Who We Are
My interest in felt pennants and banners goes back a few years. It started as a rather humble collection. Then it turned into an obsession. Not just in terms of growing my collection, but in terms of growing my knowledge about these items. Who made them? When were they made? How did they make them? To find these answers I began researching the several dozen felt novelty makers active throughout the 20th century. That research led to my other website: pennantfever.weebly.com , where you can read all about these manufacturers and the products they made.
But researching the companies and personnel responsible for making my favorite pennants and banners, apparently, wasn't enough. My research introduced me to some of the most beautiful felt novelty items I've ever seen. Some were one-of-a-kind. Many were prohibitively expensive to purchase! All I knew was I wanted to hang some of these on my walls at home. Or, at least a really good knock-off thereof.
So I became a felt novelty maker myself. I went to my local arts and crafts store and bought some felt. Because I can't sew, I bought some felt glue. Armed with a really sharp pairs of scissors, I set my eyes on a rather ambitious first project: a pennant celebrating Notre Dame's 1924 National Championship. In retrospect, I should have started with an easier design. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the result, and the K.R. Biebesheimer & Son Mfg. Co. was officially in business.
But researching the companies and personnel responsible for making my favorite pennants and banners, apparently, wasn't enough. My research introduced me to some of the most beautiful felt novelty items I've ever seen. Some were one-of-a-kind. Many were prohibitively expensive to purchase! All I knew was I wanted to hang some of these on my walls at home. Or, at least a really good knock-off thereof.
So I became a felt novelty maker myself. I went to my local arts and crafts store and bought some felt. Because I can't sew, I bought some felt glue. Armed with a really sharp pairs of scissors, I set my eyes on a rather ambitious first project: a pennant celebrating Notre Dame's 1924 National Championship. In retrospect, I should have started with an easier design. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the result, and the K.R. Biebesheimer & Son Mfg. Co. was officially in business.
The easiest pennants to reproduce are the ones from the early turn of the century, e.g., sewn letter pennants of one or two-piece construction. Because these were often made by sewing multiple pieces of felt together, it's possible to re-create them using glue in lieu of a sewing machine. By the 1940s an onward, most pennants were made with painted graphics that were screen printed on. These, I learned, are much more difficult to reproduce (until I learned how to screen print).
I do my best to ensure my reproductions are as close to the real thing. To do this, you have to start with the right dimensions. If the original was recently sold at auction, then dimensions are easy to come by as they're commonly noted on the listing. Matching colors can get a bit more challenging. Most fabric stores only offer a few shades of each color. So, if you need a really deep navy blue ... you may have to settle for royal blue. And, if all you have is a black and white photo of the original, well, then you'll have to guess what the original colors would have resembled. It goes without saying that obtaining a good photo of the original piece, in high resolution, and preferably in color, is key to ensuring your work comes out as close to the real thing as possible.
Making these recreations has proved to be a labor of love. I thought I had a sense of appreciation for the men and women that originally made these felt novelties before I started doing this. But now ... that sense of appreciation has only grown.
So, please check out our work! Also, in recent years, I've begun screen printing many of my designs. Which means: I'm able to create a few extras with every run. If you're interested in something featured on the site, please contact me.
K.R. Biebesheimer & Son
I do my best to ensure my reproductions are as close to the real thing. To do this, you have to start with the right dimensions. If the original was recently sold at auction, then dimensions are easy to come by as they're commonly noted on the listing. Matching colors can get a bit more challenging. Most fabric stores only offer a few shades of each color. So, if you need a really deep navy blue ... you may have to settle for royal blue. And, if all you have is a black and white photo of the original, well, then you'll have to guess what the original colors would have resembled. It goes without saying that obtaining a good photo of the original piece, in high resolution, and preferably in color, is key to ensuring your work comes out as close to the real thing as possible.
Making these recreations has proved to be a labor of love. I thought I had a sense of appreciation for the men and women that originally made these felt novelties before I started doing this. But now ... that sense of appreciation has only grown.
So, please check out our work! Also, in recent years, I've begun screen printing many of my designs. Which means: I'm able to create a few extras with every run. If you're interested in something featured on the site, please contact me.
K.R. Biebesheimer & Son