About This Trip

Felting Encore is for those who want more! More felting fun, more time to create, and more chances to try something completely new. If you have some basic felting experience under your belt, this is the retreat for you. You don't need to be an expert—Jean will guide you every step of the way.

Bring your UFOs (unfinished objects), a needle felting kit you’ve been dying to try, or dive into the plentiful materials provided to craft something fresh. The classroom will feature specialized "Creation Stations" complete with physical samples, step-by-step directions, and materials. Throughout the weekend, you will:

• Learn to make small 3D pieces.

• Master transferring designs directly onto fabric backings.

• Learn how to wet-felt a gorgeous wall hanging or a table mat. (Note: If you have experience wet-felting a picture or took Jean's previous landscape class, you can choose to make another picture instead!)

You’ll be surrounded by fellow fiber-arts lovers, relaxing in a setting of peaceful beauty. Enjoy the famous hospitality and delicious, scratch-made meals of the Nome Schoolhouse while your creativity flows!

What's Included & What to Bring

Included with Your Package

• All Meals: Savor delectable, made-from-scratch meals prepared by our skilled Nome Schoolhouse Chefs.

• Airport Pickup: Complimentary shuttle to and from the airport in Fargo. (Please email your flight info to Lacey@nomeschoolhouse.com as soon as it's booked).

• Plentiful Materials: Wool felt, craft felt, linen, prefelt, wool felt coasters, colorful wool roving, silk roving, curly locks, yarn, nepps, mini clay pots, mini picture frames, magnets, greeting card blanks, and embroidery hoops.

Jean is a fiber artist living in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Her textile exploration began in the 70s when she tried batik, tie dye and bleaching blue jeans. After retiring from teaching special education, she re-embraced textile arts, taking classes and selling her felted and dyed artwork. Jean is a member of Textile Center of Minnesota and has a degree in Art Education from the University of Minnesota. She loves sharing her knowledge of felting, especially at Nome Schoolhouse.

Your Instructors and the Nome Schoolhouse do much to prepare for your arrival. To honor the work that we put towards your place in the class there is a firm time frame around when and how refunds are given. Tickets may be transferred to another person upon approval by the Nome Schoolhouse.

You can read our cancelation and policy by clicking here: https://nomeschoolhouse.com/refund_returns

By making a booking with us, you signify your agreement to adhere to these terms.

Friday: Arrival & Artistic Beginnings 

• 3:00 PM | Check-in Begins: Settle into your beautiful guest room.

• 5:00 PM | Orientation: Meet your instructor and fellow participants for an overview of the weekend and materials.

• 6:00 PM | Dinner: Enjoy a delicious meal in the dining room.

• 7:00 PM | Session 1: Creation Stations Learn Jean's techniques for transferring designs to fabric backings and how to build 3-D elements. Map out your weekend goals then dive into your first Creation Station project..

• 9:30 PM | Leisure Time: Relax by the fireplace or head to bed.

Saturday: Wet Felting and More 

• 9:00 AM | Breakfast: Fuel up for a full day of creativity.

• 10:00 AM | Session 2: Wall Hangings & Table Mats (Wet-Felting): Lay out your larger 2D project using fluffy wool, prefelts, silk, and yarn. Begin the wet felting process

• 12:30 PM | Lunch: Mid-day break in the dining room.

• 1:30 PM - Session 3: Needle Felting: Bring your photos or use art prints, books and samples for inspiration. Design a magnet, coaster, greeting card, landscape, floral composition or experiment with the materials for your own creation.  The afternoon is yours to work, chat, ask questions, take a walk. Jean is there with ideas and answers.

• Early Afternoon | The Felting Machine and Optional Fiber Mill Tour 

  • We will load the wet-felted pieces into the felting machine so they are structurally finished, stable, and drying before evening! Have a guided look behind the scenes at how raw wool is processed into beautiful spinning and felting fiber.

• 6:00 PM | Supper: A relaxing evening meal.

• 7:00 PM | Free Create: Finish the day’s projects or start a new one (Wet felted pieces may be dry enough for you to add needle felted details or stitching.)

Sunday: Fine Details & Reflections 

• 9:00 AM | Breakfast: One last morning meal with the group.

• 10:00 AM | The Art of the Detail: Add needle-felted details to wet-felted and needle-felted pieces. Define, shade, and enhance with individualized help from your instructor. Continue to explore the Creation Stations.

• 11:30 AM | Reflection & Sharing: A time to gather and share our creative journeys.

• 12:00 PM | Farewell Lunch: A final meal together.

• 1:00 PM | Final Studio Session: Continue needle felting to finalize your artwork.

• 2:00 PM | Retreat Concludes: Safe travels!