Hello and welcome to my Felt Store!

Every piece in my store is handmade by me, Rie. I’m a Japanese-born New Zealand-trained crafter who brings a wide mix of skills to my designs. I consider that by being able to gather all the many facets of my creative journey together and use them in my work that I’m Living the dream!

But why New Zealand and not Tokyo? My working life in Tokyo was a very exciting but hectic treadmill that left little time for me to work on something creative. Adventure beckoned and in 1998 I travelled throughout New Zealand and fell in love with this beautiful country.

My life has been characterized by a wish to seize any opportunity to explore different paths and to see where they might lead or influence me. Where did it begin? I had an active interest in drawing from an early age and attended many workshops and classes in Japan and New Zealand. Along the way I studied drawing, horticulture, crafts, and photography. These creative skills, combined with my love of art and handcrafts, were an advantage when I begun studying fashion design. I gained a degree in Fashion Design from the Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand. During the study, I have absorbed a multitude of skills and I really enjoyed creating something beautiful.

All of the items in my store are designed, selectively hand-dyed, hand-cut, and put together by me. Hope my fabric flowers make you smile :)