Thoughts on Pet Needle Felting and Social Media

Lately, I've been diving into the world of pet needle felting on social media, checking out some popular creators in the space. They've got tons of followers, but honestly, it feels like some of them aren't putting their hearts into their work. Here are some of my thoughts.

So, I've been running my TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube accounts for a while now. I make and share videos about my needle felting projects. Sure, the views haven't exactly blown up, but that's okay. I've always approached social media with a "share as I go” mindset, just casually posting about what I'm working on. I've tried using fancy filters and templates, even spent a bunch of time crafting some of the videos, but they didn't really take off. It seems like getting viral views is mostly down to luck. Moving forward, I think I'll stick to sharing more spontaneously without stressing over it too much. I believe the real key is to focus on improving the quality of my work, not obsessing over social media metrics.

Because I've been posting videos about custom pet needle felting, the platforms keep suggesting similar creators to me. A lot of these folks are amazing, and I really look up to them. I see some creators who are genuinely sharing their work, discussing techniques, and telling the stories behind each piece they make. That's awesome and exactly the kind of community I want to be part of. But, I've also noticed a few accounts that are less about the craft and more about gaming the system. They slap together random clips, often using footage or photos they didn't even create, and pair them with dramatic music and captions just to grab attention. It's frustrating because these low-effort, insincere videos sometimes get tons of views thanks to the algorithm. Honestly, I wonder if some of these folks even know how to make wool felt pets. It feels like they're just outsourcing the work after getting orders, while real artists have to work hard and often have long waitlists because the process takes time. The worst part is that these opportunists are profiting from other artists' work without giving them any credit or payment.

Right now, my accounts are pretty small, and not many people know about me, but I'm okay with that. I think patience is key, especially in a craft like needle felting, which naturally requires a lot of it. I can't let myself get anxious or discouraged. I need to keep nurturing my accounts, sharing authentic content, and avoiding the temptation to take shortcuts by stealing or piecing together random videos. I believe that honesty is super important, especially when you're creating something as personal and meaningful as a custom pet portrait. Needle felting is a slow growth process, and looking back at my past work, I can see how much I've evolved, even though I'm still learning and improving every day. It's a journey, and you can't rush it; it takes years to develop real skill in this craft, not just a few months.

As someone who has nine cats (yep, nine!), I'm really passionate about pets and have felt the pain of losing them. These pet needle felted pieces serve as heartfelt pet memorials for those who have experienced pet loss, offering a lasting way to remember and cherish their beloved companions. That's why I'm committed to continuing to make better and better needle-felted pet portraits with my own two hands. If you're interested, feel free to follow me on social media—I'd love to share this journey with you!