Felt Fervour in the Chamber of Miracles

From 2013 through 2016, Suse Federschmid kept the "Wunderkammer" shop in Nuertingen. We paid her a visit in summer 2015. In July 2016, Suse closed her shop for good to find new treasures and ideas.

"The heart must have hands — the hands must have hearts" (Tibetan saying)

"Suse Federschmid, feltmaker, Giantling Alley, Schwanstein". A letter sent to this address will be returned, but a feltmaker bearing the name Federschmid ... that sounds quite like Mirrorworld.

In addition, in Suse’s shop there are many items which definitely could have been found beyond the mirror: fairy nests, dragon skin, the skeletal tail of an Indian firedrake, eyes of a giant chameleon, Goliath’s back teeth ... and even a huge Man-Swan feather, that makes you want to touch it.

It’s the same with those life-like felt animal heads watching from the walls: unicorn, wild sheep, goose and donkey hanging quietly side by side.

The eyes of future felted friends (Photo: Michael Orth)

Felt fervour in the "Wunderkammer" (Photo: Michael Orth)

Suse is a rabid flea market browser. Behind her you can see a collection of her finds. (Photo: Michael Orth)

Sewing, hammering, stapling, sticking. Letting creativity run wild (Photo: Michael Orth)

That moth on Suse's finger was not sent by the Dark Fairy, but was made by a German artisan. (Photo: Michael Orth)

A display of Suse's "Fantastic Finds": Goliath's teeth and fairy nests (made from parts of trees and other items found in nature) and bookpage butterflies (Photo: Michael Orth)

A felt artist's workplace (Photo: Michael Orth)

You sadly can't feel it in the picture, but the unicorns are made from llama wool (Photo: Michael Orth)

And what’s more, the shop is called Wunderkammer, like the one owned by Therese of Austry. Suse Federschmid had her name long before Cornelia started travelling through Mirrorworld, but her shop’s name is directly connected with Cornelia’s books. She picked it from Reckless.

The Wunderkammer opened in 2013. Shortly after the opening, one of Suse’s furry friends set off for LA and moved into Cornelia’s writing house. How did they connect?

On 10 February 2013, the fashion designer and felt artist Suse Federschmid posted a message on Cornelia’s Reckless Facebook page:

"Dear Cornelia Funke, my daughter Anna and I are big fans of your books. We like to have them read to us by Mr Strecker. Austry’s Chambers of Miracles inspired me to call my shop “Filzwahn in der Wunderkammer“ (Felt Fervour in the Chamber of Miracles). The opening will be on 2 March. Though it’s not as pompous as inside the Empress’s palace, I’m quite sure Jacob would like it there! Thank you so much for all your wonderful inspiration. We wish you many more good thoughts and are looking forward to Jacob’s next adventures."

Cornelia replied: O, dear Suse, how exciting!If you like, Jacob and I will send you a “Good luck for the Wunderkammer“ letter!

That letter is now hanging in Suse’s shop.

We hope you enjoy the photos we took during our visit to Suse’s shop. Maybe you will even feel encouraged to create your own needled or knitted friend or anything that could be found beyond the mirror? Let your creativity off the leash and send us pictures: mail@corneliafunke.com.