But this one is fiber related, so that’s okay, right?

Last weekend I went to a local artisan’s festival here in town, and our local Waldorf-inspired school had a table filled with fantastic and fantastical things. I ended up buying a couple of lovely magical wands for the daughters of friends of mine (coincidentally made by another friend of mine, though I didn’t know that at the time). But, the thing that really caught my attention was the population of felted gnomes. Unspeakably cute and cuddly, I handled them way more than is decent. Yet, in the end, I could not quite bring myself to buy one. Something in my heart made me understand that I wanted – needed – to make my own, although I didn’t have the faintest clue how they were put together (fairy dust and love?).

If you aren’t familiar with this type of felted project, let me direct your attention to Felting Dreams (an etsy store), which has wonderful examples.

How I love the internet. Within 48 hours, I now know that what I want to learn how to do is called needle felting, and I have identified two books and about five websites that look promising. Oh, and I ordered a set of felting needles and a felting pad. Because what do I need? Another hobby. (And my very own felt gnome!)