Hello! My name is Diana Renwick and I live in Christchurch, New Zealand. I am a proud mum to five adult children. I’ve worked as a speech-language therapist, hearing advisor, ESOL teacher, event manager, editor… and over the years have pursued many creative hobbies. In 2020 I studied for a Diploma in Interior Design, pursuing a life long interest of textiles and design, and now teach tertiary students the technical skills used for architectural drawing and manual draughting. Many people know of my love of Christmas – every year I open my home to share my festive decorated home ‘The Gingerbread Christmas House’ to raise money for charity.
In 2012 I came back to my art after a twenty year break and began drawing illustrations. I found I had an affinity for animals and over time my style changed from cartooning to realism. I’ve had a couple of solo exhibitions and my work has gone to new homes far and wide.
HeartFelties began during a period of ill health in 2016. I needed something to keep me occupied but rested and when I saw a needle felting tutorial online decided to try my hand at it. The craft seemed like a perfect combination of art, craft and creativity. I was literally hooked from the moment I started stabbing. And as a Mackenzie Country sheep farmer’s daughter, I’m delighted to be creating art from wool and showcasing yet another use for this amazing natural fibre .
I feel very blessed that others appreciate what I make and that my customers choose HeartFelties as a way to memorialise their special animals as a miniature forever pet.
Diana heartfelties@gmail.com