Achi news desk-
Last summer, Kaela Steeves’ 11-year-old dog, Cash, died. She wanted to do something special to commemorate her pet, so after watching a few YouTube tutorials, she went to a craft store, bought some supplies, and got to work crocheting a felt portrait.
“I started crocheting about nine years ago now, that’s where my crafting abilities started,” she said.
Steeves, a Nova Scotia artist, now creates felt wool portraits of pets for owners, allowing them to have a custom tribute to their dog, cat, or anything else.
“It’s a nice keepsake or even if your dog hasn’t passed on, it’s nice to have,” Steves said.
Steves said each portrait takes a few hours to complete. He asks clients to provide head-on photos of their pet so he can properly capture their features.
“Some pets take longer,” he said. “It’s definitely a labor of love and I put a lot of time and effort into each portrait.”
Steeves said she has seen the reaction of some customers when they receive the finished portraits, which can often be quite emotional.
“They are in awe and the tears come sometimes,” she said. “It’s something they can have forever now to remember their pet. It’s great.”
