Friday's Feature: Yellow Elm

 
I'm super excited to introduce you today to Yellow Elm, the shop and vision of Elizabeth Blanton.  Elizabeth's accessories are not just beautiful, but they are hand felted: a process that results in unique, soft textures.

I got to talk to Elizabeth a bit about her process, business, and creative muses: here is what she had to say...

Can you explain the process of making your pieces?

Each Yellow Elm piece is crafted using a very ancient traditional wet felting process—similar to how tents in Mongolia are still made today. I start by criss-crossing the fibers of wool, pour soap and boiling water over it, and then scrub until the fibers interlock to make felt. I love that the process uses all natural fibers and has such a rich history. It's so fun to capture a little piece of that technique and make tiny art that people can wear everyday. It's a timeless connection with distant cultures, fashioned in a very modern way.

When did Yellow Elm begin?

Yellow Elm officially began in the fall of 2009. However, I fell in love with the felting process during my senior year of college, when I took fiber arts class as an elective, so the desire to continue working with felt really started there, about a year earlier.

Where can readers purchase Yellow Elm products?

I have shows in my hometown regularly (Greenville, SC), and Yellow Elm is carried in several local boutiques. I also have product available online at Ruche and in my etsy shop, and I recently was accepted to set up a shop on the wonderful website Papernstitch as well. 

3 things that inspire you to create:

 Nature, vintage fashion, and cold rainy days.

Elizabeth just released her spring collection and has a lot of new pieces. You can also follow along with Yellow Elm via Elizabeth's blog. It's full of inspirational bits and pieces, as well as some fun hair tutorials (for those of you not sporting the short little do like me.)

Here are some of my favorite Yellow Elm creations...

Links:

Yellow Elm on Etsy -- Yellow Elm on Ruche -- Yellow Elm on PapernStitch -- Yellow Elm Blog

Enjoy your Friday everyone!

Comments

[Vicki]

I love felted products too! My daughter knows how to do this. I love Elizabeth's products. I'm on Papernstitch too. She's gonna love it there. :)

[Yellow Elm]

thanks so much for such a lovely feature!! :)