Profile-Fairy Folk and Magic Onions

When I first saw Donni Webber’s work, I felt like I had entered a magical place, full of fairies and gnomes. I knew that I had to interview her for Hankering for Yarn.

Donni has graciously responded to my questions, which are in GREEN.  I am sure that you are going to love her work as much as I do…..

1. 

   photo copyright Fairy Folk and Magic Onions used with permission

   Your  felted dolls are so enchanting. They look to me like they are inspired by Waldorf philosophy. Is this right? How has Waldorf schooling impacted your life and your work?

I grew up in South Africa and had the most magical childhood. My first two years of school were at one of South Africa’s fist Waldorf Schools in Cape Town. When we moved away from Cape Town, to a city that had no Waldorf school, my Waldorf influences continued through my mother. Her natural style of parenting was very in line with Waldorf teachings and she encouraged the love of creativity and freedom of spirit that had been sparked within me from my earlier Waldorf years. Now that I have my own children, I have extensively researched Waldorf teachings and philosophies and have become a strong advocate for the Waldorf way. The things I cherish most about Waldorf education is how it instills a lifelong love and respect of nature and how it inspires a creative and limitless imagination. I strive to give these gifts to my children through all we do and to other children through the magical toys I make.

2. How do you make your dolls?

My dolls are needle felted. I start with wool roving and, with my sharp, barbed needle, I poke the loose fibers thousands of times until the desired form is achieved. It is very labor intensive but I find it therapeutic and relaxing… the slow, deliberate poking motion, the crunching noise as the needle enters the wool, the gorgeous colors… it is such a wonderful activity.

3. What aspect of your work is most challenging to you?

I work when my children are napping or asleep at night. This works wonderfully for us as I can give them the time they need and still have time to fulfill my creative desires. However, it is most challenging when I have an idea for a new piece… A new idea sends my imagination into a whirlwind and I can hardly stand waiting until nighttime to start working on it. It takes all of my control to put the idea out of my mind until ‘felting hour’ can begin.

4. What part of it is the most rewarding to you?

I love creating something that I can be proud of. My daughter is my biggest fan and her genuine enchantment with something I have made is so very precious to me. She has a drawer full of felted treasures that are her favorite toys.

photo copyright Fairy Folk and Magic Onions used with permission

5. How long have you been designing and crafting your fiber arts professionally?

The very first needle felted item I made was for a Christmas present for my daughter last year. Having rediscovered Waldorf, I wanted to give her only natural toys. My friend introduced me to needle felting and, being the obsessive person that I am, I needle felted ALL of her, and her brother’s, Christmas presents. I loved the process so much that I continued making needle felted toys until they spilled out of every drawer. My husband suggested that I try to sell them and that is when I found Etsy. I opened my shop, Fairyfolk, www.fairyfolk.etsy.com in March 2009.

6. What triggers your creativity?  What is most inspiring to you?

I find the imagination of my kids most inspiring. My daughter is 5 and is enchanted with all things magical… my son is 2 and loves balls… they both inspire me daily.

photo copyright Fairy Folk and Magic Onions used with permission

7.  Are the fiber arts your main focus?

Apart from being a mother and a wife, I needle felt and write a nature-inspired blog, The Magic Onions, www.themagiconions.blogspot.com

All of this keeps me pretty busy!

8.  What is your favorite way of getting your work out into the world?

I LOVE Etsy.com… it is a relatively new find for me and I am constantly awed and inspired by the amazing creativity on the Etsy pages. People make things of unimaginable beauty and charm and Etsy is where I can see their work. I feel honored to have an Etsy shop and be in such creative company.

9. Does where you live influence your work in any way?

I live in a huge city and long to live in nature… however, we have lived in so many beautiful paces that the beauty and magic of nature is but a thought away. We have lived under the yellow sun in South Africa, amongst the emerald moss in Ireland, dabbles our toes in the silvery streams of New Zealand and even slept with the fairies in the bluebell forests in England. Where I have lived has influenced my work endlessly.

10. Where can people buy your work?

My creations can be bought from my shop on Etsy, called Fairyfolk.

The web address is www.fairyfolk.etsy.com

11. Do you maintain a blog or website? If so, what are their urls?

I write a daily blog called The Magic Onions, www.themagiconions.blogspot.com where I chronicle the nature and Waldorf-inspired activities and crafts my children and I do. It is a wonderful way to record these precious days and the fun we are having. I have been happily surprised at the following it has received and have found great support from others in the blogging world.

12. Do you have a crafting or arts community that influences you and is important to you? (online or ‘real life’).  Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I have loved the support I have found through Waldorf , both locally through my daughter’s Waldorf School and through the Waldorf and Homeschooling blogging community. Who knew there we so many like-minded families out there?

photo copyright Fairy Folk and Magic Onions used with permission

13. Do you have an all time favorite piece that you designed?

My favorites change often but I’d have to say that my all time favorite would be Mother Earth.

14. Does being a mother influence your work? How do you balance motherhood with your work?

Being a mother is my absolute honor. Through my children, I am constantly awed by the magic of childhood. I strive to fill their childhood with enchantment and creativity while always being a soft place to rest. There are daily challenges, some I do well at, some, not so much, but I am ever so grateful that I get what a gift these children are. Sometimes I think I long for more time to myself so that I can craft but then I quickly remind myself that this time, when my children are so needful of me, is precious and fleeting. There will come a time in my life when I have all the hours in the day to craft and I know I will look back on these special days with an overwhelming longing to relive them.

photo copyright Fairy Folk and Magic Onions used with permission

15. What do you dream of creating in the future?

I am really enjoying creating magical children’s toys made of natural materials that inspire creative and imaginative play. I think I will continue to enjoy making these childhood fancy’s for a good time yet. Perhaps as my children grow older, my creations will stay in line with what inspires them.

Thank you so much, Donni! I absolutely love your work and I wish you the greatest of continued successes!