When Jennifer McCarthy first picked up a felting needle, she didn’t know it would become the foundation of her own creative brand, The Felted Bee. With a background in studio art and 16 years of teaching elementary art, Jennifer always had a love for materials, especially wool. Growing up with a mother who was an expert knitter, she learned early on that wool wasn’t just a craft supply; it was a living material that told stories.

Her journey into felting began unexpectedly during a professional development class. One look at the long, barbed felting needle and she knew it wasn’t something she’d be teaching to young students, but she also discovered it was something she could lose herself in for hours. What started as sculpting small holiday ornaments for family soon grew into a full creative business that blends fiber art, education, and community.

The Origins of The Felted Bee

The name The Felted Bee came naturally; Jennifer was a beekeeper at the time and hoped to combine wool and beeswax in her encaustic artwork. Even though she’s no longer keeping bees, the name stuck, and it’s become part of her identity. So much so that at markets, people sometimes call her and her husband “the felted bee people.”

Today, Jennifer works full-time at The Felted Bee, creating whimsical sculptures, wool paintings, home goods, and beginner-friendly felting kits that now ship across the country.

Fiber Arts: A Growing World

For many, felting and fiber art seem niche, but Jennifer opens listeners’ eyes to just how vast the textile world has become. Fiber festivals draw thousands of people. Sheep farmers, dyers, mill owners, and artists all play a role in a thriving ecosystem, one that’s increasingly focused on sustainability and local sourcing.

Jennifer explains that wool from different sheep breeds has unique textures, lengths, and “crimp,” each suited to different techniques. Some are ideal for delicate needle-felted paintings; others are perfect for durable rugs or sculptural pieces.

It’s a craft deeply connected to nature, process, and place. And as people have become more interested in handmade, meaningful items, especially since COVID, fiber arts have risen in visibility and appreciation.

Teaching, Kits & Creative Community

Jennifer doesn’t just create, she teaches. From yarn shops to libraries, Council on Aging programs to fiber festivals across New England, she’s built an impressive community of learners.

Her felting kits, each complete with wool, needles, foam, templates, and full video tutorials, have become her signature offering. For many beginners, they’re a doorway into the relaxing, therapeutic rhythm of felting, what Jennifer lovingly calls “stab therapy.”

She also runs a subscription club where members receive exclusive designs, surprises, and first access to new projects. It’s a growing creative circle that reflects her commitment to making felting accessible, joyful, and connected.

Life in the Wright Building

Jennifer’s studio in Rockland’s Wright Building has become a creative home, not just for her, but for the collaborative arts community flourishing there. She participates in monthly open studio nights, seasonal events, and shared creative experiments with neighboring artists (including previous podcast guest, Zarla Ludin).

From encaustic painting in the winter to full-time felting the rest of the year, her studio is a place where ideas take shape, sometimes literally, in the form of charming fiber animals, ornaments, and whimsical sculptures like her well-loved needle-felted squirrel.

Keeping Art Local, Handmade & Heartfelt

More than anything, Jennifer’s work reminds listeners of the magic in handmade objects: the time, intention, and story embedded within each piece.

Whether she’s teaching a child to make their first felted ornament or crafting a large wool sculpture that took hours to refine, she’s helping people reconnect with a slower, more meaningful way of creating.

At Frame Center, we love celebrating local artists like Jennifer who bring creativity and community to the South Shore. Whether you’re framing a wool painting, a needle-felted piece, or any cherished artwork, our team is here to help you showcase it beautifully. Visit us in Hanover or explore our custom framing services online to bring your creative vision to life.