NOT many people can boast luxury department store Harvey Nichols as one of its customers but an Aylburton businesswoman can.

Rachel Austin, who is the creator and owner of The Wishing Shed, makes unique miniatures and life-like animal sculptures with needle felting and wool sculpting.

In just 12 months of launching her idea she has seen demand for the miniature furry friends soar.

She said: “I was contacted by the window designer of Harvey Nichols through Facebook after someone she knew had shared one of my photos. She messaged me saying that the mice were ‘just what she wanted for the main window’ which would also be featuring a dollhouse and other quirky items. I couldn’t believe it to start with. After agreeing a price I sent the first batch off to London and the director loved them so much I was commissioned to make more for inside the store. Apparently my little mice put Harrods Christmas mice to shame.”

The mum-of-two was also invited for a tour of the store and lunch.

She said: “The Wishing Shed is a long story. But basically I have always loved drawing and around a year ago I met a lady at a craft fair where I was selling my artwork and she was selling her wool spun scarves and wool rugs. I got chatting to her about wool and she told me that you can sculpt objects with it.

“She gave me a bag of some raw wool to take home and I was immediately fascinated how with a special barbed needle and wool you can sculpt firm objects. As there are no lessons on needle felting I had to watch a few basic tutorials about it on YouTube and self teach. I took to it straight away and I sat up in my little shed with bags of raw wool fibres and fleece and photos of animals and began to make them come to life.

“I was asked by friends and family to make replicas of their pets in miniature and when I posted pictures on Facebook I had lots of great responses. As I had more orders I decided my business needed a name. I just went with The Wishing Shed.

“One of my little needle felt donkeys won first prize last year at The International Teddy Bear Awards and I am so thrilled how things have taken off and privileged to have some of my little wishing shed mice in Harvey Nichols in London.

“I am very much inspired by the Forest of Dean, it’s so beautiful here and I feel so lucky to live in such a magical part of the world.”

To get in touch with Rachel or find out more information about her work visit www.facebook.com and search The Wishing Shed.