Monica's Fall Workshop Schedule

Oct. 11    Free Demo   Bodega Coop   Bodega, CA

Oct. 21    Needle Felting Animal    Cast Away Yarn
                                    Santa Rosa, CA  5:30-7:30 $35.
www.castawayyarn.com

Oct. 25    Free Demo  Bodega Coop   Bodega, CA

Nov. 2    Felted Nativity Workshop   Santa Rosa, CA
6:45-8:45  $35.-$45.  kits available 

Nov. 9    Felted Nativity Workshop                  "            "        "     "         "

Nov. 16  Felted Nativity Workshop                 "            "        "     "         "

Nov. 30  Felted Nativity Workshop                "            "        "     "         "

Nov. 11  Animal        Cast Away Yarn
                                 Santa Rosa,  CA  5:30-7:30  $35.

                                 www.castawayyarn.com

Dec.  7 & Dec. 10     Waldorf  Doll Workshop   
                                  Santa Rosa, CA  $85 or $98 long hair
 All materials included
 12/7 6pm-9pm and 12/10 12pm-3pm

 Deposit required to reserve your space.

Call Monica with inquiries  or
monicadanashley@yahoo.com  monicaashleydesign.com    

BODEGA BAY ARTISANS CO OP

COME VISIT ME THIS SATURDAY  AT THE BODEGA BAY ARTISIANS COOPERATIVE AND MAKE A GIFT FOR MOM!
I WILL BE TEACHING A FREE WORKSHOP ON HOW TO MAKE A FELTED FLOWER PIN OR HAIR CLIP.

SEE YOU THERE!

May 7 Free Felting Demonstration for Mothers Day at the Artisans Coop in Bodega

Monica Ashley Invites Families to Add Wool Felting to Seasonal Celebrations


By Sono-Ma     Holly     April 12, 2011

Is there anything that says Spring more perfectly than a soft brown bunny hiding in the tender green cabbage leaves?

Monica Ashley, local crafting instructor, invites your children to learn to make their own Spring creation during the “Children’s Easter Bunny Workshop with Basket and Eggs“ this Saturday at Cast Away Yarn Shop. The class is offered on Saturday, April 16, 2011, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm. The cost is just $30, which includes supplies.
This fun needle felting classes is designed for children 8 to 12. Learn how to make a fun Easter Bunny with little eggs, just in time for Easter!” says teacher, Monica.

Location: 111 4th Street, Railroad Square, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

More Information: 707-546-YARN (9276)

Monica offers needle felting classes for more advanced students as well. This popular Peter Rabbit is just one example of the wonderful, whimsical details you can achieve with wisps of wool under Monica’s wing.

Monica plans a free felting workshop on Mother’s Day weekend, and invites families to come out and visit her at the Bodega Artisan’s Coop on Saturday May 7, 2011. (The co-op is located at 17135-A Bodega Highway, Bodega, California 94922. Call for more information at: 707-876-9830.)

Travel out the scenic Bodega Highway and find a tiny gem in the valley that lies on the edge of the Sonoma Coast: the quaint hamlet of Bodega. Forever famous for serving as Alfred Hitchcock’s the Birds’ film set, Bodega is home to a handful of charming antique stores. Bodega also has its very own Artisan’s Cooperative where a hand painted sandwhich board calls out “Meet Today’s Artist”.

Venture into a clapboard cottage and awe over the unique works of more than 40 local artisans, including our beloved Monica Ashley.
Stay for a bit to do some felting with Monica, and you’ll go home with a lovely Mother’s Day Flower:

Monica invites you discover the amazing locally produced wool roving and yarns offered at the cooperative, while she guides you in learning how to create with wool.

Monica hopes you’ll linger on to hear about her summer camps for children or to shop from the fabulous collection of goods offered at the Artisan Coop. From stunning wool caps to Monica’s hand made dolls crafted from wool , there is much to discover and just in time for Mother’s Day! monicaashleydesigns.com











See you there!

April Workshops and Spring Camp

Spring

April 18-21   Childrens Art Camp
8:30-2:00
Monica's studio
$145. per session or $45. drop in welcome   children ages 7-10 welcome
I will be hosting a craft camp during Spring break.  Each day the children will bake, make crafts and sew or felt.  We will create a natural bird house and egg decorating will be on Thursday.  

Monica's Workshops at Cast Away Yarn Shop in Santa Rosa   call 546-yarn to register

April 16  Saturday
Easter bunny and basket with eggs
Children's felting workshop
10:30-1:00
$30. includes materials

May 5  Thursday
Needle and wet felted mural
Adult  felting workshop
5:00-8:00
$35. includes materials

May 21  Saturday
Needle felting
Animal sculpting needle felting
adult
2:00-5:00
$35. includes materials

ART SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION @monicaashleydesigns.com
June 27- August 4

ZIGZAG SWEATER BLANKET

This blanket was created from a collection of recycled sweaters. I had great fun with this project, along with my handwork group friends at Emerson Waldorf School. We used about 32 different sweater pieces of wool, cashmere and angora. We also preserved some of the pockets, cuffs and fringe from the original sweaters, to create a fun and whimsical blanket.

This imaginative blanket project was found in one of my favorite books, Alter knits, by Leigh Radford.

Enjoy,

Monica Ashley

"Sweet treats for February"

I am always so inspired by the idea of Valentines Day!

Ruby red cashmere sweaters, cozy lavender wool sweaters or dark brown to resemble dark chocolate....

During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe, I made a trip to my favorite thrift shop, 3 trips in all and found many, many, new cashmere sweaters.

So far 16 new wool cupcakes and some truffles in the works.

During these chilly winter nights, I can't think of a better way to stay warm, than to be surrounded by cashmere, wool merino or lambs wool.

I love creating and hope you are inspired to do what you love.

Monica

Welcoming Solstice: Monica Ashley Designs Brightens Dark Days with Spirit and Light

By Sono-Ma: Holly | Published: December 21, 2010

A full moon, a lunar eclipse, and the solstice combine December 20 and 21st for a magical marking of the shortest day of 2010. My family plans a day by the fire, a warm dinner of “solstice soup” (aka chicken fricassee), and some time spent with friends in the moonlight – if the rain lets up for a few moments.

Whatever takes place, I am welcoming the season of drawing in and hibernating. I am wrapping up old projects, organizing, and otherwise clearing the path for resting. I’ve got a picture in my mind of long evenings of handwork by the fire.

To set the stage for welcoming solstice, we’ll need to do some physical transforming and acknowledgment of the changes to come. What better way to do this than to set a nature table?

During last year’s Winter Solstice, Sono-Ma featured Monica Ashley’s nature table (above) with its icy and crystalline colors of pale blue and amethyst. However, this year’s chain of rainy days has us thinking of wet and marshy winter images. This evening we were surprised to see a field of huge mushrooms growing (uninvited) along Fulton Road.

However, there is no need to let the gloomy weather make for gloom and doom spirits. We can make our own light, and revel in the delight of finding the mystical in the darkness. Monica says, “Cap the mushrooms in red, throw in a few elves, sprinkle all with the rare moonlight we’ll soon experience, and suddenly we have a fitting scene to express the newly arriving Winter.”

You, too, can create such a felt-scape with Monica at her upcoming wet felting mural class in January, 8th at 1:00 pm. This four hour class is just $50 (including materials). Create your own warmth, fire, and forest lore with wool and weave your own interpretation of Winter.

Your kids may also enjoy spending the upcoming long and rainy days slated for Winter Break in Monica’s magical studio. With classes tailored to engage 8-11 year old children in all things creative, your children are sure to bring home bright smiles and tales of spirited fun.

This December, I will be offering two special days of winter craft making in my downtown Sebastopol Studio.

Tuesday the 21st and Thursday the 23rd of December. The days will begin at 9 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. The children will have baking time and gift making each day.

The children will make gingerbread cookies or assorted cookies and decorate a gingerbread house to take home.

On Tuesday, we will create gifts made from recycled materials: Recycled sweater, hot water bottles or similar gifts, felted ornaments or small animals for a nature table or small child.

On Thursday, we will create gifts made from nature: pine cone ornaments, Snowmen or Santas made with pine cones and wool roving, lavender sachets and beeswax decorated candles.

Each day a snack will be included along 5 hours of care and materials.

Ages: 8-11

Location: Monica Ashley Design’s Studio Sebastopol, California

Registration: Call or email Monica Ashley 707. 236.2829 or monicadanashley@yahoo.com.