Aspiring fibre artists gathered for a hare-raising experience last weekend at
Creative With Nature studio, Todmorden.

The one-day workshop, run by fibre and mixed media artist Josephine Gornall, may have induced a few grey hairs among those attending the day but they all emerged with some fine first-gos at fashioning hares from wool materials.

“They struggled with getting the heads right,” says Josephine, “so we decided to focus on the long ears for maximum impact. Some stand-out examples ended up a foot high. I’m really impressed with what they achieved. No-one had tried needle felting before and it can be tricky to master. From a bundle of wool they each created a bundle of joy.”

Needle felting dates back to the 1980s, when an American artist introduced the technique to the world. Josephine started offering felt making and needle felting workshops several years ago and has recently moved into her own studio in the converted Birchcliffe Chapel, Hebden Bridge, to keep all her work under one roof.

The next needle felting Hare workshop is set for the same venue on 22 September, when Josephine will be taking another masterclass in `hare-raising` experiences.