What is a feltmakers convergence?

A Convergence is a gathering of felt makers, and the sharing of knowledge, experience and ideas is the underlying theme. The Southern Hemisphere Feltmakers Convergence has been happening bi-annually since 1990. Each convergence is a little different, reflecting the fact that a feltmaking group in a different location hosts it entirely voluntarily. A convergence is an amazing event and some feltmakers have been attending them over many years ensuring lifelong friendships. The convergence program differs from year to year as it is traditionally largely made up of feltmakers who volunteer their time to share their knowledge, ideas and experience of feltmaking. A convergence attendee can expect many inspiring tutorials, workshops, opportunities to display your work, a fashion parade, installations, community group projects, lectures, professional development, informal demonstrations, a place to felt to your hearts content, traders trading their supplies, many networking opportunities, and much laughter and camaraderie with other feltmakers. It is a whole week immersed in the wonderful stuff of felt. Eat, sleep, and drink felt if you are that keen! It covers every aspect of felt making and is suitable for all levels of experience, wherever you are at with your own feltmaking journey. The 12th Convergence will be held in The Illawarra Region of NSW Australia, 1st-6th September 2013. It will be hosted by The Illawarra Feltmakers inc. Come along, learn, share, felt and have fun.

Applications for enrollment are expected to go out October 2012. If you would like to be on the email list please let us know. 12thfeltconvergencesh@westnet.com.au


Monday 8 October 2012

Information on Enrolment


12th 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 28th 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

 


 

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