The North Wales Felt-Makers and textile group Chimera recently donated a number of beautiful art pieces for the Wellbeing Centre and Multi-Faith room at St Kentigern Hospice.
Ronny White said: “I am also a member of a textile group called Chimera. We also set our group of 12 a different project each year and I suggested that Chimera make some kind of textile works for St Kentigern Hospice this year rather than just showing our project work at the annual Art Trail in September, and then taking them home to sit in a drawer.
So Chimera and The North Wales Felt-makers met up with staff from the Hospice on separate occasions early in 2023 and the Felt-makers chose to make work for the corridor into the Well-Being Centre and Chimera chose to make works for the Multi Faith Room. The Hospice staff discussed with both groups what subjects would suit each area and we decided upon Sunsets for the Multi Faith Room and The Four Seasons for the corridor area.”
About the North Wales Feltmakers
Ronny explained: “The North Wales Feltmakers was initially set up in 2017 by Ronny White and Helen Melvin as there didn’t seem to be any feltmaking groups any closer to us than the Wirral. Since then, we have added another very willing member, Anne, to our committee.”
“We are a very friendly group with over 40 members from all over North Wales, the Wirral and Cheshire, and are very happy to share skills, hints, tips and even resources. There are lots of different types of feltmakers amongst us: wet felters, needle felters, and those who spin, knit and then felt up the finished knitted work, so we try to keep everyone happy with a varied programme throughout the year. The regular workshops are generally run by a member of the group with a specific specialism but we do have professional feltmakers to run workshops for us too.”
“We meet up at Rhuddlan Community Centre from spring through to late autumn and meet via Zoom over the winter months.”
“We also set projects and the occasional competitions and in 2021, completed four felt hangings which were based on our feelings, or what we learnt, through Lockdown, which we presented to St Kentigern Hospice for the Well-being Centre. We now have links with the hospice and run a monthly workshop there with a small group of day patients who made a large hanging during 2023, and our group have just finished a 17 ft frieze for a corridor, both based on the four seasons. “
“We have really enjoyed passing on our felting knowledge to such a keen group of novice feltmakers in the lovely, bright art room at St Kentigern Hospice and are really looking forward to seeing the hanging and the frieze brightening up the walls in the Well-being Centre.”
We couldn’t thank The North Wales Felt Makers, Textile group Chimera enough for creating these wonderful pieces of art for the Wellbeing Centre and Multi-Faith room. Art plays a significant role in helping people in various ways. Whether we view, create, or appreciate art, it has the power to enrich our lives. It evokes emotions, provides an escape, fosters connections, nurtures creativity, and promotes well-being. So, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or in need of inspiration, consider immersing yourself in the world of art and witness its transformative impact.
