New year.... well almost the end of January and we have a 'Mad Hats' felting workshop on Saturday.
I always think of felting as being creativity combined with excercise - my two most favourite things (after chocolate). That makes felting an ideal New Year's 'resolutiony' kind of a thing to do.
The 'Mad Hatter' - In the old days when felt hats were made from rabbit fur, mercury was used in the felting process. And over time, many Hatters did indeed develop a neurological condition from exposure to these mercury fumes. According to Wikipedia "It is commonly characterized through behavioral changes such as irritability, low self-confidence, depression, apathy, shyness and timidity, and in some extreme cases with prolonged exposure to mercury vapors, delirium, personality changes and memory loss occur as a result" Hmmmmm - I don't need the mercury , I already have most of these.
Well, I am pleased to say that we no longer use rabbit fur and we no longer use mercury. In fact, I think that making felt is a highly therapeutic activity. All that soap, warm water, rubbing and rolling- it's all very sensory.
And hats are fun! Hats can be silly, they can be elegant, they can be a statement of your individuality, they can be cute, or they can be a cosy head warmer for walking the dog. And on the subject of cosy, if your hat is too mad to wear, just pop it on the teapot.
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| Thanks to Kate for being a very beautiful teapot! |
Anyway, Saturday 27 Jan at Cottenham Village College - here's the link: Saturday Schools
If you scroll down to 'Mad Hatters' and click on the right hand box it will take you to a pdf with more details.
Or go directly to contact to book a place.
