Feltunik is one of a kind art wear, interior accents and wall art handmade by me, Nina Vance, a textile and felt artist living by Lake Erie in PA, USA. While growing up in northern Norway, I got an early appreciation for the unique qualities of wool. I grew up wearing hand knit sweaters, felted socks, and felted boots in the winter months. I used to knit, and sew, because I always wanted to create something, but often finding the process less satisfying. Being introduced to Nuno felt, I was completely seduced. It is to me the perfect process. I greatly enjoy manipulating wool, fibers, and fabrics and the seemingly endless possibilities never fails to intrigue me. My work has been exhibited, published, won awards and can be found for sale online and in selected galleries. The photographs below represent some of my work over the last years.
Gallery of wearable art
Memories are, for me, often linked to a color. Blue evokes memories of the Norwegian fjords, the magical blue hour before dark, the blue spears of a glacier at dusk, the flow of a river, a wave rolling onto shore, the sky.. This is a dress made inspired by the flow and movement of water.
Wall art
"Organism"
While studying biology and human anatomy I discovered a source of endless inspiration. More than anything images of shapes, forms and patterns kept mesmerizing me. The piece above is certainly drawing from that inspiration.
While studying biology and human anatomy I discovered a source of endless inspiration. More than anything images of shapes, forms and patterns kept mesmerizing me. The piece above is certainly drawing from that inspiration.
I always carry bags of rocks home from the beach. You can find them in my house and all over my garden. It is incredible how beautiful you can make felted rock shapes! I wanted a wall piece with a pillow to match for my own home. Fascination with beautiful rocks inspired this work of sculptural felt. The process is material consuming and multi step to get this sculptural effect. One of these wall pieces is today part of a large private art collection.
" Breeze"
Medium print on felt.
Medium print on felt.
This is currently part of a corporate art collection along with two other textural pieces.
Process
Merino wool is the binding agent in my work.
I love that I can work the fibers to create seamless products, shapes and textures. To me It is a magical material that I never grow tired of working with. In the process, merino wool fibers travel through open weave fabrics. I have used old heirloom lace, new and recycled silk, and other fine, natural fabrics. Often the fabrics are hand dyed and sometimes printed. Accents used can be yarns, beads or laminated pieces of dense materials that does not felt. The process starts with a pattern enlarged to accommodate for shrinkage. "Magic" happens with shrinkage and the material often gets a wonderful texture. I will lay out my merino wool fibers using direction and layout to create desired effects, before following with fabrics and decorative materials to create an interesting surface. After adding soap and hot water, the project is rolled to start the blending and shrinking. An initial gentle rolling will then turn into more hands on and spot shrinking as well as shaping. The project is finally rinsed and ph neutralized. It is to me the most amazing process and the results are not 100% predictable, although with experience you gain more and more defined control.
I love that I can work the fibers to create seamless products, shapes and textures. To me It is a magical material that I never grow tired of working with. In the process, merino wool fibers travel through open weave fabrics. I have used old heirloom lace, new and recycled silk, and other fine, natural fabrics. Often the fabrics are hand dyed and sometimes printed. Accents used can be yarns, beads or laminated pieces of dense materials that does not felt. The process starts with a pattern enlarged to accommodate for shrinkage. "Magic" happens with shrinkage and the material often gets a wonderful texture. I will lay out my merino wool fibers using direction and layout to create desired effects, before following with fabrics and decorative materials to create an interesting surface. After adding soap and hot water, the project is rolled to start the blending and shrinking. An initial gentle rolling will then turn into more hands on and spot shrinking as well as shaping. The project is finally rinsed and ph neutralized. It is to me the most amazing process and the results are not 100% predictable, although with experience you gain more and more defined control.
