17-12-2009 He worked, slept and won!

First, last year's contest was a pleasant surprise for us. This year's, second edition proves that the third and following must come. The works are simply charming.

Romantic, fabulous, sometimes primitive, in the best sense of the word - there are only few terms used by the jury of this year's competition in the exciting discussion appointing a winner. It was really hot...
Four-person jury's verdict was not unanimous. High, balanced level of works caused a large positive dilemma. We received works made in excellent felting technique, but others, less advanced, made up their technical deficiencies with extraordinary artistic sensibility.

Three of four jurors decided that the best combination of technique and art was reached by Anna Nowak , author of a beautiful angel and Santa Claus, who tired of his Claus's duty, fell asleep cuddled up to his sack full of gifts. Mrs. Anna's Santa Claus looks like coming straight from the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale and his fairy-tale charm determined the main award, which was a professional steam generator Battistella Vaporbaby Inox with iron. Mrs. Anna will also receive a diploma of Master of Felting Arts.

Same as last year, many angels flew to us. Beautiful angels. They are colorful, they are delicate, white, are also literally ephemeral. We liked all of them, as angels are liked. It is difficult to describe them all, unfairly honour some and ignore others. Angels simply must be noticed, so we present all of them, along with other this year's works, in our contest's photo gallery. However, we have to write that the greatest admiration aroused elusive, bright beige "Angel of the Heart" made by Grazyna Borys. Completely different, a whole team of beautiful angels flew to us from Social Primary School No. 3 and "Debinka" Secondary School in Poznan. That was the school where Nikifor Angels came into being. They arranged a special jury prize for the school, which was a sewing machine for children. Janome Sew Mini was given at the hands of fantastic angels producers' guardian - Grazyna Smelkowska-Bober. Ten year old authors Marysia Korcz, Emilka Przybyl, Olga Slominska, Agata Wapra, Ada Warszczynska, Julia Elzanowska and Ania Schmit honored us with their visit and helped in dressing the Strima Christmas Tree. Each of the girls has hanged her work. We hope they enjoyed the stay with us.

We also received works from two other schools. We thank the authors and caregivers from the Stanislaw Staszic Group of Technical and Clothing Schools with Integration Classes from Bialystok and Practical Education Center from Jaslo.

The others who came to us were the Three Kings by Malgorzata Chwedoruk, reindeer with sheep by Malgorzata Olejniczak, droll, slightly cross-eyed moose by Maria Ogorzalek, piglet together with guardian angel by Ewa Paszkowska-Bober, snowman with carrot nose by Sylwia Staron, pink-hair angel by Magdalena Dudala, angelic redhead by Malgorzata Paszkowska, Santa-Teddy Bear-Reindeer by the last year's winner Barbara Jankowska, and many other beautiful works. Liliana Wojnicka's pasta-felt pets aroused special sympathy of the jury. Gentlemen also deal with felting. We liked a snowman by Adam Skotnicki and a cheerful team by Andrzej Rusek.

We thank a lot all Authors and good Angels of our competition.

See photoreport - photos of all works





See how we have dressed the Christmas tree in contest's works for the best felt decoration.