Carol Kroll

Felt

This started out being about the incredible goodness that is “Fuzzy Felt” but it’s gonna end up being about a vintage fuzzy German hat I want to bid on from ebay.

I loved fuzzy felt. I think it came out in the early 60’s, but I’m sure it was left over 15 years later for me to discover and play with in elementary school. I remember it being on the side shelves of my kindergarten class and being the only person that played with it. Well, there was Steven Jacobs who played on the same counter, but he was interested in Lincoln Logs, humming loudly and keeping to himself. Which was nice. The back room, where all the coats got hung is where all the “playing house” items were located. And the most popular place during playtime. Cribs, stoves, pretend food items, nasty baby dolls with matted yucky hair, pots, pans, little girls trying to rope the little boys into being their boyfriends and trying to make them hold those nasty little baby dolls. Have at it crazies. Did I know prematurely that, that overrated crap was coming soon enough in life?

Give me the felt.

And the painting easels under the skylights with the goopy chalky smelling tempera paints.

Which also were vacant once playtime/freetime kicked in. I do remember Mrs Lamers (LAH-mers; I liked her a lot) coming over to me a few times, kneeling down eye level and asking me if I wanted to play with the other children in the backroom, but I always politely declined, envisioning hell on earth and hoped she wouldn’t make me go back there. I really liked just being alone. But I suppose teachers are trained to spot loners and make them fit into society by having them pretend to play house and serve plastic rubber ham steaks to their 5 year old newly acquired boyfriends they project as being the future fathers of their children. A woman’s true purpose in life.

Again, give me the felt.

And humming boy keeping to himself building god knows what on the counter next to me.

So on ebay, where all dreams come true, I located some Fuzzy Felt gems.

I have actually acquired some too. I now have vintage Fuzzy Felt Circus, FFelt Play Farm and FFelt Hospital (pictured above) that were shipped over to me by a very nice person in England. Which is where I believe FFelt originated. But I hope England smells better than these boxes do.

I admit, I take them out from time to time when I am at an impasse on something I am working on in my studio. Helps me think. And better than watching TV or drinking a glass or ten of wine.

Now I see we have FFelt at the Fair (I love fairs) and FFelt Fairy Tales

But as promised, we end up with the mother of all fashion items, a vintage fuzzy German hat from the 1960’s! I am so tempted to place my bid. But where the hell would I wear this?

Who cares, I guess. Especially when something this cool comes up for auction.