In honor of our grand opening we  will be running 3 contests starting on opening day:

1. The first 100 customers will be placed into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate towards a future purchase from Pulling at Strings
2. Anyone who signs up for the Pulling at Strings newsletter between October 31st and November 7th will be entered into a drawing to win a free pattern of their choice up to a $7 value
3. Comment here on my blog between October 31st and November 7th with your favorite item in my store to be entered into a drawing for free shipping on any future order from Pulling with Strings

Now, its time to meet one of our artisans, Katie of Wool Food Market.  I have long admired Katie’s work and have quite the collection of her wool food for my little ones.  When she wrote her wool fruit felting tutorial earlier this year, I knew that I definitely wanted to carry it in my store.  Luckily for me, she agreed.

Here’s Katie!

When and why did you start felting?

I’d been introduced to felting by an on-line friend and fellow crafter.  However, she was a needle felter and I preferred the wet-felting process.  I had a rather large bag of wool roving that I started rolling into balls.  As I stood at the sink rolling wool in soapy water, I lingered on what I could make from the balls.  Most of the colors were fruity in nature and wool food was born.

What do you use for inspiration?

A farmer’s market or the produce section is where I get most of my inspiration for food.  I try to replicate the hues and variations of the fruits and vegetables.  Pineapples still escape me.

When I make playscapes, I love to create what one might imagine is hiding on the forest floor.  A gnome, troll, critters…a secret home in the base of an old tree stump.

What is your favorite item you have felted and why?

I really enjoy felting up wool tree stumps.  What exactly emerges from the water bath is always a surprise.

What are your favorite colors?

Orange and avocado green

Tell us one secret:

Tell us one secret: A washing machine is more forgiving than your own hands when wet-felting.  It’s not discriminating and felts evenly on all sides.  Our heads, via our hands, try to manipulate the wool.  A washing machine allows the wool to do what wool does…felt.  My greatest works would have never happened if I’d hand felted them.  Unwrapping them after a run through a washing machine allows the wool a certain amount of freedom that usually works.

I also understand that I’m working with a natural element so it’s not always going to work out as I envisioned.  I go into it every time understanding that some days the wool just isn’t going to work with me and I have a willingness to scrap disasters.

While working on the site design has been fun, shopping for the store has been even more exciting.  I have started placing wholesale orders these past weeks, and actually had my first show up on my doorstep this morning!  I will have some pictures for you soon as well as another Artisan reveal.  Hope you all have been having a great summer!

<3 The Yarn Lark