I had great plans of putting this post together at the end of 2015 but time got away from me. I didn’t want to get too far away from 2015 without sharing my top 10 needle felted sculptures of 2015. Every year I go through the sculptures that I completed during the year and pick my favorites. I narrow it down to 10 sculptures. It is fun to look back over the years and see how my art has grown and changed.
The rest of the year is filled in with making snowmen, Bear Creek Bunnies and Bear Creek Dragons as well as designing needle felting kits and teaching classes. I am looking forward to posting my top picks out of those categories as well.
Needle felting is a time consuming process, so I am usually happy to get at least 10 bigger, intricate sculptures completed within a year. Some of these animals have shown up in other years top 10’s however they are not the same sculpture. I have made 7 giraffes over the years as well as several moose, loons, pigs and bison. They all are created with their own unique personality and never look the same.
This is the first year for making a whitetail buck, a Scottish Highlander and a miniature elephant. I started the year with the Scottish Highlander and ended with the buck.
The Bison went on a trip with me to the Badlands National Park and Black Hills of South Dakota. He was able to spend some time with some live Bison there and have his photo taken in the beautiful scenery.
I actually made 2 Giraffe this year. I sold one right before leaving for the One of a Kind show in Chicago in December. While my husband drove to Chicago I worked away on another giraffe so that I could have one at the show. The giraffe didn’t quite get finished to make it to the show the first day, but after a long night of felting he was there for the second day of the show and sold that afternoon. Needless to say, I didn’t get a picture of giraffe #7.
Most of the sculptures seen here are sold. You can find some of them in my Etsy shop or right here on my website.
Other Top Ten Posts you may enjoy:
If you join do you get tutorials for all your top 10 picks from all years. Or is there list of tutorials included? Thanks
The courses available in the Academy right now (June 2019) are:
Beginner
Needle Felting Basics
Snowman
Penguin
Felting on Fabric
Llama
Horse
Cornucopia
Fiber Sampler
Hippo
Chicken
Sheep course – teaching you how to make 3 different sheep using different types of wool
Intermediate
Bunny
Pig
Basset Puppy
Dragon
Bear
Turkey
Succulents
Make an open mouth laughing smile
Advanced
Lamb
Elephant
Giraffe
Cow
Donkey
Camel
Scottish Highlander
Llama
Zebra (coming soon)
Bison (coming soon)
Quick Tips Courses
How to get a smooth finish on your sculptures
Tips for speeding up your felting
Dusting your felted sculptures
DO IT YOURSELF Felting tool
Plus seasonal felting project ideas, ongoing discussions on felting, wool and sheep in the forum, Private Members only Facebook Group, numerous articles on tips and techniques and so many more fun things on the way.
I will be starting a new section on felting projects to do with your kids or grandkids soon as well as more courses in each of the skill levels in the coming months.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all, I would be happy to answer them.
Thanks,
Teresa
I tried doing the pen but it kept pushing up inside inside.
I love the moose and deer! Any chance they will be in the Academy classes in the future?
Hi Teresa. I have fallen head over heels for the large elephant and would like to know if I could buy a kit or the pattern for it. Thank you and you are a true artist.
Hi Kim, Thank you! There is a video course within the Bear Creek Needle Felting Academy for the Elephant. Learn more about the Academy here: https://bearcreekfelting.com/teresa-perlebergs-needle-felting-academy/
Miss Teresa,
WOW! I am amazed at your skill in felting. The realistic look of your pieces is stunning. I have read about your idea of doing the pieces for the nativity scene…..superb idea indeed.
Great group of sculptures! Did you just tightly needle felt the legs where they are so thin or are they reinforced? my bird legs/feet are so narrow, wire is essential. but the little lamb, cheetah and fox i have made do not – the legs are not as thin or shaped as yours. You have wonderful work.
Thank you Margie! There are wires in the legs of some of the animals. If they have long tall legs, I put wire in them. I spend a lot of time on the legs and they are my least favorite part of the entire process. I do not like working around wire but it is necessary for the legs.
Hi talented lady, how did you make the deers horns please and also, which wool did you cover the brown horned cow. I would appreciate hearing back from you. I live in Port Macquarie in Australia. Many thanks..Roberta
Hi Roberta,
An artist friend made the deer antlers out of clay. The Scottish Highlander horns are made with my natural gray Romney wool.
Thank you, I will have to try the clay horns myself!!
You have an amazing talent! I love your work. So realistic and beautiful! I would buy one of each if I could afford to!
Thank you Kelly!
These are just beautiful
Thank you!