felt cafe

Location:

seattle, washington

About Me:

feltmaker and craft enthusiast. during the time i was in japan ('06-'08), i also become a gocco lover, and an craft book addict. i have a spinning wheel named lulu, and i am obsessed with all things fiber and natural dyes.

my main craft endeavor is wet or direct felting. this is a traditional feltmaking process that starts with fluffy wool roving and uses hot water, dish soap, and friction (my hands) to make all the little fibers in the wool lift up and then lock together to form one dense seamless material–felt!

when i was in japan, i finally became inspired to try needle felting, which is the process wherein you stab repeatedly at a bit of wool with a special barbed needle, and it also locks the fibers together. with needle felting you can achieve very detailed shapes, objects, and designs. i made the totoro in my profile picture using this technique.

now that i am back in the u.s., i've been able to play around a lot more with natural dyes. in my opinion indigo is the most amazing (it turns from green to blue before your eyes when it combines with the oxygen in the air!) but i also love the full range of natural colors that can come from using plant extracts...and the unpredictable aspect as well.

i am trying to make my wee business more sustainable, and i currently source my naturally processed merino from a small farm in montana. i hand felt each item one at a time, and then dye them myself in small batches using natural dyes. i also dye my own handspun yarn.

my etsy shop is www.feltcafe.etsy.com.

i am always thinking of other textile projects that i want to try, so in addition to hand felted and hand dyed items, from time to time there will be hand sewn and printed goods as well. and even a few of my favorite japanese craft books:-)

we can be myspace pals at:
www.myspace.com/feltcafe

i love to hear from other crafty folks, via convo or email, your choice. if you have a question about felt, or print gocco, or japan, i would be happy to try to help you out.

Gender:

Gal

I am a/an:

Independent Artist/Designer, Blogger, Shopper

(Designers only) I create:

felted and hand dyed objects including scarves, iphone sleeves and ipod cozies, and baby booties; felt making kits; hand spun and hand dyed yarn; gocco prints on textile goods.

(Designers only) I am willing to do:

Custom orders, Consignment, Wholesaling

(Designers only) I have been featured on:

design sponge, coolhunting,

(Designers only) My work is sold at:

feltcafe.etsy.com
wooden apples atelier, toronto.

Website:

http://feltcafe.etsy.com

Website #2:

http://feltcafe.net

Website #3:

http://feltcafe.blogspot.com

Favorite Designers/Artists:

andrea zittel, joseph bueys, giacometti,

Favorite Music/Musicians:

the national, the mountain goats, arcade fire, coco rosie, beirut, bright eyes, sera cahoone, the shins,

Favorite TV Show & Movies:

japanese dramas, grey's anatomy, project runway, the simpsons, arrested development. annie hall, you me and everyone we know, blade runner, the devil wears prada.