Smitten with beautifully sewn soft sculptures
by
Paulina Temmes,
an artist from Helsinki who so brilliantly captures
a mood of contemplative, peaceful wonder with
needle, thread, and imagination.
I am so thankful there are artful souls in this world
like Paulina who thoughtfully create pieces
with ageless appeal that bring so many smiles.
Just look at him.
What is his expression saying to you
about what he has seen and learned?
A few years back, Paulina Temmes said:
“I started making dolls and writing and drawing little animal stories when I was about 20 years old. Most of my older dolls were made from modelling clay, but lately I have concentrated on sewing soft sculpture animals. I love loosely woven linen, paperlike organza and vintage fabrics with signs of their age. One of my favourite materials is little stones and pebbles found everywhere.”
(via)
Rarely does Temmes sketch the animals before sewing them;
instead, she sews the body and face and somehow
then instinctively knows what the creature will become.
She captures a melancholic mood so successfully,
and one look at the lace-caped bunny above, and
a story begins to unfold in my own imagination
about a weary rabbit with a keen fashion sense.
I love the vintage quality of these fine art pieces
which feel so wonderfully alive.
They capture holiday wonder for me...
a grown up child who never wants
to lose her sense of awe and optimism.
Mister Finch is another artist who
masterfully sews fairytale creatures,
though his creatures are more fanciful,
whimsical, and colorful.
I'm so in love with the quiet tones and textiles
Temmes chooses for her menagerie.
So soft and dream-like.
Her inspiration comes from animals she observes
around her, old mechanical toys, books about
medieval embroidery, and outsider art.
If I owned such a collection, I can imagine
styling them all day long and never
tiring of photographing their beauty.
Have these soft sculptures in sweaters captured your heart?
Ever sewn or needle-felted a little doll or furry friend?
What stirs holiday wonder in your own soul?
Wishing you wonder-filled days in this
sometimes hectic holiday season.
Peace to you right where you are.
