Reconnected through live online classes

April 2020: I jumped into online teaching nearly over night

Can you believe it - already one year since I opened my virtual classroom for the first time!

What an inspiring fantastic and exiting year it has been - teaching wise! I’m so grateful that I was able not only to continue to support myself as an artist but foremost all, getting connected with so many wonderful people from around the globe. Being able to share the creative spark, inspire others, guide them on their creative path, helped me to stay balanced and positive, too! A huge thank you to all my wonderful students!

Why online teaching?

With art fairs and face to face workshop canceled, due to the first confinement in Mars 2020, there was only one solution to avoid closing the doors of my workshop for ever: Jumping into live online teaching. So I went for it! Nearly from one day to the other, with trembling knees, I built up cameras in front of my working table and started inviting felters and fiber addicted to learn my techniques.

Challenging but so rewarding

Even so it was challenging, it is one of the best things I have ever done! It allowed me to get connected with wonderful, creative women (an one man) from around the world. Teaching and creating helped me to make this first year of the pandemic much easier for me!

Call for entries “Reconnected”

In November 2020 the international felt maker association made a call for entries for our AGM. They asked for testimonials on the theme “Re-Connected”. When I read about the call, I immediate knew that I wanted to talk about my wonderful online teaching experience. Especially about a beautiful group of 6 women,who met in one of my first classes and formed a wonderful community ever since.

In the following video I invite you to meet these women and to listen to their beautiful testimonial about online teaching and their connection:

More students feedback

Brenda Foster

Ariane Mariane’s influence can been seen in many Felters’ works. Her class has taken me out of my comfort zone and opened up so many possibilities and I’m not even through my first class! This gregarious young woman is thorough, knowledgeable, and generous in her teaching. She oozes personality-it is evident in her own work and that of her students. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to take her classes!!!

Materialmente Cler 

I am sincere I had started thinking about a practical online course, it seemed strange to me and I was wondering how we would do it. I must say that it didn't take long to figure out how we could "work without working" !!! the physical distance is canceled by the meeting of people from all over the world and by the warmth that Ariane is able to transmit. A sincere, enveloping, exciting person who transmits the passion and love he has for what he does. I met her at a particular moment in my life and she opened up a vision and a new way to approach my work. THERE IS NO PLAN, THERE ARE NO RULES AND THERE ARE NO MISTAKES !!! Contagious person in the desire to do and to live

would I recommend it? yes without any doubt, indeed I already have others in mind for me !!! after this course I am reviewing many of the things that I had already done and that did not convince me, I am taking them back in hand and changing how I have changed in the way I work and see my expressive possibilities. NO LIMITS

Agnès Tervé

After following Ariane Mariane for some time, admiring her incredible hats in particular, I took my first class with her almost a year ago. Her energy, passion and eagerness to share her knowledge led me naturally to the Mixed Media class. Ariane is a wonderful teacher who pushes you further and is always very supportive. The techniques and stimulations received are second to none and I highly recommend this class and THAT teacher! I feel extremely lucky to be one of her students!

Brenda Cullen

I was so lucky to stumble across Ariane’s Mixed Textile Art course. Initially I thought I might be out of my depth. However, no matter what level of expertise you have the course is essentially about stimulating your creative juices and providing a range of unique techniques in which you can choose from. The course informs with excellent classes, handouts, recordings and the real sauce is Arianes generous and enthusiastic style and encouragement for all students endeavours. I would highly recommend it.

Kathryne Bourgeois

There are just some people we know we can reach the moon with them! Ariane is one of them, I would recommend to anyone and everyone to do a workshop with her and I really recommend the mix media as it holds a wealth of knowledge that others would offer separately, which I find is extremely generous! Such a wonderful personality and is so willing to teach you to help you go the furthest possible in your creativity.

Louise Curnin

Would I recommend, hell yes! Most courses are about making rules to learn but your course is about breaking rules to learn. Your opening mantra of "What if" is so liberating. You remove constraints and give your students the confidence to explore and experiment and your energy and joy in the process is infectious. Thank you for giving me the wings to fly.

Kim Heron

Owner, Little Blue Fibre Studio (Edmonton, Canada)

Ariane’s Mixed Media Textile Art class is incredible. This class encourages the student to explore colors, and textures through a variety of mediums while digging into the deep regions of the imagination. There is something for everyone in this series and it has been a treat to be able to have access to such a talented Fibre Artist through the online classes. We have only just reached the halfway point in this series and it has changed my approach to the way I think about a project, exploring changes, and trying new techniques. Ariane will often say “what if…?” and I find myself now saying it too. I highly recommend this class for anyone looking for an adventure.

Wendy Sciara

Ariane has such a warm way about her and she makes teaching fun. I was extremely impressed with all the materials provided before the class and the one on one attention for each of us during the class. I have already had 3 requests for hats based on what I made. 

The knowledge gained in this class will help me achieve better results in all my felting projects.