2019 Early Christmas Mice
I have Wire and wool, now what should I make for Xmas this year?
1-2
Mice!! Don’t mice just scream Christmas to you too? In their tiny little mice-y voices of course.
I had been in Dollerama again ( I am beginning to think this may not be as good a plan as I first intended) looking for floral wire and floral tape for an unrelated felting expedition. I will tell you about that if anything interesting happens. While there, I discovered this is not the time of year for floral wire but if I would like the short pieces of, again un-gauged, wire I could buy up to 3 packages of them. The pieces are just over 5 inches long or just under 13cm. They are a little more flexy than I had hoped for from looking at the package.
I started to make an armature frame for the first mouse. Since the wire was much shorter than I normally work with (I do have to stop putting things in “safe places” so I can find them later!) I made samples of different numbers of wire to figure out what stiffness might work. I found mouse one to be a bit too flexible. I loosely braided the back leg wires together then because I had short wires to work form I entwined the 3 strands I used for the tail and the wires used for the spine through the leg wires. To add more stability I increased the twist on the legs after I had integrated the tail and spine.
3-6
To further stabilize the join between the spine/tail and hip /legs I laid in the comb waste from the extra long Shetland. (the same one from the post on demoing at the wool growers co-op and then again for washing fleece – this has been an amazing fleece. It just keeps on being usefull). The comb wasted worked very well for all the core wool and actually made a very nice outer layer to the body.
7
To wrap the legs I attached one end of the fiber to the body core then wound the fiber keeping it flat against the wire down to the foot loop. I secured the fiber by working through the foot loop end then needled carefully up along the wired legs. I did the same for the tail then started to add a short neck and back of the head.
8-10
Next was adding the head and ears. Then back to shape and firm up the general mouse shape.
11-13
Mouse 2; I augmented the wire for legs and added wire for the ears. Yes much better. Still a bit thin on the butt. Needs more sculpting. Actually mouse one is a bit tall and lightly butted too. Hmm, better fix that later.
Ok on to starting mouse three, same armature layout as mouse 2 but better buttage.
Glenn noticed my start of a mouse army of invasion and wondered if I could make one an angel mouse for his mom for Christmas? That sounds like a good idea. She has a very extensive Christmas angel collection!
To make an angel mouse I will need wings. Since I would like this to be a mouse dressing up as an angel I need detachable wings and I should really have a halo too. Hmm, wings come in lots of shapes, bats, birds, butterflies. I think the bats would not be as accepted as angelic so that’s leaving birds or butterflies or some sort of hybrid.
I looked for wing pictures on the internet. I feel inspired. Lets make an armature in white wire.
14-15
First cover the armature structure with some of the combed long white Shetland. Starting from the bass and using the end loops to make sure the wire stays covered.
16
I added curls from a baggie (labeled wool curls – very helpful) and then a bit of angora with a gentle crimp to give a bit more lustre. I worked mainly from the visible side of the wings but also added a few wool curls carefully to the underside to make sure the support structure was not visible.
Note I have left the very bottom centre part not covered by felt. This is to allow the belt to be added and the wings tied to the mouse. I added the wire for the halo.
17
Glenn had originally suggested a gown for the angel. I have a love of lace and have as good collection of different types including a damaged circle of tatted lace just about the right size for a mouse
18-19
Interesting but not quite what I was wanting. Maybe she needs a pearl necklace?
20
Closer but still not quite what I was envisioning. Maybe drop the robe and add some flowers?
21-24
Yes much better. Now how to present her? She will not fit in a shadow box frame. Doesn’t Ikea still have a bell jar? Let me think about that for a bit. There is still time before she has to be delivered to Glenn’s Mom.
A few days pass
It snows
25
Most of it melts.
Its time to go visit! We picked the weekend before Xmas, packed up presents to give and presents I was working on and off we went. On Saturday afternoon we declared early Christmas and gave Glenn’s Mom her present. (Glenn’s Dad’s present was saved for Xmas proper.)
26-34
I am sure mouse will be very happy with the rest of the angel collection. These are a few from the living room. There are more in the dining room too.
35-37
So my Christmas mouse angel has a new home and seems to have found a spot on the coffee table. Glenn’s Mom will have her great granddaughter over on Christmas day. I wonder if she will like the little mouse too?
