Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Cecilia Ho of FELTasticFashion, Greenville SC, collaborates with 4K-12 grade teachers to teach fiber arts integration units at local and regional SC public, charter, and private schools, as well as museums and non-profit organizations. Cecilia was born into a family of fashion and interior designers in Hong Kong. She grew up in her parents’ studios and practiced handicrafts. Cecilia focused on traditional felting technique beginning in 2007 from her previous residency in Nova Scotia, Canada, where plentiful sheep farms and resources are available. Cecilia continued to share her felting knowledge and skills after her relocation to South Carolina in 2013. Cecilia has been holding felting workshops monthly at Greenville Center of Creative Arts, seasonally at Spartanburg Art Museum, and annually at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville, NC. She conducts felting demonstrations and hands-on interactive activities at museums and festivals i.e., United Way Hands-on (2022), Artisphere Art Lab (2016-2020), High Museum of Art in Atlanta (2018), & Smithsonian affiliations museums. Cecilia participates in juried art exhibitions and fashion shows across the USA. She’s a recipient of Metropolitan Arts Council’s “2020 MAC Award Minority Teaching-Artist Fellow”. Cecilia was invited as a guest juror for district and regional youth art competitions, and as an artist judge for the Makers Challenge television show. www.FELTasticFashion.com was created to offer information regarding artist in residency project samples, her workshops and events schedule, NZ wool fibers, felting supplies, all-inclusive felting DIY kits, and commissions. Her home studio opens to the public during Greenville Open Studios organized by MAC annually in November.

Artist Statement

I love wool because I can “Felt It. Love It. Treasure It.” Felting with colorful wool fibers allows me to create memories with unique decorative, wearable yet functional pieces to treasure. By applying the natural materials in my felt work, it will drive conversation to connect with my audience.

Felting allows me to manipulate one of the oldest textile techniques (Wet Felting) to incorporate contemporary felting applications (Needle Felting & Nuno Felting) and to create decorative, wearable yet functional wool felt creations.

The softness of wool from New Zealand Merino & Corriedale sheep, & the shininess of cellulosic fibers from Mulberry Silk, Tencel & Viscose fibers attract me to create organic designs in various forms, shapes, textures, and scales.

I love to express my imagination through felting in many different ways that often depend on what I encounter through traveling and visiting places. My designs are always inspired by moving objects from nature like birds, flowers, rivers & waterfalls. Often I reveal my love for colors that come from the ever-changing landscape during sunrise, sunset, or fall leaves in the mountains. Sometimes I like to include traditional Chinese Culture and my childhood memories from Hong Kong. There is always a story or a special memory as I create a unique wool felt creation.

Teaching Artistry Details

Teaching Artist Statement

I love wool because I can “Felt It. Love It. Treasure It.” Felting with colorful wool fibers allows me to create memories with unique decorative, wearable yet functional pieces to treasure. By applying the natural materials in my felt work, it will drive conversation to connect with my audience. Felting allows me to manipulate one of the oldest textile techniques (Wet Felting) to incorporate contemporary felting applications (Needle Felting & Nuno Felting) and to create decorative, wearable yet functional wool felt creations.

The process of Felting is to transform wool fibers into unique piece of felt fabric/sculpture. Being an artist, I love showcasing felt arts in various forms, shapes, textures & colors, especially at the art exhibitions which allow visitors to explore the magic of wool up close in person. Being a teaching artist, I enjoy demonstrating the process of felting and inspire my students what they can do with wool fibers. After 15 years of felting and teaching workshops with all ages from 3 to 80, I can guide students with appropriate level of challenge, provide different tasks based on abilities, adjust the level of content, accommodate different paces and provide necessary support.

The felting fiber arts integration unit is suitable for all 4K-12th grade students, as well as higher education and adults. Each unit will begin with a presentation about wool, felt and felting. This is an integrative approach to make connections with students based on what they have already learned from books or may have encountered in their daily lives. Tactile activities, like touching samples of felted arts, pulling, mixing and blending colorful wool fibers, will engage students to stay motivated with hands-on experience. Felt-making process made up of a series of repetitive actions. Students are encouraged to express themselves through creative ideas, while stay focus to achieve making their unique felted arts.

Seeing all happy smiles and beautiful wool paintings by the end of the residency always bring me joy. Students’ reflection will help them to connect, analyze, summarize and express what they’ve learned throughout the process of felting. Teacher and artist reflection will help me to identify what can be prepared better for the next visit. Time management and being organized are key to having a successful teaching residency, especially running week-long visit with back-to-back classes. Sharing experiences with teachers will help to make a manageable project plan and to set attainable goals for students.

Description of Offerings

Students will discover the Science of Wool, the History of Felting & the Process of Felt Making. Individual work: 5-session visit (or 5-hour per class/day) Group project: single or all grades (1 session per class) Pls visit website for dates & samples. Cecilia also offers virtual programs or residencies. She has previously conducted 3-hour LIVE virtual workshops for adults (Fiberworld 2020&2021) and for seniors (OLLI-Furman). Dual screens setting was used: 1 screen with presentation slides & 1 screen with camera close up to demo step-by-step felting process. Cecilia has conducted several felting projects with elementary & middle school students with disabilities. Usually classroom teachers, visual art teachers and/or SPED teachers are presented in the classroom to assist as needed. The class size is usually smaller. Felting projects will be customized for appropriate physical challenges. A variety of delivery methods will be used. Mostly created with wet felting, but also possible with needle felting if students are capable to work with the tools and the materials.

Experienced with the following age groups

• Kindergarten -2nd Grade
• 3rd-5th Grade
• 6th-8th Grade
• 9th-12th Grade
• Preschool (3-5 years)
• Higher Education
• Adults
• Creative Aging (Adults 60+)

Materials Provided to Schools or Organizations by Teaching Artist

Presentation slides and felting samples will be shared on Day 1. Cecilia will bring felting tools & supplies for a class of 20 students. Additional sets can be arranged. Depending on the project, various colors of NZ Corriedale wool will be used.

Physical and Technical Requirements of a School or Organization

• Teacher needs to access the Smartboard to put on the Presentation Slides.
• Enough table space to work on individual projects.
• Preferred staying in the same classroom with access to water & sink that allows wet felting demo.
• Min 5 mins between classes.