Felt Mistress

A good friend of mine posted a link on my Facebook and it directed me to visit the world of Felt Mistress. I instantly fell in love with the creatures and characters that were in front of me! Felt Mistress has managed to bring cute and scary together and create some of the most precious characters. Each creation has his or her own back story and unique accessories. These guys are way too cool for school. I caught up with the Felt Mistress and here’s how it went.

You have picked a very strange career path, how did it come about that you’d be creating such lovely teddies? are they teddies?

I’ve never considered them as teddies as to me a teddy is a bear and I don’t make bears, I have made a panda so I suppose you could class that as a bear but my work is mainly monsters/creatures and other strange characters.

As a child I loved puppets, and soft toys and as soon as I was able to sew I made “things”. I trained in fashion and always preferred the technical side pattern cutting and sewing, manipulating fabrics etc. I have a lot of friends who are illustrators and started off making felt versions of characters they had designed or even felt versions of my friends for birthday presents. This just snowballed!

How is each character created? Do they come 100% from your head or is there a chance they are based on anyone?

I work with my partner Jonathan on the character design, he is an illustrator and does amazing sketches which I just have to run off and make in fabric. Some characters are designed specifically for fabric others are things that Jonathan may be working on as an illustration and I’ll spot some sketches and again just have to make. I don’t think any of the characters are based on anyone, although occasionally they may be inspired by people.

How long would you spend on each character, from concept to completion?

Thats such a difficult question as each piece differs so much, some 6-7hrs others can take weeks.

Do you have any favourites?

Again difficult as they’re like my children. But to name a few Tommy Floom, Dwight, Herzog and The Peacock Wrangler. (now I feel bad for the others!) Oh and Clem poor Clem nearly forgot him.

Where can wee expect these? Can they come on a road trip to Ireland?

Currently at Start, Rivington Street, London. I have shows in the UK and overseas. Check my blog for upcoming shows its always been updated. I’m sure they would love to visit Ireland but I have nothing booked there at the moment.

What projects do you have lined up for 2010?

As well as various UK shows and some plush shows in the US .I am working on a project with Hello Brute for his show in Rotofugi, Chicago in April. I am also working with Jon Burgerman again,for one of his shows in a few months time and have a few other exciting things in the pipeline which I’m keeping quiet about at the moment!

You can view stack of Felt Mistress’s characters on her Flickr, but keep up to date with her and check out her other sites.

Felt Mistress Twitter
Felt Mistress Blogspot
Felt Mistress Website (under construction)