Willow catkin branch felt

Lastingly decorative: hand-felted from pure new wool, these willow catkin twigs are permanently fresh and budding and look just as fluffy as their natural role models, the catkins of the willow. The felt-wrapped wire branches not only provide a stable arrangement in the vase, but also lend themselves to other decorative ideas, for example for gift wrapping or decorating the Easter breakfast table.

After all, an Easter without pussy willows wouldn't be a real Easter - you wouldn't deny the Easter bunny the Easter eggs. The willow branches with their furry buds owe their significance to Christian tradition. Every year on Palm Sunday, Christians commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem: according to tradition, the jubilant crowds laid out the Messiah's path with palm fronds. As palms do not grow in Europe (at least not voluntarily), the willow, which buds as early as March, was chosen for church decorations and processions, especially in Roman Catholic regions. Today, however, this tradition has its pitfalls, as the native willows (Salix caprea) are now a protected species. And for good reason: as early bloomers, willows are an important bee pasture, providing bees, bumblebees, butterflies and many other insects with the first vital food after winter. These felted willow catkins are a beautiful alternative that can also make nature conservationists smile - all the more so as you can arrange the twigs into an attractive bouquet throughout the spring and again the following year.

During her backpacking tour through Nepal, the Dane Gry Staunstrup got to know the astonishing openness and warmth of the country’s inhabitants, and their craftsmanship bedazzled her. She was able to observe in detail how adeptly and skilfully Nepalese women felted wool into a wide variety of objects. Staunstrup felt it was time to make something good out of the untapped potential, and an idea was born: to combine Nepalese handicrafts with Danish design. And the idea was immediately followed by action.

The company Gry & Sif started producing a variety of products made of wool felt in Nepal in 2000. The designs created by Gry Staunstrup are as remarkable as they are understated and, characteristic of Danish design, at the same time fresh and merry. Nepalese women turn them into products employing traditional handicrafts. Fair Trade certified by now, Gry & Sif stands for fair wages and working conditions, environmentally conscious production and transparency. The company exclusively sources pure new wool from New Zealand sheep for the felting; each of the resulting products is handmade and unique.

This product is an example of genuine handicraft; therefore, minor deviations in size and colour may occur.