Monday, December 28, 2009

Needle Felted Santas!

I figured I'd better post these pictures before Easter comes and no one cares anymore. These are four Santas a local lady commissioned me to make for Christmas this year. These guys are all made from 100% wool and dry needle felted. Basically I use a special barbed needle to poke, poke, poke the wool, compressing and shaping as I go until the doll is firm and in the shape I want. I use a wire armature in all my dolls so they can be gently posed.
There are many wonderful tutorials on the internet if you'd like to learn more about needle felting.
Here's all four Santas. I apologize for the lack of scale. The largest is about 14 inches tall:
This is the smallest. A traditional Santa. I liked his bald head too much to cover it up with a hat:Here's a close up of the Old World Santa along with the small traditional guy:
And here's a close up what I called the Jolly Old Elf (left) and Cartoon Santa:
Here's the cartoonish Santa outside. His wrists and ankles are exaggeratedly small. He was fun to make:

You can't see it but Old World Santa has a red tassel hanging from the back of his hood. I think he's my favorite.


Here's the Jolly Old Elf outside among the holiday greens. He has vintage shell buttons down his shirt. His hands gave me trouble:

Well there they are! I have some more one of a kind needle felted figures almost done and I'm hoping to get my Etsy shop up and running to offer them for sale. Will post when they're available.
Thanks for letting me share!





8 comments:

TroElli said...

You. Are. Amazing. These are truly stunning, Ang. Can't wait to see what creations 2010 and etsy has to bring. D~

Unknown said...

I had the same thought, you are amazing, those are so cute. It's hard to believe you can do the things you do with needlefelting. Linda

country mouse said...

Like Clarice said--it's the entire work but especially the faces that astound me! They're just charming, Angie : )

Gumbo Lily said...

Angie, you've got a gift. What beautiful Santas with such expression and form. You are amazing!

Jody

abby jenkins said...

Wow, those are spectacular! Sorry I stumbled upon your blog so late in the game, seems as though you have moved on.... well these Santas will live online forever!

Brenda Courtney said...

I love the Old World Santa...he looks like "Father Christmas" that they have in Europe (where we have lived quite a bit throughout the years).

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