Art teacher offers needle felting workshop at Sun City Healing Project
By Shea Darian | Doing Grief Community Healing Project
Posted 11/1/24
Ellen Merchant has been working with fibers since she was seven years old. Now an art teacher at Catalina Ventura Elementary School, the Sun City resident finds time between her teaching and artistic …
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Art teacher offers needle felting workshop at Sun City Healing Project
Submitted photo/Shea Darian
Art teacher Ellen Merchant will present “Stress Relief With Needle Felting” at Doing Grief Community Healing Project in Sun City.
Posted
By Shea Darian | Doing Grief Community Healing Project
Ellen Merchant has been working with fibers since she was seven years old. Now an art teacher at Catalina Ventura Elementary School, the Sun City resident finds time between her teaching and artistic endeavors to share her passion for fiber arts with adult learners at Doing Grief Community Healing Project in Sun City.
Merchant will offer “Stress Relief With Needle Felting” 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, guiding participants to make winter holiday ornaments to adorn their upcoming holidays or give as gifts. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided.
“Needle felting is a fun and easy way to create beautiful miniature art pieces,” Merchant explained. “The artist uses a specialized needle to punch wool fibers into a flat piece of felt. The repetitive motion of punching and weaving the fibers into the felt is satisfying and stress relieving.”
Merchant’s needle felting creations have been a balm for the teacher and artisan when she faced her own personal setbacks and losses, including the death of her seventeen-year-old daughter, Emily, from ovarian cancer in 2022.
“Needle felting has been a stress release for me when I’m facing difficult times, so I want to share the healing effects of this craft with others,” said Merchant. “The thing I love about needle felting is that it’s so relaxing and the only limit is your imagination. The possibilities for creating images are endless.”
Visit DoingGrief.org for details on “Stress Relief With Needle Felting” and other fall programs, including “Story Circle Small Group” with Rev. Susan Princehouse 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, and “Healing With Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting” with Dr. Andrew Darian 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, for adults and youth 12 and older. No experience necessary.
Doing Grief Community Healing Project programs are for those of all faiths and philosophies, or none. The Healing Project is located at the Interfaith Chapel for Healing–Church of the Palms, 14808 N. Boswell Blvd. RSVP at 602-315-8480, Connect@DoingGrief.com or fill out the RSVP form at DoingGrief.org. A suggested donation can be made online or at the door. All are welcome regardless of an ability to pay.
