Amazing Felted Dolls Get National Exposure!

"When you cannot get a compliment any other way, pay yourself one."
- Mark Twain

Let's face it...accepting compliments is something we all would do well to get better at...but more than that, I have come to know how important it is for us to find Self Appreciaeion first and foremost. We can only give, that which we have, and
Self-Love is a garden in your being that deserves tending each and every day.

I confess that in the early days of my relationship with my husband, I relied too heavily on his "approval" of my art for encouragement to keep at it.

I drew a lot in those days (just about every night!) while he practiced music and recorded songs. If he came into my art studio and left without complimenting or commenting on my work - I could be crushed. For me, the simple lack of verbal approval equated to lack of approval. What a precarious situation I put myself in!

As time went on, I learned to be less "needy" and more focused on both what I was "giving" to my art and what I was "getting" in the joy of the process. It became less and less about what other people thought, and more and more about putting my heart into it and enjoying the creation as it came through me.

More than the outcome, and more than praise from others, I hope you will give your SELF Love, Appreciation and Joy today - just for being who you are, and just for doing "your" thing in you own, unique and fabulous way.

As always, we wish you happy felting, and let us know if you have any questions or need any support by emailing us at
customer service@livingfelt.com

With Love,
Marie

The Living Felt 2010 International Felting Contest Winners
are featured in a gorgeous article in
Art Doll Quarterly's Spring 2011 Issue

You'll LOVE this 7-page article that shares brilliant photos of all six winners, along with some insights
about them, their work and their feelings about participating in the contest.

We're still cooking up our plans for this year's contest, but in the meantime, be sure to bookmark the page
that will allow you to get your copy on the way!

When the issue is available,
you'll want to order your copy here.

In 2010 Living Felt held an International Felting Contest with two themes: Felted Dolls
and Alice In Wonderland.

The contest was designed to inspire quality in craftsmanship, to encourage artists to reach for their very best effort, to create a lasting source of inspiration to artists, and to support promotion of felting as an artistic medium.

We received over 50 fabulous entries

Like this darling rendition of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum by Catherine Burnside.		And this wonderful needled felted Avatar by Patricia Bierer

See all entries online here.

Would You Like to Learn How to Needle Felt a Doll?

Living Felt offers three different doll kits that will give
you a wonderful array of techniques and processes
for creating your own masterpieces, family heirlooms
and perhaps even commissioned works!

Cathi Bartles created this amazing
and vibrant doll from our Art Doll Kit

Laura Burke also started wit the Art Doll Kit
and created a line she calls her "Gossip Girls"

The Art Doll workshop teaches you how to use found objects for bodies -
which has always been one of Marie's favorite ways to make dolls.
(In truth - she "sees" a face on almost everything -- so this all started
by her holding up a needle felted head to a piece of driftwood!)

This workshop will show how to do that also, plus it will show you
how to create a wire armature body.

The focus is to teach you techniques so that
YOUR creative inspiration can take over.

The CD has over 11 Modules/classes that take you step by step
through the process. What you get on the CD are image-packed
lessons that are in PDF form, which you can view on your computer
or print out for easy reference.

The CD also has mini-video tutorials to support the printable lessons.
These will get you up close on some important processes that will
make a great difference in your doll. One such set of videos is for
creating the eyes. The eyes are really important in making your doll
look more "alive" and real - even if it is a cartoony type character.

You can either get the "Complete Kit" which includes absolutely everything
you need to make this doll, or you can purchase the CD only.

If you prefer to make a doll that uses armature only - and not "found objects"
for bodies, try our Santa Doll CD/Kit or our Character DollCD/ Kit.

The two are very similar, but the Santa Kit adds on needle felting
a coat or cloak, needle felting a beard, and the kit includes a wooden 4-needle tool.


Needle Felting a Santa Doll		Needle Felting a Character Doll

Mail Us Your FELTING Wish List

We are finalizing our list of new items to bring to you in 2011, and we'd love to know
what's on YOUR list?

Just drop us a line to marie@livingfelt.com,
and tell us what items you'd like available
from LIVING FELT this year.

We are enjoying receiving your emails & suggestions for new products! Keep them coming so we can bring you all of your favorite felting supplies in 2011!

Irma Hoani needle felted this darling and
realistic Slow Loris doll for a customer.
Irma is one of our featured artists. Needle felted with
New Zealand Corriedale Wool. Check out more
of her work on our artists page here and on her website.

She posted this on facebook -- stop by to see even
more great pics by our mutual felting friends!

This lovely pup was needle felted by Amanda Berkeley of Talent, OR.
She’s just beginning, but already doing great. And adding that real
Samoyed fur makes this figurine a great keepsake!
Thanks for sharing with us, Amanda. Creations like this one
are a perfect fit for our core wool. Use the core wool for the
base shape of your project, and then cover that with a dyed wool
or real fur like Amanda did.

“[My] second needle felting attempt. Needle felted Samoyed of wool
covered with a thin layer of Samoyed fur. About 9" tall and 9" long. Best!”

Amanda Berkeley ~ Talent, OR

Amanda's sweetie appeared on our Felting Friends Blog

Every month we give away Living Felt Gift Certificates
just for sharing your photos! Winners are selected by
random drawing of all entries for the month.
Send us your photos for a chance to win a Gift Certificate
for loads of felting fun from iIving Felt!

If you sent in a photo and don't see your entry, either it is yet to be
published or not clear enough for publication, we need clear, crisp photos
-- Please send the best photos you can! :)

More Felting Friends Pics on the Blog!

Living Felt Friends on Facebook

How to Submit Your Photos

Join us on facebook, and become a friend of LIVING FELT where you can upload your felted creations for all to enjoy!

Sending My Blessings,
Marie Spaulding
www.LivingFelt.com ~ Act on Your Inspired Ideas!

P. S.
On behalf of all of us here at Living Felt, I thank you for your letters, emails, pictures, and facebook posts. We truly love hearing from you, receiving your echoes of joy at tapping into your Inner Creativity, feeling the wonder and exhilaration of expressing from your heart. All of us here read your notes, and we all give thanks that we can be of service in lighting up that brilliant, brilliant light within you, and reminding you that it was with you all along.