This workshop uses wool fibre and a sharp felting needle to sculpt a 3D shape. Needle felting is intuitive, fun, and forgiving; where you poke is where the wool will mat together and condense. Students will learn how to create shapes (tube, oval, semi-circle, flat circle, etc.) and connect shapes together. This class covers colour blending with wool, shading, creating depth, discussion of materials, and more!
During the first part of the lesson students will create a 3D wool mushroom out of core wool; they will then “paint” the colours on during the second half of the lesson. Completed mushrooms can be strung up to hang (like an ornament), glued to a base, or stuck with a toothpick and mounted to a form – there is lots of flexibility for finishing which can be discussed via email and during the first part of the workshop.
Felting needles are very sharp and sometimes a student will accidentally poke themselves, so this workshop is best suited for grades 4 and up.
*If you are interested in a needle workshop but want to make a different project (not a mushroom), please reach out to Elise for discussion.
About the artist - Elise Campbell
Elise Campbell is a textile artist and educator based in Stillwater Lake, Nova Scotia. Working primarily with wool, silk, and other natural fibres, she creates sculptural pieces that push traditional craft boundaries and the limits of wool as a medium by exploring human-nature relationships through textural forms, histories, and surface design. Utilizing both contemporary techniques such as needle felting and Nuno felting alongside the traditional practice of wet felting, she creates work that reflects narratives of ecological value, weaving in themes of environmental stewardship.
Campbell's dedication to elevating wool fibre is evident in her commitment to innovation and exploration. Her work has garnered recognition and support from prestigious institutions such as the Canada Council for the Arts, The Robert Pope Foundation, and the Denis Diderot Grant, and has been showcased in galleries and museums across Canada and in London, UK. Through her creative endeavours, numerous residencies, and an international felting study, Campbell strives to inspire others and showcase nature's wild side, contributing to ongoing conversations about ecology, community, and craft.
