My name is Eva Camacho-Sánchez of Lana Handmade, and I am a crafter and feltmaker born and raised in Andalucía, Spain, now living in western Massachusetts.

I learned to create from my mother, who grew up in a poor, rural village, and had no choice but to make her own clothes, sheets and other textiles in the 1940s. Her passion for creating and the importance of self-sufficiency was instilled in me at an early age, though my artistic passion only came alive when, as an adult, I discovered the amazing qualities of wool and the wonderful art of felting.

Most of my items are made with wool from local farms, using Icelandic and Romney varieties for housewares, and Merino for wearables. I buy the fleeces directly from farmers, then wash, dye and card them myself. I enjoy being part of the entire process, which includes visiting the farms to select my own fleeces while still on the sheep.

My technique is wet-felting, and all of my foundations consist of wool, water and soap. I use silk and other fabrics with nuno felted items, and silver or beads for jewelry. India Flint's book, Eco-Colour, inspired me to start making eco-printed felt. Eco-printing is a very complex technique using leaves and other materials with natural pigments and colors, such as rusted nails. The materials are layered on the felt, bundled together and then treated with moisture and heat. I normally use eucalyptus leaves that are cultivated at a local farm in the Pioneer Valley along with other leaves that I find on the ground, such as leaves from oak and maple trees. I hope to inspire others to continue this wonderful art while maintaining an ethic of self-sufficiency using natural products.