Meet Our Makers - Bluebell Felties
Vicky Chadwick aka Bluebell Felties is a needle felting artist based in Derbyshire, whose creations use the wool from her own flock of sheep.
In this edition of the ‘Meet Our Makers’ series I’m excited to be talking to Vicky Chadwick aka Bluebell Felties; whose creations are inspired by wildlife as well as domestic animals. Vicky also created our mascot Tissi the Duck especially for us. We can’t wait to welcome her back to Tissington Craft Fairs this month.
Hi Vicky, it’s lovely to talk to you and firstly I have to ask, how are Berry and your other ewes after lambing season?
They’re all doing well, thank you. Most of my flock are Coloured Ryeland sheep, who are generally really good mums….so that definitely makes lambing season a little easier. All of ‘My Girls’ are now very happy that the sun is shining, and the grass is growing.
Bluebell Felties at Tissington Craft Fair in 2022.
So what was your inspiration to start your needle felting business?
I’ve always enjoyed being creative, but I am a self-taught needle felter. When I bought my first sheep in 2013, I wanted to be able to use their wool and to raise awareness of how undervalued this natural resource is nowadays. I use the fleeces from my sheep, which after shearing, I process myself, by hand. This means washing, drying and carding (combing) all of the fleece, which I then use in my needle felting. I discovered that the Ryeland wool is lovely to needle felt with and so I was quickly hooked! Of course, there comes a point where you can only keep so many of the pieces that you make, so I started to explore the possibilities of selling some of my work. The interest in it was great and it encouraged me to set up an Etsy shop in 2016, which has gone from strength to strength.
I understand you have another job as well as your needle felting business but how do you manage it all?
My ‘day job’ is working for a local animal rescue, Ashbourne Animal Welfare (aka The Ark) which I really enjoy, but it does mean that I must juggle my time between my felting, wool processing and of course, most importantly, my sheep! Luckily each aspect seems to compliment the others and (somehow!) they all fit together.
“I use the fleeces from my sheep, which after shearing, I process myself, by hand”.
Vicky Chadwick, Bluebell Felties.
So what is a typical day like for you?
Busy! As soon as I get up, I check Etsy for any orders or messages that need my attention and I get items packaged up, ready for posting. Hopefully, if it’s a dry day, I may be able to get some fleece outside drying or I card some wool. After a quick breakfast, it’s off to check the sheep, before heading off to work at The Ark. As I always carry some of my needle felting kit with me, I spend my lunchbreaks working on my latest project or toying with new ideas. After work, it’s back to the sheep – this is the best time of the day when they are all very relaxed, with bellies full of grass, so I spend time with each of them, making sure that they are all ok. Once I get home, I can turn my attention to my fibre arts and I can usually manage to dedicate a few hours to my needle felting. Luckily, it’s very relaxing to do, so it is an enjoyable way to spend the evening.
Do you have a favourite animal to create?
I love making the foxes and badgers – seeing their characters develop as you make them!
Do you remember your very first sale? And how does it feel when someone chooses to buy your work?
My first sales were small but very special. Special because someone not only liked what I’d made, but because they appreciated and understood the story behind where their purchase had come from. That was the best feeling!
What has been your proudest moment so far with your business?
I think my proudest moment was being invited to attend the Tissington Craft Fairs. Knowing that all the makers are so carefully curated, I was very happy to be able to attend. Everything about the event is lovely – the location, the customers, other stallholders and of course, the organisers. I can’t wait to be back there!
“I’m surrounded by countryside which is where I take my inspiration from”. Vicky Chadwick, Bluebell Felties
What do you love to do in your spare time and how does this influence your work?
There’s not much spare time but I’m lucky enough to live in a lovely part of the county, so I’m surrounded by countryside which is where I take my inspiration from. I may take my dog out for a walk and spot a fox or sit in the garden with a cup of coffee and watch a woodpecker on the bird feeder – they are all small pleasures that influence my work.
What can our customers look forward to seeing in 2023? Do you have any new products in the pipeline?
There will be all sorts of new products that will pop up over the course of this year. Making their debut on 24th June will be some relatives of Tissi duck – hopefully he will be happy to see them! I’m also planning on teaching myself to weave on a peg loom, later in the year – so if it goes well, there may be a new craft to showcase. All the favourites from last year will be with me too. A lot of the pieces that I will be bringing aren’t always available from my Etsy shop as I like to keep my stall at Tissington Craft Fair as unique as possible. Obviously, if anyone misses out on a piece that they particularly like, they can contact me via my Etsy shop or through Instagram @BluebellFelties and I will be happy to help.
Tissi the Duck (Tissington Craft Fairs mascot) by Bluebell Felties