Waldorf Inspired Needle Felted Wool Painting Giveaway
EDIT: The giveaway is now closed. A winner will be selected and announced tomorrow 🙂
Everyone has heard me talk about the love of my life, Tim. (The other day when I apologized to him for creating so much work for him… with programming for WFA and all the projects he does around the house for me, he looked at me and said, “It’s nothing, sweetie, you are my hobby!” I ask you, who wouldn’t love him?) Anyway… February 28, 2011 marked the 9th anniversary of when we meet. It was also the day Tim and I finally got married. After all the years we have spent together, it seemed a little silly to make a big to-do about it. So, Tim and I, along with my brother, Kipp, and his wife, Jennifer, went to an interesting little chapel, and got married.
Although the wedding was about as low keyed as you could get, we wanted to commemorate the day. After discovering Daria’s Etsy shop, Art of Felting, in January, I contacted her. Daria lives in Rehovot, Israel . Here is the email I sent her…
I was so delighted yesterday when I discovered your site. My readers seemed quite taken, too 🙂 I have a question about a custom order. I am going to be married soon… the 2nd marriage for both of us. We are in our 50s, so not babes 🙂 We do want something to commemorate the day since it will be very subdued. (We’ve already been together for 9 years.) When I saw your wool paintings, I thought this would be perfect! I love your new piece with the poppies, but I would like something bigger… more like the 13″ x 17″. I’m kind of thinking about a woodsy scene with poppies, and maybe a Mother Earth gets married kind of theme 🙂 Let me know if this is possible.
And here was her reply…
It was a real pleasure to receive your input. The work I put into my creations gives me joy, but it is even more pleasurable to hear good words from others. I truly enjoyed your Wee Folk Art plus and think you are very talented. Your wonderful idea and the matter inspire me to start working on the project right now. I would be glad cooperating with you.
We were delighted when we received it last month. It is beautiful. Daria titled this peace “Mother Earth Gets Married”. Perfect, right? A lovely reminder of how blessed we feel. As it turned out, my mom wanted to get it for us for a wedding gift… thank you mom. As soon as we decide what we want, we will have it framed.
Now… for some exciting news… When Daria shipped us our tapestry, she included a lovely little framed piece to share with our readers. Fantastic, right? The tapestry measures 5 1/4″ x 3 1/4″, framed 7 1/4″ x 5 1/4″. It is absolutely lovely!
Daria also sent photos of the fairy tapestry in process! I had asked Daria if she worked from a sketch. This is what she told me:
In Waldorf art is no place for a sketch or a previous plan. It’s like to give birth. This is by some means an opposition to photography. The target is not to show nature, but to discover what is conceived in. That’s why the right mood is necessary, which can be achieved through good music or other inspiring things. When I succeed get into right mood I start. First I place different wool pieces on the felt. Then I let the drawing leading my hands. The next step is to define details and only then the turn of a great finish comes. Billions strokes of needle.
If you would like a chance to win this sweet little Waldorf inspired needle felted wool painting, simply pay Daria’s Etsy shop, The Art of Felting, a visit, look at all her lovely things, (taking a drool cloth is highly advisable!) then come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite creation is. The giveaway will run from today, Wednesday, April 20, to Easter Sunday, April 24, at 9:00 p.m. EST. A winner will be drawn at random. So, head over to Art of Felting, pick a favorite, come back and tell us about it, then cross your fingers.
Thanks so much, Daria. It will be hard to give up this lovely little tapestry… but I will 🙂
123 Comments
Kathy W
Oh my! So many things on the Etsy site are so gorgeous that it’s impossible to choose! I adore the garden fairy, though, and the Forest Children tapestry is unbelievably. What amazing work!
Emma
How lovely. I especially like the animals, particularly the owl.
Jk
Everything she makes is beautiful, but the lion caught my eye!
Muriel
What a beautiful story, Kimara… As for choosing one favourite piece in Darias creations, it certainly isn’t easy, because they all are wonderful, but this time, my preference would go for the Easter eggs. I had ssen them already a few weeks ago and they had inspired me right away. I realy love them.
And I would also love to win the beautiful wool tapestry, so now, lets cross the fingers! 🙂
Jacqueline
Oh My Oh My Oh My!!!!! So so Beautiful! The lion is unbelievable!
My son (11 yrs)looked through the pictures with me and was amazed as well, he suggested that I could make some just like that, lol not likely! but I am glad he thinks I am that clever 😉
Janelle
Wow! Both of the items she made for you are beautiful. I love the felted fairies and animals on her site but my favorite is the felted owl. It’s so realistic looking!
Melissa
Wow she has an amazing talent, the flower fairy feast is gorgeous!
JulieAl
Her work is jaw-droppingly fabulous. I really rather like the wool mobile climbing gnomes – especially because I had my first son (4th child & 4th homebirth) and all through the pregnancy little woodland whimsy seemed to be the theme. 🙂
eidolons
There are so many beautiful things in her shop! I’d have to say that the tapestry with the waterfall is my favorite – though it was hard to pick. The pegasus is divine as well. Wow. I’m just in awe overload here – she is amazing!
DeAnna
What a great idea to do to remember your special day. 🙂 And what a beautiful artist you picked. My favorite (of many) is the Fairy’s Journey. Simply amazing…. all of it! I want to build a little village LOL
Pamela
Daria is very gifted! So many beautifully detailed pieces. My 10yo loves owls, so I was drawn to them, but I love all the animals. My sweet little 4yo would be enchanted by the strawberry girl, and my Tiptoes loving boy would love the gnome family for our nature table! Wow!
Ginny B
okay, first I thought, “the owls, has to be the owls” then I saw the fairies and I just knew they were going to be my favorites, they I saw the red squirrel and I was blown away by how life like it was. Then I looked at the sheep and the horse and the pegasus, then the canvas. Now I just can’t decide! My head is swirling with all of the beautiful things that hint just enough at a personality to let me create a whole life for them, and yet are SO detailed in color and texture and even muscle (the squirrel and the horse). All I can say is that this is a very talented artist!
Karla Smith
How hard was that?! I’m going to go for the Needle Felted Wool picture with the poppies and ethereal fairies on it but I didn’t see anything in your shop that I’m not completely in love with.
My needle felting has gone as far as a small cat. Now I’ve seen those I’m totally inspired but know that I’ll never be able to create anything so beautiful. I love the little fairies too – the plum fairy was a close second.
wow!
Anna
Love!! I would say the Fairy Feast 2 is my favorite, but it is so hard to pick just one. I love them all!!
Susan Wirtjes
While I love them all, I would choose the felted horse. My granddaughter is a huge fan of horses and plays with her wooden horse all the time. She would love to have this horse to join her family of Forest People!
Heather Jaracz
Your felting work is amazing! My favorite is the 12 piece Nativity set. The detail is wonderful, I especially like how the three kings and camel figures were done.
Crystal
I love your website and I loved, loved, loved the The forest children from Daria’s Etsy shop. All are amazing in the lovely shop, but tapestries are such a work of art and time that looking at then never ceases to amaze me!
Marissa
Lovely! I found the easter eggs especially beautiful and the nativity sets.
Flower
I love all of them. My daughter loves animals and talks and plays with her animals. She would love to have one of Needle felted Lion-King of Beasts, Needle felted red squirrel, Needle felted lamb, Needle felted chipmunk. thanks for the chance.
Suzie
I have been drooling over Daria’s stunning creations for some time now. What a generous giveaway. My favorite is the mother and child:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53343972/needle-felted-mother-and-child-waldorf
Oooooo, I’m crossing my fingers!!
Sally Stanley
Wow! Daria’s work is just lovely!! I especially like her little critters. The skunk, squirrel, and birds are just precious!! It’s amazaing what can be created with wool!!! Just Wonderful!!!
Penny
I really love The Fairy’s Journey and the beautiful Easter eggs. This is something I would love to learn how to do.
SewLindaAnn
I added her shop to my favorites in the hope of purchasing something soon. My very favorite was the Forest Children, but I did love the white mouse and cardinal egg. The Fox was really cool the way he was in motion. That was a lovely, lovely idea having that made in commemoration of your wedding. I think I’m going to copy and paste the “You are my Hobby” statement for my husband’s benefit (or not).
Bridget74
Wow, are you kidding? I love them all, but if I have to pick one, my favorite would have to be the print reproduction of the forest children. So talented!
Michelle M
Daria’s shop is filled with beautiful things! I especially love the forest people Easter eggs! What a beautiful felted wool painting and very generous offer! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Guest
I am so delighted to see you highlighting Daria’s work – I have been her customer since last summer and she is a total inspiration to me! It is almost impossible to pick a favorite (I often peruse her beautiful work on Etsy) but I do so love the pumpkin fairy mobile…three pumpkins and a little fairy sitting on one of them. Perfection!
oh, and I also love those forest people eggs inspired by Elsa Beskow…what delights!
Rhonda Wildman
The details are so amazing! I love the animals especially the jackrabbit and the pegasus. What a wonderful gift to celebrate your wedding – congrats!
Oona Nicholas
I don’t know how your suppose to pick one thing, I have a list here. Her work is wonderful and you can feel while you look at her items she loves what she does.:)
Thanks so much Daria and Wee Folk Art for the amazing giveaway.
Here is my LIST of faves, and This is a short list believe me I could go on and on.
~felted Easter Eggs
~The Fairy Feast
~Autumn Fairies.
~Yellow Spring Fairy
~Wool Garden Fairy
~Sunrise Fairy Doll
Hope everyone has a great day. And good luck to everyone. 🙂
Linda Midcap
What a wonderful story! Congratulations! I was overwhelmed at the number of items at Daria’s shop. I really liked the felted rooster and the Easter eggs…the rooster best I guess. There is something for everyone.
Karen Meacham
Isn’t it amazing the amazing things people can create? Her work is gorgeous and I adore the garden fairy – adore it! Thanks for the giveaway chance and always sharing such inspiring work! We have no school today as we have storm damage and our school has no power. I am glad I have this extra time to check our your blog today, and see all the goodness! : ) Hope you have a nice day.
Liz
LOVE!! Such beautiful work – I love the Needle Felted Mother and Child – she captures the beauty of the mother-daughter so well.
paula
I have actually ordered from Daria’s shop. She made us the most amazing mother earth and root children. I am loving her Jackrabbit!! Beautiful.
Sandra M
But I didn’t listen to your advice about drool cloth, so I hope my drowned keyboard will be OK until the end of the comment 🙂 Her art is amazing. Everything is just like some beautiful dream…Love all of it, but my fav is mother with a child or… or… Thanks for sharing!
Kasey
My favorite was the Needle Felted Wool Tapestry – The forest children N5-Elsa Beskow and Waldorf Inspired. So inspiring and beautiful!
Chris V
The colors in the Flower Fairies (needle felted wool painting) are so bright, so beautiful, and so wonderful! It would make any room in my home reflect the same beauty it inspires!
Ashley M
Those are amazing. My favorite was the lion though!
Laureen
Thank you for sharing the link to such a beautiful artist!
My favorite is the Needle Felted Mother and Daughter standing soft sculpture. All of her works are beautiful, but this one in particular made me smile.
Now I have one more craft to learn!
Blessings,
Laureen in Virginia
Vicki K
So many beautiful works!! The tapestries are amazing and I am particularly drawn to her creatures – the fox and the lamb and the raccoon. I think your commemorating your marriage with the tapestry is a really great idea.
Shelley
Everything is gorgeous. I love the flower queen, but all the tapestries are amazing too. Love Elsa Beskow inspired work.
Chiska
I loved the pumpkins and orange fairy! So lovely.
Karen C.
I love them all, especially the dolls…Mother and child! What a beautiful wedding gift, congratulations!!!!!!!!!
Ray Sultz
I wouldn’t mind everything in her studio but if I had to choose just one it would have to be the wool picture of the 4 fairies with the red flowers. Thank you Daria, Kimara, and Tim! Thank you for sharing!
Natalie
She truly is an artist. Amazing work. The meerkat has so much personality. He (she) has to be my favorite.
Shannon M
Everything is absolutely amazing! What an incredible talent! Skipping (rope) with a rainbow tapestry would be absolutely adorable in my daughter’s room. I know it would make all of us smile everyday.
Tam Walsh
That was the most beautiful picture. All her creations are awesome though. I could have stayed on her site all day. 🙂
Kim
I love her work too! What a great chance to win something she made! I love the needle felted picture of a girl skipping over a rainbow…magical! And what a great memory of your special day!
Karen Traversy
This site is a favorite of mine. Her work is wonderful. Its so hard to choose but the forest children inspired by Elsa Beskow work is a particular favorite. The mushroom capped children parading at the pond with grog and squirrel nearby is enchanting. Thanks for the giveaway.
Fiona
Wow, I’ve never seen her work before. It’s stunning! So many wonderful things to choose from, but I couldn’t go past the cute little felted skunk.
Becca
Congratulations!!!! Wow, her shop is so amazing! I had a hard time selecting just one favorite but I really do love the Elsa Beskow eggs http://www.etsy.com/listing/68045776/2-needle-felted-easter-eggs-the-forest. Crossing my fingers!!!!
Becca
Erika Martin
It would be an amazing gift to be able to win this. I love her shop and the hand felted garden fairies are my favorite.
Nicole Pate
I love the Mother and Child. It reminds me of me.
robin
First :: Congratulations!
The etsy shop is amazing! Such beautiful creations. I love the Forest Children here – so much to see!: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72532055/needle-felted-wool-tapestry-the-forest
And the tiny owl is just precious!
Thanks for the giveaway – it’s just stunning!
cokelush at gmail
VH
Thanks for introducing us to Daria. I had never seen her work before, but it is beatuiful. I love the wool picture-Flower Fairy. Congratulations on your anniversary. Ours is next month, 41 years and 7 children later, we are still together. Now I have time for fairies, gnomes, needle felting and other creative projects, including fun things for our grandchildren.
Would love and appreciate the give away tapestry.