Mr Finch and the lost world of sleepy hares and magical moths

Mr Finch lives in Leeds. Finch is actually his surname but everyone calls him mister Finch so he named his business just that. He is almost completely self taught in his sewing and creating skills and when he’s not making things (which isn’t often), he likes nothing better than to watch an old movie or read a book.

He has a collection of dead insects, which provide inspiration as well as being first hand research material for some of his more insect based forms.

He has a flair for hares, and it doesn’t stop there. These wall mounted heads are quite wonderful.

He says ” My main inspirations come from nature and often I return to certain ideas again and again. Flowers, insects and birds really fascinate me with their amazing life cycles and extraordinary nests and behaviour. British folklore is also so beautifully rich in fabulous stories and warnings and never ceases to be at the heart of what I make.”

There’s a quiet peacefulness about the sleeping, curled up animals and even if you’re not the worlds biggest fan of moths, you must admit that their furry, velvety textures and florally wings capture the essence of the creatures perfectly.

” Humanising animals with shoes and clothes is something I’ve always done and I imagine them to come alive at night. Getting dressed and helping an elderly shoemaker or the tired housewife. Making things has always been incredibly important to me and is often an amazing release to get it out of my system. It’s a joy to hunt for things for my work…the lost, found and forgotten all have places in what I make. Most of my pieces use recycled materials, not only as an ethical statement, but I believe they add more authenticity and charm. A story sewn in, woven in. Velvet curtains from an old hotel, a threadbare wedding dress and a vintage apron become birds and beasts, looking for new owners and adventures to have. ”

Mr Finch’s creations sell on Etsy or you can follow him on Facebook or on his Blog.

Storytelling creatures for people who are also a little lost, found and forgotten… aren’t we all ?

If you found this interesting, you may also like my post on Vraid Lee and Michael Sowa. The animals also reminded of ‘The Science of Sleep’ a film with Gael García Bernal and Hartley Hare from ‘Pipkins’ from my childhood memories.