About Us

I have been travelling to Nepal now for just over 20 years, and in that time have come to understand and admire the Nepalese people enormously. Their resilience and strength, sometimes through much hardship and adversity, along with their infectious humour, warmth and endless generosity has continued to leave a lasting impression on me, so much so that 5 years ago, I decided to 'give back' to the community as best I knew how.

I joined an aid agency, GVN (Global Volunteer Network) and the following year, commenced a volunteer program in Kathmandu , working in an orphanage and subsequently have been visiting the same children every year since. The experience has, and continues to be a most rewarding, satisfying, and life changing one, and I hope to continue volunteering long into old age!!

'Heartfelt Australia ' was set up two years ago, as a means of raising funds to help Nepalese orphans and those other children so less fortunate than our own. Part of the proceeds of each purchase therefore is currently being donated to the children in the orphanage and to pay for the school fees of four 'street children' attending the Kanya Higher Secondary School in Lainchaur, Kathmandu . We are currently also in the process of funding a number of smaller projects in rural village schools i.e. donating much needed materials such as pens and pencils, books and second hand computers.

An Ethical Enterprise

In establishing Heartfelt Australia, it was my main priority to ensure ethical trade between my suppliers and myself. As a result, I work one on one with the producers, ensuring that all my criteria are met i.e. excellent working conditions for the employees and fair wages for all involved.

I was also very keen to deal with suppliers who support equal opportunities and assist the disadvantaged. I am happy to report that all of our trading partners are very much community minded concerns, and as a result, benefit not only the individuals, but the community and or village as a whole.

The Collaborative Process

Working closely with my suppliers enables me to have a direct input into the designs. I feel very fortunate to be working together with such talented and creative craftsmen. Hand felting wool looks to be a relatively easy process, but in fact, done well, is exceedingly difficult. The process takes time, patience and enormous skill to perfect. Felting is the bonding together of wool fibres using soap, hot water and friction which is achieved by rubbing and rolling the wool. Once the design and colour has been agreed, the felters make up the samples, and once fine-tuned, we manufacture.

I hope that you enjoy these products as much as we do designing and making them!

Petra