The Old Reader

17 Apr 16:21

Felter Skelter: Best of Etsy Felt (Part I)

by Zoe Williams

After moving my own shop to Etsy recently, I figured it was high time to get acquainted with the other needle felt artists there. I was pleased to discover that I’m in good company, and my list of favorites continues to grow! So now, without further ado, here is the first installment of what I will call “Best of Etsy” – my favorite felty finds from the Etsy marketplace.

Desiree-Marie Müller/CrittersbyDesiree

First up is Desiree-Marie Müller/CrittersbyDesiree. Desiree has a unique and delicate style. Little touches of color and antique fabrics adorn her sculptures, which she notes are inspired by a love of Japanese Kawaii culture. I love the seamless union of cuteness and melancholy, which is especially apparent in the third photo above. On one side, an adorable strawberry, but the other side reveals mold and decay; an exquisite “memento mori” rendered in felt!

Olga/TwoSadDonkeys

Next up is Olga/TwoSadDonkeys. Olga’s creatures are delightful. Her masterful use of color and texture gives each piece a fanciful and dreamy aesthetic. I particularly like the delicate embroidery on some pieces, which evokes a warm spring morning or a twinkling starry sky. Some pieces are also functional puppets with legs that dangle on string, for putting on a magical puppet show!

Finally, I bring you the fantastic fungi of Janine Gardner/FoxtailCreekStudio. Her tiny terrariums double as pin cushions, but I can’t imagine poking pins into something so cute! These precious scenes are taken directly from the forest floor – not literally, but Janine finds her inspiration in nature and it shows. I adore everything about these, from the subtle earth tones to the dainty mushroom stalks.

That’s all for this month, but I look forward to showing you more of my favorites in future columns. In the meantime, happy shopping, and if you see any wonderful wool work, please send it my way!

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Zoë Williams creates needle felt sculptures based on spirits, sacred creatures, and dreams. Her work is concerned with the intersection of the (inner) realm of the collective unconscious and the (outer) kingdom of nature. She lives and works in New York City.

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The post Felter Skelter: Best of Etsy Felt (Part I) appeared first on Mr X Stitch.

If you liked that, you'll love this!

Felter Skelter: Cactus Felt Miss Bumbles needle felted guinea pig

Felter Skelter: Character Felt (Part III) Davina Behin Jones Lorisnail

Felter Skelter: Character Felt (Part II)

Felter Skelter: Character Felt (Part III)

by Zoe Williams

This is part 3 of my ongoing series on what I like to call “character felt”. These are felt sculptures that tell a story. They are often, but not always (as you’ll see below), anthropomorphic animals. I keep coming back to this topic again and again because of the wealth of wonderful work out there. After all, needle felt seems perfectly suited to expressions of the imagination.

Miss Bumbles needle felted guinea pig

First up is Miss Bumbles, alter ego of illustrator Ruth Rivers. Her Etsy shop is full of the most delightful creatures (find more at http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissBumbles). Small animals like hedgehogs, foxes, and guinea pigs are all impeccably dressed in tiny handmade clothes, but the real magic is in their expressions. Looking at these creatures, I can easily imagine a whole miniature world where there are no people at all.

Next is Johanna Molina/Felting Dreams. Her world is home to adorable felted mice, who also sport handmade clothes and accoutrements. Their faces are full of wit and whimsy. I particularly like the sleeping pair pictured above, because even wee mousies need a warm bed in which to dream. You can find more of Johanna’s creations in her shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/feltingdreams and read her feature on the Etsy blog at https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2013/featured-shop-felting-dreams/.

All Good Wishes needle felted skunk

These next three are from Heide M./All Good Wishes. She makes all sorts of creatures for all occasions, but my favorites are definitely her vegetables. Their oversized eyes and gangly limbs are so charming; they look like they have stepped right off the pages of a book. Find more of her creations at http://www.flickr.com/photos/allgoodwishes/.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s column as much as I have, and if you’ve made it this far, maybe you won’t mind if I shamelessly plug my own work a tiny bit. This month through April, I have an installation up at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in New York , so if you’re in the area and need to get your yarn fix, I hope you’ll pop in and check it out!

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