I Started Making Toys From Wool 3 Years Ago, Here Are 28 Of My Best Works
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My story began three years ago when I, a mother of two, saw unique toys made from an unknown material, which, as I later found out, was felting wool. I got really interested in the needle felting technique and decided to try making a handmade toy myself. My first toy wasn’t nearly as pretty, it was rather funny, but I enjoyed the process so much that I kept trying. I was felting during my free time, even at night, and I got better with each felted animal I made.
Slowly, I began receiving my first commissions. My felted birds got very popular and were flying off to different cities. I was excited about the recognition of my artwork and didn’t even think about the other side of this popularity.
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A tiny bat appeared in my collection quite by accident. My daughter Masha asked me to make her a bat brooch, which in the making turned out to be too big for the accessory, so we decided to turn it into a little bat-toy. We photographed Masha (my daughter often helps with photographing my artwork, and sometimes models in the shot herself) holding the bat and posted it on social media with a caption: “Not for sale!” I was planning on making more of these adorable animals in the future, but at that moment, I had too many commissions, so I put it aside for later.
A few weeks ago, my inbox on Instagram filled up with messages from people who supposedly bought my toys from online shops and never received their order after completing the payment. I was shocked.
I have to admit that I didn’t expect such a huge interest in my little felting animals. Moreover, I didn’t expect it to be “sold” in significant quantities for a ridiculous price of just $19.99. As a result, hundreds of scammed people wrote to me in the hope of receiving their bats.
I am flattered that my bats won the hearts of so many people, but the number of orders I got was terrifying. It takes ten days, working 12-14 hours a day, to make one bat-toy. I don’t really know what I should do; tell everyone to forget about their bats? Or try to fulfill a promise I never made?
Of course, I will keep felting as many bats as I can, but I want people to understand that these toys are fully handmade, so it’s a fairly lengthy process. Furthermore, there are so many interesting birds and cute animals I would like to recreate in wool as well…
So this is my story. Currently, I spend most of my time doing original artwork for existing customers, so no time is left for replying to all the messages and comments. This is why I asked my sister Ksenya to help me out and respond to your comments. Thank you all for your understanding and support.
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Exceptional talent! However, for your own sanity (as a fellow artist) - I know it pains you, but you really just need to tell the people that were scammed what happened. In no way, shape or form should you be held accountable for someone else's fraud, Selling your artworks for $20 would be akin to someone expecting to pay 5 bucks to have a new bathtub installed. Your time is valuable - never undervalue it! :) Much love and the best of luck from Canada!
Agreed. What happened isn’t your fault and if you just explain, any person with a shred of decency will understand and hopefully not be too upset. I feel so bad for both you and all those poor people, but for your own sake please tell them what happened.
They have the right to be upset at the scammer, but not at the artist, obviously.
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We have read your comment and thank you very much for your words of support. Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. Can you advise where else to write about it? Now posted information on instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
I would tell customers to talk directly to whomever sold them the bats in the first place and to file a complaint with whichever platform you use to you sell your items on. Trying to make up for their losses will only open yourself up to criticism and enraged internet users. For all future sales, you may consider publicly alerting your followers that all purchases must go directly through you and to be aware of scammers.
Thanks for the support! I really told people about it on my pages in social networks with a warning about fraud on the part of unscrupulous stores
Hi, your work is amazing mais no way you should making bats for a fraude, just explain and if people think it' cost 20$ handmade, too bad for them. Hope one day you'll have a sale site and i could order one bird !
Also, she probably won't get any money from them as the scammers will have taken it from the fake sales. She's not obligated. Sad for the customers but she isn't responsible.
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We have read your comment and thank you very much for your words of support. Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
It's not Annas fault what happened. When i exposed the matter i asked for her help in official DMCA reports. And together we did amazing work.
Yes, thank you for your help!
For comparison, I paid $185 to have a custom made wool cat in the likeness of my cat. It honesty looks amazing and clearly hard work went into making it. I thought the $185 was a fair deal.
I thought they must be Chinese toys -just using the term needle felted - we just had one in our house and my granddaughter was entranced and wanted to keep it. When I saw this I thought she would be delighted. I thought even if it was just a copy it was so cute. Never dreamt it was a con. Your work is amazing. I have complained to pay pal = I hope they can refund in AU$ with postage it was 39 odd dollars but that would never pay for a real hand made work of art- but it is a lot of money to me . I dont know why people do such horrible thing to people . Much love and respect to you
And good,luck from Brighton, UK!!!
Time to open an Etsy account and sell them for some serious money!! I'd buy one for sure!
Me too!
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We read your comment and Anna is very pleased)). Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. As soon as the situation with the implementation of orders will be adjusted - the orders will be accepted again! Just please do not be offended) We will write about it in instagram on all pages! Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
Me as well!!
Same here!
And me!!!!
Me as well.
I love the bat, but keep the spider away from me. Lol
If we assume $15.00/hr, 10-12 hrs/day, 10 days per beautiful critter, that's $1650. I've spent money more foolishly than that, but it's still not cheap.
This comment has been deleted.
These are adorable. The spider is even realistic enough to be skipped over a wee bit quickly! Flipping phobias! I'm rather fond of that cute bat! I hope you aren't bothered by scammers again.
Thanks. It is not possible to cope with them yet. One hope is to warn as many people as possible so that they do not get caught by scammers.
You are not responsible for others' actions. The unfortunately scammed customers should take it up with the sites where they made the transaction, not you. Don't let this cloud your pleasure in your art, because that's what you are, an artist.
I've reported the FB ad several times and am trying to spread the word. I feel for you. Please don't feel responsible for the people being scammed. It's not your fault!
Again, this proves that "if it seems too good to be true, it most probably isn't". If the people who ordered them for twenty dollars thought they were felted, then they were, in fact, trying to scam you out of any payment for your high-quality craftsmanship. (Translation of @Or Le's post: "Good afternoon, if I were to send you a design, could you make the animal?)
I’ve had 2 ads on my FB feed for your bat recently. I followed the on the first time because I was concerned that people were being encouraged to keep pet bats! I was baffled at how they could sell it so cheaply even if it were factory made. I assumed that what people would receive would be tackier even though there were lots of comments from alleged ‘satisfied customers’
Bonsoir est ce que si je vous envoi un design vous pouvez le faire l animal ?
Exceptional talent! However, for your own sanity (as a fellow artist) - I know it pains you, but you really just need to tell the people that were scammed what happened. In no way, shape or form should you be held accountable for someone else's fraud, Selling your artworks for $20 would be akin to someone expecting to pay 5 bucks to have a new bathtub installed. Your time is valuable - never undervalue it! :) Much love and the best of luck from Canada!
Agreed. What happened isn’t your fault and if you just explain, any person with a shred of decency will understand and hopefully not be too upset. I feel so bad for both you and all those poor people, but for your own sake please tell them what happened.
They have the right to be upset at the scammer, but not at the artist, obviously.
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We have read your comment and thank you very much for your words of support. Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. Can you advise where else to write about it? Now posted information on instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
I would tell customers to talk directly to whomever sold them the bats in the first place and to file a complaint with whichever platform you use to you sell your items on. Trying to make up for their losses will only open yourself up to criticism and enraged internet users. For all future sales, you may consider publicly alerting your followers that all purchases must go directly through you and to be aware of scammers.
Thanks for the support! I really told people about it on my pages in social networks with a warning about fraud on the part of unscrupulous stores
Hi, your work is amazing mais no way you should making bats for a fraude, just explain and if people think it' cost 20$ handmade, too bad for them. Hope one day you'll have a sale site and i could order one bird !
Also, she probably won't get any money from them as the scammers will have taken it from the fake sales. She's not obligated. Sad for the customers but she isn't responsible.
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We have read your comment and thank you very much for your words of support. Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
It's not Annas fault what happened. When i exposed the matter i asked for her help in official DMCA reports. And together we did amazing work.
Yes, thank you for your help!
For comparison, I paid $185 to have a custom made wool cat in the likeness of my cat. It honesty looks amazing and clearly hard work went into making it. I thought the $185 was a fair deal.
I thought they must be Chinese toys -just using the term needle felted - we just had one in our house and my granddaughter was entranced and wanted to keep it. When I saw this I thought she would be delighted. I thought even if it was just a copy it was so cute. Never dreamt it was a con. Your work is amazing. I have complained to pay pal = I hope they can refund in AU$ with postage it was 39 odd dollars but that would never pay for a real hand made work of art- but it is a lot of money to me . I dont know why people do such horrible thing to people . Much love and respect to you
And good,luck from Brighton, UK!!!
Time to open an Etsy account and sell them for some serious money!! I'd buy one for sure!
Me too!
Hi. I'm Anna's sister Xenia. We read your comment and Anna is very pleased)). Now Anna is constantly engaged in the creation of new toys. As soon as the situation with the implementation of orders will be adjusted - the orders will be accepted again! Just please do not be offended) We will write about it in instagram on all pages! Thank you again for your subscription, for your support.
Me as well!!
Same here!
And me!!!!
Me as well.
I love the bat, but keep the spider away from me. Lol
If we assume $15.00/hr, 10-12 hrs/day, 10 days per beautiful critter, that's $1650. I've spent money more foolishly than that, but it's still not cheap.
This comment has been deleted.
These are adorable. The spider is even realistic enough to be skipped over a wee bit quickly! Flipping phobias! I'm rather fond of that cute bat! I hope you aren't bothered by scammers again.
Thanks. It is not possible to cope with them yet. One hope is to warn as many people as possible so that they do not get caught by scammers.
You are not responsible for others' actions. The unfortunately scammed customers should take it up with the sites where they made the transaction, not you. Don't let this cloud your pleasure in your art, because that's what you are, an artist.
I've reported the FB ad several times and am trying to spread the word. I feel for you. Please don't feel responsible for the people being scammed. It's not your fault!
Again, this proves that "if it seems too good to be true, it most probably isn't". If the people who ordered them for twenty dollars thought they were felted, then they were, in fact, trying to scam you out of any payment for your high-quality craftsmanship. (Translation of @Or Le's post: "Good afternoon, if I were to send you a design, could you make the animal?)
I’ve had 2 ads on my FB feed for your bat recently. I followed the on the first time because I was concerned that people were being encouraged to keep pet bats! I was baffled at how they could sell it so cheaply even if it were factory made. I assumed that what people would receive would be tackier even though there were lots of comments from alleged ‘satisfied customers’
Bonsoir est ce que si je vous envoi un design vous pouvez le faire l animal ?