Ulrieke Benner will be presenting a week long workshop in Decorative Felting Techniques in Puerto Vallarta. This is an opportunity to learn and expand your creative ability in this architecturally and artistically inspiring private resort. Ulrieke has planned five days of warmth and soul-expanding time working with wool and silks in both natural and vibrant dyed colors.

The focus in this year’s Mexican Experience will be on Decorative Accessories including felted vessels, scarves and jewelry.

In the Hacienda’s beautiful outdoor workspace, each participant will start with creating smaller items and preparing themselves for larger felted pieces for completion either in the following days or later at their home studios.

Every day there will be demonstrations and introductions to different techniques including felting. We will also do inlays, anything from shells, pebbles, coins to found objects that can be embedded in between layers of wool. We will utilize plastic resists for texture, folds and pleats. We will use natural wool and locks from different sheep, Cotswold, Wensleydale, Gotland, Blue Face Leicester, and will also include Alpaca and Mohair.

Of course there will be colorful Merino and Corriedale wools as well. We add stitching for décor and embellishment. You will have the opportunity to dye your finished pieces in one afternoon session the end of the week.

This approach will allow for many options and experimentation and will lead into individual expressions in all forms of decorative accessories.

The experience of the workshop is intensely personal and encourages you to be expressive and to allow your spirit free rein. Stretch or ride your comfort level, make something wild or demure.

You can make a line of vessels that explores design in color and texture, or develop a more complex project such as a large sculptural piece of art, or create your personal expression of felted jewelry and make chunky felted balls, cords, florals and incorporate these with precious metal, glass beads and more.

Another choice is to focus on a selection of scarves, and experiment with stitching and dyeing, texture and color. To make something that is a colorful manifestation of your artistic ideals. The possibilities are exciting and endless!

Whatever the choice, the final pieces will present your artistic expression. As your projects advance they will continue to inspire you, and all of us in our group.

Ulrieke will work individually with each person to assist and guide both technically and artistically through the process. The setting of this workshop allows for exploration beyond Hacienda Mosaico. The ambience of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, the art galleries, Old Town, and the vistas of the Pacific are exceptional sources of inspiration.

About Ulrieke
Ulrieke is a textile artist, designer and educator living on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Canada. She is part of the Salt Spring artist community. She invites visitors to her studio gallery where she works, exhibits and sells her original designs. Before settling on Salt Spring Island, she studied textile design and art in both Germany and Massachusetts with master teachers Carter Smith, Beth Beede and Joan Livingstone. Ulrieke has had exclusive exhibitions in the United States, Japan and Germany.

For more information or to connect:
, or call (250)-537-1723
http://ulriekebenner.com
https://www.facebook.com/UlriekeBennerArtYouWear

For information and reservations
contact Sam (Sandra Leonard) at Hacienda Mosaico

• Retreat Price: $1,600.00 (based on double occupancy).
• Instruction: 5 days.
• 6 nights lodging at Hacienda Mosaico.
• Unlimited Open Studio available 24/7.
• Meals Included by the Hacienda’s personal chef: Sunday evening welcome reception, 5 full breakfasts & 5 lunches served poolside in a tropical setting and a Saturday departure brunch.
• Free time to explore Puerto Vallarta.
• Material list will be sent after registration.

For information and reservations
contact Sam (Sandra Leonard) at Hacienda Mosaico