Toys for All Ages.

*Please note that all images are property of Nelly Kouzmina and cannot be used without written consent 

from the artist.

I found that making toys is very relaxing. 

.. it can be challenging also

Introducing Mr Sterling Ratman.
16" tall (21" with tail), charming, adventurous, brave, young. Single.
Working progress.
Hand made felt, Merino wool. Seamless.

Making Mr Ratman..

Hello, my name is Sterling Ratman, you can call me Sterling!
I got nose and eyes today, apparently I need glasses,
oh well, life is good anyway!..

Being single was fun, but a little boring. Mr Ratman was looking for his very special lady and finally met Bril.. future Mrs Ratman

Sterling and Bril on a date.

Lena and Nina

Lena was lonely for awhile till she met Nina, and they became best friends.
Nina is tall, beautiful blond girl with deep blue eyes. She wears nuno felt summer dress, her hair casually pulled together with velvet ribbon.
Lena, well known fashionista, is happy to give Nina advise.
They are planning on going shopping.
More stories will be posted later.

In preparation to teach new summer program in Fiber Art west Windsor Art Center I made this seamless 

felt doll Lena with set of clothing all stitched and embroidered by hands.

"Lena"
Stylish, pretty, reserved, well aware of the latest fashion trend. 
Single. Vegetarian.
She wears white silk blouse, red velvet skirt, and light summer Cotton coat lined with flannel.
Seamless. Merino wool, Mohair locks (doll's hair eco-dyed with onion skin), 12.5" toll.

My first toy.

"Miss Squirrel"

If you are lonely you might consider to get a cozy felt creature to hug.

I was asked to make a big pillow size squirrel for a little girl. As I was working on it I thought some grownups might like to have it too.

"Miss Squirrel". 
Large hand made squirrel. Norwegian wool, Merino, Angora.
She got a necklace and Challis shawl. OOAK.
2' tall.

No longer available. Manhattan resident.

Small Things, Simple Pleasures.

I had few silk eye glass cases, white, a bit boring.
After playing with leaves - Eucalyptus, Tamarisk, I've got some interesting results.

100% Silk.
Botanical print.
Natural and Acid Dye.

Corsets and Bodices

*Please note that all images are property of Nelly Kouzmina and cannot be used without written consent 

from the artist.

Corsets.
..for walking, traveling, dreaming, napping, dining.. corsets.

Recently I came to idea of making small garments/ large accessories - revival of Corsets and Bodices.
My corsets are seamless, worn over dress or pants, have zipper closure on the back, and have a pouch for phone, or house key, or other important things.

Navy soft corset with pocket-pouch accompanied by bright strawberry shape felt bag.
Merino wool, Silk & Bamboo fibers.
Appropriate in  many occasions.
No longer available.

"Alpine" style waist warmer/ soft corset with pouch.
Merino wool, Silk.
Comfortable, soft and cozy. The design was inspired by the purity of Alps.
Either you are in the mountains, or on the road - you have all you need - phone and snack in the pouch.
Reserved.

Hand made soft corset with pouch and Egyptian motif.
over nuno felt dress made of Cotton Gauze, Merino wool fibers and hand dyed.
 Corset has zipper closure on the back and decorated with hand dyed Indian cotton fabric in nuno felting technique.
Stylish and unique.

A corset is a garment worn to hold and train the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it or with a more lasting effect). Both men and women are known to wear corsets, though this item was for many years an integral part of women's wardrobes. Since the late 20th century, the fashion industry has borrowed the term "corset" to refer to tops which, to varying degrees, mimic the look of traditional corsets without acting as them. While these modern corsets and corset tops often feature lacing or boning and generally imitate a historical style of corsets, they have very little, if any, effect on the shape of the wearer's body. Genuine corsets are usually made by a corsetmaker and are frequently fitted to the individual wearer./ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corset

Bodice - A bodice (American English /ˈbɑːdɨs/, British /ˈbɒdɪs/), historically, is an article of clothing for women, covering the body from the neck to the waist. In modern usage it typically refers to a specific type of upper garment common in Europe during the 16th to the 18th century, or to the upper portion of a modern dress to distinguish it from the skirt and sleeves. The term comes from pair of bodies (because the garment was originally made in two pieces that fastened together, frequently by lacing)./ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodice

Publications

"Worldwide Colors of Felt (Holland, May, 2016)
http://textiellink.nl/en/

Magazine of International Feltmakers Association (U.K.) - "FeltMatters", Issue 117, Page 28

"Spotlight on America"

http://www.feltmakers.com/images/FeltMatters/Issue117-contents.pdf

New Hope Art Council (PA, 2016)
http://www.quiltfest.com/blog/new-hope-arts-center-presents-fiber-fabric-fashion-pennsylvania-national-quilt-extravaganza-sunday-september-18-2016/

New & Experimental Work.

Once on a path of felt exploration you start notice things you didn't pay much attention before - unusual objects, shapes, color combinations - all in relation with felt making.
As the time goes by, your curiosity is growing. 
What will happen if I felt this in, or with this, or use chosen fibers, fabrics to create certain effect? 
It is always magic, always something new. Not that you always like it but it is never the same. 
This is a beauty of felt - very live textile form.

This is my dog Eddie's toy

what if I play with it?

and play more

I am not sure what to do with it. It could lead to something else eventually. 

As long as we feed our curiosity with trying something new, and do something new - life goes on.

Wraps, Shawls, Scarves.

*Please note that all images are property of Nelly Kouzmina and cannot be used without written consent 

from the artist.

Each of my accessory is unique, one of a kind.

I use variety of techniques - from nuno felt to cobweb felt, or mixed techniques.

Superfine Merino wool, Alpaca, Silk and Bamboo are the main fibers in my work.

"Jazz". Cobweb felt. Merino wool.
Light, cheerful, compact, easy to travel with.
No longer available. World traveler.

"Flame". Nuno felt. Scarf/wrap.
Silk Chiffon, Merino wool.
No longer available. World traveler.

"Lola". Nuno felt. Large wrap. Open weave linen, Merino wool. No longer available. NYC resident.

"Spring". Nuno felt with 3 details. Silk Gauze, Merino wool, Mohair locks.

 

"Elegie". Nuno felt.
Extra loarge wrap. Open weave silk, merino wool.
Feminine, airy.

"Ryūnosuke". Nuno felt. Scarf/ Unisex. Silk Chiffon, Merino wool.

"Blue Danube". Nuno felt. Scarf/wrap. Silk Gauze, Merino wool, Mohair locks.
No longer available. Sweden resident.

"Winter Tale". Infinity scarf with 3 D details. Super fine Merino wool, wool Challis, Silk.

"Adagio". Nuno felt. Long scarf. Silk Chiffon, Merino wool.
No longer available. 

"Serpentine". Nuno felt. Silk Chiffon, Alpaca, Merino wool.
No longer available.

"October". Cobweb felt. Super fine Merino wool.

No longer available.

"Grace". Cobweb felt. Large wrap. Super fine Merino wool, Silk Tussah.

No longer available.

"Iris". Cobweb felt. Merino wool.

No longer available. NJ resident.

"Pocket Scarf". Hand made felt.
Super fine Merino wool. Soft, compact, perfect for world traveler.
No longer available. Paris resident.

 

"Valentina". Nuno felt. Silk chiffon with 3 D felt flowers.
No longer available. NYC resident.

                                                                                                                                              

"Africa". Nuno felt. Silk Gauze, Merino wool, Tussah Silk.
No longer available.NYC resident.

"Lavender dreams". Nuno felt. Merino wool, Habotai Silk.

No longer available. Kyoto resident.

"Pretty in Pink". Nuno felt. Merino wool, Habotai Silk.

No longer available. NJ resident.

"Reflection of Lights". Cobweb felt.
Merino wool, Silk.
Inspired by work of Yayoi Kusama "Fireflies on the Water".
No longer available. World traveler.






                         

"Bachelor Scarf". Cobweb felt. Superfine Merino wool, Silk. Easy to care, and elegant at the same time.

Proudly owned by PhD, NYC resident (Single).

"Pink & Olive". Cobweb felt. Merino wool. 
No longer available.

"Mint & Lavender". Cobweb felt. Super fine merino wool.
Lacey, soft and comforting.

"Nocturne". Cobweb felt. Super fine Merino wool, Silk Tussah.
No longer available. 

                         "Her Majesty". Cobweb felt. Merino wool.

"Pumpkin Spice". Nuno felt. Scarflette. Merino wool, Wool Challis.
No longer available. Holland resident.

Wraps. Shawls. Scarves.

Wraps, shawls and scarves are elegant, timeless accessories.
Formal or casual - always in fashion.
I use variety of techniques to create them - traditional felt, cobweb felt, nuno felt.
Made of Super Fine Merino wool, comfortable to the skin, light, airy, cozy. 
My beautiful model Daline gracefully wearing some of my wraps.

"Iris". Cobweb felt. Super fine Merino wool.
No longer available.

"October". Cobweb felt. Super fine Merino wool.
No longer available.

"Her Majesty". Cobweb felt. Falkland wool, Merino wool.
Elegant and cozy.

"Touch". Cobweb felt. Merino wool.
Gentle.