| The next in our series "Meet the Maker" features local feltmaker Nicola Stewart of Feltipedia. Nic's innovative approach to a traditional craft is refreshing, and she is always happy to answer questions and demonstrate her techniques. Her felt products are beautifully made, imaginative and distinctive. Firstly can you tell me a bit about what you do and what you make? I am a feltmaker, predominantly a wet felter with a focus on 3 dimensional and low relief pieces. All the items I make (anything from brooches, to handbags, to wall art) are made by hand and from scratch. That is to say, I lay out all the fibres in their raw state and create something from that. I may recycle and absorb bits of felt and fibre along the way, but it was all produced by myself in the first instance. |
What do you have for sale in the Arts Hub?
There is usually a selection of slippers (from £25) in the shop, and some felt insoles. My baby bootees (from around £5) and the felt insoles (£7 a pair) sell quite well, the former make good gifts for expectant mothers, and the latter really do work at keeping the chill off one’s feet! There are larger pieces such as cushions & bags and I often produce one-off pieces, as well as contributing to the monthly exhibitions upstairs.
How are you involved in the Arts Hub?
I’ve been a member of the Arts Hub since last October after a friend of mine encouraged me to join. I love the fact that it’s a co-operative and very friendly and relaxed. The monthly, themed exhibitions are a welcome occurrence as they provide an outlet for fresh creativity and artistic expression. I know that I can exhibit pieces here which may not otherwise be seen. I also make use of the upstairs space by running feltmaking workshops creating flat felt, 3D felt and the popular cobweb scarves.
There is usually a selection of slippers (from £25) in the shop, and some felt insoles. My baby bootees (from around £5) and the felt insoles (£7 a pair) sell quite well, the former make good gifts for expectant mothers, and the latter really do work at keeping the chill off one’s feet! There are larger pieces such as cushions & bags and I often produce one-off pieces, as well as contributing to the monthly exhibitions upstairs.
How are you involved in the Arts Hub?
I’ve been a member of the Arts Hub since last October after a friend of mine encouraged me to join. I love the fact that it’s a co-operative and very friendly and relaxed. The monthly, themed exhibitions are a welcome occurrence as they provide an outlet for fresh creativity and artistic expression. I know that I can exhibit pieces here which may not otherwise be seen. I also make use of the upstairs space by running feltmaking workshops creating flat felt, 3D felt and the popular cobweb scarves.
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Work in progress (above and left)
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How long have you been felting?
I’ve been felting for around 3 years now and was turned onto it simply by attending a local night school course. I was working full-time as a theatre set builder and doing craft fairs selling my felted goods at the weekend, but as Arts budgets were being cut, work became increasingly scarce. I decided to work for myself using the skills I had picked up whilst set building; upholstery, mural painting, DIY. More recently, I have concentrated on feltmaking and on providing workshops for people to experience the skill for themselves.
I’ve been felting for around 3 years now and was turned onto it simply by attending a local night school course. I was working full-time as a theatre set builder and doing craft fairs selling my felted goods at the weekend, but as Arts budgets were being cut, work became increasingly scarce. I decided to work for myself using the skills I had picked up whilst set building; upholstery, mural painting, DIY. More recently, I have concentrated on feltmaking and on providing workshops for people to experience the skill for themselves.
| What made you start working as an artist/designer/crafter? I’ve always been fairly creative, doing Art & Design GCSE and then a BTEC in 3D Design and was lucky to find work as a set builder. I suppose I need an artistic outlet to express myself and I’ve come to learn that I prefer working with my hands, so being an artist/designer/crafter was just a natural progression. | 
Baby Bootees - from £5
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What's your proudest crafting moment so far?
When I was tasked with producing some top hats, I relished the challenge. I got stuck into it and experimented, learnt from trial and error processes, really invested myself in the job. Upon finishing the hats, I was extremely proud of what I had achieved, particularly because I wasn’t certain that such an object was even able to be successfully realised in felt. I did it however, and they looked great.
Where, when and how do you work?
Working from home has its drawbacks; being interrupted by the cat for no good reason, or cold callers and the washing up or clothes pile glaring at you to be done. But it also has its advantages; a familiar, cosy space in which to create, being able to chuckle along with Mark & Stuart on 6Music in the afternoons, and partaking of as much tea and cake as I desire!
When I was tasked with producing some top hats, I relished the challenge. I got stuck into it and experimented, learnt from trial and error processes, really invested myself in the job. Upon finishing the hats, I was extremely proud of what I had achieved, particularly because I wasn’t certain that such an object was even able to be successfully realised in felt. I did it however, and they looked great.
Where, when and how do you work?
Working from home has its drawbacks; being interrupted by the cat for no good reason, or cold callers and the washing up or clothes pile glaring at you to be done. But it also has its advantages; a familiar, cosy space in which to create, being able to chuckle along with Mark & Stuart on 6Music in the afternoons, and partaking of as much tea and cake as I desire!
Which artist or designer is your biggest inspiration?
There is no one artist or designer from whom I take inspiration. I admire a great many styles on a personal level of art appreciation but this doesn’t necessarily translate into my work. My main focuses tend to be on colour and brightness with an element of fun and theatricality. The various wool shows which take place around the country are good sources of inspiration, I find. They act as a showcase for felt and textile artists from around the world and remind one of what is achievable with wool.
What's your favourite item for sale in the Arts Hub?
I particularly like Ruth’s mosaics; and I love the wide selection of chunky scarves and crocheted bags in the shop. I can knit, but I’m a bit of a novice, so when I see other peoples’ knitted and crocheted creations, I’m always full of admiration for their skill.
What makes you happiest?
Being in the Lake District surrounded by the fantastic scenery is when I am probably happiest. I simply love it up there, I feel a definite sense of belonging amongst the greys and greens and the sharp angles of the mountains. Obviously, it also helps that the whole county is bursting with cafes, of which I am a huge fan. If you can’t get tea and cake where you are going, it’s not worth going there!
What are your plans for the next six months?
I am hoping to move house by the end of the year, to somewhere bigger where I’ll have more space in which to create. I’m also thinking of producing some items of clothing from felt in the coming months, probably with a fantasy-like twist. I will, of course, still be offering feltmaking workshops to anyone who would like to discover or practise the skill. I promised myself at the start of the year that I would learn to crochet, I have not yet done this. I have the yarn, the needles and a lovely pattern, so I must get started!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Ideally, I would like to have a designated studio space where I could felt full-time and from which I could run workshops. I also have plans to take my skills to more local schools where I have been running sessions with parents. I want to encourage people to try something new and to express themselves creatively in their everyday lives. Self-expression is important and in increasingly tough economic times, so too is self-sufficiency.
If you'd like to see more of Nic's feltwork then call into the shop - if you'd like to see exactly how she does it and have a go yourself then get booked in on one of her regular workshops at the Arts Hub.
I am hoping to move house by the end of the year, to somewhere bigger where I’ll have more space in which to create. I’m also thinking of producing some items of clothing from felt in the coming months, probably with a fantasy-like twist. I will, of course, still be offering feltmaking workshops to anyone who would like to discover or practise the skill. I promised myself at the start of the year that I would learn to crochet, I have not yet done this. I have the yarn, the needles and a lovely pattern, so I must get started!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Ideally, I would like to have a designated studio space where I could felt full-time and from which I could run workshops. I also have plans to take my skills to more local schools where I have been running sessions with parents. I want to encourage people to try something new and to express themselves creatively in their everyday lives. Self-expression is important and in increasingly tough economic times, so too is self-sufficiency.
If you'd like to see more of Nic's feltwork then call into the shop - if you'd like to see exactly how she does it and have a go yourself then get booked in on one of her regular workshops at the Arts Hub.
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