After Christmas had passed and we were feeling slightly more healthy I ventured out into Copenhagen to get some fresh air and stretch my legs a little. In one shop I saw some beautiful Christmas decorations made of felt, all reduced due to physical ailments but inspirational non the less. I bought a pack of tiny little snowmen to add to our box of decorations for next year. I put the idea of trying to make my own on my 'must try one day soon' mental list and set about researching needle felting in closer detail.
A few weeks ago whilst perusing Pinterest for ideas, I saw a dog, it happened to be crafted from needle felt and made to look like it's real life self. I immediately emailed my husband and suggested we order two as a gift for his father and his father's girlfriend. "Hmmm" came the reply, "they are a bit expensive" followed by the highly annoying, frequently used, rhetorical question "don't you think?". Well, yes I did think so but better that they are expensive and accurate, after all, it's no good paying less for a dog and ending up with a dog's dinner.
I ordered a starter kit of felt and various colors to practice with, harbouring the optimistic idea that eventually I could make some passable Christmas decorations as a gift. The package duly arrived from the UK and I opened it up with curiosity, I had no idea how easy or otherwise it would be to felt having never tried it before. As this is my year of creativity I got straight to work, not giving myself time to doubt my abilities.
What a revelation, I can't remember the last time I loved something quite so instantly, my children aside. Within an hour I had made two snowmen, both of which will now live forever more on our Christmas tree. The children were excited too, they all wanted a turn with some felt and a needle so I let them have a try. You need a certain awareness so as not to stab yourself in the finger with the teeny tiny, sharp as lightening needle and it doesn't really come the first time you try. Our fingers are testament to that. Concentration and care become your best friend and after a while the boys became totally quiet, aside from the scratch scratch scratching of their needle going into their felt. They produced an apple and a strawberry on their first attempt and also caught the felting bug. Their next project is to create a little mouse to trick their Pappa with... they are boys after all.
I am not one to sit back once I have all the tools I need to get going on an idea and the bags of black wool were just teasing me from the depths of my art cupboard. It was time to try creating the dogs. There followed a very pleasant Sunday afternoon, I sat on the carpet next to the three year old who was playing cars and felted. It took some time but time was on my side thanks to the weather and the family happily engaged in their own pursuits.
Dog number one I finished that day in a three hour sitting, dog number two I made over the course of two evenings a little later in the week. I think they look like younger versions of their older selves but we all think the personalities of each dog comes through, the elder dog always loved chewing on his toys so he is lying down cuddling a turtle toy. My little versions now live with my Father in Law and his girlfriend up in Norway who both seemed to love the little creations. I am thrilled I gave them a try and so predictably is my husband although for slightly different reasons!
Order number two is sitting in the basket on the felting website, roving wool is really not very expensive. I would say the dogs cost about 100kr each and they are covered in 100% merino wool so they feel very soft. I want to try and make a hairband next, I have an idea, I just need wool. Plus, there is that little brown mouse to make for Pappa too...
I ordered my felting supplies from
Cotton Patch and they were great quality, very quick delivery and excellent value.
