Today I’m pleased and excited to welcome three very bossy artists to help launch my new Indie Artist Spotlight series!
Three is a good number, I think — three times the talent, beauty, spunk, ingenuity, and brilliance. Three times the luck, three times the inspiration for us all, and yes, three times the bossy craftiness. 🙂
Kari, Mandy, and Amy work together as a needle felting cooperative called Bossy’s Feltworks on Orcas Island, a 57-square mile creative Eden north of Seattle in Washington state.
If, like me, you love and appreciate the handmade and heartmade — you’ll enjoy hearing from this enterprising threesome who, back in 2006, took piles of fleece sheared from the sheep on Amy’s farm, gathered around the kitchen table with their five young daughters underfoot, and began fashioning colorful balls and adorable little white sheep.
In no time at all, they set off on regular flights of fancy, fueled by endless cups of tea and snacks (!), a shared love of children’s books, inspiration from a menagerie of pets and farm animals, and steadily built an enthusiastic customer base via Etsy and a local farmer’s market. Their felted critters are irresistible — not only well made, but infused with the good feelings of friendship, family, and the joy of maximizing what each is uniquely qualified to bring to the table. Thanks so much for visiting today, Bossy Ladies!
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♥ WHERE THERE’S WOOL THERE’S A WAY ♥
Name of shop or business: Bossy’s Feltworks, Amy Lum, Mandy Troxel & Kari Van Gelder
Year established: 2006
Items you make: Felted animals – used as free-standing figures, on mobiles, as Christmas ornaments, on pincushions and more!
Studio Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Online: www.bossysfeltworks.etsy.com
Three words that best describe your art: whimsical, sweet, humorous
Self taught or formal training?
Both. We are self taught needle felters, two of us with art school backgrounds. In addition to needle felting, this business has included all kinds of learning curves. We’ve learned about processing and dyeing wool, product photography, branding, how to run an Etsy shop, how to vend outdoors, small business management, shipping with USPS… and so much more. We’ve taken advice and knowledge from many sources while making it up as we go along.
Tools of the Trade: Our hands, our wool, our felting needles, and occasionally our washing machines!
Inspirations and influences:
We inspire each other! We sometimes describe ourselves as super bouncy balls together in a small room, and the mutual support has been pretty fantastic for keeping momentum. We love “Bossy Show and Tell”, when we unveil what we’ve come up with individually. On the flip side, we often sit together and work out a design for a certain item, using our collective brain to troubleshoot. What has emerged is a fusion of our individual artistry, whim and humor that still reflects a uniquely “Bossy” look.
Bossy influences have been beautiful children’s books by artists such as Patricia Polacco and Alice and Martin Provensen, and the many delightful requests of customers young and old. We also must give a nod to the beloved critters in our own lives, which include dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, horses, sheep, and most recently cows! The “Bossy” in Bossy’s Feltworks refers to Bossy the sheep, who for many years was the “matron” of the Lum family’s flock.
Three significant milestones in your career:
Can we have four?
1. In July of 2006 we tested selling our wares at the Orcas Island Farmer’s Market. When we realized that we had not only had fun but also made money that day, we were (joyfully) teary and giddy!
2. Passing $100,000 in overall total sales (yes, this took a number of years). No skeptical husbands remained.
3. Being “Featured Seller” on Etsy.com in the spring of 2011.
4. Graduating from the kitchen table: we now rent studio space for our business. Until Fall of 2011, we were working from our homes, using the backs of our cars to haul things from kitchen table to kitchen table. We love having a clubhouse.
Food that inspires your best work:
Tea and chocolate!! In addition, we eat a shared lunch on our studio day. Most recently we’ve found lunch happiness in nachos with the works and salad. It has to be quick, simple and yummy! During the growing season we especially enjoy the produce that comes from Kari and Amy’s abundant gardens.
Bestseller:
At our local farmer’s market, it’s the humble yet lovely felted ball. In our Etsy shop, it’s our “Lamb with Scarf” ornament.
What is your earliest memory of being creative? What is the first thing you ever made as an “artist”?
With three of us, perhaps we’ll take a collaborative approach to this question. There was a particular day in the spring of 2006 when we all managed to secure childcare and planted ourselves on Amy’s living room rug amidst a mountain of newly washed and dyed wool. With just two hours to ourselves, we felt like we were in some kind of woolen oasis. As that first batch of felted balls came to life, we realized we had something truly special.
Tell us about your favorite creation so far, some of the challenges you overcame to make it, and how it influences what you’re doing now.
Our lamb is definitely one of our favorite creations. It remains the cornerstone of our business. It’s the item which we make in the largest quantities, and it nonetheless continues to inspire us. In the beginning, the lamb was the challenge. We wanted to make them, and we didn’t know how. We had much to learn about wool, needle felting, armatures, stitched eyes. Most especially, we had to figure out that lamb “essence” — how it could be simple, cute, and easily identifiable to the rest of the world. We can proudly (and a bit wearily) say that we’ve figured it out, as we felted and sold more than 700 of them last year!
Describe your studio or workplace. How have you fashioned your work environment to enhance creativity and maximize productivity?
We’ve got our very own clubhouse these days, also lovingly referred to as the Bossy Headquarters. It’s a rented space that we use as a studio/office for production, shipping and storage. We use it as a homebase individually throughout the week, but have one day exclusively set for production. It is good to know that once a week we will all be around the worktable together for at least 6.5 hours, deep in that lovely pile of wool, felting needles in one hand, and mugs of tea in the other. Some things must never change! It is truly the heart of our business.
It’s been fun to decorate our space (including prints, pillows, mugs and more, all found on etsy). Having a set space devoted just to Bossy has enabled us to set up good systems and increase our productivity. The Bossy Headquarters is also well stocked with snacks for moms and kids alike, holds a small couch, has a stockpile of good chocolate, and is not often without a good mix of tunes via Pandora or Rhapsody. It’s just icing on the cake that it’s walking distance from our kids’ school.
How do you chart your growth as artists? How do you define success?
We’ve been defining success on our own terms as we go along. In the beginning, we were looking to make some extra income while being creative, having our children with us, and using wool from Amy’s farm. We more than succeeded, when we think of the ways that Bossy also created the platform for us to support each other physically and emotionally as moms with young children. These days, we’ve got bigger goals. Bossy’s Feltworks has become a larger job, our kids go to school, and we use more wool than we ever dreamed possible. We’ve grown our business each year and we still love what we do. We call that success!
What do you like best about the creative life?
There’s always something new… a new product, a new tool, a new idea… and it’s our job (hooray!) to pursue it.
Any new projects you’re especially excited about?
This year, we’re hoping to teach more classes, create some online tutorials, and host a springtime studio open house.
Upcoming events/appearances/shows:
We’re online all the time at www.bossysfeltworks.etsy.com
Visiting Orcas Island? You can find us at the Orcas Island Farmer’s Market, Saturdays from 10-3, May through September on the Village Green in Eastsound, WA.
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♥ MORE BOSSINESS ♥
♥ Of course you want to visit their shop at Etsy to see more of their unique handmade critters. Why not get something special for your Valentine?
**Shipping deadline for Valentine’s Day is this Friday, February 8 (noon PST)!
♥ Read their wonderful “Featured Seller” interview at Etsy.
♥ I love this wonderful piece Mandy wrote, “On Being Bossy: Lessons in Running a Home-Based Crafting Business”
♥ Keep up with their Bossy Busyness via Facebook.
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*All photos copyright © Bossy’s Feltworks
Copyright © 2013 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
VERY NICE! Cute! 😀
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I just ordered several of their animals — of course I *had* to have a Super Hero Valentine Lamb!! I always appreciate things more when I know who made them; now I’d like to visit Orcas Island too :).
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You always have such interesting posts, Jama! Nice going, Bossy Ladies!! Your designs are just as you say- whimsical, humorous and sweet- and beautifully crafted, I might add. My favorites are the sheep family, the poodle and the bees. Just lovely!
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I love their work so much. The idea of having the poodle balance a heart on his nose is brilliant :). Glad you enjoyed the post, Iza!
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I love learning about creative people like this group of ladies. Their work is so fun and whimsical. I love the super hero sheep!!
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Totally agree with you Janel — these ladies are a dynamite combination because they have the artistic talent + great business savvy. Also love hearing how their friendship has deepened over the years, and that their Bossy daughters are learning the craft too. 🙂
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Wow, I loved reading about the Bossy Ladies and their creative life. With their delightful felt creations, they could stage tableaus, photograph them, and use them as illustrations for children’s books or calendars. Sort of like what Sloane Tannen does with her chick-illustrated titles for adults (Bitter with Baggage and Hatched) and kids (Where Is Coco Going?). I have strongly hinted to my husband that I would like one of these sheep for Valentine’s Day.
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Yes, Mary, I’ve thought the same thing — I think Mandy is the one with the photography chops. They could create wonderful children’s books; farm animals are always popular :). Salley Mavor publishes incredible books with her felt/needlework sculptures.
Hope one of these adorable sheep finds its way to you next week :).
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You are a bad influence on my decision to try to shop less….! I MUST HAVE something from this shop! Surfing on over now…. xoxoxo
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Moi? A bad influence? 😀 I know you’re an animal lover so, YES, you must have something BOSSY!
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Thanks for the compliments everyone! (Definitely the best part of doing interviews:))
Mary & Jama- we’ve been considering illustrating children’s books for years… and feel that it is definitely in our future, with Sally Mavor’s books as a real inspiration. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Oh, SO excited to hear that, Kari! You must have tons of ideas with 5 children amongst you. Yay for Bossy Books!
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What an adorable business idea. very cute!
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Exactly so. We can never have too much creative whimsy in our lives. 🙂
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I will have to check them out next time I’m on the island – I grew up there. Wonderful stuff and photos!
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From the few pics I’ve seen, Orcas Island looks positively enchanting, and judging from how very friendly the Bossy Ladies are, I’d say it’s an ideal spot for creative types to flourish. I guess there’s something about small islands :).
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Yes, something wonderful!
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Such a treat to see this! I especially love the Bossy Farm and the parachuting sheep. Must go bookmark. Thank you, Bossy Ladies, and thank you, Jama!
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I know — those parachutes! They make me happy whenever I look at them. Wonder who actually thought of that idea?
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I am proud to say that I came up with the first parachute! It was a number of years ago — I actually had had a really hard week, and was pathetically musing how I wished something could come and save me. I had a felted bowl nearby, and a felted sheep, and in a moment of inspiration turned the bowl upside down over the sheep and envisioned the parachute. Then, all three of us took the idea and ran with it in many different directions. Nothing like humor to save you from the brink!!!
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Thanks so much for telling us, Mandy. What a great story! You were saved by the parachute :). I think the parachute needs to be in your first children’s book . . .
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Oh, my GOODNESS.
I have seen Bossy’s stuff with Farida’s, but WOW. Those OWLS.
I have Thneeds now. ☺
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Yes, I saw the nativity scenes they did together! Farida will be a spotlight guest too :). The owls are adorable.
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We’re delighted to hear that Farida will be a spotlight guest. She’s a favorite of ours! She visits Orcas from Seattle regularly and has spent some time at the studio/office with us. Fun times!
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Oh, my goodness. I love them all. But I don’t think I’ll rest untilI have a bowlful of those beautiful colored balls on my coffee table.
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Sigh — those balls really are beautiful. There’s something so wonderfully simple and complete in a perfect orb. 🙂
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@Michelle – we don’t carry the felted balls as a regular item in our Etsy shop- but would gladly put some together for you! Just convo us on Etsy to get the ball rolling (pun intended)…
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I knew my budget would be in trouble if I stopped by here today but I am so glad I did. Their creations are wonderful! I am on my way over to their shop now. Thanks to all of you for this perfect end to my day.
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PS Of course I had to have the brown dog in grass. I love it.
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You got the chestnut dog in grass? It’s perfect for you. 🙂
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Thanks for your order Margie! We appreciate it!
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How delightful. I so enjoyed the photos and the background to Bossy’s Feltworks, and I popped back and forth from here to Etsy as I read this. Another winner, Jama.
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Their creations definitely bring a lot of joy to many many people. Glad you liked the post, Kathleen!
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How darling are these critters, Jama. I know you know some things about me, but bet you didn’t know I collected sheep. I mostly put them out at Christmas, but there is always a ‘stray’ that stays around all year long. I am envious of these three crafters. What beautiful work they are doing. And, to live on an island sounds wonderful. Thanks to all the creativity shown today!
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No, I didn’t know you collected sheep! Kind of like my bear obsession :). You are wild and wooly!
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What a wonderful studio they have! The Bossy spirit is powerfully positive! I love the mobiles and the valentines in particular.
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You can just feel such positive vibes from them and their work, can’t you? We need more of that in our world for sure.
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I can’t wait to see what this spotlight series has in store for us Jama!
Oh the CUTENESS of Bossy. I feel like I haven’t an iota of craftiness anymore…
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Hopefully this series will wake up the seemingly dormant craftiness/creativity in all of us :).
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What a glorious way to start this series, Jama! I can’t believe the amount of personality these fine ladies pack into such small creations. I’m off to go *favorite* the shop, and probably get into trouble. “Something truly special,” indeed!
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So much fun to get into this kind of trouble, isn’t it? Glad you enjoyed meeting the Bossy Ladies!
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Who’s the competition? Robyn and Andie! 😉
The Bossy’s Feltworks are adorable. The ladies look so happy in the photo. They must love what they are doing! Very happy, natural smiles.
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Don’t worry about the competition — there’s plenty Denzel to go around :).
Yes, they love what they are doing, and WE love what they are doing!
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I so love this new feature in your site – reminds me of our Arts Corner. The art work I see here makes my hands itch to create and do something. I’ve been going back to coloring during our long weekend – haven’t done much writing/reading, but trying to immerse myself in colors yet again. This post reminded me that I should do that more often. Such lovely talent here, thanks for sharing this with us, Jama.
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I enjoy getting inspiration for my writing from other art forms — always have. Great cross-fertilization, and it’s always fascinating to see what others are doing.
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