💞  TURTLE LOVE

My needle-felted turtles are a seasonal item - made mostly during the winter months.
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💞  TURTLE LOVE NOTE
​This note is included in the gift box that comes with each turtle.
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This is a one-of-a-kind, handmade turtle.
As each little turtle goes out into the world,
it is meant to be a reminder to its recipient:
Be kind to yourself.
This world is a hard place.
You don’t need to be hard on yourself as well.
Be soft and treat yourself with care.

💞 MADE WITH
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Each turtle is 100% wool. Needle-felted by hand, a single turtle takes many hours to make. The bigger and firmer the turtle is, the longer it takes to make. Some turtles can take days to make.

​​💞 SHORT STORY

I started needle-felting turtles a few winters ago when my family and I were going through some major hardships. I didn't have the mental energy to leave the house, or sometimes even the couch, and I would spend the day needle-felting. I felt so guilty that I wasn't making it to my studio to "get work done". But again the next day, hours and hours would pass me by as I sat under a blanket on the couch, creating little turtles out of wool.

As those many hours passed, I started to give myself grace. Instead of beating myself up for not being able to do what I usually could do, I realized that the mental load I was carrying was simply too much for me. Passing the time with a quiet, creative activity was exactly what I needed. Needle-felting is amazingly meditative and calming and creating turtles became a form of self-care for me.

I share this story - and my turtles - because I want to pass this lesson on to others. There are always going to be challenges in life. When it all gets to be too much, give yourself grace. It's okay if you can't manage anything more than sitting under a cozy blanket. 
Be soft and treat yourself with care.

💞

My first turtles were made from wool given freely to me as part of a neighborhood group that fosters community, gratitude, and giving. Now I purchase my wool from a small, independent shop that supports community, kindness, and diversity.
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I believe in putting your good out into the world. Pass it on!