One of the star sights at this 12 months’s Wonderwool Wales, the award-winning present that celebrates all that’s nice about Welsh wool and pure fibres, can be an attractive show of felted birds.
The ‘Flock2Flight’ show, which measures 10 metres by three metres, is the creation of fibre artist Janna Turner and two buddies, Alex Johnstone and Deborah Taylor Dyer.
Wonderwool Wales is being held on the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on April 27 and 28, with 220 exhibitors.
Both Shepton Mallet based mostly Janna, who runs Flocks2Felts, and Alex are not any strangers to Wonderwool Wales. Janna was mission lead and felting advisor to a particular, eight-metre lengthy exhibition entitled Alice in Wonderwool in 2022.
The eye-catching, hand crafted interpretation of Alice in Wonderland set up featured an array of charming characters, all crafted from felt and fibre.
This 12 months, Janna can be that includes vibrant birds within the show, a few of which embrace wood mechanics to make them fly. For instance, there’s a small flock of swallows that fly in circles, a zipwire fowl, a diving kingfisher, fowl marionettes and hand puppets.
Janna has obtained assist from her farmer husband, Dave, in placing collectively the wood mechanics for the birds.
Largest of the static birds is 2 metre pelican and there’s additionally a flying phoenix with specifically made clay talons, flamingos, a peregrine falcon and lots of extra.
“There are about 20 different types of bird and I have designed the display to be interactive,” stated Janna, who labored in a fowl sanctuary in Cape Town earlier than transferring to England in 2003.
“When we did the Alice in Wonderwool show in 2022, individuals weren’t allowed to the touch the reveals. This time, I can be encouraging individuals to interact with the birds and have a play as they walk round. I simply love seeing their reactions. There are additionally hand puppets for individuals to take selfies with.
“The display made its debut at Bath and West Showground last November and it took a couple of months for us to make all the birds. I am looking forward to taking it to Wonderwool Wales, as it will be nice to see familiar faces again.”
Money raised by the show can be donated to the Wales Air Ambulance, Wonderwool Wales’ adopted charity.
Tickets for the award-winning, two-day present, which historically attracts greater than 6,000 guests, might be bought on-line upfront at https://wonderwoolwales.ticketsrv.co.uk . There may even be tickets on the market on the gate costing £12 per day or £22 for the weekend. Young individuals aged 16 years and underneath have free admission.
This 12 months’s occasion will see 9 Woolschool afternoon workshops every day which has required the organisers to e-book additional area on the showground. The Woolschools, which give guests the prospect to study or excellent their expertise with assist from an knowledgeable, might be booked on-line by the Wonderwool Wales web site.
Another widespread function, the Sheep Walk vogue present, will hold the viewers entertained on each days.
This 12 months, all Wonderwool Wales guests are being inspired to knit, crochet or make and put on their very own beanie or hat so as to add color to the occasion. Stewards can be awarding vouchers to the most effective hats on each days.
Wonderwool Wales was first held in 2006 to advertise the marketplace for Welsh wool and so as to add worth to merchandise made by small wool and fibre producers in Wales.
The pageant celebrates the inexperienced credentials of Welsh wool and its versatility as a cloth for artistic crafts, designer garments, home furnishings and extra.
Wonderwool Wales covers all the pieces from the begin to the top of the artistic course of. Exhibits of sheep, uncooked and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, gildings, tools, dyes and books might be discovered alongside very good examples of completed textile artwork, craft, clothes and home furnishings.
Find out extra concerning the 2024 present at www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk , like Wonderwool Wales Ltd on Facebook or comply with on Twitter @wonderwoolwales
