Sheep Making

The Illawarra Feltmakers have been busy making a flock of sheep to greet you at convergence.
When you get to convergence the sheep will need names.
So start thinking of sheep names.

Thinking about your 3D felt object

3D felt object

It has been a tradition of past Convergences for all attendees to felt an item to be displayed and sold to raise money to help finance the next Convergence.

For the 12th Convergence attendees are asked to make a 3 dimensional felt item to be displayed during the week.

It can be anything within a maximum of 20cm wide x 20cm high x 20cm deep.       

You can add your name to it if you wish.

Your felt item is to be delivered to the registration area on arrival.


Some ideas for 3D felt objects

Guest Tutor-Martien van Zuilen

Martien van Zuilen

Martien's feltwork will be included in 'Showcase 500 Art Necklaces' - (part of the 500 Series)

Publication date July 2013. Book description from the publisher:
"This entry in the stunningly photographed Showcase 500 series features the most gorgeous necklaces you've ever seen. Lovingly crafted by renowned jewelers from around the world, these one-of-a-kind pieces display technical excellence, diverse forming techniques, and unceasing beauty. Made of materials that range from traditional metals to nylon, fabric, and found objects, these necklaces will leave crafters, jewelers, design fans, and collectors awestruck.'

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

 We are getting close to a full house for Convergence 2013.

As of 21^st Dec there are approx 21 places available.

If you are interested in attending our Convergence, please remember, it’s the paying of the deposit that will secure you a place.

When we reach the maximum number we will start a waiting list.

So if you know anyone who intends attending Convergence please let them know.

 Overseas applicants should first make contact via e-mail to

 

12thfeltconvergencsh@westnet.com.au

 

 

 

Information on Enrolment

12^th Southern Hemisphere Feltmakers’ Convergence 1st – 6th September 2013

You are warmly invited to join us for the 12th Southern Hemisphere Feltmakers’ Convergence. Convergence is a biennial gathering of feltmakers and follows a long tradition of sharing knowledge, experience and ideas about felt. It is run entirely voluntarily for the benefit of feltmakers and feltmaking as a craft. It covers every aspect of feltmaking and is suitable for all levels of experience. Come along, learn, share, felt and have fun with other feltmakers.

 

VENUE             The Tops Conference Centre

                       51 Bendena Garden Rd, Stanwell Tops, NSW 2508

The Tops Conference Centre is located 1 hour’s drive south of Sydney. Offering a peaceful environment and magnificent views, The Tops is situated on 200 acres of pristine bushland overlooking Illawarra's northern coastline.

ACCOMMODATION      

All attendance at Convergence 2013 will be residential.

There is no option for non-residential attendance.
Accommodation is modern with spacious rooms in a peaceful location. Each room is fully ensuited, offers heating and sleeps up to 6 people with a common kitchenette.
Pillows, pillowslips, towels, sheets and doona are provided with the rooms.
All meals from the evening of Sunday 1st September to the lunch of Friday 6th September are included. Special diets will be catered for on request.
This is a non-smoking venue and smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises. This is also an alcohol free venue, by policy of the Tops conference centre.

 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Convergence program is still being nutted out, but it will include felt demonstrations, lectures by industry experts, hands on activities, a felt fashion parade, a designated felting room to felt whenever you have the urge, as well as opportunities to relax. You might want to take a walk in the nearby Royal National park. The first ever Felt Games will take place at convergence -  who will take home the felt cup? There will also be an outing to Wollongong University for the opening of the felt exhibition.

 

GUEST FELTMAKERS

Three guest feltmakers , Japanese feltmaker, Leiko Uchiyama, Martien van Zuilen from Perth and Anna Gunnarsdóttir from Iceland will be attending the convergence and sharing with each of you their techniques, knowledge and love of their craft. You can see some of their work at,

http://www.martienvanzuilen.com

http://leikofelt.com

http://www.annagunnars.is

 

TRADERS’ HALL

There will be a Traders’ Hall offering a range of textile and feltmaking supplies. It will be open daily, so bring some pocket money for that fibre that you simply can’t go home without.

 

FELTMAKERS SESSIONS/TUTORIALS

The program includes a range of tutors covering different methods of felting work, design, and history. Some tutors and demonstrations have already been organised, but, in the tradition of convergence we invite YOU to share your knowledge and expertise in a 1.5 hour time slot. Please e-mail 12thfeltconvergencesh@westnet.com.au for a tutor’s expression of interest form.

Don’t be shy – your generosity with your knowledge and your particular way of making felt furthers the development of feltmaking. The topic is entirely up to you. It is envisaged that there will be 6 different lectures/demonstrations running concurrently each day for attendees to choose from. Please indicate on this enrolment form if you are interested in being a tutor.

 FASHION PARADE

Bring your beautiful garments and wearable art for this fashion event. This is a chance to see your own felt work on display.  You will be asked to model your garments (or find a friend at convergence who will do this for you) with the maximum being 3 items per person.

We encourage you to bring your creations to Convergence and be part of this colourful night of fashion. Please indicate on this enrolment form if you are interested in being part of this event.

 

DISPLAY OF FELTWORK

We will be having a display of participants’ work so bring a piece(s) of your felt to have on display for everyone to see. Please label piece(s) with your name, price (if for sale) and your phone number. These will be handed in upon registration and displayed at the venue site.

 

FUNDS FOR THE NEXT CONVERGENCE

It is a tradition that each convergence raises some funds for the next convergence to get a financial start. Thank you to The Bunbury Feltmakers who gave us our seed funds with the sale of felt banners at the 11th Convergence in Bunbury W.A 2011.

For this convergence, all attendees are asked to make one 3-dimensional felted item of your own choice with a maximum size of 20 x 20 x 20cm. These items will be displayed as centre decorations for the dining tables during the week. Each attendee will be asked to purchase a $15 ticket number that will correspond to a particular felted object that will be yours to keep at the close of convergence. In this way we will be able to ensure that the tradition of convergence will continue in 2 years’ time. Where will the next one be?

 

FEES

This is an all - inclusive residential program with the fees covering accommodation, all meals, tutorials, workshops, entertainment, excursions and the fashion parade. All fees are quoted in Australian Dollars and payments can only be accepted in this currency.

The cost is $650 AUD per person.
To secure your place a deposit of $300.00 is due by 28^th February 2013.
The balance of $350 is payable by 30 April 2013

 

More Information?

If you would you like an enrolment form please send us an email.

 

Further details will be provided in a following newsletter that will be sent out in 2013 after finalizing numbers for this event. This will include more detailed information on the program outline, what to bring with you etc.

If you have any ideas you would like to offer to the committee about Convergence please address these to 12thfeltconvergencesh@westnet.com.au

 

 

Guest tutors

Each  convergence attendee will have time with the three guest tutors

The Illawarra feltmakers are pleased to announce three guest feltmakers for the 12th Convergence. They are Japanese feltmaker, Leiko Uchiyama, Martien van Zuilen from Perth, and Anna Gunnarsdottir from Iceland

Anna Gunnarsdottir

Anna Gunnarsdottir is a Textile Artist living in Iceland. Anna studied arts in Akureyri, Iceland and took various courses in three-dimensional textile work in Denmark, Norway, UK and USA. She works mainly with wool, silk, leather and fish-skin. Her inspiration comes from the unique Icelandic nature, which is ghostly beautiful and pure. She has learnt many things about traditional Icelandic art from her grandmother and her mother. Being bought up in a coastal atmosphere, many of her sculptures have themes of the animal world of sea shore. Anna has taught felt making in UK, USA, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Greenland.

She is the member of the Artists Association of Iceland as well as the Textile Association of Iceland.

Anna has taken part in many single as well as collective exhibitions around the world. She has captured a lot of appreciation and prizes for her work. The latest being Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2011 in Korea where she got a prize for her felted and embroidered lamp. It is now being exhibited in “Sculpture Inside” in Cottesloe Australia. Anna has her own studio and gallery ”Svartfugl and Hvitspoi” in the town centre of Akureyri.

Anna was elected City Artist of Akureyri in the year 2008.

http://www.annagunnars.is/

Guest feltmakers for the 12th Convergence

The Illawarra feltmakers are pleased to announce three guest feltmakers for the 12th Convergence. They are Japanese feltmaker, Leiko Uchiyama, Martien van Zuilen from Perth, and Anna Gunnarsdottir from Iceland.

Martien van Zuilen

Martien van ZuilenMartien is the founder of the Victorian Feltmakers Inc. and the coordinator of the Australian National Yurt Project. She holds an Associate Diploma in Art Textiles and an Honours degree in Anthropology. Martien’s creative art work has appeared in a number of publications, including Yurts, Tipis and Benders, Textile Fibre Forum, Felt/Filt, Felt Matters and Fiber Art Now. Her website is www.martienvanzuilen.com

About her arts practice Martien says the following:

“Throughout the years, my sense of excitement when making felt is undiminished. It is an ‘open’ process; there is nothing between me and the fibres, we connect ‘face-to-face’ and in a ‘hands-on’ fashion in the creation of meaningful objects. What matters is the intentional engagement with making, and the interplay of materials, experience, design, and ideas. Making felt engages my whole being; it truly suits my fold. Sharing the magic of felt through teaching is something that continues to give me great enjoyment. I feel fortunate to be part of a vibrant community of makers; the social networks and spirit of generosity mean the world to me.’