Karen’s inanimate “pet project,” has been sparking joy around the city for those who stumble upon one of her creations. Her brainchild, Tiny Felted Joy, is a passion project aimed to add a little surprise to Bostonians in their everyday routines.
Karen handmakes tiny, felted animals, just about 2 inches in total height, and hides them at local small businesses all around the city. It’s like “elf on the shelf” but a year-round event! You can find the felted animals in areas like boutiques on Charles Street or sequestered around the Boston Common. If you happen to stumble upon one of Karen’s creations, feel free to leave it or welcome it to your home for free.
The project stemmed as a coping mechanism for Karen’s mental health struggles with bipolar disorder. Karen states “I wanted to show that even when you’re battling with mental health, you can create a purpose for yourself too. I wanted to pass that purpose and that joy to someone who was struggling too [such as in] searching for a little animal all across Boston.”
Karen chose Boston for this project as it’s her homebase. Growing up in Burlington, MA, it seemed like the perfect city with enough charm to match such a charming project. Karen says:
I chose to hide the animals in small, local businesses in Boston because I grew up here. I know the historical yet charming, wicked unique culture that Boston has, and I want to spread that knowledge around in any way that I can. I wanted to do my part to support these businesses and show my followers this culturally diverse city through its restaurants, consignment stores, and cafes run by their hardworking owners.
You can follow the TinyFeltedJoy journey online, with locations announced on the Instagram page, and make sure to keep an eye out for Karen’s adorable plush animals next time you’re out and about in the city! Karen continues to spread the joy with needle felting workshops held around the city!
And Karen is now offering felting classes announced on her Instagram page @tinyfeltedjoy, so you can create your own 2-inch ball of joy!