This is Lori. She is the creator of Feltikins.
Feltikins are little beings pulled from the crucible of Lori’s heart.
For years, Lori has been making things out of felt, slippers, bags, pods etc.
She has enjoyed the beautiful, transformative process of turning loose fibres into strong, durable material, likening the process to that of working soft dough into a hearty loaf of bread.
She has taken classes in natural dyeing.
She learned about the art of shibori, sashiko stitching and boro fabric.
She takes inspiration from the work of self-taught American artist James Castle.
For several years, the “common” crow was her muse and she devoted many long hours to reproducing its likeness.
After a sojourn to Seattle where she spent long afternoons in the company of hundreds of crows, Lori’s hunger for their raucous caw was finally sated.
Her energies then turned to contemplative ensos.
She began to stitch circles and she waited.
She waited patiently, stitching, trusting that that a new motif would soon present itself.
The final videos of an esteemed artist, portraying a being, part human, part doll passing between realms of existence acted as an unexpected catalyst.
Suddenly, Lori’s hands could barely keep up. Bits of fabric, a repurposed wedding gown, upholstery remnants, linens, various types of wool, all of it came together to bring Feltikins into being.
Together with her ‘Gunny’...
...she works in her downtown Toronto studio bringing her creatures to life, the species known as feltikins.