What an incredible week we had at the Needle Felting Mastery retreat. This special event brought together 13 talented individuals from 8 different states, all flying in to join me for an immersive and enriching needle felting experience.

A Diverse Group with a Shared Passion

Our group was wonderfully diverse, with attendees hailing from California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Nevada, Michigan, North Dakota, and Maryland, each bringing their unique perspectives and enthusiasm. The shared passion for needle felting created an instant bond among us, transforming strangers into friends over the course of the retreat.

Learning and Creating Together

Throughout the week, we delved into the basics of needle felting, gradually building our skills and confidence. Here’s a glimpse of what we created:

• Garland: We kicked off our projects by making beautiful garlands, perfect for adding a handmade touch to any home decor.
• Meadowlark Painted with Wool: One of the highlights was painting with wool, creating stunning meadowlark designs that showcased the versatility of needle felting.
• Sheep: Crafting adorable sheep was a fun and rewarding experience, especially for those new to needle felting.
• Snowman: Our festive snowmen added a touch of winter wonderland to the retreat.
• Dragon: The intricate details of our dragon projects challenged everyone.
• Duck: Creating whimsical ducks brought smiles all around.
• Bison: We concluded the week with the majestic bison, a project that encapsulated the skills we honed throughout the retreat.

Exclusive Tours and Farm Visits

Apart from our felting projects, attendees enjoyed personal tours of the newly renovated Nome Schoolhouse building and the fiber mill where the wool is processed. A special trip to visit my sheep, who provided the wool for our projects, was a highlight for many. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see the full journey of the wool from the sheep to their felting needles.

A Retreat Where You Can Focus on Felting

One of the things I love most about hosting retreats is giving everyone the chance to set aside everyday responsibilities and simply create. Meals are prepared for the group by my daughter Libbie, and our retreat schedule includes plenty of time for felting, visiting with other artists, and enjoying the beautiful Fort Ransom area.

Depending on the retreat, guests may also visit our farm, meet the sheep that produce our wool, tour the Bear Creek Felting fiber mill, and take part in other local activities. It is about much more than completing a project — it is a chance to spend several days completely immersed in needle felting with people who love it too.

 Continuous Learning and Shared Creativity

It wasn’t just the students who were learning at this retreat. Each event provides me with new insights into teaching my craft, understanding where people struggle, and finding better ways to help them. I also love hearing ideas for new kits and future retreats. It’s always fun to see the unique details that students add to my original designs, infusing their own artistic flair into their creations.

New Ideas and Future Plans

Throughout the week, we shared ideas for future projects and came up with new retreat concepts. As the week drew to a close, it was heartwarming to see everyone heading home not only with newfound skills and beautiful creations but also feeling rested and accomplished.

Thank You!

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and made this retreat so memorable. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to learn made this experience truly unforgettable. I look forward to seeing where your needle felting journey takes you and hope to see you again at future retreats.

Until next time, keep felting and creating!

Find out more about upcoming needle felting retreats here.