Art & Design,HobbiesAUG 7, 2023

From Discarded Dolls To Creepy Delights: 43 Creatures That I Brought To Life Through Needle Felting

I started needle felting around 2017 after a trip to Vancouver in Canada. I visited Granville Island Market where I met a needle felt artist – I was amazed by her work. I instantly knew it was something I wanted to try.

When I got back, I watched a bunch of YouTube tutorials and tried out a ton of different-sized needles and fibers until I found what worked for me. I mainly made pet portraits for friends and family in the beginning, both 2D and 3D. Then during lockdown, I was furloughed from work and found myself with lots of time to really experiment and have fun with it.

I take a lot of inspiration from my childhood, I’m a '90s kid, so have a particular love of that era – it was a weird time full of creeps like Mr. Blobby, Barney, and the Teletubbies. I'm also a huge fan of artist Mark Ryden, and I take a lot of inspiration from his cute but slightly creepy paintings.

More info: Instagram | ifeltkitsch.com

#1 Teletubbie Apples

29points

The majority of my doll heads come from car boot sales and charity shops. I’ve also found a couple of lost dolls out in the street or in the park while walking my dog – I will admit that I’ve taken a couple out of the bins behind the back of a charity shop... I love the idea of rescuing them and giving them a new lease of life.

Lots of my followers comment that they look much happier in their new bodies. When I choose a head to work with, I very rarely have a plan for what I’m going to make. Instead, I just start felting and let the face decide!

To see more, check out my Instagram.