FAQ

Spun cotton is the process of sculpting cotton fiber into shapes and figures using a food starch and water paste as a binder.

Spun cotton has its roots in 19th century Germany, where ornaments were made at home to decorate the tree and to share with friends and neighbors. All of my spun cotton ornaments are made simply and traditionally with wire, cotton, starch, water, paint, and authentic embellishments such as mica flakes and German glass glitter.

The simplest shapes are made by wrapping (spinning) cotton fiber onto a wire and binding it with a food starch and water mixture. Bulkier shapes are made by building up layers of cotton, alternating between application and drying time. While the cotton is wet, it can be shaped, to a certain extent, with brushes and tools.

I prefer simpler, more traditional methods, so my work never follows the more modern trends of using recyclables such as plastic bottles or aluminum foil as bases and white school glue as a binder.

My primary material is cotton. I use many different kinds, including combed cotton, cotton batting, cotton roving, and even the occasional cotton ball. My primary source of cotton, however, is sterile medical cotton. All of these are fluffy, tufty wispy varieties of cotton, unlike cotton fabric, which is cotton that has been spun into thread which is then woven into cloth.

My primary embellishment materials are German glass glitter, in various sizes, and natural mica, both of which are authentic to vintage spun cotton ornaments.

Most pieces take a few days to a few weeks to make. Each piece starts with either a cotton or wire and cotton base, which is covered in a food starch and water mixture and then set aside to dry. I mold and paint my faces while other ornaments are drying. Once the initial layer has dried, ornaments are then built layer by layer, with breaks for drying. Some have only a few layers, while others have many. I add any painted details, sealant, and embellishments after the final drying is complete.

Spun cotton is surprisingly robust! If you’ve ever cooked with a food starch such as corn starch, you’ll know how tenacious it is once it’s dried. However, best practice is to treat your ornament with care to avoid any mishaps. If your Winterskind ornament has a toy or accessory, expect that portion to be delicate due to its small size. If your ornament has soft cotton hair, gentle touching is fine, but please take care not to pull on it.

All Winterskind ornaments are one of a kind. You are purchasing the ornament you see in the photo. Other ornaments, such as moons, snowmen, and mushrooms, are made in batches or made to order, and they will be substantially similar but likely not identical to the photo.

All Winterskind ornaments will arrive numbered and dated.

Winterskind ornaments come on a cord that is suitable for hanging. All other ornaments come ready for you to choose your favorite variety of hanger. Custom oxidized copper hangers and silk ribbon hangers are available for purchase.

Depending on your preferences, many of the ornaments are suitable for year round display.

All Winterskind ornaments come in a box perfectly sized for storage. Other ornaments should be stored with care like any other ornament you plan to display year after year. At a minimum, they should be wrapped in tissue to protect any embellishments and placed in a location where they are not at risk of being crushed by heavier objects.

Like most ornaments, they contain materials that are not suitable for young children and pets.

“Winterskind” or “winter’s child” embraces both the German heritage of spun cotton and the essence of the ornaments themselves.

There is no way to change or cancel your order.

Custom orders may be requested here.

Gift cards are not available at this time.

You may pay with Visa or Mastercard, or choose to finance orders over $50 through Klarna, Afterpay, or Affirm. Some payment options, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, are device or operating system dependent.

In stock items will ship within two business days. Made to order items will ship within fourteen business days. The processing time for a custom order will vary and will be set at the time of purchase.

Orders will be shipped via USPS Ground Advantage or similar. Insurance is available for purchase on every order. Orders which qualify for free shipping will be insured.

For most items, shipping starts at $5. Adding insurance (recommended) or additional items will increase the cost of shipping. Orders over $150 ship free with insurance.

International shipping is not available at this time.

You will receive a tracking number for your shipment via email.

If you have purchased insurance, or if your order was shipped free with insurance, please file a claim with USPS for the loss or damage.

Returns and exchanges are not accepted, but please get in touch with any concerns.

Please send a message here.