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Artist Crafts Adorable Felted Animals from Wool That Will Make You Say “Aww”

By Emma Taggart on December 13, 2019

These unbelievably cute felted animals by Russian artist Yulia Derevschikova look just like the Disney forest characters you might spot in Bambi or Snow White. Except, rather than just being able to “coo” and “aww” at them from behind your TV (or computer) screen, you can actually hold them in the palm of your hand!

Rendered using the traditional needle felting technique, each adorable little critter takes the artist at least 20 hours to make. Derevschikova uses a needle to meticulously fuse the woolen fibers together, resulting in fuzzy forms that look like they’re covered in real fur. From baby foxes to tiny rabbits, each delightful creation is designed with the artist’s distinct, cute style. In addition to their their fuzzy bodies, many of the animals feature wispy whiskers, little noses, and big, beady eyes that really bring the cute characters to life.

Derevschikova began crafting her felted animals in 2015, and she’s since created hundreds of them. Her subjects are usually forest creatures—such as deer, rabbits, and mice— but she occasionally creates more exotic mammals, including a llama, a bush baby, and even a lion cub. No matter the animal, each piece showcases this textile artist’s exceptional talent and attention to detail. Derevschikova even goes the extra mile to photograph them in outdoor settings, making them appear even more real!

If you would love to own one of Derevschikova's felted creatures, you might be in luck—the artist occasionally takes orders, so keep an eye on her Instagram for updates. Derevschikova says, “The positive emotions I get when I deliver an order to the customer are very valuable to me, it gives me inspiration.”