Recently I started noticing that a lot of the felt objects, ornaments that I made started to look worn. They look dirty and the contour of the designs themselves distorted. Upon closer inspection I realized, however, that it is not dirt, but a good layer of fuzz that has developed on the surface of these (once) little lovelies. I felt devastated! I worked so hard to make them, and now this?? I started reading into the issue and quickly realized the culprit is the material itself: the felt I was using was synthetic, not wool.

Grumpy’s mouth is distorted by the fuzz that has developed around it.
The whites of the eyes “bleeding into” the pupils.
The entire eye pillow is covered in fuzz that slowly eats away the fabric.

I took a deep breath. Then let out a long groan, one that even Chewbacca would have been proud of. The thing is, not too many craft stores in Hungary carry felt in their stock. And if they do, there is no indication in the shop of the origin of the material, the content or how to care for it. And if I ask – because I have – they tell me it is wool. I have bought cheep ones, and those that were more expensive, but it seems with the same result: I was cheated. This is when I let out the second bout of groaning. Is ordering from abroad really the only alternative?

Honestly, I don’t know. What I mean is, until now a piece of felt ornament was only a time investment in the making. With international shipping costs added to the equation these beauties could themselves be the investment. Or maybe it’s just my mindset that has to adjust to the new reality: I could still make the prototypes, or little experiments from the cheaper synthetic felt, and once I am satisfied with the outcome, down to my groove, then go for the more expensive one. Yes, it’s going to cost more, but that baby will last a lifetime.