If you are looking for more ways to incorporate nature into your home yet maintain a clean contemporary style, let me introduce the Clustered Felted Stone Mat! I would love to step out of bed every morning and sink my feet into this felted stone rug.
Made from 100% merino wool, this functional art was created by South African textile designer Ronel Jordaan. It comes along with a fairly steep price tag of $500 that makes me want to brush up on my felting skills! I can't deny that the skill that went into making Jordaan's Stone Mat is a little out of my league. We posted 5 Felted Wool Projects for Late Fall back in November that had a tutorial for a similar rug if you are feeling crafty.
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Kind of think cleaning it would be a hassle, and it would start to pill fairly quickly.
Kinda cool, but I would step out of bed and trip right over it with it's height.
I predict dust bunnies in every space ...too much work
Well I think it's adorable. Maybe not the most practical, but certainly adorable.
it's cute but it's not saying rug/mat to me. in my house, that would be a dog crash pad.
It's cute, but it's $500. Maybe there should be a new AT category for
Insanely Priced Stuff.
And using it doesn't incorporate nature into my home anymore than using a rug does. Looking like a rock doesn't make it a rock.
I think it's very attractive, but I'm doubting anyone would be "sinking their feet" into it. It seems like it would be really uncomfortable.
I was just thinking about how much I needed a pile of rocks next to my bed.
Oooh I enjoy the first one! It's so cute!
@FantasticMrFaux I find your position on something looking like something else somewhat ironic given your username.
It's cute, but expensive felt rocks qualify as faux nature at best.
Oh, come on you cranky pants. This is totally rad. Cleaning? You take it out and shake it when it gets dirty, ah der. You could take yourself down to pottery barn and get a 50 dollar mat that looks like everyone else's, but this is a piece of art that should make you squishy inside every time you look at it.
Very cute and cuddly, but all I can think about is stepping on it and me and the mat going sliding across the floor!
i would really like to make one of these and have looked for directions. I did find directions to make the rocks, but it sounds like they would feel like rocks when finished so maybe not. Although not crafty, this is one piece I would like to further investigate and perhaps try my hand at making.
dzkody where did you find the instructions for making the rocks?
For that kind of money, why not build yourself one with real rocks? Take a nice tray, add a non-slip bottom, buy some pretty rocks and arrange. If it gets dirty, rinse and dry the rocks and then re-arrange. Yes, it'd be cold but it'd be at least as practical as this idea. And it'd be 'natural' too.
Actually, felt IS natural. It comes from sheep.. and sheep is natural, obviously.
Felting is the oldest form of textile making, and I imagine that rug would be squishy and soft and amazing.
Also, wool is naturally resistant to dirt, is anti-bacterial, moisture resistant and fire resistant.
Wool is pretty amazing, but not many know all the incredible things about it.
to dkzody, Felting is fairly easy to do... hot soapy water, cool water and friction / agitation create the felting process... like accidentally putting a wool sweater in the washing machine. You can find lots of easy instructions for felting online.