Finding Calm and Gratitude in Handmade Work
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
By Dovile Sirmulyte
Founder of FeltForma
When I started FeltForma, I did not plan to build a business. I was looking for calm and balance in my life. After more than fifteen years working as a marketing and sales manager, I felt tired and burned out. My mind was full of pressure, and I lost connection with myself.
During that time, I decided to return to my roots. I had learned the old wool felting technique from my grandmother who lived in a small Lithuanian village. As a child, I watched her work with warm water and soft wool. The process was slow and peaceful. When I started felting again, I felt calm for the first time in years. It helped me heal, and later it became my business.
Today I lead FeltForma, a small handmade studio in Vilnius, Lithuania. I make organic wool slippers and accessories for customers in the United States and Europe. I use only pure wool from small, ethical European farms. There is no glue, no plastic, and no chemicals. Every pair is made slowly by hand using only warm water and time.
To serve my American customers better, I also have a company in the United States. From 2017 to 2022, I worked with AhaLife USA, which selected my products as a recognition of creativity and originality. My slippers were also available on HardtoFind, a well-known Australian marketplace for unique gifts, from 2012 until 2024. These partnerships helped me share my work with people who value sustainability and slow living.
Building a Business from Stillness
Gratitude is the heart of my work. I do not rush or try to grow fast. I focus on quality and people. Every order reminds me that someone in the world has chosen comfort made by hand. When customers write that their feet feel warm and calm, I feel thankful.
Working slowly taught me a new way to lead. I start each morning with tea and quiet time. I remind myself that honest work has value. Gratitude helps me stay kind and patient with myself and others.
Wealth with Meaning
For me, wealth means freedom to create, not speed or big numbers. My slippers are made to last for many years. They are natural, soft, and kind to the skin. I also make wide-fit slippers because I want everyone to feel comfortable.
My wool slippers are made without glue or synthetic soles. I use plant-based natural rubber, called caoutchouc, which comes from trees and smells softly like honey. The soles are flexible, biodegradable, and kind to the earth. I add them by hand with care and patience. When people wear them, they can feel the difference. The soles move naturally with the feet, bringing a soft, grounding feeling like walking close to nature.
I choose materials that support small farms and traditional wool makers. I believe that ethical work carries a special warmth that people can feel when they wear my wool slippers.
Creating Legacy Through Calm Work
When I look back, I see that every step of my business has been about learning patience. Gratitude helped me find value in small things, like a quiet morning or a happy customer. My goal now is also to teach. I want to share the calm beauty of wool felting through simple video tutorials on YouTube. I do this slowly, without pressure, just to pass on what I know and to help others find peace in making something with their hands.
Each pair of slippers I make carries that message. It reminds people to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the feeling of home.
Did you know? Usually people share selfies, but my customers send me photos of their bare feet. I ask for these pictures to see the exact length and width, because I make every pair by hand. It always makes me smile. It is a small and human thing that helps me feel close to every person I create for.
This is what I believe it means to build success and impact through gratitude.
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