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BUY TICKETS
YOUR COURSE TUTOR
Michelle Sweeney
I live on Bundjalung country in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. I have been crafting since I was a small girl.
Creating is the way I connect to myself and to my surroundings. I am self-taught in the first instance, seeking out teachers when my curiosity exceeded my skills. My learning feels like a process in which the hands remember.
The land is important, it supports the plant and animal world which gives of itself that I may create. My process is intuitive, collaborative, meditative; it connects me to self, place, earth, and the creative lineage of this land and of my ancestors on lands far beyond the sea.
I am a counsellor and art therapist and use creating as a way to assist people to find their own inner wisdom.
“Michelle (Shel) was a highly accomplished facilitator.
She provided the class with valuable information relating the craft and more. She gave individual support to each class member and every day included a variety of learning techniques and processes. I was extremely happy in the class and would love to participate in another medicine doll class in 2026. Please bring her back.”
“Shel was the most amazing tutor.
She was the perfect combination - patient, fun and knowledgeable on felting but also caring, kind and showed such interest in the whole class. She was a true inspiration.”
“Shel was amazing.
Very knowledgeable in her craft with a warm and engaging personality that made participants feel comfortable and confident. I would highly recommend this course and Michelle as a tutor!”
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The process of choosing materials for the medicine bundle is personal and intuitive - participants create a bundle that has significance for themselves.
Skill building is scaffolded from a basic egg shape - to gain basic skills, then decorating an egg with various needle felted embellishments, then applying these skills to building a doll face and cylindrical body.
Time/skill permitting, there is scope to build a second doll with legs rather than being cylindrical.
You will take home at least 1 medicine egg, 1 decorated medicine egg and 1 completed medicine doll.
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Please bring the following on your first day of class:
Any special super tiny things (eg: bits of jewellery or found objects, etc) you may want to put inside you doll or decorate your doll with.
This class has an extra materials cost of $135, which is payable directly to the tutor.
Once you book your ticket, the tutor will be in touch to arrange payment.
Cost includes:
Needle felting pads, needles and needle holders
Wool core and Merino tops
Pipe cleaners
Crystals and materials for medicine bundles
Needle
Thread
Fabric and materials for embellishments
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No experience required.
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NOTE: THIS IS A PLAN ONLY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
DAY ONE
Learning about tools and materials
Learning a brief history of doll making
Learning the basic skills of needle felting to create a basic egg
Learning about the benefits and process of a medicine bundle
Gathering/selecting medicine bundle contents
Creating a medicine bundle
Considering symbols for basic decoration
DAY TWO
Learning about embellishments and design
Choosing a theme
Gathering/selecting medicine bundle materials
Creating one large medicine egg with full decorative embellishments
DAY THREE
Step 1 of doll making - making the face
DAY FOUR
Doll making continued - making the medicine bundle, arms and cylindrical body
DAY FIVE
Doll making continued - finish the cylindrical body, decorate with embellishments, symbols, and/or clothes (learning how to use fabric as decoration)
