A message
I opened my Etsy shop early August, 2019. My last post remarked it was going well, but few orders were placed. As of April 2020, the shop is now established and orders keep coming in, despite our self quarantine during the Covid-19 crisis. Treehouse Felt Flowers has been my saving grace during the pandemic. Every morning I have a goal of making flowers. For gifts to friends during these hard times. For Easter baskets. To cheer kids doing schoolwork at home. For Mother’s Day. The orders have gotten smaller in flower quantity, but bigger in meaning. I have been challenged to make flowers I’ve never dreamed of making. Treehouse Felt Flowers on IG is approaching 2000 followers. Without this small business, I would feel more isolated. Without this small business, I would feel more stress. Because of this small business, I have a goal and purpose each morning. Thank you to everyone who has placed an order, or liked a post. It means so much to me. Astrid
Felt Succulents…the gateway felt flower
Felt succulents, my gateway felt flower. About 3 years ago, I began making felt ornaments for my Halloween and Christmas trees. I loved looking online for ideas for ornament patterns, and that was where I began to see some beautiful work from other felt artists. When my daughter asked me to make her a felt flower wreath, I asked her where she got the example photo from. She said Target. I was amazed Target had felt wreaths for sale! I had no idea there was an interest in felt flowers! I began to explore more examples online and found a whole community of talented people making art with felt. And so I was hooked. My first felt flower attempt was when I was back east, spending time with my Mom in Hospice care. I had brought felting supplies with me to help pass time, but did not bring a glue gun. So I hand sewed petals together and made my first rose. Which looked a LOT like a succulent. Around that time I discovered Benzie Design, and their precut felt ovals for making succulents. Again, I liked the results and kept going.
First succulents from Benzie Design felt precut ovals.
Hand sewn, my first felt flower attempt wasn't very good, but I wanted to try more!
As I made more and more felt succulents and flowers, I got the idea to make all the flowers for my wedding. Succulents were (and still are) very popular for weddings, and being the person I am, I wanted something different. So I stopped making succulents and concentrated on flowers. But that's another Post.
Fast forward 2 years, and my dear friend asks me to make her a felt succulent candle ring for a hurricane glass for her dining room table. I hadn't worked with succulents for several years, and had forgotten how much fun they are to make.
I look back now on these simple little flowers and succulents I started with, and see how far my persistence in improving has taken me. I hand cut every piece and petal, and use pastels, fabric markers and embroidery to add texture and detail. I hope to keep improving and creating these little pieces of soft art.
So my point? Start small. But start somewhere, with something you think you may love. And persist. You will get better. I can't wait to see what I'll be making 2 years from now.
Basic felt succulents.
Detail of candle ring.
Detail of embroidered succulent, to add texture.
The ring will be on a table, therefore it will be viewed up close. So it has to be perfect!
Finished candle ring!
Adding dimension
The key to realistic-looking felt flowers is dimension. Dimension, or depth, can be achieved with adding shape by seaming, or folding the felt, or by shading. I am always amazed at how realistic felt flowers can look, especially knowing that they started as a flat piece of felt. I use an old flatiron hair straightener to put creases in petal. Watercolor paint, fabric markers, and pastels all can be used to heighten the illusion and make the flowers look real. The color gradation on these lilies is from pastels, and the small dots are fabric marker. All combined, they really make the flowers look real! What do you think?
Both pastels and ironing have helped given dimension to this flower.
Lilies and cherry blossoms