bring PLAY into your world
A little friend to help you deliver your sweet nothings. He’s a poseable plush figure, needle felted of course. His shell is removable, just unbutton it and hide your note under it. He may be a little slow delivering it but he’s very reliable and totally adorable.
So it’s been a little over a year since i first started needle felting and I realize that I don’t know much about it. So I looked it up.
Did you know that felt is the oldest form of fabric? Many cultures have legends as to the origins of felt making. The story of Saint Clement and Saint Christopher relates that while fleeing from persecution, the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters. At the end of their journey, the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks. mmm sweat made socks, nice.
So what is felt? according to wiki, felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers. There are different methods of felting like wet felting and the carroting method of felting that is now banned in the US. Then there is the needle felting method I use that uses special barbed felting needles that are used in industrial felting machines.
As an artist, I find such satisfaction in using this method. I can get the details and the shapes I want along with the softness that I want from my plush figures. It is a little known art so far but I hope to elevate its use and its status as an art form. I mean who knew one could sculpt fiber! People have approached me for lessons, perhaps I’ll teach a needle felting workshop in the future. 
Months ago I was approached by my friend Peter to be in a show he was putting together called The Astromonger’s Monster Challenge. Here’s the idea behind the show:
What arises when an artist is forced to follow instructions? How does an artist translate verbal description into visual images? This show challenges artists to create works based solely on brief descriptions of historical monsters, creatures, cryptids, and yokai. Each artist works from the imagination and in any medium s/he chooses to render the assigned monster. The artist agree not to engage in external research; they are barred from viewing existent renditions of these creatures whether online or in print. They work in a visual vacuum. The result is an archive of contemporary representations of the many bizarre and wonderful monsters of the world.
This was my creature description:
Airavat ( India )- They were known as the multi-headed white elephants that were usually the steeds of the Vedic gods. The white elephants not only had muti-heads but numerous extra limbs, trunks, tusks , etc depending on the artistic renditions. They were known as immensely powerful creatures ( near unstoppable to their destinations) and were always a symbol of royalty. there image has spread to other cultures as well including Thailand.
And this was the result:
There are 4 heads, each with a different expression. there are 8 limbs in total and it stands on a sort of point giving it an almost weightless look. I wanted to portray this creature as an idol, an object you would put on an altar. Airavat is a needle felted sculpture that took approximately 2 days to complete. It was sold at the show. May it bring luck and swift and unwaivering journeys to it’s new owner. Perhaps someday I can adapt this sculpture into a ceramic piece. I think that would look lovely.
I made these during the holidays. Country Rabbit was a present for my best friend and I haven’t decided what to do with City Rabbit yet. It’s difficult to part with him.
