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Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects
Learn to create your own tiny figures and accessories using wool felt, chenille stems, simple embellishments, and Salley's new step-by-step guide. Ideal for dollmakers, quilters, embroiderers, and crafters of every skill level.
82 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
34 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Salley Mavor
16 books20 followersI have always liked forming and manipulating small materials with my hands. Paper and pencil were never enough for me. Somehow, in my experience as a child, my own art was unfinished and plain unless something “real” was added. Treasures would be glued, stapled or sewn onto a creation to make it complete.
Years later, while at the Rhode Island School of Design, I rediscovered my childhood delight in sewing and creating miniature scenes. In the illustration department there was freedom to create in any medium as long the work was narrative in nature and solved the class assignments. Working in 3 dimensions was an exciting way to communicate my ideas. I never thought that the assemblages and experiments I presented for critique would ever turn into a workable illustration technique.
After graduation in 1978, I made and sold stuffed fabric pins, designed sewing projects for women's magazines, and worked on a series of housewife dolls and their stuffed domestic appliances. Soon, I began creating pictures in a relief format with people, animals and houses sewn on to a fabric background.
It took 10 years to develop my fabric relief technique to a level where I could consider illustrating a book. My first picture book, The Way Home, was made during a 1-½ year period when my children were very young. After my boys were asleep in the evening, I would sew the elephant characters and methodically embroider blades of grass.
To make a book, each picture starts as a clear, vivid scene in my head. I do not know exactly how the pictures will unfold and it will go through many steps to get from the imagined to the finished product. I start by working out a rough layout in small thumbnail sketches. They are blown up on a copier to full book size and made into a dummy to show the editor. She then checks to see that the content of the layout works with the text and that there is enough room for the type. After making any necessary changes to the layout, and with the trust of my editor, I start work on the fabric relief pictures.
Each illustration requires about a month of hand sewing, so it takes more than a year to complete all of the pages. The original fabric relief pictures are then photographed and used as illustrations in the printed book.
from http://www.weefolkstudio.com/about.htm
Years later, while at the Rhode Island School of Design, I rediscovered my childhood delight in sewing and creating miniature scenes. In the illustration department there was freedom to create in any medium as long the work was narrative in nature and solved the class assignments. Working in 3 dimensions was an exciting way to communicate my ideas. I never thought that the assemblages and experiments I presented for critique would ever turn into a workable illustration technique.
After graduation in 1978, I made and sold stuffed fabric pins, designed sewing projects for women's magazines, and worked on a series of housewife dolls and their stuffed domestic appliances. Soon, I began creating pictures in a relief format with people, animals and houses sewn on to a fabric background.
It took 10 years to develop my fabric relief technique to a level where I could consider illustrating a book. My first picture book, The Way Home, was made during a 1-½ year period when my children were very young. After my boys were asleep in the evening, I would sew the elephant characters and methodically embroider blades of grass.
To make a book, each picture starts as a clear, vivid scene in my head. I do not know exactly how the pictures will unfold and it will go through many steps to get from the imagined to the finished product. I start by working out a rough layout in small thumbnail sketches. They are blown up on a copier to full book size and made into a dummy to show the editor. She then checks to see that the content of the layout works with the text and that there is enough room for the type. After making any necessary changes to the layout, and with the trust of my editor, I start work on the fabric relief pictures.
Each illustration requires about a month of hand sewing, so it takes more than a year to complete all of the pages. The original fabric relief pictures are then photographed and used as illustrations in the printed book.
from http://www.weefolkstudio.com/about.htm
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 30, 2015
The projects in this book are beyond adorable!
Tiny wooden-headed dolls with acorns for caps wearing easy-to-make felt clothing.
What's not to love?
With their pipe cleaner bodies, I'm guessing these wee folk would not hold up well to active children's play, but many of my middle-aged friends have one or two sitting on their computer monitors as mascots. There are plenty of project ideas involving the dolls, but also a section in the back on making gorgeously embroidered felt pins (these make fantastic gifts), appliqued purses and small balsam-filled pillows.
This is easily one of my all-time favorite craft books!
Tiny wooden-headed dolls with acorns for caps wearing easy-to-make felt clothing.
What's not to love?
With their pipe cleaner bodies, I'm guessing these wee folk would not hold up well to active children's play, but many of my middle-aged friends have one or two sitting on their computer monitors as mascots. There are plenty of project ideas involving the dolls, but also a section in the back on making gorgeously embroidered felt pins (these make fantastic gifts), appliqued purses and small balsam-filled pillows.
This is easily one of my all-time favorite craft books!
February 4, 2016
Terrific reference work for anyone wanting to use felt, pipe cleaners & other cheap supplies to create fun, memorable, personalized little dolls. Mavor's book is charmingly readable and very easy to use.
I've made small felt dolls for years, with a differently shaped armature than that suggested by the author & using Fimo clay for heads, hands & boots - we have one for each family member on our holiday tree, amongst other odd places they turn up in the house. I really appreciate how, in the introduction, the author allows us to see her finished dolls in her various art applications, in addition to the (delightful!) craft applications shown in the text of the book.
The book is extensively illustrated & has copyable layouts for dozens of different clothing options. I'm inspired by the artistry of this book: far too often the 'crafts' practiced primarily by women never get the artistic recognition they deserve. Salley Mavor has taken her craft into the realm of artistry while generously sharing the basics of her crafting … for the rest of us!
I've made small felt dolls for years, with a differently shaped armature than that suggested by the author & using Fimo clay for heads, hands & boots - we have one for each family member on our holiday tree, amongst other odd places they turn up in the house. I really appreciate how, in the introduction, the author allows us to see her finished dolls in her various art applications, in addition to the (delightful!) craft applications shown in the text of the book.
The book is extensively illustrated & has copyable layouts for dozens of different clothing options. I'm inspired by the artistry of this book: far too often the 'crafts' practiced primarily by women never get the artistic recognition they deserve. Salley Mavor has taken her craft into the realm of artistry while generously sharing the basics of her crafting … for the rest of us!
May 4, 2010
In Felt Wee Folk Salley Mavor uses her artistic talent, design school education and children’s illustration experience to present numerous project ideas for creating small little folk from the forest. The projects are geared towards all ages and the finished projects can have a multitude of uses.
Read more at Suite101: Felt Wee Folk -– Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor http://craftbooks.suite101.com/articl...
Read more at Suite101: Felt Wee Folk -– Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor http://craftbooks.suite101.com/articl...
August 1, 2012
This is a must-have for grandmothers. When the girls came in the door, they said, "Grandma, we wanna make fairies!" So I think we made about 20 fairies, princes and vampires today inspired by this book and my granddaughters. There was a whole lot of make believe going on. I'm exhausted and my head hurts from all the chatter. Nothing sparks story telling and fantasy more than pipe cleaners, felt, and fairies! It is a GREAT book!
June 2, 2009
Love it, Love it, Love it. Did I say I loved it?!
But really, easy instructions to make the cutest little people for seasonal tables, dollhouses, etc. We made some of these and I LOVE IT.
But really, easy instructions to make the cutest little people for seasonal tables, dollhouses, etc. We made some of these and I LOVE IT.
April 18, 2010
Awe-inspiring! Beautiful felt/tapestry/embroidery art work, with tons of patterns and instructions for adorable mini dolls. :)
March 27, 2021
It pains me to rate this so low bc I am a huge fan of the artists’ work! Buy the second book, it’s much more exciting and innovative. This book only covers figures that are duplicated in the second bigger book. I wish the section on scenery and backgrounds was longer, it is wonderful for that bit though it’s only maybe 6 pages. The rest of the book is felt pins and pouches...and felt incredibly dated and dull to me. Truly my error here was buying the second book and being disappointed by the first.
March 4, 2020
I follow the author on IG and am fascinated by the time she spends creating little felt animals and folks. She told me (through comments) that time disappears when she's working on them. This book has detailed instructions and patterns so we could try our hand at it. Not sure if I'm ready to dive into it, but I would have to buy the book for sure.
December 28, 2021
excellent directions on making these little figures. Lovely photos.
January 19, 2010
Again with the crafty stuff. This book is just plain enchanting. I saw it referenced in another book, so I thought I'd check it out. It has step by step instructions for making dolls out of pipe cleaners, wooden beads, and felt. Since I had everything it called for except the beads, I made a few while sitting in front of the TV one night. Granted, they're headless for the moment until I can pick up some beads, but they're really cute. Even Matt had to admit they're pretty neat.
June 14, 2010
Cute little dolls. The author's own story of her development as an artist and the photos of her art are very interesting. I like that she provides a method for doll-making for kids and adults of varying degrees of skill, and that the dolls' base is made of pipe cleaners which makes them very posable. I prefer her designs for the regular little dolls with embroidered felt clothing to the fairies though. She also has a number of cute patterns for other felt projects - like small purses.
February 23, 2013
Got this book today, already read it. Time to get started on my fairy for art pictures! This book is sweet. The are directions to make fairies and little people in many different sizes 1.5 inches to 4 inches. They are made of wood beads, pipe cleaners, felt, silk flowers, found natural object (acorn caps which I don't find around here). There are directions for mini purses and other little bags with felt embellishments. This is definitely a great book. Would be good for a mom of little girls.
June 15, 2008
These little friends are so cute. I've made a few and had a good time doing them. Some craft projects turn out to be too hard but these were really fun and quite easy. Part of me really wants to believe in fairies and this book contributes to that wish.
abandoned
August 3, 2016Interesting little thing the wife picked up at the library. Can't help but skim through & be amazed at all the clever ideas. Keeping here in case I ever need to find it again for a craft project with the kid...
February 25, 2008
Totally cool little people made from wire, embroidery floss and wool. Just scrumptious.
March 17, 2008
Such endearing little easy felt people with their acorn caps, I think everyone I met fell in love with them!
January 13, 2012
I love Ms. Mavor's art! Having it broken down in steps to make one's own attempt at is really awesome.
April 25, 2013
I love this craft book. Great illustrations and fun projects. Of course I loved making these felt people.
Read
November 23, 2011I haven't this book yet, but will when the right story inspires me.!!
April 7, 2017
I love this one. Easy to follow directions and great pictures.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews