Each of my designer pillows is authentically unique, and no two will be the same. Every step and detail of the Folk Art Pillows is made by hand, and no machines are used to quicken the production.
The Folk Art Pillows are stuffed with acrylic stuffing and make the pillow light in weight but very cuddly. The central part of the Pom Pom Mermaid pillow is hand-knit and then washed in HOT water to shrink the wool shell for a tighter fabric surface.
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Needle felting is a unique technique where fluffy 100% wool, called roving, is shaped using very sharp barbed needles. These needles are designed to compact the wool into a dense fabric called felt. It's like sculpting with wool! The key is to keep an eye on the needle and not get distracted, as it can be pretty sharp.
I found a YOUTUBE video on how to make pom poms with a fork. I wrapped the fork till it was a large lump of wool for a bigger pom. I trim the pom-poms down to the desired size and then, using the long end, I thread a needle and stitch the pom-pom into the finished edge of the pillow. Here is the video below that explains very well how to do this technique without any fancy pom gear!
The collection of Folk Art Pillows is a unique way to decorate any home space, and these pillows are one-of-a-kind, never to be made again... They will undoubtedly be a whimsical feature to any room!
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Kooky Kat has its eyes, nose, heart, and featured spiral on the back tail that is all needle felted with roving wool onto a black felt fabric foundation. Once the motif is completed, I will cut it close to the felted wool and attach it with hand stitching using buttons and embroidery threads.
Not only does the stitching make for minute detailing, but it also secures the decorative attachment to the knitted body. The whiskers are made from fluffy wool that I hand-stitched right into the fabric to create kinky whiskers.
Kooky Kat Folk Art Pillow wants to cast spells from any spot it sits. Soft stuffing and soft wool surfaces invite the weary head for rest and contemplation!
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My next knitting adventure took me to a place I like to call 'Weiner land'! This pillow is a tribute to the unique body styles and tenacious personalities of sausage-shaped dogs, like my beloved Wein Beaner, Wally, and Dixie. They've always been a source of inspiration for me, and I wanted to capture their essence in this pillow.
FOOD & sniffing is what they LOVE and will follow from behind as long as you don't RUSH THEM. They will take their sweet time getting there, wherever that is. Be sure of their sweetness and know they are brave, independent-thinking dogs who, even though they are short to the ground, that attitude is everything!
Needle felted motifs are made on top of black felt sheets, as it makes for a durable decoration that has a quilting hand stitching to attach to the pillow, and also lets the hand stitching create further textures, adding a little blue button for the eye, which is connected with orange button thread.
As you may have noticed, all the daisies... I have been influenced to add to my Dachshund tribute pillow a big daisy...what is happier than a field of daisies? Wild daisy flowers completely cover my front lawn. How I love to sit on the deck and watch the world of birds and bug culture, who also love the daisy flower.
The 4th pillow in this series is made from very fluffy yarn with silk threads running through it to give it a shimmer. I love birds, so this one is dedicated to the birds that share my joy of nature every day. As I look out my window, I see the birds doing what birds do!
FOOD & sniffing is what they LOVE and will follow from behind as long as you don't RUSH THEM. They will take their sweet time getting there, wherever that is. Be sure of their sweetness and know they are brave, independent-thinking dogs who, even though they are short to the ground, that attitude is everything!
Needle felted motifs are made on top of black felt sheets, as it makes for a durable decoration that has a quilting hand stitching to attach to the pillow, and also lets the hand stitching create further textures, adding a little blue button for the eye, which is connected with orange button thread.
As you may have noticed, all the daisies... I have been influenced to add to my Dachshund tribute pillow a big daisy...what is happier than a field of daisies? Wild daisy flowers completely cover my front lawn. How I love to sit on the deck and watch the world of birds and bug culture, who also love the daisy flower.
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Wild white daisies all around my front deck! |
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The 4th pillow in this series is made from very fluffy yarn with silk threads running through it to give it a shimmer. I love birds, so this one is dedicated to the birds that share my joy of nature every day. As I look out my window, I see the birds doing what birds do!
I wanted to make this pillow boho glamorous with an oversized, full tassel featuring crochet embellishments of a yellow flower at the top of the tassel and a heart for the tie around the tassel.
Lots of tiny hand stitching in silk threads went into the needle-felted embellishment to give it texture and added shimmer.
There will be more Folk Art Pillows to be created! I enjoy the freedom to work creatively with wool, combining knitting and felting with embellishments of hand stitching.
The Folk Art Pillows Collection will be a featured highlight of the 'Follow the Yellow Balloons Open Studio Tour' this October 1, 2017. I invite you to join us and experience the beauty and uniqueness of these handmade pillows.
Lots of tiny hand stitching in silk threads went into the needle-felted embellishment to give it texture and added shimmer.
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Love Bird Tassel Pillow * Mermaid Pillow Kooky Kat Pillow * Daisy Weiner Pillow designed by Minaz Jantz |
The Folk Art Pillows Collection will be a featured highlight of the 'Follow the Yellow Balloons Open Studio Tour' this October 1, 2017. I invite you to join us and experience the beauty and uniqueness of these handmade pillows.
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The Felted Pillow Gang: by Minaz Jantz SOLD |
You can view more of my handmade designer pillows, The Felted Pillow Gang, in the previous article here.
May your life be joyfully woolly! Minaz
May your life be joyfully woolly! Minaz
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