Miss Bumbles Felting Queen
I first stumbled upon needle felting nearly seven years ago, and became a felting obsessive, almost immediately I started selling my creations here on Etsy.
Each item takes at least three hours to produce, bigger more complicated ones take far longer up to two or three days.
I only work with British and Norwegian wools, some times using the natural colour for animals, who knew Shetland wool is perfect for mice and rabbits!
The process of needle feting is a little like sculpture, you build up the piece slowly, turning and working the wool, its very flexible, you can even stretch it.
You can use an armature if you like, (make sure to wrap the wire with knitting wool so the wool has something to adhere to) or freeform.
If you make a mistake you can take some scissors and cut it or shape it, adding fresh new wool or even sew a limb back on!
I begin building my pieces with very course wool. A couple of summer's ago I started working with wool that is used for house insulation, this was because I could't get hold of my usual supply...The sheep couldn't grow it fast enough...
This wool comes in very large rolls, it has been treated and yet still smells of sheep. One roll lasts an entire year, longer if I make tiny pieces.
Since I began needle felting I've built up an ever expanding collection of ribbons and bibbons, I've discovered vintage handkerchiefs make excellent little animal's skirts and dresses, (it's the very fine weave) rest assured they are careful washed before being used!
I'm on the lookout for anything that can be used in my Bumbles creations, I can't ignore any charity shop, flea market or car boot in the quest for stuff...
Ah as Miss Bumbles I am very dedicated to my art.