My name is Claire Whittington, and I live in Staffordshire, UK. I have no background in art in any way, other than playing with modeling clay with my children over the years.
I discovered Needle Felting in 2015, when a friend of mine shared a photo of a needle felted dog she had seen on Facebook. I had no idea what needle felting was but was intrigued, so I spent the whole weekend watching Youtube tutorials. I told my Husband that I wanted to go to a craft store because I wanted to try something I'd seen.
So after dropping him off at work on Monday, I went in search of some wool and barbed needles! I bought a very cheap kit, but didn't make what was on the box. Instead, I attempted to make our lovely Lurcher Dog, Ben. I was Hooked from that first day of stabbing.
I still have that first needle felt, and I encourage any newbies to keep an early piece, untouched and not reworked, as a reminder of how far you've come. It's amazing how much you can improve in 6 months, 12 months, a year! I used to think I would get quicker with experience... in reality, I just get more detailed, making my own eyes, noses, collars and mouth parts.
Finding needle felting has been an unexpected pleasure, meeting some wonderful new friends and finding something I love to do.
More of Claire's amazing work can be found on her Instagram and Facebook page (links below) Claire is always happy to take commissions and can be contacted this way also! Her creations make very special gifts for friends and family!
https://www.facebook.com/clairewhittingtonart
NAOKO BRICKELL- COOPER + PRICKLE
I'm Naoko Brickell and I run COOPER + PRICKLE as a designer / creator / artist.
I have been felting since 2017 and completely in love with needle felting despite countless stabbing wounds and sleep deprivation through out the last couple of years.
I have been mainly taking commissions for wool sculptures of people's beloved dogs and kitties, But now I'm little more confident, I've started to make what I've been always wanted to make, wild animals with a bit of my own design.
I'd love to create artwork that can tell stories, story of the beloved family member who sadly passed away, story of the fox lurking in my garden, story of that rabbit in the nature reserve nearby...I hope people will pick up my artwork and enjoy the stories behind them.
I regularly update on instagram: @cooperprickle
Website: http://www.cooperprickle.com
Naoko uses Hamanaka Wool Candy, Hamanaka Real Felt Wool and HandCrafter Superfast Felting Wool in her stunning creations!
JODIE GRIFFIN - DOODLE & DOOFUS
Named after my life saving Medical Detection Dog "Nimbus Doofus" and my cheeky pet dog "Buddy Doodle". I specialise in creating miniatures of peoples own pets. I have Autism and several complex medical conditions so
I started felting as a hobby to help distract from the stress of my illness. I soon became addicted!
I opened up my online shop and have since made lots of different miniature pets from photographs sent in by customers. I love to use sweet pea dolls wool, especially the super fast felting wool which is definitely my favourite to use in all of my sculptures.
Jodie's lovely shop, Doodle & Doofus features her stunning creations and we highly recommend taking a look by clicking on the following link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DoodleandDoofusUK
Alternatively, to keep up with Jodie's latest work and get in touch for custom pet commissions, please pop along to her Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/doodleanddoofus/
Jodie uses the HandCrafter Superfast Wool range in her gorgeous creations.
MARY DEY - WONDERMOO CRAFTS
Hi all, my name is Mary and I am the creator of WonderMooCrafts a small business dedicated to my hand-made creations. I am a self-taught needle felting artist and stop-motion animator.
I started needle felting when my sister bought me a kit for my 22nd birthday and I fell in love with it! So 4 years on decided to fully commit to turning my passion into a small business. I love all things cute and I get my inspiration from anime, games and movies.
I get all my equipment from this lovely shop, and most of my items are made using Hamanaka Aclaine ❤
To keep updated with my work all links are below including my shop. Custom orders are available!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WonderMooCrafts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondermoocrafts/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRxZtIzppZW4jbASLeDlYA
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WonderMooCrafts
KATIE FOLEY - THE DUSTY BUNNY
Hi, I’m Katie Foley, I’ve been needle felting for over a year and love it so much! I love working with wool and watching something come to life from a ball of fluff into a cute creation. I recently got more confidence and started making more life like animals. I started out making mini dolls of bunny rabbits, cats, foxes, bear and dolls but then went on to do dog portraits of people’s pets.
I love working with the needle felting wool from Sweet Pea Dolls especially the Handcrafter super fast felting fibre! It really is a game changer and the colour selection is fab! The Hamanaka felting yarn is amazing to work with and makes such cute fur for poodles and curly dog breeds really easy to use too!
I take commissions on my Facebook page and Etsy shop for orders and have loved making lots of different breeds of dogs, please feel free to send me a message on either if you are interested in a mini needle felt dog.
www.facebook.com/dustybunnyuk
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheDustyBunnyUK
JANE SPENCER - THE UGLY HOUSE
I’m Jane from The Ugly House!
The Ugly House got its name when we purchased a very ugly house and renovated it. When it was finished, I crafted things to make my Ugly House into a home and I haven't stopped since! Everything I make, I have a version of it. I start by making something I love, then I make more to share which led to me opening my Etsy shop!
My first felt portrait was my of my daughter. One of my rescue dogs feature in my pet portrait gallery!
My passion is fibre art, in particular needle felting and wet felting. I'm adding new fibres and techniques to my repertoire all the time. My green Man series combines everything I have learned so far with textiles. I love the tactile textural effect of using fibre and the versatility of wool.
I love making felt wreaths. These combine 2D and 3D needlefelting, wetfelting for the backgrounds and some free motion machine embroidery. I love the ‘Snow’ super fast felting fibre from Sweet Pea Dolls. It’s the whitest wool I have found and I use it for my snow men and snow hares. I made my tiny little robin’s using Simon Brown’s Robin special edition colour set!
To view more of Jane's beautiful creations, we highly recommend a visit to her Etsy store which can be found here - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheUglyHouse
To keep up to date with Jane's latest creations, please pop over to her Facebook and Instagram pages -
https://www.facebook.com/theuglyhouse96/
https://www.instagram.com/theuglyhouse/
KAREN JIPSON - FELTS TO LOVE
My name is Karen Jipson and I am from Brightlingsea in Essex. I have always been into arts and crafts and I am always creating something.
I started needle felting in December 2018 after seeing a stall with lots of lovely needle felt creations, at an event I was doing.
It was something I have wanted to try for ages and never got round to it. I ordered a few kits from Sweet Pea Dolls and that was it I was hooked. I then ordered some wool and decided to have ago at my own creations. It was not long before orders came in from customers to felt their pet dogs. Then an unusual challenge came from my niece, a dragon. I have had the most amazing feedback from him, that has now brought in even more unusual orders.
I like to use Hamanaka Watawata core wool, Hamanaka Aclaine fibre, and Super Fast Felting Wool from Sweet Pea Dolls for my needle felt creations.
I look forward to the future to what this amazing fibre art brings.
To follow more of Karen's amazing work, please follow the links below to her Facebook page and amazing brand new Etsy shop!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/feltstolove19/
Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FeltsToLove
Karen uses Hamanaka Watawata, Aclaine and HandCrafter Super Fast Felting Wool in her stunning creations!
DANIELLE GATEJ
Danielle's amazing work never ceases to amaze us! Originally a polymer clay and resin artist, Danielle recently discovered the wonder of needle felting and has quickly developed a style which has gained much praise from all over the world! Just look at the super cute hedgehog!
To view more of Danielle's gorgeous creations, or get in touch for commissions, please visit her facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Les-petits-di-Danielle-245056705868122/
Danielle's lovely hedgehog was made with our Hedgehog Mohair fabric.
GEMMA WEEKS - LITTLE GEMS CROCHET
I think it’s safe to say that I have a slight obsession with crafts! I have tried lots of different arts and crafts over the years, and whilst I still do a lot of them (particularly drawing and jewellery making), after I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in 2012 crochet became my therapy and my dominant craft. In the early stages of my illness, I needed something to take my mind off things, so I picked up a crochet hook and some wool that I had stored a few years previously after a pretty unsuccessful attempt at crocheting a hat!
The second time around, I took to crochet like a duck to water – I don’t know why I found it so much easier than my first attempt, but suddenly I was able to crochet both in straight rows and in circles. Within a week or so, I had made a couple of small crochet toys and I was ‘hooked’!
After a lot more practice and a lot of requests from family and friends asking me to make them things, I realised that there was scope to turn my hobby into a business venture and Little Gems Crochet was born! The name is a bit of a play on words, as I thought that ‘little gems’ was a cute way to describe my products, and my name is Gemma so it just seemed right. Originally, I sold my products in a local farm shop and after a couple of months, I set up a Facebook page in order to reach a wider audience. Facebook still remains my best source of income, and I also have an Etsy shop which has attracted many regular and new customers alike.
More recently, I have started to introduce a few non-crochet items into my range, and I am partaking in some exciting collaborations with other businesses. I was delighted to be approached by a local shop to ask if they could stock my products, and this is proving to be very successful. One of my most favourite aspects of being a small business owner however is being a part of the very strong community of craft businesses, both online and in my local area. For the past few months, I have been working closely with Sweet Pea Dolls, a wonderful husband-wife team who make stunning needle felted items and supply a wide range of craft materials. I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the yarns sold by Sweet Pea Dolls, many of which are sold exclusively by them in the UK.
If you are interested in owning your very own Little Gems Crochet creation, please take a look at my Etsy shop, Facebook page, or feel free to send me an email. Commissions always welcome!
www.littlegemscrochet.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/littlegemscrochet
littlegemscrochet@gmail.com
Gemma recommends Hamanaka Bonny Yarn as an ideal yarn for crochet creations.
SARAH BROWN - FELTING WITH NATURE
My name is Sarah Brown and I'm addicted to Needle Felting! Over the last 4 year it has quite literally taken over my life and I love it! I started Needle Felting in 2014 at a local workshop. I enjoyed it so much that I began searching Facebook for any other Felters in my area. I couldn't find what I was looking for so created my own Facebook group called "Needle Felting UK." Almost fours years later it has over 10, 300 members and I feel I have just as many new Needle Felting Friends.
I also created myself a Facebook page "Felting with Nature." I started creating for friends and family but recently it has turned into my own little business. I currently have three craft shelves but best of all, I'm spreading the Needle Felting love by teaching my own workshops now and I have had a wonderful response.
I'm adding new workshops all the time and loving every minute. I like to create lots of cute animals and fantasy items, including Gnomes and Toadstools. I love the idea of my little creations living deep in the magical forests that surround the countryside I live in! I love experimenting with all different types of fibres and can't help collecting more and more to try.
If you are looking to learn more about Needle Felting near Suffolk/Norfolk, or you're looking for a workshop or commission, then you can contact me at feltingwithnature@yahoo.co.uk. Happy Felting!
View more of Sarah's amazing work by visiting her Facebook page - Felting With Nature www.facebook.com/feltingwithnature
Sarah uses Hamanaka Aclaine in some of her beautiful felted creations.
HEATHER RAINBIRD
Hi everyone! My name is Heather and I love making needle felted animals! bees, mice and birds are my favourites as I take inspiration from nature,
I have an Etsy shop called Felting Treasures, where you can find my handmade, one-of-a kind felted creations. Please feel free to take a look here - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Feltingtreasures
I use the HandCrafter super fast felting wool from Sweet Pea Dolls.
KIKI SCHNITZELGRUBER
Hi, I am Kiki and I have been felting for 1 1/2 years.
I bought the Hamanaka Aclaine fibre and Curly Felting Yarn to use on my steam punk hare.
I loved it and then ordered the HandCrafter Superfast Felting Wool. Great products!
SUE HOLT - ECLECTIC MIX
My name is Sue Holt and my business is Eclectic Mix. I have always loved making things and when I wanted to give up corporate life I started making things that I could sell at the dog shows that I attend almost weekly throughout the summer. .
I breed and show miniature wire haired dachshunds (www.waldmeisterdachshunds.co.uk )
Hence my business, “Eclectic Mix” was born and I have a trade stand at dog shows, Festivals and Craft Fairs. I also have eBay and Etsy Shops so am kept very busy with commissions and bespoke items. This encompasses leather show leads, a range of dog beds and many more items (all illustrated on my web site www.eclecticmix.net
Felting began soon after and once started, I was hooked. I wet felted hats for a while to take to dog shows and Festivals, then I got into needle felting about 2 years ago and it has taken over my life! I make things that I like, mainly animals – dogs, wildlife, birds. It is so lovely to be able to make replica pets for people, particularly “memory pets” – it is so fulfilling to watch the wool come to life...I am fairly addicted!
Sue uses the HandCrafter Superfast Felting Wool in her fabulous creations.