Friday 13 April 2012

Finally finished...

My lion now has a mane!  I tried a couple of ideas which just didn't work.. and then got my lightbulb moment :)   I LOVE rag rugs... and I wanted my lion to have a nice chunky mane... so I decided to give him a rag-rug effect mane

I embroidered his facial features on, and added a couple of nice old
dark slate coloured plastic buttons for his eyes
Luckily I had a bag of Harris wool tweed remnants knocking around :)  I picked 2 nice brown based pieces and fulled them in the washing machine.  I have no idea how many tiny strips I cut from them, but there were a LOT.  Each strip was handstitched in to place individually - certainly the SLOW way of doing it, but I liked the effect of having them placed iggledy-piggledy.. I couldn't do it all in one go, the sewing made my fingers sore.. so I spread it out doing a bit every 2 or 3 days whenever I had an hour spare.


He is just what I wanted with his raggedy-ruggedy mane..

He is one half of a pair of doorstoppers I made for MARCH.  Last year my March doorstoppers were hares, this year it was a lion and a lamb.. from the old saying about March that it 'comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb'


Here he is with his 'other half'

I'm planning to make him a brother as soon as I am able to track down some nice suitable tweed.. I am totally kicking myself after missing 2 gorgeous pieces on ebay last night.. I was watching 4 yards (perfect colours in 2 different designs)  and I forgot that they were finishing! The vintage piece went for less than a fiver and it was lovely.. why oWHY did I forget to go bid?! 

Anyway, I'm planning to take progress pics next time and post them. 
Have a good weekend.. xx

6 comments:

Terriea Kwong said...

The lion looks like a great thinker. So adorable. Your works are very fine. As a stopper is a pretty object in the room. Sweet sheep and lion.

krex said...

He looks for majestic in his tweed locks . You might try a thrift store for long wool coats . They sell them pretty cheap here and it's the time of year their discounting winter things

Ruthie Redden said...

Wonderful creations, the tweed was certainly the perfect finish for your lion. Love the idea behind these two as well. You are a lady of many talents x

FeltersJourney said...

Thanks girls :)

Good idea with the thrift stores Krex.. I will keep my eyes open

x

Julie Stenning said...

These are fabulous.

FeltersJourney said...

Thanks Julie :)
x