February 3, 2025 - March 29, 2025

A new exhibit, Needle Felted Animals and More, by local artist Lyn Mayewski will be on display in the Blue Hill Public Library’s Howard Room glass cases during the months of February & March.  Needle felted animals, primarily those found in Maine, will be the focus of Lyn’s exhibit, the creatures ranging from realistic to whimsical. She researches each animal to learn as much as possible about their details and personalities. Additional pieces will include wet felted vessels and abstract sculptures.

Needle felting is the art of sculpting wool roving or batting with barbed needles that pull the fibers together to create a firm, textile object. It originated in the 1950’s for industrial purposes. Large plates, filled with barbed needles, were mechanically moved up and down to felt wool for such uses as dampers for instruments and to soften vibrations between car parts. In the 1980’s, artists adapted the technique into a smaller, hand-held form of artistic needle felting. Working with mostly Corriedale wool and barbed needles, Lyn molds the wool into the general shape, then adds details.

When Lyn isn’t felting, she works on silver jewelry or painting in various mediums. She is a juried member of the Maine Crafts Association for her jewelry and felting and sells through the Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner, Chapter Two in Corea, and Gallery B in Castine.

Lyn lives in Brooklin with her husband, Paul, and their golden retriever, Duncan (who occasionally chews up a piece of her felting).  The exhibit will be available for viewing during library hours subject to the Howard meeting room schedule. For more information call the library at 374-5515.