Felting for Flood Relief Fundraiser: 9th Jan - 25th Feb 2024
While the fundraiser has ended, there are still bears left over from the challenge available for purchase: proceeds will still be forwarded individually to Wujal Wujal.
Buy a Bear (or other felted fundraiser friend): Etsy store
Buy a Bear (or other felted fundraiser friend): Etsy store
Felting for Flood Relief - The Background
Mid December 2023, Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit Northern Queensland. Heavy rainfall and flooding consequently impacted several communities, including the town of Wujal Wujal. This small community had to be completely evacuated, with the majority of people transferring to Cooktown. I don't have the words to describe how heartbreaking it would be to watch your town sink around you, right before supposedly one of the happiest times of the year. Hoping you'll have a good Christmas? How about hoping you'll have anything at all to come back to. Hoping you'll work out how to get by to see the next one.
It is at times like these that I wonder: "Is there anything I can do to help?" I cannot do a great many things. I cannot make the flood waters dissipate, cannot be there on the ground shifting debris and sorting through the wreckage. So what can I do? Well, I like to needle-felt, and when I heard this news, and was mulling things over, the thought 'Felting for Flood Relief' popped into my head. So it may not be much, but I will be asking for donations for Wujal Wujal, and in return I have set myself a '30 days of Felting' Challenge to show support. What I make in that time will be gathered up to sell at a local market (I am still waiting for approval on a stall application) with all proceeds going towards Wujal Wujal. There may even be the opportunity for online orders, but that's still in the planning stage.
So, what am I making?
Teddies in Wellies!
Mid December 2023, Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit Northern Queensland. Heavy rainfall and flooding consequently impacted several communities, including the town of Wujal Wujal. This small community had to be completely evacuated, with the majority of people transferring to Cooktown. I don't have the words to describe how heartbreaking it would be to watch your town sink around you, right before supposedly one of the happiest times of the year. Hoping you'll have a good Christmas? How about hoping you'll have anything at all to come back to. Hoping you'll work out how to get by to see the next one.
It is at times like these that I wonder: "Is there anything I can do to help?" I cannot do a great many things. I cannot make the flood waters dissipate, cannot be there on the ground shifting debris and sorting through the wreckage. So what can I do? Well, I like to needle-felt, and when I heard this news, and was mulling things over, the thought 'Felting for Flood Relief' popped into my head. So it may not be much, but I will be asking for donations for Wujal Wujal, and in return I have set myself a '30 days of Felting' Challenge to show support. What I make in that time will be gathered up to sell at a local market (I am still waiting for approval on a stall application) with all proceeds going towards Wujal Wujal. There may even be the opportunity for online orders, but that's still in the planning stage.
So, what am I making?
Teddies in Wellies!
Each bear is one-of-a-kind, made over several hours, working with different wools and acrylic yarns, felted over a light wire frame to make them gently posable. They also come with their own hand-painted stands with their names wood burned into them.
But as one might guess from that description, it means they take time to make ('Sunny' on the left took over 12hrs with her umbrella, coat, stand with cobblestones and resin puddles, etc) therefore to make this challenge feasible, I'm not limiting myself to only the teddies. Good news for those less enthused by bears, as there will be some simpler and some simply different creations as well as props (most likely foreshadowing future bears).
But as one might guess from that description, it means they take time to make ('Sunny' on the left took over 12hrs with her umbrella, coat, stand with cobblestones and resin puddles, etc) therefore to make this challenge feasible, I'm not limiting myself to only the teddies. Good news for those less enthused by bears, as there will be some simpler and some simply different creations as well as props (most likely foreshadowing future bears).
30 Days of Felting Challenge - COMPLETED
The aim of this challenge is to - as the name suggests - complete 30 days of felting. This can be a creature or a prop, that somehow connects to the theme of either the aquatic, new beginnings, or Teddies in Wellies.
EDIT: Challenge complete! Below is a slideshow of all 30 pieces from the challenge. The PayPal fundraiser has finished but a few bears (and other felted friends) are still available for purchase. The individual funds raised from any purchases will be forwarded along to Wujal Wujal once funds clear.
Buy a Bear (or other felted fundraiser friend): Etsy store
The aim of this challenge is to - as the name suggests - complete 30 days of felting. This can be a creature or a prop, that somehow connects to the theme of either the aquatic, new beginnings, or Teddies in Wellies.
EDIT: Challenge complete! Below is a slideshow of all 30 pieces from the challenge. The PayPal fundraiser has finished but a few bears (and other felted friends) are still available for purchase. The individual funds raised from any purchases will be forwarded along to Wujal Wujal once funds clear.
Buy a Bear (or other felted fundraiser friend): Etsy store