celestine and the Hare
Magical Tales in Wool, copper and Words
magical tales in
wool and words
needle felt sculptures
Picture books for all ages
Karin Celestine lives in a small house in Monmouth Wales. In the garden is a shed and in the shed is another world. The world of Celestine and the Hare. It is a place where kindness, mischief and beauty help people smile.
I am an artist and author, who creates needle felted animals of charm and character, including the stars of my own delightful stop-motion animations and my series of children and adult picture books published by Graffeg.
My joy in the natural world is also reflected in the accessories I make for my sculptures. I gather materials from my walks in nature here in Wales and use them along with clay and copper to create baskets, hats, mugs and boats. I collaborate with textile artist Kathy Anderson who sews and embroiders tiny exquisite felt and linen accessories for my animals. Seasonal joyful pieces.
I also run a membership club called the Tribe of Celestiner Chokliteers where kindness and mischief are the order of the day
Here is a world where weasels dance, bears read stories to each other andwater voles eat jammie dodgers in their allotment sheds. The Woodland Postal Service creatures deliver parcels, the Mice have a shop and Hedgehogs raku fire tea sets for picnics.
The rabbits gather wishes, and the Lightbringers hold the light safe for us in the Winter. Grandmother Badger watches on and sews all she sees.
Some sail here from the stories whispered in the folklore creatures reflecting the cycle of the seasons.
Some find their way here following a weasel leaving a trail of choklit crumbs and Wednesday dancing.
Others wander in from inside the cover of a story of kindness or from meeting a dormouse in a picnic basket having a big slice of cake.
Whichever route you found us by, be it choklit crumbs, books of kindness or seasonal folklore beauty,
All are most very welcome to the World of Celestine and the Hare.
Needle felted Animals
Needle felted animals of charm and character with natural, ceramic and copper embellishments such as hand made baskets, raku fired mugs and tea pots, cast copper acorns and leaves.. Large Folklore creatures marking the seasons and smaller joy bringing ones with stitched felt accessories by Kathy Anderson
Collaboration with Kathy Anderson
I collaborate with textile artist Kathy Anderson. She sews and embroiders the most exquisite tiny accessories for my animals. Picnic hampers and huge slices of cake. Bilberry pies and fishing hats. Post bags and caps, tiny wish gatherer teddies and star gazing bags, seasonal bags for mice, tiny mittens and buckets for polar bears to sit in. Backdrops of stars and moons for clock case scenes and trees to decorate. Each season we have a collection of creatures with accessories. They often sell out very quickly when released, but we do sometimes have a few made to order slots available and once you buy a creature with an accessory, you get exclusive access to the Mouse Emporium where they have the odd accessory for sale too.
Books
I have two series of books published by Graffeg.
The Tales of The Turning Year seasonal folklore inspired stories for all ages.
The Lightbringers, Winter, The Wish Gatherers, Autumn.
The Joy Bringers, Summer will be published 23rd May 2024 and Spring will follow in the coming year.
I have also written and illustrated a series of 9 children's books featuring my felted characters, Gentle stories of small acts of kindness with a craft activity in the back.
Lovely books for bedtime stories, to share together or just snuggle up and read yourself.
They are all available on my website with signed and dedicated copies or you can ask your local bookshop.
Published by Graffeg who have also produced a range of greetings cards to match the books.
Galleries
Most Galleries post out worldwide if you would like something from them.
Super proud to be selected for the crafts council directory!
Plastic free packaging
Animals come in their own little travel bag, natural cotton bag which I hope you will reuse, if not it can be passed on or composted. I use cardboard, tissue paper and compostable paper tape for posting and paper bags for books. I offer the option of a waterproof recyclable poly mailer made from ocean plastic. They are not cheap, so please only request if absolutely necessary.
Thank you.
Orders are gift wrapped and sent with a chocolate and a hug and a thank you card.
I can write messages if you want to post direct as a gift
postage and packing
My packaging is now plastic free and recyclable/compostable. It might cost me a little more, but it is worth it for the planet.
I wrap all items in tissue paper, and animal sculptures are popped in their own little natural cotton drawstring bag, with some travelling choklit and a thank you postcard. I then pack in tissue and add a thank you chocolate too. Books come in a paper bag and copper/ceramics come with dried flowers and nature treasures wrapped in tissue.
Print to order merch is sent direct from the printers, not gift wrapped but they are also plastic free.
I post out twice a week, usually Tuesday and Friday and you can choose either tracked 24 or tracked 48 with Royal Mail. You can request a handwritten card in the notes when ordering if sending direct to someone else. If in a rush, let me know and I’ll do my best to post earlier if needed.
Campaign for Wool
I am a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool. You can read about them here
crafts Council
I am a member of the Crafts Council Directory You can view my profile here
