We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Nabet recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

We became a blended family of 8 when my mom married my dad. six kids, three boys, three girls. I was the youngest girl. Raising six kids during the 70’s and 80’s could not have been easy.
I feel like even though it was not easy, my parents did a lot of right things, but the one thing I really apricate is that they introduced us to all types of art through out our childhood.
At Christmas time they would sometimes bring us into NYC to see a Broadway show – we saw the Nutcracker Sweet, Peter Pan staring Sandy Duncan ( totally aging myself here) and David Copperfield the magician. They would take us to the MMOA and other museums in the city to learn and apricate the art work. I think we laughed more at the naked statues at the time than apricate the art work done by some of the most famous artists ever, but I was 7, and obviosity it still left an impression.
They often played classical music at home and brought us to concerts like Manheim Steamroller.
Into my adulthood we continued to go to shows and and museums together.
I know a lot of people don’t or won’t get the same privilege as me, but now with the internet you can do most all this from the comfort of your home and I strongly urge parents out there to do so, take an hour out of your day and take your kids to the Louvre online, Force in the culture and history- because you never know, it just might be one of the things your kids feel like you did right.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was strolling through a website in 2012 and I saw THE most fuzzy little lion that I had ever saw. I mean the personality this handmade sculpture had just hit me, like in my heart and soul, it stirred something in me that began my creative journey. I found out that this sweet lion had already been sold but was made using a technique called needle felting. I went to my local craft store and found a small section dedicated to needle felting, so in I dove. I bought a kit, took some books out of the library and starting creating. In 2013 I opened my Etsy shop and continue to this day to sell on there, although I found that I enjoy selling in person so much more when I started doing local outdoor art shows

For those of you who don’t know what needle felting is, it’s a craft that uses fluffy soft wool and a barbed needle/s and when you stab the needle into the wool, it pulls through itself and starts to become condensed and firm. The longer you stab the more firm it gets.
In 2015 I discovered what’s known as wool painting. That’s where you poke the wool into a flat sheet of fabric and create a painting. No paint involved, just wool and a needle and some fun.
I do like to do both types of needle felting both 2D and 3D but I feel more connected to my 3D sculptures. I create mostly animal sculptures that take on a whimsical, original one of a kind feel. Depending on size each sculpture or painting takes several hours to complete. During that time, they seem to take on their own personalities, and as I create their story comes out, through my hands, my imagination creates this whole new world with new and colorful creatures and places, with back stories that seem to come from thin air but I go with it, it works for me.. Sometimes I will create something with someone specific in mind, and to me the sculpture takes on that persons qualities, their person as I know them becomes a sculpture. Those become my favorite. Every piece to me is special and has a story behind it.
I think people enjoy my art because its just fun! It’s colorful and original and has life to it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The smile. Honestly, the smile and amazement on peoples faces when they see my work is my best reward. Sharing the art, and getting people interested is so much fun for me. I usually demo while I’m out and people usually love to see that.

Have you ever had to pivot?

About four years ago I started to notice signs of a neurological problem, and my work began to slow down. After many doctors and tests later, I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. In the last year my needle felting has slowed down quiet a bit because of an increase in issues with movement and strength. I have turned to painting with a brush on canvas to work through what I need to. I am hoping with treatment that I will be able to get back to being able to work on a daily basis on felting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/redroosterfelt
• Instagram: @redroosterfelt

Image Credits
Rachel Nabet