The Woolly Beginnings!
It all started in September 2020 when I remodeled my laundry room. I saw an inspirational photo that had “dryer balls” made from wool. I had been wanting an eco-friendly, healthy, sustainable, and pet-friendly alternative to dryer sheets. I researched how to make dryer balls and the rest is history.
My first needle-felted dryer ball.
I thought he was too cute for that purpose and gave him to my mother-in-law.
“To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.” -Mahatma Gandhi
In my journey of learning this art form, I discovered that these fibers are incredibly flexible in their use. Thus allowing the artist to be limited only by imagination! Almost everything I have learned was through Marie Spaulding. She owns www.livingfelt.com and is an amazing teacher through her YouTube videos and felting tutorials in her school www.feltingtutorials.com
Evolution of my art…
As a child, I loved animals and drawing. My path led me to become a veterinary specialty nurse. Animal welfare is a concern of mine even in retirement. I only include fibers from humanely treated animals.
As I learned more about the source of my fibers it became very clear that I had options! I was concerned about where and how the fibers I used were obtained. I absolutely didn’t want to use fibers sourced from sheep that had been museled, or any animals that were kept in unhealthy, overcrowded, and stressful conditions.
I discovered a source for my fibers that shared the same values of gathering fibers in a humane, ethical, and responsible manner! The company, Living Felt, also uses an environmentally safe process to clean, and prepare the fibers. No harsh or dangerous chemicals are used! You can read about this powerhouse, woman-owned business, and her mission at this link below.
〰️Responsibly Sourced
〰️Sustainability
〰️Hand Crafted
〰️Responsibly Sourced 〰️Sustainability 〰️Hand Crafted
I am a fiber artist that specializes in creating bespoke OOAK art from fibers and mixed media. I painstakingly needle the fibers into place to create an image or sculpture. In other cases, I use pure olive oil soap from France, water, time, and pressure to coax the fibers together. Some works constitute more than 20-90 hours of labor. I strive to create heirloom works that will be handed down through generations.
My pieces are made with meticulous attention to detail, care, and love. I do not rush through the process, and I often find that the treasure “speaks itself into the existence it wants to be”! This has led a treasure to start as one thing and become something else many times. My goal is to evoke feelings such as inspiration, luxury, swoon-worthiness, charm, delight, and discovery.
I hope you discover something “ewenique” and tantalizing here at The Gleeful Ewe. By shopping here, you are helping to support small businesses, women-owned businesses, healthy, loved, and respected animals, and USA manufacturers as often as possible that supply the fibers, tools, and embellishments used in my creations.
A very sincere thank you,
Noelle Russow
The Gleeful Ewe
A few tools of the trade…
It’s in the details I say…
