Needle-Felted Harvest Mother
This is my best work to date. I made this needle-felted Harvest Mother as a donation for our school’s Country Store fundraiser, part of Sacramento Waldorf School’s Harvest Faire, which is being held this Saturday, October 23. Now that’s she’s done, I’m kind of sorry to have to give her up. She took about four hours to make, spread over several evenings. She is about 9 inches tall and the widest part of her skirt is about 7 inches across.
I tried to gently stripe the colors to suggest agricultural rows. I tried to suggest that from her body flows all good things: crops of pumpkins, cabbages, and greens. I tried to use colors that bring to mind dried-up summer grains and tired fields ready for resting. I tried to suggest that she is the goddess of foods gathered in and the growing foods that will nourish us in time, in a never-ending cycle. I hope you can see the wind in her hair.
I admit, that’s a lot to suggest with a bunch of fluff!
It’s amazing what a little needle can do! She is holding a cornucopia in her arms, can you tell?
These are two details of her earthy skirt, with various crops growing on it. I love the pumpkin vines the most. I would have loved to make grapes and wheat, but I couldn’t seem to make the wool cooperate in that way for superfine details.
I’m ridiculously proud of this doll! I don’t really want to give her up, but she is going for a good cause. I just hope they sell her for a decent amount and that the person who buys her loves her as much as I do.
October 20, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Perfectly poignant! You astound me, truly.
October 20, 2010 at 5:23 pm
wow.
She’s gorgeous.
She belongs on someone’s autumn altars.
October 20, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Wow, that is a work of art. Absolutely beautiful.
October 21, 2010 at 5:59 am
She’s stunning. I think you conveyed a lot of what you were going for, at least I can see much of it.
October 21, 2010 at 10:12 am
She is simply stunning! I would agree that it would be hard to give her up!
October 21, 2010 at 11:53 am
That is one lovely lady, how inspiring. Beautiful!!!
October 21, 2010 at 7:11 pm
That is beautiful! Love it.
October 22, 2010 at 8:26 am
Oh my! I love her!! You could always bid on her too. I’d have a hard time giving her up too. 🙂
October 22, 2010 at 10:53 am
Thank you, Cori! The folks at school are trying to figure out what to charge for her.
October 22, 2010 at 10:54 am
Thanks, Denise. She was a joy to make. I want one for myself, but now I’m afraid mine might not turn our so well.
October 22, 2010 at 11:02 am
Thank you, Jenny. I’m honored by your visit and compliment.
October 22, 2010 at 11:02 am
Liz, I thought so too! Thank you!
December 14, 2010 at 11:24 am
Fabulous!!!!
December 14, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Thanks, Victoria!
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