally, Heather shares with us the fabulous workshop she attended with Janna Turner; working with Gotland fleece to make a luxurious seat cover.

It's no secret to us that feltmaking helps promote a sense of wellbeing and connection. Vivienne and Heather talk about the benefits of making (and teaching) feltmaking with examples from their lives and those of their three guests. Louise Curnin talks to Tasmanian feltmaker Mary Brake, about a felting project she and her family did for the arrival of a new baby. Heather talks to Niamh Britton about her autistic mind and what feltmaking means to her. Rounding up the episode, Louise talks to US feltmaker, Ellen Silberlicht about the volunteering she does with local prisoners.

Join Heather and Vivienne in their virtual studio for a peek into the creative process of felting. Listen to their three guests, Liz Riley, Wendy Bailye and Ellen Silberlicht as each offers an insight into their process. Be inspired by tips on three-dimensional sampling with Liz, sampling, mixed media and the creative process with Wendy and the joy Ellen found through working with clay and felt.

Ellen was the cover star of Issue 130 of our journal, Felt Matters and was interviewed by Louise Curnin in Hungary. Members of the International Feltmakers Association have full access to all our journals here: https://www.feltmakers.com/journal-archive/

Members can also watch Wendy's talk, commissioned for our 2022 online AGM, (along with all our other commissioned videos and talks) here: https://www.feltmakers.com/talks/

Felt Matters hosts, Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten examine the dynamic of collaboration in their latest podcast episode, marking the start of the third season. As they recount their journey to becoming podcasters, they highlight the spontaneity and joy of unscripted dialogue. The episode further explores the creative synergy between Vivienne and artist Alun Kirby, who together embarked on a project merging cyanotype prints with nuno felt. Listeners are treated to an engaging discussion about the trial-and-error process, artistic exploration, and the interplay between established techniques and modern art forms.