Our team here at Bored Panda traveled to the farthest reaches of the internet to collect some of the most creative and beautiful examples of DIY Easter decorations. Scroll down for some wholesome inspiration! Bored Panda got in touch with Vicky, the founder of Miss Maude’s Felted Floofs and the creator of this fantastic needle-felted Easter bunny with a bonnet. She was kind enough to tell us all about her project and where she looks to for inspiration, and she shared some fabulous felting tips for newcomers to the craft. Scroll down for our full interview with her! Most countries in the world use the Gregorian calendar, so Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar. For them, Easter can occur anywhere (what in the Gregorian calendar would be) between April 4 and May 8. In 2024, the Eastern Orthodoxy celebrates Easter on April 16. “It is needle felted, so it is sculpted from wool fibers using a barbed needle. I start by making the head and working on the face, and how that turns out usually dictates the type of character it turns into,” the felting expert shared with us. “Most of my pieces tend to be character-based, and I try to have a good idea of the type of character I’m creating before I start. My favorite part of the process is problem-solving how to make the various accessories out of wool and experimenting with various techniques.” “Something about this particular art form just speaks to me and makes sense. I got started at the end of 2021 after seeing a few felted pieces on social media and ordering myself a cheap starter kit online. From there, I watched a lot of YouTube videos and bought some books and just went from there.” One channel that she recommends for beginners is Felts by Philipa and Lionsgate Farm. “I’m not a huge fan of following tutorials directly, but they’re a great way to learn new skills to use in your own makes. If you’re new to felting, the best way to learn is by doing, whether that is following instructions or just experimenting on your own. I find the process of needle felting to be very relaxing and meditative, and it creates some soothing ASMR sounds!” It’s thought that the tradition of decorating eggs for Easter dates all the way back to the 13th century. Back then, churches asked Christians to abstain from eating eggs during Lent. They were meant to be eaten again only starting from Easter. People would, therefore, decorate them to mark the end of the period of fasting and penance. One theory is that rabbits are very good at procreating, so they’re a symbol of fertility and (just like eggs) of new life. Children would make nests for the ‘Osterhase’ or ‘Oschter Haws’ for it to lay colored eggs. Eventually, baskets replaced nests, while chocolates and gifts replaced eggs. The National Confectioners Association reported that a whopping 16 billion (yes, ‘billion’ with a ‘b’) jellybeans are made in the US for Easter every year. Another popular Easter treat is the marshmallow Peep. Easter is a fantastically profitable holiday for chocolate and candy manufacturers. For instance, one family might focus on decorating eggs or attending religious ceremonies. Meanwhile, another might see Easter as an excuse to go all-out and organize massive chocolate scavenger hunts for the entire neighborhood. Or, in other words, the fact that you have any family traditions is more important than the details of the traditions themselves. Traditions give us a sense of who we are and help nourish families. They’re what brings us together, year after year. We’re always happy to hear from you, so if you happen to have a moment, let us know what you think in the comments! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
