Needle Felting: Bird of the Month: Chickadee with Erin Carlson

November's bird of the month: Chickadee! Learn to needle felt, while enjoying a detailed look at this fascinating bird!

3-hour workshop

Date: Thursday, November 5

Time: 6pm-9pm

Description: Learn to needle felt or sharpen your skills while creating your own Chickadee. Fiber artist and backyard bird enthusiast Erin Carlson of Red Cottage Fiber Studio will guide you through the needle felting process as you look closely to observe the shape and markings of the species and gain a deeper appreciation of our avian neighbors. Adventurous beginners welcome. Please note that we will be using sharp needles and repetitive, detailed hand motions.

About the 2026-27 Bird of the Month Needle Felting Series : Due to popular demand, Contemporary Craft is thrilled to once again partner with instructor Erin Carlson to offer this series of workshops!

While first offered virtually during the pandemic, this year will be live and in-person!

Classes will occur the first Thursday of each month from 6-9pm and run from March 2026-February 2027.

Join us for as many classes as you like. Choose your favorite bird or join us for all 12 to complete your very own flock.

The bird selections are as follows:

March: American Robin

April: Scarlet Tanager

May: Barn Swallow

June: Eastern Bluebird

July: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

August: American Goldfinch

September: Downy Woodpecker

October: Barn Owl

November: Chickadee

December: Northern Cardinal

January(2027): Red Breasted Nuthatch

February(2027): Red Winged Blackbird

Tuition: $65 + $10 materials fee (per workshop)

(if you are viewing this listing on your phone, scroll down to the bottom of the page for the class registration link)

Materials: all materials are included.

Note: We really want you to join us in the studio! Full and partial tuition scholarships are available to alleviate some of the financial burden of attending a class.

Scholarship application is found at this link. You can expect to hear from someone on the CC staff within 2 weeks.

If you have any questions, email Jamie Boyle, Fibers Program Manager, at jboyle@contemporarycraft.org, or leave a voice message for them at 412-465-1628.

Location: Contemporary Craft, TImmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). Note, this workshop will take place in the Fleischner Family Fibers Loft, which is on the second floor of the building.

There are 2 entrances to the Timmons Studios.

• One entrance is facing Butler Street. To access the Fibers Loft from the Butler Street facing entrance, there are a total of 32 stairs to ascend.

• One entrance is facing 57th Street. This entrance is accessible by ramp, with no stairs to ascend. There is a lift inside the building to access the Fibers Loft on the second floor.

If there are accessibility accommodations we can provide, or if there is anything you would like us to know before you arrive, please feel free to call Jamie Boyle at 412-465-1628 or email jboyle@contemporarycraft.org.

About the Artist

Erin Carlson is a multidiscplinary fiber artist working and teaching in th Pittsburgh area for the last decade. She loves to help students explore their creativity through the use of fibers.