Hello everyone, I’m back with my second inspirational make for the current challenge over at Country View Crafts which is use Autumn colours. Autumn is my second favourite season, like spring it is a season of colour, renewal and balance. I love the misty mornings, and wet grass under foot, the changing colours of foliage and the sleepy look of the trees. Everything is getting ready to go to bed for the winter, animals gathering the winter supplies and making their homes warm and tight.
As I write I’m reminded of a stanza from a poem I love by Emily Dickinson, written in 1864 and later titled the Thunderstorm,
The Leaves unhooked themselves from Trees –
And started all abroad
The Dust did scoop itself like Hands
And threw away the Road.
Anyway, back to my make; I wanted to do something different and so after much thought I decided to create a needle felted character. Susan has some fabulous kits in the shop so if you are inspired to have a go, why not pop over and see what she has.
I gathered my supplies for mouse.
first I made arms and legs, I used a pipe cleaner to attach the wool on to as it catches it well and allows you to get a tight start which is important.
I then proceded to wrap the wool tightly around the wires away from me so that I could control the tension with my thumb. I created a cone shape for the head by using more wool at the neck and then tapering it in towards the nose, like wise with the limbs. Once enough wool was in place using a fine 42 gauge needle I stabbed the fix it in place and sculpt the body shape.
Once the body was completed I added some sleeping eyes to his head. Lastly I went into my garden and cut some of the Autumn foliage in which my mouse could sleep.
Alternatively you could use dried flowers or even stamp and paint your own leaves from any favourite stamp set. Likewise you could spray leaves and twigs with ink for a more vibrant feel.
Let’s have another look.
And lastly a close up
Illustration Design Craft 