Tales of the Turning Year
A collection of needle felted animals centred around the turning year, the seasons, folklore and linking to the picture books I write.
I walk the land here in Wales and collect seasonal plants. I cast acorns, leaves and nature finds in copper for charms. Nettles are gathered and spun into fibre for shawls, brambles for baskets. They are of their place and time. One for each turn of the season. Some of them feature in my folklore picture books I write for people of all ages
Celestine and the Hare
Monmouth, Wales
Grandmother Badger, Karin CelestineGrandmother Badger is a character in my upcoming book The Joy Bringers. She is a thousand years old and watches over us all, sewing all she sees. She is made of her place, all her accessories are made from the wood she sits in, including digging clay for her mug, basket woven from brambles and her nettle shawl.
The Hare with the Moon , Karin CelestineThe Hare with the Moon appears in each book of the Tales of the Turning year series. They call the animals to action. Standing approx 25cm high needle felted hare with copper moon and a hammered silver moon.
The Mabon Squirrel , Karin CelestineThe squirrel is needle felted sheeps wool and alpaca. He stands approx 20cm tall and has a handmade basket of pine needles and a little leather bag shaped like an acorn. He carries copper casts of acorns and letters and messages.
The Ostara Hare , Karin CelestineFrom the story of Ostara and the Hare. He carries a handwoven basket that contains copper eggs stamped with moons and stars. His rucksack is made from birch bark and has goldfinch feathers adorning it. His crown is woven from ivy. He stands approx 25cm tall, needle-felted from sheep's wool.
Lightbringer Badger , Karin CelestineFrom my picture book The Lightbringers, the bearers of the Spring. The animals carry lanterns with tiny LED lights in them. This is the Imbolc Badger who calls the Lightbringers on their way when they tire. He is approx 20cm tall and has copper cast nature finds, copper antlers and a light up poppy seedhead lantern