Artisan of the Week, Phil & Alex of Felt At Home.

When I first joined Etsy I came across this fabulous shop called Felt at Home whilst I was looking for unusual presents for my nieces birthday. I instantly fell in love with many of the creations in this shop and it made me realise just how a twist of imagination mixed with a bucket full of talent could turn a fairly well known craft into something so much more. Phil and Alex quite obviously lavish each creation with love and attention to detail. One of their creations, Vincent the phone swallower, now lives at my house. He is a perfect gent and takes good care of my mobile phone in his belly. Christophe or Gary might be next to come and live with my family... Must sell some hoops so I can re-home them. So, Phil and Alex, here goes...

1. Could you please introduce us to who you are and what you do?
We are a 2 sister crew with 5 children between us! Phillipa crafts full-time and Alex is a part-time Family Support Officer & part-time crafter. Phillipa is trained in jewellery & silversmithing but we have fallen upon felt more recently. We make hand-felted handbags, brooches and art.

2. What led you to take up your craft?
Christmas 2006 Alex bought Phillipa a ‘How to make felt’ book ! and some wool roving. That’s where it all started. We played & played a bit more, then branched out into our 3-D ‘people purses’ and ‘monster bags’. It’s fun & versatile & the small people of the household love to pitch in too!

3. Which part of your work do you most enjoy?
Making a thought into a reality. When you get that initial spark of an idea, it’s fun to draw a few sketches then get the wool out & make it come to life. Once they are finished they acquire a personality all of their own – It’s fun to name them & write about what they like to do.

4. Which part do you find hardest?
Packing them off!! It’s hard to let some of them go – there’s a lot of love that goes into each one. It’s hard to package them up & wave them goodbye, because mostly our creations are unique one-off designs, not to be repeated. We miss them ! Sounds daft, but it’s true! We have had a couple of photos of our little critters in their new homes, which is fantastic! We LOVE that….seeing where they are & hearing how they’re doing (no, we don’t need committing…well not yet anyway!)

5. Where do you hope to be in 1 year's time?
In a years time we would like to have our own workspace (presently we felt in the dining room!!) and be selling at least one thing a day!……. Oh, and have new cars, and new houses in the Cotswolds……and a Persian cat each.

6. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Enjoy what you do! If you love what you are doing then it will show in your work. The days are so short – it’s a good sign, when you don’t want to down tools because ‘stuff’ in the house needs doing. We love what we do – each & every one of them brings a smile.


7. Name other artisans sites/shops would you recommend are worth a visit?
Ginny of Monkey Travel Club. (We have 2 of her monkeys! Duncan & Callum!)
Hugh of Hugh illustration is fantastic.
Cathy Cullis of in London, has the most amazing stitched art.
Amy Carpenter has amazing paintings – really lovely.
And Enfin, La Voila - amazing cards, I have some of these & they are wonderful
To name but a few, there are lots of favourites….

8. What is your favourite sandwich filling?
Alex – Salmon & dill
Phil – anything anyone wants to make for me, but preferably on brown seeded bread! …………please!

Thank you Alex and Phil! I check your shop often and always find another lovely creature I want to take home. One day I will amass an army of felty creatures that will take over the world by hugging each person until they give in to their cuddly loveliness! Mwahahahahahah!... *cough*... ermm... did I say that out loud?

Oh and you really don't want a Persian cat. They need to be brushed every 5 minutes of every day or else they will end up felting their own fur up and create their own slightly ickie fur ball creatures for you to find with your toes when you stumble downstairs, blurry eyed, to find a cup of tea in the morning.