dreaming rabbit by Paulina Temmes of Lemmikkiapina
Paulina Temmes is a gifted fiber artist who spends her days crafting these poignantly lovely animals in her village home in Finland. A graduate of the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Paulina meticulously hand stitches and embroiders her soft sculptures from beautiful, textured fabrics: vintage remnants, course linens, or fine organzas.
The craftsmanship of Paulina’s animals is surpassing fine. Yet it is their personalities that make them so appealing. Shy and serene, Paulina’s creations posses a curious pensiveness. Heads downcast, they do not meet your eyes. But perhaps this is because they are lost in a dream or are keeping their distance until they have taken measure. And their cloaks? Painstakingly rendered in the most delicate detail, they are lovely. And yet they are pulled so tight about the bodies as to hide them like shields or shrouds.
Thus despite the inwardness of their character, Paulina’s creatures possess a great magnetism. It is a quiet energy that comes from being the stillest thing in the room. They draw you in with their beauty, their vulnerability, their stories. Just what is the baggage that binds their path through the world? What are the shadows they carry on their backs? The mystery is palpable, but unknowable. And yet the weight does not seem unbearable. Rather these sage creatures wear their burden like badges of a life lived. It makes them feel like deep souls. Not flashy or brash, they are beautiful in their purity, their wisdom, and in the quality of their character.
war horse
dog
deer
flag rabbit
Not surprisingly, Paulina’s creations sell out fast, so all the animals pictured here have already found homes. But you can email Paulina via her Etsy shop or blog to commission a project.
All rights reserved. Photos used with permission of Paulina Temmes.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What an insightful and beautiful critique on Paulina’s work. I agree the combination of craft and depth is something rare.
Best!
Julie
So incredibly sweet! I used to hand sew little animals for my daughter, but never anything as lovely as these
Makes me want to pull out my scrap bins, blow the dust off and have lookie….
I have been a long time secret aderimr of Paulina’s art and when I saw your post this morning I thought I would just try to see if there was anything in her shop. I really had a feeling their would be something special there waiting just for me.My premonitions are very strong sometimes. There she was a exquisite horse wearing a dark coat. It moved me and images of a mourning cloak flashed through my mind. I purchased it in a flash and I can’t wait for it to arrive.