celestine and the Hare

Magical Tales in Wool, copper and Words

magical tales in

wool and words

Karin Celestine with rainbow-colored hair and glasses talking to a blonde woman at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester. The stand is filled with woodland-themed needle felted animals decorations and figurines.

I had the most amazing time at Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Victoria Baths, Manchester

Needle felted animal Collections:

Current: Winter

Next: Yule 6th December 8pm

New Collection Page

Page will go password protected for half an hour before the launch time. Refresh the page at 8pm and it will appear.

SHOP

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 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

Learn More

A detailed diorama of a woodland scene with a small animal figure standing on the forest floor among mushrooms, trees, and plants.

Here is a world where weasels dance, bears read stories to each other and water 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 wandering badger by the hedge with some tales of travels to tell.

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.

A tiny, felted animal figure, mouse sitting on a mushroom stem, holding a small green cup, in a forest setting with green leaves and brown ground.

Needle felted Animals

Needle felted animals of charm and character with seasonal accessories. Each animal has a wire armature so you can move and pose them as you wish. They are usually in the range of 4-12cm tall and each collection has a seasonal theme for handmade accessories to accompany them. Usually there are approx 8 collections a year to follow the turn of the seasons. They often sell out quickly when released, but there is also a small range of made to order animals and commission slots available

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Collage of book covers by Karin Celestine, featuring animal characters and whimsical themes. Titles include 'The Joy Bringers', 'The Lightbringers', 'The Wish Gatherers', 'Small Finds a Home', 'Paper Boat for Panda', 'Honey for Tea', 'Finding your Place', 'Bert's Garden', among others.

Three copies of the book 'The Joy Bringers' by Karin Celestine displayed with felt animal figures, including a fox and a badger, against a starry fabric background.

Books

I have two series of books published by Graffeg.

The Tales of The Turning Year seasonal folklore inspired stories for all ages, picture books for adults though children will enjoy them too. A series of 4 books, one for each season.

The Lightbringers (Winter), The Wish Gatherers (Autumn), The Joy Bringers, (Summer) are published and Spring will follow in March 2026.

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. Adults will love them too.

They are all available on my website as 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.

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Galleries

I mostly sell here on my website but I do work with a couple of lovely galleries:

Found Gallery Dunbar

Old Chapel Gallery PembridgE

A small, detailed diorama inside a wooden cabinet features a felted animal figure wearing a hat, holding a fishing rod with a fish. There's a crocheted rug on the floor with small, circular felt items. A small backpack rests on the floor. A miniature shelf holds a cup and a sponge cake. A small framed picture and a hanging amber light add detail to the scene.

Most Galleries post out worldwide if you would like something from them.

Promotional image for the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester, featuring a handmade felt mouse by Celestine and the Hare. The event dates are October 16th to 19th.

Karin Celestine with rainbow hair , and a big smile sitting on a small stool at an indoor craft fair booth great northern contemporary craft fair decorated with birch tree patterned wallpaper and needle felted small animal figurines on shelves.

TKarin Celestine and Patricia Van den Akker from the design trust at Great northern contemporary craft fair

karin celestine with rainbow-colored hair and glasses engaging in conversation with a woman at a great northern contemporary craft fair selling needle felted animals

Display of handcrafted needle felted animal figurines, including bears, rabbits, mice hares badgers, and other woodland creatures, arranged on shelves with a birch tree background at Great Northern comtemporary craft fair

A person with colorful hair and glasses is looking at handcrafted figurines on display shelves in a boutique store surrounded by greenery and natural decor.

Super proud to be selected for the crafts council directory!

Plastic free packaging

Animals come either in their own little travel bag, natural cotton bag which I hope you will reuse, or wrapped in my own shed news newspaper. I use cardboard, tissue paper and compostable paper tape for posting and paper bags for books. I use waterproof recyclable poly mailer made from ocean plastic for overseas shipping. Thank you.

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 books/cards in paper bags, and animal sculptures are popped in their own little natural cotton drawstring bag, with some travelling choklit and a thank you bookmark and postcard. I then pack in tissue and add a thank you chocolate too.

Print to order merch is sent direct from the printers, not gift wrapped but they are also plastic free.

I usually post out next day from ordering 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.

Current UK postage costs:

Large letter £2/£3/£3.90 depending weight 48/24 Royal Mail

Small Parcel: £3.90/£4.60 TR48/24 Royal Mail

Tribe members teapot/teacake level get free parcel shipping

USA postage costs £12-23 depending on weight. If you order all my books the weight will tip it up to £36-£45 shipping costs. A single animal is generally £18.50 Please note tariffs are being imposed on US imports. These will add on 10% to your order. A few items are exempt, but my website won’t let me be product specific so I will refund you for any exempt items.

Campaign for Wool

I am a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool. You can read about them here

"Member International Feltmakers Association 2024" text graphic in black and red.

crafts Council

I am a member of the Crafts Council Directory You can view my profile here

Karin Celestine sitting in an art studio filled with various needlecelted objects and decorations, including framed panda art, figurines, and craft supplies.

Book cover featuring "The Joy Bringers" by Karin Celestine, depicting a scenic sunset, rocks, and flowers. Banner highlights the book as "Book of the Month" by the Books Council of Wales for June.

A forest scene with fallen leaves, ferns, and mushrooms. A small, realistic handmade needle felted hare with a backpack and berries , looking at a large fly agaric mushroom to its right.

A small felted animal badger , walking on a forest floor among fallen leaves, with a small decorated mushroom and a black and white mushroom figurine nearby.

A tiny, plush mouse figurine standing on a mushroom in a forest, holding a colorful umbrella made of felt leaves.

A needle felted badger figurine carrying a basket of twigs stands on grass beside a pond.

A felted wool mouse holding a nut, standing on a mossy branch.

Book cover titled 'The Joy Bringers' by Karin Celestine, featuring a sunset over a lake with rocks, and a group of felted animals among flowers in the foreground.

A handmade felted stuffed animal of a binturong with whiskers, sitting on a mossy log in a forest. It has a staff decorated with flowers and fabric, and appears to be a whimsical forest creature.

Needle felted raccoons, three in total, are sitting on a green surface with wheat stalks as decorations behind them. The raccoons are holding miniature food items, with one holding a cone of French fries, another with a cone of food, and the third li

Illustration of a cozy room with a person seated at a desk, surrounded by shelves filled with stuffed animals and decorations. Signs like "The Mouse Emporium" and "The Light Bringers" are displayed. The scene is detailed with various art supplies and

A felt mouse wearing a brown shell shell and holding a small map, standing on a green surface with dried grass and rocks around.

Felted wool sculpture of a smiling fox, holding a large green leaf umbrella, surrounded by purple and light pink flowers.

Needle felted badger figurine surrounded by small rustic items in a forest setting.

A collection of children's books from the "Celestine and the Hare" series featuring titles like "Paper Boat for Panda," "Finding Your Place," and "Honey for Tea," displayed on a wooden surface.

Felt mouse holding a tiny book sitting in a small armchair with purple flowers on the left and a pink flower on the right.

Magazine spread featuring wool sculptures by Karin Celestine, showcasing images of felted animals, including rabbits and badgers, on mossy landscapes. Titles of works include "The Lightbringers" and "The Joy Bringers." Text discusses Celestine's arti

A felted mouse figure standing near a lit candle on a textured surface, holding a small candle snuffer, with a starry night background.

Felted mouse figurine wearing green patchwork coat and hat with pinecones and leaves in background.

Two felt mice having a picnic with miniature food items on a knitted green mat, surrounded by flowers and pine cones.

A handmade felt mouse figurine with a pink circus hat, orange ruffled collar, standing on a colourful patchwork ball, with decorative lights and a circus-style background.

Book cover of "The Wish Gatherers" by Karin Celestine, depicting two small animals sitting on a mossy ground under a starry sky. Illustrations by Karin Celestine and Tamsin Rosewell.

Needle Felted wool water vole holding a round, yellow felt cookie with a red heart, surrounded by greenery.

Various decorative stationery items with floral and nature-themed patterns, including envelopes, notepads, and cards, displayed on a wooden surface.

Felted rabbit sculpture with backpack and basket on wooden base

needle Felted animal figures in a cozy woodland postal service -themed setting, featuring a mouse and badger with handcrafted hats and accessories. The scene includes a small table, cups, and a wooden backdrop with tiny shelves.

Felt animal sculpture in a brown boat with a wooden pole.

Felt animals admiring a festive window display with a miniature scene, featuring tiny decorations and stockings.

A small scene inside a blue wooden display box featuring a plush mouse figure. The mouse is reclining with a book labeled 'The Welsh Chinchillas' and holding a small blue cup. The background is decorated with a starry night sky motif. Pinecones and n

A felt mouse in a kitchen setting holds a small pie. The mouse wears an apron, and nearby are items like flour, sugar, a blackberry, and a rolling pin on a rustic table. The background features more miniature kitchen items.

A miniature scene featuring a small felt badger lying on a cozy chair with a red plaid blanket. The setting includes a small candle on a table and another felt item nearby, resembling an owl. The ambiance is warm and intimate, resembling a tiny, cozy

A cute felted animal figure holding a small felt pie with a red heart design. The figure is set against a natural background with green foliage and a grey stone surface.

Miniature diorama of a cozy room with a felt mouse figure wearing glasses and a red hat, sitting in a chair. The room contains small shelves with various objects, a table with miniature items, and a decorative rug.

NeedleFelt red panda figurine holding a green suitcase, set against a starry backdrop with pink flowers.

Newspapers and book display featuring articles and images. The Western Mail newspaper highlights headlines about doctors accepting a pay deal and a book review titled 'A small book about joy.' The display includes a book titled 'The Joy Bringers' by

White coffee mug with a blue handle and interior featuring an illustration of a badger holding a stick and wearing a headdress. Text below reads, "don't f*** with the badger."

Felted badger figurine with basket and staff

Felt mouse toy wearing scarf and shoes holding a mug, in tree hole surrounded by moss.

A handcrafted bunny figure made of felt, holding a small woven basket and a metallic moon-shaped ornament, with wheat stalks on its head, set against an autumn-themed background with dried leaves and tree bark.

A small felt mouse sitting in a miniature wooden wheelbarrow, knitting with tiny cross-stitch needles, surrounded by a nature-themed setup with moss, bark, and leaves.

A forest scene with a needle felted hare folklore creature , and a backpack, standing among mushrooms and fallen leaves.

Felted animal figure hare, carrying a woven basket of colorful eggs and a small bundle of heather flowers in a birch bark basket, with a background of birch trees.

A small diorama of a cozy corner with a plush armchair, a needle felted mouse animal , a hanging light from a poppy seed head , a framed mushroom picture, a bunch of l berries, a basket , and a small book. and handmade mug