At the heart of Fabulous Feltings has always been a deep curiosity — about materials, traditions, places and people. This winter marks a thoughtful pause, and with it, a renewed focus on what matters most: learning, sharing and creating with intention.

For textile artist Jane, making has never been static. It’s shaped by travel, by time spent listening to skilled hands at work, and by a belief that creativity is something we carry with us — not something reserved for experts or studios. That mindset is now guiding a gentle shift away from busy craft fairs and towards more meaningful, hands-on teaching.

Workshops will take centre stage in the months ahead, offering people the chance to slow down and reconnect through wet-felting, a tactile, absorbing process that encourages presence, patience and experimentation. Hosted in Jane’s riverside studio — or brought to schools, Women’s Institutes, guilds and community groups — these sessions are designed to meet people where they are, whether they’re complete beginners or returning to making after time away.

Julie Bell, Director of Brecon Beacons Tourism, sees this kind of creative offer as an essential part of a healthy visitor economy and community life:

“Workshops like these are incredibly important — not just for visitors, but for local people too. They support wellbeing, confidence and connection, and they help people slow down and engage with place in a meaningful way. As a destination, we should be using every tool we have to champion skilled makers like Jane, whose work brings joy, learning and a real sense of belonging to our communities.”

This shift in focus is also shaped by fresh inspiration. Upcoming journeys to India and Venice will feed directly into future work — from the textile-rich landscapes of Gujarat, where cloth carries stories of culture, identity and daily life, to Venice’s layers of history, texture and light. These experiences aren’t about trends or quick ideas; they’re about absorbing influences slowly, allowing them to surface naturally in both making and teaching.

For many people, these workshops offer more than a new skill. They create space for wellbeing, mindfulness and quiet confidence, where hands are busy, minds are calmer and the pressure to “get it right” falls away. There’s real joy in that moment of discovery — when someone realises they can create something with their own hands, and enjoy the process as much as the finished piece.

This next chapter for Fabulous Feltings is about inspiration over pace, depth over noise — and inviting more people to experience the grounding, restorative power of making.

An open invitation

If you’re part of a school, WI, guild or community group — or simply curious about exploring creativity in a slower, more mindful way — Fabulous Feltings welcomes conversations. Sometimes inspiration starts with just giving yourself permission to try.