Millie Barnett
Felter
Teaching in the Arctic and other schools enabled me to draw from a broad base of life experiences when I started designing teddy bears 30+ years ago in Saskatchewan. We raised sheep and used the wool in knitting products for my early stuffed animals.
After retirement, I continued making teddy bears while living in the Kootenays. I was a founding member of the Fernie Arts Co-op. Originally the bears were made from fabric & fur coats. Design of the bears, rabbits, and moose evolved over the years. Today they are made by using a special barbed needles, thus creating one-of-a-kind felted animals. Fibre in these products are now individually carded and blended with mohair, alpaca, llama, and wool. Felted eyes have replaced glass eyes. There is no duplication in the sculptured animals. Each is one-of-a-kind. Felting is a centuries old method of making fabric. I have taken this ancient technique and applied it to designing and needle felting these unique products. Over the years these collectables have found homes around the world.
