Felted Medicine Dolls
Needle felted medicine dolls - beginning by creating a medicine egg, then a decorated medicine egg, then at least one doll form.
All contain a medicine bundle - a needle felted bundle containing herbs, crystals, other small things - the healing benefits of which create the 'medicine' aspect. These dolls are also called spirit dolls or soul dolls.
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.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate - Suited to those who are new to the course area or may have little or no experience. Also suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Needle felted medicine dolls - beginning by creating a medicine egg, then a decorated medicine egg, then at least one doll form.
All contain a medicine bundle - a needle felted bundle containing herbs, crystals, other small things - the healing benefits of which create the 'medicine' aspect. These dolls are also called spirit dolls or soul dolls.
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.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate - Suited to those who are new to the course area or may have little or no experience. Also suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Needle felted medicine dolls - beginning by creating a medicine egg, then a decorated medicine egg, then at least one doll form.
All contain a medicine bundle - a needle felted bundle containing herbs, crystals, other small things - the healing benefits of which create the 'medicine' aspect. These dolls are also called spirit dolls or soul dolls.
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.
AGE: Suitable for ages 18 to adult
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate - Suited to those who are new to the course area or may have little or no experience. Also suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Full Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
course info
Please read all course information below before purchasing tickets for this event.
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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)
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This class has an extra materials cost of $90, which is payable directly to the tutor.
Once you book your ticket, the tutor will be in touch to arrange payment.
Cost of $90 includes:
Needle felting pads
Needle felting needles
Wool
Pipe cleaners
Materials for medicine bundles
Fabric and materials for embellishments
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No experience required.
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.
