Customized Needle Felting Pet Portraits
オーダーメイド 犬・猫 羊毛フェルト ポートレート
ARTISTS' PROFILE
Tamiko Yamashita
Born in Shanghai in 1929 due to her family business. She is 87 year-old (as of 2016) .In 1952, she graduated from the department of Sculpture at Musashino Art University in Tokyo Japan.She started her own art studio to teach art, craft and drawing for kids when she was 20 and she continued teaching art until she became 80. Simultaneously, she has been doing creative activity enthusiastically as a sculptor (wooden sculpture or relief for creating medals) or a painter until today. After receiving many awards from her artworks, now she dedicates herself to needle felt work. Feature of her works are whatever she makes, these are friendly and feeling warm by using many colors just like water colors or oil painting on canvas. And main motif--- an animal--it looks alive and really cute.Everyone look really happy to receive goods from us after waiting several weeks of production period.
Born in Nagoya Japan.In 1978, she graduated from the department of Product Design, Jewelry Course at Musashino Art University in Tokyo Japan.She worked for one of the famous Jewelry Studios in Japan and she skilled up advanced techniques there.After she received several awards from her work, In 1988, She moved to San Francisco to start her studio.Now she dedicates herself for "needle felt works" based on her talent of making three dimension techniques. Feature of her works are "precise, methodical and enthusiasm". I don't know anyone who makes such realistic cats in half-three dimension in felt better than her.There are too many cute, fancy and flatter cat motives in our markets. However, real cats are not always just cute. They are mysterious, serious, and look clever at the same time. I do hope you enjoy yourself with her unique art pieces.
Hiromi Tsutatani
I liked drawing art when I was little.
After I graduated from Musashino Art Junior College, I experienced to work as a designer, a buyer, a visual merchandiser, and a creative director during my 35 years carriers.
In 2003, one e-mail I sent to MoMA New York brought a great opportunity to start up the license business. Our team –with just a few people-became founder of MoMA Design Store Japan. Today MoMA Japan is operated by The Loft Co. Ltd., and has grown with more than 30 staffs and became one of the best stores to find good design products. I deeply appreciated and enjoyed to encounter great people while I work until today.
Talking about my private, I started to support my mom (87 year-old as of year 2017) and my sister who both dedicated making handmade crafts but don’t know how to sell their crafts. So I establish their brand named Tammy’s. (I took my mom's name Tamiko for the brand.)
Products they offer are made to order cats and dogs tote bags, framed or cushion or brooches with needle felted techniques.
Interestingly, I soon realized that I also love to do it with them. So I became the needle felting artist. Now I have some classes to teach the needle felt crafts. Our clients send us their cats and dogs photos with stories and memories behind them to ask us to create 100% custom made portraits or bags or charms etc. We are truly happy to be shared each great stories between people and animals that connected tightly with love. This small business is totally different from items we sell at MoMA, however, I enjoyed doing this to see customers’ smiles.
