As cute as the Tiny Felted Joy project is, it came from a place of inner turmoil. Bipolar disorder ravaged my young adulthood, and my perception of my life would change within the blink of an eye. What I believed to be my own shortcomings were actually a chemical imbalance. I've tried everything, dozens of medications, dozens of doctors, and even electroconvulsive therapy.
I know what it's like to scratch and claw your way out of your own personal hell, I know what it's like to hang on by a smallest, tiniest of threads. That thread for me was this project. I started Tiny Felted Joy because I was painstakingly creating a reason for myself to live. I needed to feel like I was needed somewhere, that someone somewhere was looking forward to something that only I had total control over.
No matter how small and insignificant it might feel, you have to push yourself to find reasons to live. Telling yourself to push to the next day so that you can finish your Netflix series or even leave your house for the first time in months to find a tiny animal is enough. I know that people are struggling with their own issues too so I wanted to pass on that purpose of pushing to the next day to you. I wanted to help out local businesses and have all of you try these hidden gems even if you didn't find one of my creations. I wanted us to see the world together. This project has given me so much joy and purpose and here I am bringing that joy to you. Thank you for being here on this journey with me.