needlework

Indie Artist Spotlight: Alina Bunaciu of hanaletters

~ jama ~ 17 Comments

In a small corner of the second-hand bookshop she runs with her fiancé in Arad, Romania, Alina Bunaciu of hanaletters works her needle and felt magic to create her very own enchanted fairy tale world.

Inspired by her love of illustrated children’s books, vintage postcards, dolls, miniatures, and Korean pop culture, Alina has tapped into the very essence of “kawaii” cuteness with her sweet and whimsical doll characters and wee forest friends.

Nerdy Teddy

Ever since Cornelius first spotted Alina’s Nerdy Teddy a few months ago, we’ve been smitten with her handmade brooches and necklaces. We definitely have a thing for animals wearing glasses and adorable/slightly cheeky girls donning animal hats and mustaches.

Simple lines, bright colors, charming details, and a feeling of innocence define Alina’s creations. She named her business, “hanaletters,” after the Japanese word for flower. She designs, cuts and sews everything herself, and there’s a flower growing in a hidden place on each of her brooches. ✿

*   *   *

Continue reading →

not a creature was stirring . . . except these mice

~ jama ~ 18 Comments

Eek! There’s a mouse in the house!

They’ve invaded the Alphabet Soup kitchen. But we don’t mind one bit, because they’re all handmade by indie artists and want you to adopt them. Perfect stocking stuffers for the cheese heads on your gift list. Twelve, for the Twelve Days of Christmas; includes a couple of patterns/kits for you do-it-yourselfers (clickety click). Catch them before they run up the clock. 🙂

christmasmouse
Merino Wool Little Christmas Mouse by feltingdreams
micepattern
Mischievous Mice PDF email knitting pattern
beigemouse
Needle Felted Beige Mouse by HelenDream

Continue reading →

Indie Artist Spotlight: Mia Nieminen of HandmadebyMia

~ jama ~ 26 Comments
Felted birdie bag
Mia’s felted birdie bag

It’s always a good day when you find something lovely that makes you stop, smile and wonder who created it.

I was instantly taken with Mia’s hand knit, needle felted purses, bags and cozies with their charming big-eyed birds, adorable animals and colorful flowers. How could you not smile at something like this:

Felted cat&birdie
Felted cat and birdie bag

or this:

orange

Using 100% Finnish wool and vintage fabrics, Mia designs, knits, sews, felts and decorates each and every piece herself. The birdie pouch and bunny cozy I ordered arrived on my doorstep zippity quick.

You can just feel the love and care she puts into her work. Holding one of her cheery creations is like getting a warm, joyous hug from the Land of the Midnight Sun.

IMG_1207
Mia’s cozies are perfect for smart phones or smart bears. 🙂

I’m so glad Mia agreed to visit us today all the way from faraway Finland. Yes, she does take custom orders and also makes a few Moomin items. Enjoy! 🙂

* * *

Continue reading →

Indie Artist Spotlight: Bossy’s Feltworks

~ jama ~ 46 Comments
bossysfeltworks_1 (2)
The Bossies: Kari Van Gelder, Mandy Troxel, and Amy Lum

Today I’m pleased and excited to welcome three very bossy artists to help launch my new Indie Artist Spotlight series!

Three is a good number, I think — three times the talent, beauty, spunk, ingenuity, and brilliance. Three times the luck, three times the inspiration for us all, and yes, three times the bossy craftiness. 🙂

Kari, Mandy, and Amy work together as a needle felting cooperative called Bossy’s Feltworks on Orcas Island, a 57-square mile creative Eden north of Seattle in Washington state.

bossysfeltworks_18 (2)
Valentine’s Pin Cushion featuring Suffolk lambs

If, like me, you love and appreciate the handmade and heartmade — you’ll enjoy hearing from this enterprising threesome who, back in 2006, took piles of fleece sheared from the sheep on Amy’s farm, gathered around the kitchen table with their five young daughters underfoot, and began fashioning colorful balls and adorable little white sheep.

bossysfeltworks_11 (2)
Basket of felted balls at the Orcas Island Farmer’s Market.
bossysfeltworks_3 (2)
Tools of the Trade: hands, wool, needles

In no time at all, they set off on regular flights of fancy, fueled by endless cups of tea and snacks (!), a shared love of children’s books, inspiration from a menagerie of pets and farm animals, and steadily built an enthusiastic customer base via Etsy and a local farmer’s market. Their felted critters are irresistible — not only well made, but infused with the good feelings of friendship, family, and the joy of maximizing what each is uniquely qualified to bring to the table. Thanks so much for visiting today, Bossy Ladies!

* * *

Continue reading →