Felt Fabulous

For the past week, there has been a running theme in my life... felt fabulous! And it's not just because I had a much needed spring vacation. I've stumbled upon the most fabulously designed products and they've all been made out of felt. That's right - soft, luxurious, natural, wool felt. "Felt is at once ancient and primitive and thoroughly modern... The simplest of fabrics achieves a unique sense of luxury and authenticity, derived from the humblest of raw material, the evidence of hand, and the resonance of its long history." (excerpt from Fashioning Felt).

From shopping at Fred Segal Green in Santa Monica, California to experiencing the "Fashioning Felt" exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City, and also finding some gorgeous products online - I quickly learned that felt has come a long way from that arts-and-crafts hot pot holder I made in summer camp.

Here are two of my favorites from the Fashioning Felt exhibit: the Bless You Chair (above) by Studio/Louise Campbell and the Relief Chair (below) by Ben K. Mickus.

I was dying to sit on both of these, but the museum guards were much too alert. But then I discovered you can purchase the Relief Chair at Branch Sustainable Design for Living's online store (US$3,998). Perhaps one day I will sit on that chair.

But if you want something smaller to start your felt fascination... why not pebbles? I was wonderfully intrigued by these piles of felt rocks at the exhibit... and now I start my own collection while supporting a worthy cause. Felt Pebbles also from Branch Sustainable Design for Living online shop (US$14-92 for set of 6) are handmade of 100% felted merino wool in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of a job creation program that offers opportunities to local craftswomen.

So on this Earth Day 2009 I've made a resolution to incorporate more sustainable products into my home... which will undoubtedly continue to make me feel fabulous.