Practice mindfulness through needle felting

By Barbara Seese, Special to Dorchester Banner
Posted 11/6/21

CAMBRIDGE - Mindfulness is about being in the present. When focused on the moment at hand, regret about the past and worries of the future fall away.

This is why crafting, such as needle …

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Practice mindfulness through needle felting

Posted

CAMBRIDGE - Mindfulness is about being in the present. When focused on the moment at hand, regret about the past and worries of the future fall away.

This is why crafting, such as needle felting, is a wonderful exercise in mindfulness. Needle felting requires engaging in a repetitive focused activity of manually moving a needle up and down through the wool. This action creates a rhythm that is not mindless, but mindful.

On Dec. 2, DCA welcomes fiber artist Laura Rankin for a one-day workshop on the world of three-dimensional wool sculpting through needle felting. Exploring the infinite possibilities this amazing medium presents has become a serious passion for Ms. Rankin.

When she received her first batts of wool it was love at first sight. "I look at a soft, fluffy handful of gorgeous, dyed wool and see its sculptural possibilities - a whimsical character or a miniature cottage or whatever fanciful thing comes to mind. It is a magical and unexpected way for me to create. I love the rich colors - the palette is endless, and the texture and smell of the wool soothes me.”

Workshop attendees will learn basic techniques for needle felting a winter gnome, a tiny snowy owl, and festive acorn ornaments. All materials provided, including more than 50 colors of wool batt. Students will leave with their completed creations plus their own felting needle and foam pad, as well as a handout about techniques and resources – everything needed to continue the needle felting journey.

Rankin has been creating art in one form or another all her life. She taught herself needle felting and wet felting about 10 years ago, but her professional art career began in the 1970s, first as a courtroom illustrator for the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., then as an illustrator in editorial at The Buffalo News in Buffalo, N.Y. After that, she moved into her 30-year career as an award-winning children’s book author and/or illustrator of 20 books.

Register online at dorchesterarts.org, by phone at 410-228-7782, or stop by 321 High Street in Cambridge. New holiday hours for November and December: Tuesday and Thursday noon – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Dorchester Center for the Arts is dedicated to enriching Maryland’s Eastern Shore

community through high quality, engaging programming in the visual, literary and performing arts. For the latest updates, find us on Facebook.

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