Today’s giveaway is from Daria, who’s Etsy shop is called The Art of Felting. Her shop is full of such wonderful, magical creations, all made from wool. Let’s get to know Daria a little better.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
About myself shortly:
Born in Minsk (Belorussia) I live in Israel. I’m a Mother for three adorable daughters 7, 5 and three year old, studying in Waldorf
educational system. I work mostly with natural fibers (wool, silk and others) and the field of my activity is quite wide, for I create
tapestries, dolls, felted animals and different items for natural tables. It’s hard to say what my favorite is.
What inspires your creations?
I draw my inspiration from the world around me, observing my kids and their friends, from studying the Steiner legacy. Sometimes I
wake up with a ready image in my mind and feel necessity of creating it. One of the most important sources is found in the costumers’
orders and feedback.
How do you balance your family life with creating?
I’m busy all the time with my family and my art. My art is a part
of my life as my family is. My kids play with toys I’ve made and run
natural table with felted items. Thus it’s hard to say how I balance
it, it comes naturally as breathing.
When did you start creating?
Art was always a big part of my life. I was painting sculpting and working with clay trying, to express myself in different artistic
mediums. I was introduced to the world of felting through the Waldorf community. The kindergarten, which my elder daughter started visiting, did not allow storing bought toys so I made her one, then another one. Next thing, I was making all her friends toys too. Little by little it became not only a hobby, but also a business.
What thoughts do you have for parents on natural toys for creative play?
According to Waldorf education is very important to develop kid’s imagination. The knowledge and experience he/she will purchase with the years, but the importance of childhood is to keep and support the source of creativity by playing with natural toys which inspire imagination.
Today Daria is giving away this needle felted Waldorf King Winter-standing doll-soft sculpture. King Winter is a relative of Santa. Sometimes they come together, but more often King Winter comes earlier and stays longer. The presents he gives are much less personal: white frost decorating the windows in your room, the snow banks shining in the rays of the cool winter sun, and festal white clad trees.
Here’s how to enter;
Visit The Art of Felting and leave us a comment letting us know what your favorite item in her shop is.
For additional entries;
(leave a separate comment for each entry, if you don’t, they count as one)
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Giveaway is open wordwide.
We will choose a winner randomly on September 15th, 2011. (Please, make sure we have a way to contact you!)
Julie Hunter is a single mama raising 3 spirited girls, two babydoll sheep, angora rabbits and a gaggle of chickens and ducks in the North Carolina Foothills. She spends her days at home, crafting with her children, homeschooling, taking long gathering walks in the woods and knitting Waldorf-inspired toys. You can find her blogging and keeping shop at This Cosy Life.
