For the love of dogs
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell which furry friends are real… Take a look at these gorgeous felt creations by artist Sharon Salt.
Hello, who are you?
I’m Sharon Salt, a needle felt artist specialising in dog sculptures. I live in the Staffordshire Moorlands with my Airedale terrier, Sadie, and Welsh terrier, Ted.
Tell us about your creative journey, how did you get into felt needle art?
I’ve always been arty crafty and have dabbled in many mediums, but about six years ago I came across needle felting (sculpting with wool) and thought it would be a great way to create a little memorial to a dog I’d just lost. That first sculpture left a lot to be desired! But I knew I’d found a new passion.
Your creations looks so real! How long did this take to master this?
I’m totally self-taught through much trial and error, and I now just love that I can create a realistic sculpture from a cloud of soft fleece and a single felting needle.
How long does a piece usually take to make?
The majority of my minis are scruffy, wirey haired terriers. Each one takes around 12 plus hours. I’ll work on it over a few days as felting is incredibly repetitive and takes its toll on your hand!
I also felt in 2D ( wool portraits) and design a doggy themed cushion collection for gift company Wraptious.
What does a normal day look like for you?
On a normal day I’m up early, tea and toast a must, and then I’ll take Ted and Sadie over the moor which blows away any cobwebs.
WoolyPaws is my full-time business, so it’s lovely to have the freedom to structure my days as I please. Morning are usually taken up by emails, messages, bookkeeping, ordering etc. I’m not a fan of admin, but it has to be done! After lunch, I’ll then work on my latest commissions.
Another walk with the dogs… and my day usually ends with a G&T.
Sharon’s (real) furry friend, Ted
What is your reason to create?
Many of my sculptures are memorials. I’m sent photos, stories, and often little tufts of fur to incorporate. Creating something that means so much to someone is very heartwarming and humbling.
Now and again I’ll felt a hare or fox sculpture, but mainly I create purely for the love of dogs.
