MAKER SPOTLIGHT: Vivavilt

We've been speaking to Margot from Vivavilt; a Dutch felt art studio.  Her art features wool alongside plant fibres and a huge amount of texture!

When did you start your craft?

About twenty years ago I booked a workshop wet felting and I immediately fell in love with this technique.

What do you like best about it?

I like the fact that I work directly with my hands in the wool. It's an ancient craft and it feels like that. I also like the fact that I learn every day about the possibilities and the feeling of the wool of different breeds.

Do you have a favourite thing to make?

I love everything about wet felting.  I always want to try new techniques, structures and surface designs. The possibilities are endless. From 3D works to large wall hangings. My business is to make large wall hangings for restaurants, offices and homes which need to be softened. Wool is the perfect natural material to adorn spaces and improve acoustics.

Why is crafting important to you?

It's my way of expressing myself. The perfect cooperation of hands and brain. I love working with natural materials like wool, plant fibres and plants and roots for natural dyeing. Wet felting is like magic, still after more than twenty years. Loose fibres turn into a textile with only water, soap and hands. The same for natural dyeing. Dyeing with indigo for example is also magic. The wool turning blue when it comes out of the dye pot.

What are your preferred products to use?

Last year I worked on an art project with an Irish artist. We worked with Hebridean wool and Mountain sheep wool. A very beautiful combination.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to take up your craft?

There are so many good tutorials on the internet to watch. After the watching, just keep on felting, the more experience the better. 

What's your favourite thing about World of Wool? 

(As usual, we're not going to apologise for this leading question! :P)

World of Wool has everything a felter could wish for: an amazing range of European wool (I prefer to use local/European wool), plant fibres, silks and felting tools.

You can find Vivavilt on Instagram and on their own website.