I create tailor made workshops based around your theme or idea. I put together a creative project, provide materials and offer guided meditations drawing upon the energies of the season. Along with offering seasonal workshops scroll down to read about previous workshop. I also offer individual tutoring in wet and needle felting.

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Booze, Hats & Herbs – March Tbc

With herbalist Heatherly Houdek’s. We will learn how to infuse herbal cocktails as we try some sample shared herbal lunch and we will make spring inspired fascinators in the afternoon.

Creating a needle felt landscape – at NC Arboterum. 16th March

This class has sold out.

Photos from Imbolc workshop

Imbolc workshop 2012. Sunday 5th February: Tales of Brighid, ritual and making traditional ‘Biddy’ dolls. 10 am until 6 pm

In this day retreat we will sink our roots down deep into the well of creativity, drawing Brighid into our lives through song, ritual and craft.

* Submerge yourself in creativity within a nurturing circle of women
* Welcome the first stirrings of spring by creating a traditional ‘dealbh Bride’ a little Bride doll with professional doll maker Ruth Gallacher
(you can view Ruth’s work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dublinroots/)
* we shall explore Brighid through guided meditation, singing traditional Hebridean songs and tending her flame
* You will complete a needle felted doll and receive workshop resource pack
* All craft materials and lunch will be provide

When & where:
Sunday 5th February, 10am until 6pm, Montford, Asheville.
Early bird discounts available as well as one scholarship place.

Cost: $65
Scholarship: One scholarship place available at $45
Early bird special: $60 if paid in full by 28th Jan
Deposit – Pay $35 by 28th Jan and $30 on the day
Bring a friend – if you sign up with a friend who has never attended a Celtic Soul Craft workshop then you both get to register for $60

How to register:
To register please email me at judelally@gmail.com
Full details at www.celticsoulcraft.com under workshops

* Please note there is a non refundable deposit of $15, which will be refunded if you have to cancel and your spot is refilled.

Winter Solstice workshop. Sunday 11^th December

Treat yourself to a day amongst trees. Learn about the Celtic lore of winter trees, their customs & how they are used in magical workings. In this time of holiday madness join a nurturing circle of women to create a sacred and inspiring day with a guided meditation, time in nature as we make tree inspired talisman necklaces and amulet brooches.

What this workshop will cover

Identification and ecology of the 3 main winter trees of the Ogham (Sacred tree alphabet) of the Celts, namely Holly, Oak and Pine – although other trees will be discussed.

Their physical uses of berries, bark and leaves Teas, medicinal uses etc

Specific trees in legend and folklore

Magical workings – protective qualities etc

Craft Activity   

We will make two items a talisman and an amulet in necklace and brooch form. The materials for the necklaces are ribbons, chain, small glass bottles while the brooches will be made from wool with felting needles.  We can incorporate acorns, twigs, dried berries, acorns, feathers etc.

All materials will be provided and we will collect items in our walk. Please bring any special personal peices you may wish to incorporate into your necklace and brooch.

Cost

The price is $45 with an early bird discount of $40 if paid by 25^{tth  Nov.}   $15 deposit required to secure a place and registration closes on the 1st December.

How to register

Please email me at  judelally@gmail.com

Ancestor Holder, Samhain Workshop

Ancestor Holder Workshop. Cost $30, Location: Mother grove Goddess Temple, you can find directions here: http://www.mothergroveavl.org/directions.html

At this time of the year, more than any other we hold our ancestors dear. We call on them with collective memories, in prayers, with offerings.  As part of your ancestor veneration join me in an afternoon of creating an ancestor holder. We will use recycled fabrics and beads with special symbols, photos, jewelry, natural pieces – anything that is special or cherished.

These holders help in our focus of working with ancestors – they hold offerings, prayers, affirmations, celebrations, thanks, spells, wishes – however it works for you. We will begin the workshop with a guided meditation on the Cailleach Bheur (the blue hag of winter), and share a Bran Brack – a traditional Scottish divination cake!

The cost of the workshop is $30 – you will leave with a decorated fabric Ancestor Holder and a handout on Scottish Samhain. While all materials are provided please bring any personal item you’d like to use in the making or the decoration of your holder.

Please confirm if you’d like to attend this workshop by emailing me at judelally@gmail.com

Ages 15 and older.

Mabon (Fall Equinox) Spirit Doll Workshop

Date: Sunday 18th September, 10-4

Cost: $45

Location: Montford, Asheville

As the earth cycles to the fall equinox, a time of almost perfect balance of day and night, it is a time of transformation that heralds big changes.  It is a time to question if we ourselves are in balance, and examine our outer and inner worlds. It’s is a time of ‘root energy’ as soon everything will be outwardly dying.

We will take a little time out of time for ourselves to examine what balance means for us as we tap into the powerful energies of doll making, an and magical and transforming process. We will acknowledge the ancestors, and look at ourselves as living ancestors – inspired by those who have gone before us but also acknowledging the change we want to see in ourselves in relation to those around us and those future ancestors still to come.

Join me in a nurturing circle of women with guided meditations and inspiring music. We will make our doll from wool using a needle felt technique – in a basic yet powerful featureless doll. All materials will be provided although please bring any special fabrics or items you may want to decorate your doll with.

A lunch of Irish soda bread and veggie Scotch broth will be provided feel free to bring along something to share.

You will leave with a completed doll, a handout about the festival and doll making, and ideas on how to work with your doll.

To sign up please email me at judelally@gmail.com

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The ‘Spirit Dolls’ workshop with Our Voice as part of the With Our Hands series is now full.

Free Workshop!!!!!!  Spirit Dolls. Starts Friday 12th August, Asheville.

3 consecutive fridays: Dates: Fridays, 8/12, 8/19 & 8/26 (three-session workshop) Time: 1:00 to 4:00 pm

Healing ritual, spirit embodying, talisman, ancestral connections ~ Spirit Dolls have an ancient history. Using bamboo, wool and recycled fabrics, participants will make their own unique Spirit Doll. Guided meditations will help to set the meaning, intention and purpose of your doll. We will look at different cultural forms of Spirit Dolls and the many forms of their
ritual and healing use. Open to women of all ages.

Facilitated by Jude Lally. Location: Our VOICE offices, 44 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville

To register contact Caroline at Our VOICE: 252-0562 or email Carolinem@ourvoicenc.org by 8/4

http://www.ourvoicenc.org/news/with-our-hands-summer-classes/attachment/summer-2011-with-our-hands/

Celtic medicine Bag – Gathering What Fires the Spirit and Feeds the Soul
With recycled fabrics, yarn, & wool, etc, participants are invited to make a small medicine pouch to hold sacred items and a larger medicine bag which will represent an aspect of themselves. Guided meditations based on Celtic Goddesses will help to inspire what qualities your bag represents. We will work listening to Celtic music and women’s
working songs. No sewing skills are required although participants are encouraged to share skills. Women only, ages 15+. (4 week series) Instructor: Jude Lally
Dates/Time: Fridays, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 1-4pm    Location: Our VOICE, 44 Merrimon Ave. Suite 1, Asheville

Lammas Workshop

Sunday, July 31 · 10:00am – 4:00pm. Price $35. Please email me at judelally@gmail.com to register. Currently 2 places left.

Lammas a time of gathering, of tribal festivals and celebration. The endless days of summer are numbered as the energy of the sun in the northern hemisphere wanes. Grains that were blessed by summer days, dancing in fields of soft breezes have come to fruition and are read for harvesting.
This change in energy is marked by the great Cauldron of regeneration turning in its ancient cycle. Lammas was celebrated with ritual words spoken from great earth mounds giving thanks to the fertility of the seed which sustains us through winter. It is time to celebrate, to give thanks for our personal bounty.
We will look at different aspects of Lammas symbology from Corn Maidens to dark gods, to the Celtic theme of the cauldron. With guided meditations and images to inspire we will draw together all that we wish to give thanks for and create a fabric wall hanging offering. Your piece may hold a scene or an image or sewn on objects. With pockets for offerings it can be a roll away altar, a meditative focus, a vessel to hold affirmations, intentions, offerings etc.
While all materials will be provided I suggest you bring some fabric, a sacred object some small items that you may wish to incorporate into your hanging.

Irish soda bread and veggie Scotch broth will be provided feel free to bring along something to share.