Maira Danyei

I has been exploring hand-felted wool since child. Actually my grandmather was making kazakh felt rug.

I graduated of the Urlakh Erdem (Mongolian Fashion Design) Institute (FDI) with majors in both apparel design and shoesmaker. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I went to studied Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) for a master degree.

 After graduating the university, I have opportunities to handle the felt. And it is the start up to my felt artist career.

My main creative work is:
-to make new felt craft design and techniques 
-to produce best quality useful felt design.
-to make handbooks and training material on teaching felt techniques, dyeing, wool processing, quality system
-to participate and organize exhibitions about new wool craft design

Until December 2007, I was working in the Wool Processing and Marketing Project (WPMP) for a Norwegian Lutheran mission. The first wool training and processing activities started in 1996, and in excess of  2,000 people with little or no income have attended felt trainings since then.
WPMP aims to empower vulnerable families to improve their living conditions in a sustainable way through the production and sale of wool craft products. The main activity of WPMP is focused on the establishment, training and sustainable running of cooperatives of wool crafters and a cooperative Union.
Currently such activities include training in wool processing and felt making, color, new wool techniques and design, sales, business, trade,

WPMP has established a ‘Tsagaan-Alt’ wool craft shop in Ulaanbaatar as a retail outlet for its producer‟s products. The Nooson Zangilaa Cooperative Union was established through the support of WPMP, to coordinate and unite the activities of 10 production Cooperatives from Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan.

I was participating National Fashion Festival "Goyol-2002" with my Nuno felt design. The result is great and I have received the special award.
After fashion-show, my felt design had been  invited  in the concert “Plus& Minus ” of Nomin Talst pop croup.

Our cooperative union and Tsagaan alt shop usually participate exhibition from Mongolian national chamber of comers. My felt slipper designs awarded certificate for "One of Mongolian best product",  felt rugs design awarded certificate “ Green label’s eco-product “ from National Chamber of Commerce

Also I was organizing felt exhibition during the project

-July 2006. Event of Mongolian traditional felt day, felt rugs exhibition at the Terelj

-November 2006. Christmas gift by felt- exhibition was  at the Zanabasar museum

-Spring 2007. Nature and spring- exhibition was  at the Galleries

• What is it that you most love about felt making?

I love felt making because it opens new discovery for me. Also felt is given me many possibility new texture, idea and creative. I think it is pretty interesting from other material

• Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

I got my idea from everywhere and everything. It is depending my emotion the time. Example spring time is new grow up little leaf, winter is snowing summer is raining .   

• How do you dye wool?

To Dye wool is very big subject. I like to use for 3 method change color of wool.
1.-Mixing brown and white wool or camel wool and white sheep wool, cashmere and white wool. Yak wool and white sheep wool etc.
2. Using natural plant dyes to dye wool brown, yellow, orange, or green with different natural dyes made from plants.
3. Chemical dyestuff can be used every colors

I like to make dye recipe color.
We need to dyeing wool White Vinegar, nature Salt, measuring tools, color recipe, dye pot, safety clothes, and air exhausting etc.

• How is felt making environmentally friendly?

Yes! All of the above. Hand  felt is a natural product. Wool is animals fibers.  A high standard of dye or nature colored  and contents of 100% wool make this product earth friendly.

My favorites links:

About new felt artist:http://lessonplans.craftgossip.com

www.YurtWorkshop.com

About new felt artist

online shop: