How to Prepare Your Photos
It’s important to remember that I do not know what your pet looks like and rely on clear, well lit photos of your pet in order to match them as closely as possible! Here are some tips for taking and sending the best photos:
Whenever possible, please take a photoshoot just for me vs digging random pictures out of your cell phone or social media. (I realize this is not possible for deceased pets, but do your best to compile the following angles.)
Include ALL angles of your pet! If ordering an Original Fiber Friend, include a few photos of the pet IN the pose you’ve requested from several angles. For all orders, include photos of your pet standing, without wearing any collars or garments, looking straight ahead, with clear view of full side and legs. Don’t forget close images of the face from all angles and the back of their head and neck. A belly shot never hurts either!
A friend with a cookie or some peanut butter smeared on the wall can help to catch them looking straight ahead.
Make sure the lighting shows their colors as true to life as possible. My work leans ‘whimsical’ and bright but I do try and match your pet’s colors as much as I can.
I do not need 300 photos of your pet, but I do need the bare minimum as shown here. Try not to send many repeated photos of your pet’s cute face: I love them too, but additional scrolling through a large gallery of images makes my work harder.
Please send your photos via a shared Google Drive folder or as email attachments. Refer to the Order Number I assign you in any new email threads or folder names. Simply referring to ‘pics for Sammy’ is not easily organized on my end and I rely on those order numbers to stay sane. *Note: when emailing, please try and use the ‘send as attachments’ function vs sending in the body of an email which seems to be the default on most mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
My waiting list can vary widely from several weeks to several months. Once I receive your order I will assign you a slot on my calendar. Nubbins and Stubbins take one day, Original Friends take 2-3 days, mobiles take 2+ days depending on layout. If you have a deadline in mind, feel free to send me a message to check on the current wait.
-
Getting started is simple. You can place an order for most Friends here on my website. If your pet is not a corgi and you’re interested in an original Fiber Friend, please fill out this form first to be sure they are a good fit. For folks wanting to commission a baby mobile I recommend sending me an email first to discuss timeframe, layout and cost
I require at least 20% as a deposit when you place an order for any custom portraits and am happy to take up to 3 installment payments for baby mobiles. If you need to pay using installments, please contact me to be invoiced. Deposit is non-refundable and may be applied to future purchases should you decide to cancel your order.
-
I prefer that photos are sent to me in a shared Google Drive folder OR as email attachments. If sending by email, please ensure they are sent as actual attachments vs in the body of the email which is default on many devices. Use your order number in any new email subjects or folder names. *After placing a custom order I will send you an email with lots of intel including your personal Order Number and assigned date on my calendar.
See more photo tips here!
-
I am first and foremost an animal lover, secondly an illustrator and thirdly a fiber artist. My style is whimsical and sweet and I do my best to tap into your pet’s unique personality. I am deeply empathetic and believe it is my great honor to be trusted to create a memorial for a deceased pet. When you commission a piece from me you’ll receive tender care, some laughs (maybe some tears) and precise attention to detail. Each piece is shipped in sustainable and adorable packaging my clients love.
-
Every invoice and email from Fiber Friends is signed "Miranda and Pocket." Miranda is me, the human typing all of this marketing nonsense and Pocket is the sweet little Corgi who has been my inspiration to needle-felt from the beginning. My love of Corgis and Pocket keep me going every day. Pocket is my muse and was my number one spokesdog. Pocket passed away at the age of 15.5 in 2025 after a wonderful, long life of rat getting, duck herding and many many walks.
-
Original Fiber Friends average around 5 inches long in standing or laying pose. They should be thought of as 'sculptures' in wool rather than stuffed animals. They are sturdy enough to carry around with care, but should not be snuggled or slept with. They are not suitable for very young children and should be kept far from the reach of cats! Stubbins are about 3 inches long and Nubbins about 3 inches tall.
-
Yes and no: I can tuck a bit of fur inside the core of a piece but I cannot use their fur as the actual ‘fur’ on the outside of a Fiber Friend. Fur doesn’t felt as well as wool and typically your dog’s color is not the same as the undercoat you brush off of them.
I DO offer ‘memorial lockets’ that can include a lock of fur or pinch of ashes for the Fiber Friend to wear and recommend this option for folks wanting to include their pet’s actual fur in a piece.
-
That’s Pocket and Bunyip, the best little office assistants in all the land. Both have crossed the Rainbow Bridge but their little souls are still with me every day.
-
I highly recommend displaying your Fiber Friends under a glass cloche. You can find cloches on Amazon but cupcake or cake stands work great too and can be found at discount stores like Ross, TJ Maxx or even thrift stores! The most important thing: keep Fiber Friends AWAY from cats and bitey doggie teeth!
-
Nubbins are little ‘busts’ of your pet without legs and are the most simplified. Stubbins have a complete body with stumpy legs and an abbreviated neck.
Care:
Fiber Friends need very little care and most damage can be avoided by displaying out of the reach of pets and children.
Dust occasionally and avoid rough surfaces. Dust by ‘thwapping’ your Friend with the back of your finger to knock the dust off.
Consider displaying behind glass, under a cloche and out of direct sunlight. Bell jars/ cloches can be found at many craft or kitchen stores in an assortment of sizes.
Hangnails, velcro and rough edges are hard on Fiber Friends. If your Friend gets snagged and unravels some of the wool, carefully trim the loose edges. Do not pull on the loose fibers or you can pull off the finished felt.
Fluffy Friends are the most fragile: do not pull on loose fibers and avoid matting by handling too frequently. Trim fly aways rather than pulling.
Mobiles: do not pull on strands and do not allow baby to reach the mobile (choking hazard!)
Contact me if your Friends are ever damaged - I'm here to help! Most repairs can be done for no charge, you just pay shipping back and forth. Extreme damage may require an hourly fee. Send me some photos before mailing so that I can advise if they’re ‘too far gone’ or repairable.
Shop Policies
Due to the nature of custom ordered work, there is some fine print. By placing an order with me you are agreeing to my terms and conditions as followed:
All custom orders require a 20% retainer to book your spot on my calendar. This retainer is non-refundable but may be applied to a future purchase should you need to cancel your order prior to production. Balance is due in full before I begin work on your piece. If you need to pay with a deposit/installments please send me a message and request an invoice vs ordering on my website. Cancellations of any in-progress work will not be refunded. I do not accept returns.
After placing an order on my website you will receive an automated message. Please watch for an additional personal confirmation email from FiberFriendsFelt@gmail.com within a week. It is very important that you READ and REPLY TO this email promptly as it will contain important information about your order including requests for photos etc.
If I am unable to establish contact with you after 3 attempts via email, your order will be cancelled and refunded minus the 20% deposit. Please check your spam folder if you haven’t heard from me within a week of your order!
I reserve the right to charge an additional fee for rescheduling orders if a client does not provide photos / reply to my confirmation emails in a timely fashion.
Any photographs or testimonials sent to me via email or social media may be used for marketing purposes on any of my websites or social media outlets. I encourage my customers to send me side by side photos of their pets posing with their new Friends and am happy to feature them on my website!
When ordering, you are assigned a date on my production calendar. This date may change slightly due to the nature of 'life happens'. Please let me know if you have a specific date you are hoping to receive your new Friend by and I will do my best to accommodate you.
I reserve the rights to my original artwork. I do offer high resolution copies of my illustrations to my clients for personal use only. Please credit me when sharing to social media and do not put my artwork on any goods you plan to sell.