MY WORK

Needle Neddies are one of a kind, fully poseable model horses hand made by me, Tomás Varela.

All my pieces are made using a steel wire armature, and so are fully poseable and sturdy. They feature British glass eyes and handmade, structurally correct clay hooves.

I offer several sizes and scales, from ponies small enough to fit on your hand to impressive centerpieces measuring 30cm and above at the withers. My most popular horses measure around 12cm at the withers, making them the perfect size for doll houses and similar dioramas, or just to place on a shelf and admire.

Most of my work finds homes with model horse collectors or horse owners, who due to their knowledge of anatomy, form and function, have quite high standards. For this reason, I strive to offer the most realistic horses in the market.

THE ARTIST

I am entirely self taught, and have been working with the wonderful material that is wool since early 2019. I have loved horses for as long as I remember, and have studied them closely, inside and out, through a Bachelor's Degree in Equine Science taken in Portugal, my home country.

Environmentalism and community are two values near and dear to my heart, which makes wool the perfect material to work with. I wash and process most of my wool, which is obtained in its raw form from a local shepherd. The batts used on top coats are purchased from British businesses, and I strive to use only natural, undyed wool in my pieces. Thankfully, sheep come in all kinds of lovely colours and fur textures!

Starting a business was the farthest thing from my mind when I first started needle felting, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the interest in my work, and my customer base is steadily growing.