Contact Name: Sophie Wheatley
This craft course provider has been awarded Platinum status for receiving 50 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
I started All Things Felt & Beautiful in 2013 and quickly became well known for making needle felt models of dogs by commission, selling my art all over the world.
But as well as making, I’ve also love teaching and have taught hundreds of students at my pretty garden studio in Hatton in Warwickshire.
I really enjoy helping people discover their creativity and love of needle felt. And when students return again and again I’m proud to see them develop their own style.
I went along to Sophie's dog-making workshop with no knowledge of needle felting whatsoever, and by the end of the day had created my own little collie-cross in miniature! This craft was an astonishing revelation - to be able to construct such a tiny, intricate model simply by rolling strands of natural wool into balls and stabbing them with needles! And yet, the painstaking care with which Sophie explained, demonstrated and helped us all individually, transformed this basic task into the most inspiring day I have had in years. She is an excellent teacher, patient and methodical, with enormous enthusiaism for her craft. All her materials are ethically sourced, and she provides detailed information about the sheep breeds and shades of wool. We were served the most delicious home made soup for our lunch, followed by an equally scrumptious fruit 'crumble made by Sophie's mother, with drinks and biscuits freely available throughout the day. All the arrangements and facilities were excellent, we were warmly welcomed on arrival and reluctant to leave at the end! I encourage anyone who has never considered this fascinating craft to spend a day with Sophie - your life will be transformed for ever!
My daughter and I attended one of Sophie's needle felting courses one Saturday and we had an absolutely wonderful day. Having had no experience of needle felting before, we came away feeling confident that we could give it a go as a hobby. The small dogs we made have price of place on display in our home! Sophie is an amazing teacher, as well as being one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, my daughter and I absolutely adored her. Sophie and her lovely mother kept us fed and watered throughout the day with home made goodies, the training room was the perfect setting and we met some truly lovely people. Sophie also gives very good advice on materials and her knowledge of the different types of wool was very useful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sophie's courses to anyone wishing to have a go at this brilliant craft.
My mum and I attended one of Sophie's courses one Saturday and all though i was nervous about going to start with as soon as you see the location and meet Sophie you instantly feel at ease. Sophie and her mother are easily two of the nicest people you could wish to meet and kept us all fed and watered with homemade hearty food and cups of coffee and tea while we felted and had a good laugh with the whole group, it really does feel like a day out with a group of friends. As well as this you gain the knowledge of the different wools and the skills in how to make these little dogs and before you know it your taking home a whole new hobby. I wouldn't hesitate for a second in recommending Sophie's courses and can not wait to do more myself!
I attended one of Sophie's learn to needle felt a dog courses with my mum and sister (great gift idea!) Id tried it a few times at home and my mum and sister were complete beginners but like to sew - we all came away with 3 very unique little dogs to an amazing standard considering our abilities!! A testament to sophies teaching... One of the things we loved was the freedom to create your own dog rather than being forced to make something you weren't onterested in. This makes you learn faster and care more- especially if you use a picture of your own dog.
Sophie goes above and beyond to her students from the pre course emails, her greeting, homemade food and drinks, the day itself then after the course she continues to be super helpful providing useful information about wool and suppliers.
The whole day on Saturday was fantastic! I can't fault it and would highly recommend that anyone should attend. So if your unsure... Trust me and go!
Sophie is a natural teacher, very open and not at all intimidating or hard selling her own commissions. I've learnt so much and think I've found myself a new exciting hobby. (I'm not usually crafty
Thank you Sophie.